Captains

Captain Darryl Mansel:
Mansel: Well, when you get right down to it, he's me. Mansel is the person I always dreamed of being when I grew up. He's quiet, reserved, he likes to see, not be seen. His methods may be unorthodox at times, but he gets his job done. He's a brilliant starship captain, and has proven it often enough.

Brungess: Its Mansels aspiration of heroship and leadership all embodied in this character. I think this is the best of my friends values played out right here. It is always very insightful of him. A a very balanced leader and a foe to be reckoned with. He is the second of the "Three Musketeers".

Captain Matt Vaughn:
Mansel: Captain Vaughn isn't even likely a candidate for a starship captain. How he got be captain, I'll never know. He managed to keep the Explorer-A his full seven year mission plus one, something that Captain Mansel never did. His greatest strength was in 'staying power,' finding energy from the most battered resources and channeling into things that would help them to live.

Brungess: The UNSF's Luckiest commanding officer. By chance his decisions and guesses were right and or were on the mark. Commanding one of the most powerful vessels in the UNSF inventory before the emergence of the Sovereign class Heavy cruisers. His adversaries thought twice before engaging him. Unfortunately his luck ran out (in Legacy of the Eagle) when he decided to pick a fight, along with some Imperial Destroyers he teamed up with breifly, against one of the NCEF's behemoth super battleship NCSS Bismark..

Captain Jay Styles:
Mansel: Brilliant young captain, commanding the Foch-D and -E have now given him some experience and no longer does he hold the title of 'rookie.' He was an unlikely hero of both the Imperial war and the war with the NCEF. Expect this kid to have a big hand in the future.

Brungess: Extremely bold and daring, very reminiscent of the captains of the US Navy in the years of WW II. He mastered the art of commanding a carrier. The young captain boasts two of the UNSF's most lethal Fighter squadrons at his command.

Captain Joe Ordese:
Mansel: Hilarious guy, written wonderfully by Jim Brungess. He's one of those 'cool guys' that every series needs.

Brungess: A very curious nosey, innocent, individual. When caught snooping he tries to say it was important to him or that he was testing something. Traits included in Ordese that I took from an acquaintence, Jim Snodgrass. Ordese, as a commander, he learned everything he knows from Blackbird and Kain. His best friends are the inegmatic Lisa Hayes & ever boyishly charming Stephen DaNastie.

Captain Travis Benton:
Mansel: It was hardest writing with Benton. I had to think in that past timeframe mentality. Plus, it was harder on us as writers since Benton was the first ever starship commander. He did a fairly good job I think.
He learned as he went along. His realationship with Niree Johnson was fun to write as well.

Brungess: I think he represents the pioneering spirit that me & Darryl long for.