A Grippen's individuals is a group of very different people, who want an a "adventure" in classic meaning.
On the Grippen — people with different traumas and dreams, united by a common goal. Their strength lies in the balance of experience and novelty, skepticism and faith in discoveries.
"Grippen's Core"
Captain John Valley(former captain of the Interspace Commerce vessel).
After an incident with smugglers at the station, he received a reprimand and was removed from command of a cargo ship. He decided to turn to research, where there is less bureaucracy and more freedom.
Name: John Valley Age: 42 years Previous experience: 15 years with Interspace Commerce, 7 of them as commander of cargo and passenger vessels.
A graduate of the Manhattan Space Academy. He began as a co‑pilot on shuttle liners between Manhattan and California. He was noted for his meticulousness and ability to find non‑standard solutions in emergency situations.
Three years ago, he commanded the cargo vessel Mamonth. During a voyage to the planet Curacao, he discovered biomaterials of unknown origin in a sealed container (later it turned out they were prohibited genetic modifiers). Instead of ignoring the find (as he was hinted from above), he reported it to the security service. The cargo was confiscated, but the customers were never found.
John himself received a reprimand for "violating the contract’s commercial confidentiality". He was removed from command and transferred to an administrative position.
Once stationed in an office with a view of the spaceport, John realized that the system he served valued profit over principles. He began to explore opportunities to switch to freelance work, but everywhere he received rejections: "Too strict", "Can’t make compromises".
Where did he get the ship?
Over the years of service, he saved nearly half of his salary. That would have been enough for a small research boat, but not for a full‑fledged ship.
After his parents’ death, he inherited a house. He hesitated for a long time before selling it, but eventually completed the deal, investing the proceeds into the project. For him, it was symbolic: "If I can’t preserve the past, I’ll create the future".
Under the pseudonym “Captain N”, he launched a fundraising campaign on the SpaceStart platform. His video message ("I want to seek answers, not profit") unexpectedly gained popularity:
Small donors (students, engineers, pensioners) contributed about 30 % of the amount;
Two anonymous patrons added large donations, which more than covered the cost of the ship. (John suspects that one of them is a former colleague whom he once saved during a reactor accident).
"The Fist"
Weapons Specialist Denis Kareline (ex‑mercenary)
He left a private security concern after his unit was drawn into a corporate conflict. At the station, he worked as a shooting instructor until he saw an announcement about recruitment for the expedition.
Name: Denis Kareline
Age: 38 years
Nickname in close circles: “The Fist” (earned for his composure in battle and habit of solving problems with a direct strike)
Specialization: system armament, tactical analytics, close‑range space combat
Born into a family of hereditary military personnel (grandfather — test pilot, father — division commander). Enrolled in the Space Cadet Corps at the age of 14.
After graduation, he was assigned to an operational division. Over 8 years, he participated in 17 operations to intercept pirate vessels, developed a methodology for rapid calibration of laser turrets under interference conditions (still used in textbooks) and received three commendations for rescuing civilian ships.
During Operation "Ice Shield" (intercepting a refugee vessel from the planet Verakruz), he received a direct order:
"Open fire to destroy. The vessel is classified as a threat."
Denis noticed children and civilians on board. Instead of following the order, he disabled his weapon guidance system, contacted the vessel’s captain, proposed surrender without combat, and personally escorted the refugees to the station — risking his career.
Consequences:
court of honor, revocation of awards;
"honorable discharge" (in fact, a ban on serving in regular military forces);
inclusion in corporations’ "black list" (his name became synonymous with "unreliability").
To survive, he turned to freelance work, guarding ships for various corporations and individual merchant vessels.
Signature phrase: "A weapon is a tool. If you’re angry — you’ve already lost."
"The Brain"
Scientist Elizabet Loa (exobiologist)
She secured a grant to study extraterrestrial life forms, but no major research vessel would take her on board due to her “too‑bold hypotheses”. She seized the chance to go fully autonomous from corporations.
Name: Elizabet Loa
Age: 34 years
Specialization: exobiology, astromicrobiology, study of extremophilic life forms
Academic degree: Candidate of Biological Sciences (dissertation: Adaptive Mechanisms of Microorganisms in Low‑Gravity Conditions)
From an early age, she was fascinated by microbiology — her first “laboratory” was in her parents’ garage, where she studied mold and bacteria from a pond.
She graduated from the biology faculty and worked on various scientific missions.
Her bold theories (which to some extent seemed absurd) met with fierce resistance: colleagues called her ideas “science fiction”, and research grants were slashed to a minimum. Elizabet realized she wouldn’t be allowed to work within the framework of “official” science.
To continue her work, she made compromises:
published articles under pseudonyms in obscure journals;
collaborated with private research groups (sometimes for a token fee);
assembled equipment using her own savings and donations from enthusiasts.
Why she joined the expedition
Freedom of research. On this ship, there are no “curators” demanding quick results. She can:
study anomalous samples without bureaucratic restrictions;
experiment with new analysis methods (e.g., use quantum sensors to search for faint biosignals).
Personal challenge. Elizabet knows that if her theory is proven, it will change the understanding of life in the Universe. But this requires taking risks.
"The Bug Slayer"
Scientific Equipment Operator Alexander Lynin (engineer‑physicist)
He worked in a laboratory but grew tired of paperwork and limited access to cutting‑edge instruments. When he learned that this ship was equipped with the latest technology, he insisted on being included in the crew.
Name: Alexander Lynin
Age: 29 years
Specialization: systems engineer, integration of scientific instruments, automation of research processes
Grew up in a family of nuclear engineers. From the age of 10, he assembled simple circuits; at 14, he built his first robot vacuum cleaner from spare parts. In school, he won olympiads in physics and programming. During his senior years, he interned at a research corporation, where he worked with sensors for the Large Hadron Collider.
When the laboratory where Alexander worked came under the control of the AstroTech corporation, the new managers:
demanded that data on anomalous gravitational oscillations be classified;
banned the publication of research results;
repurposed some equipment for rare‑earth metal mining.
Alexander sent an anonymous report to the International Astronomical Union and refused to sign a non‑disclosure agreement. As a result:
he was fired “by mutual agreement” with a ban on working in major projects;
he was added to corporate “gray lists” of potential hires.
To maintain his skills, he took on any work available:
repaired laboratory equipment at orbital stations;
wrote software for data analysis for independent researchers.
He noticed that the ship was recruiting crew. Although his skills weren’t initially considered essential, after talking with the ship’s captain, he quickly became part of the team. He was attracted by the conditions on this independent research vessel — no curators, all research findings stay with the crew (the same reason as Elizabet’s) — and the captain also allowed him to experiment with the research equipment.
"The Grizzly"
Mechanic‑Pilot Sebastian «Griz» Fouren (seasoned mechanic)
He flew on old merchant vessels and repaired everything from reactors to toilets. When his last ship was scrapped, he decided it was time to try something new — for example, exploring systems.
Name: Sebastian «Griz» Fouren
Age: 41 years
Specialization: piloting small and medium space vessels, repair and modernization of ship systems, emergency maintenance in zero‑gravity conditions
Flight experience: over 8 500 hours on 17 types of ships
Grew up in a family of hereditary space mechanics on the Riverside station. From the age of 12, he helped his father repair maneuvering engines. At 16, he built his first operational drone for hull inspection.
Spent 10 years flying cargo vessels and passenger shuttles. During this time, he:
mastered all major engine types;
learned to repair systems under resource‑limited conditions (at asteroid bases, on long‑haul voyages);
developed his signature style: “If you can fix it with duct tape and electrical tape, the ship can still fly.”
gained the ability to repair anything from a toilet to a reactor.
Worked as a “handyman”:
repaired ships at asteroid belt stations;
piloted private vessels for tourists and researchers;
assembled functional modules from scrap parts (e.g., created an air recirculation system from the wreckage of an old shuttle).
Honed his “blind repair” skill (diagnosing malfunctions by sound and vibration), learned five technical jargons of different space corporations, and assembled a personal tool collection — including homemade wrenches and sensors.
Like many others in this crew, he grew tired of corporations and top‑down conditions. That’s why he chose a stable position with the Grippen team, where he can test his modernization methods and prove that “a ship lives as long as it is loved and repaired”.
Carries only his work tools and a photo of his father, which he taped to the engine.
Dreams of building his own “Perfect Ship”.
Has a strained relationship with the captain. Sebastian respects the captain’s integrity, but sometimes argues over flight routes (e.g., insists on bypassing dangerous zones to avoid overloading the ship).
"Fetch‑and‑carry person"
Utility Worker Jodar Humo (former courier)
At the station, he cleaned floors in hangars until the captain noticed his dexterity and willingness to take on any task.
Name: Jodar Humo
Age: 26 years
Role on the ship: universal assistant, loader, junior technician
His parents were low‑level technicians who scraped by on occasional contracts. From the age of 14, he took on side jobs: cleaning floors in hangars, delivering packages between compartments, and assisting loaders in warehouses.
He attended night school but dropped out after the 8th grade — he needed to earn money.
He was cleaning floors in the hangar where the Grippen was docked. The captain noticed his speed (Jodar carried boxes twice as fast as regular loaders) and his attentiveness (he spotted a crack in the hull that the technicians had missed). Impressed, the captain immediately offered him a position with the Grippen crew. Jodar quickly accepted, agreeing to work for a small percentage of the profits the ship’s missions would generate.
"Low‑level assistant"
Utility Worker Alie Stuart (young technician)
She just graduated from maintenance courses but couldn’t find a job anywhere due to lack of experience. She pleaded to be hired even as an assistant — and got a chance to prove she could do more than just carry boxes.
Name: Alie Stuart
Age: 19 years
Role on the ship: housekeeping assistant, trainee technician
Her parents are scientists who studied ice caves. From childhood, she helped sort samples. She completed junior technician courses and mastered the basics of mechanics and electronics.
She dreamed of working on a research vessel. She applied to 12 expeditions — but was rejected everywhere for reasons such as “not enough experience”, “no references”, and “no vacancies”.
She worked as a cleaner in a laboratory until she learned about the recruitment for the Grippen crew.
She immediately submitted her application. The captain thought long and hard about whether to hire the young woman as a utility worker. But after seeing Alie’s enthusiasm, he stopped hesitating. Now she is a member of the ship’s crew.
