Crystal World characters

Also known as McGill

Appears from the start

A Legion Varus centurion spending an off-contract leave at his family property. When Galina Turov invokes a personal debt and asks him to investigate Drusus, he agrees to hear out a politically dangerous assignment.

Also known as Galina

Appears from the start

An imperator in hiding who relies on McGill's personal loyalty. She wants him to find Drusus and help arrange a witnessed death followed by a concealed revival, allowing her to escape the political danger surrounding her.

Also known as Former consul

First appears in chapter 2

A former consul whose public locator and official registry presence have vanished. McGill searches for him after Galina makes his disappearance central to her request.

Also known as Praetor Wurtenberger

First appears in chapter 2

The senior defense official occupying the position once held by Drusus. He refuses to discuss the missing former consul remotely and instead orders McGill to report to his office.

Also known as Blue-scaled Saurian leader

First appears in chapter 5

A blue-scaled Saurian known to McGill from earlier conflicts. He leads the violent extraction that removes McGill from police custody and takes control of him.

Also known as Ruling-council member

First appears in chapter 6

A member of Earth's ruling council who is pressing Galina toward the consulship. She believes he and the other council members would use her as a disposable political instrument.

First appears in chapter 8

The red-haired leader of armed followers in a Dust World cave complex. McGill presents the disguised Galina to her and manufactures an apparent threat that prompts the followers to kill Galina.

Also known as McGill's daughter

First appears in chapter 8

McGill's daughter, now living in the Dust World cave community with Florimel and the Investigator. She is present when McGill brings Galina before Boudica.

First appears in chapter 8

A resident of the hidden Dust World cave complex where McGill takes Galina. She is part of the small group living there with Etta and the Investigator.

First appears in chapter 8

A resident of the Dust World cave complex where McGill brings Galina. The Investigator lives there with Etta and Florimel among Boudica's armed followers.

First appears in chapter 10

An Earth-born Hegemony security specialist stationed on Dust World. Etta tells McGill that they are engaged and that her fiance transferred there to be near her.

Also known as Collins

First appears in chapter 16

A Legion Varus primus who supervises McGill after Winslade removes him from Third Unit. She explains why crystal gravity weapons make dense metal armor and equipment especially dangerous.

Also known as Tribune Winslade

First appears in chapter 16

The Legion Varus tribune overseeing the Crystal World expedition. He punishes McGill for missing muster by stripping him of Third Unit and assigning him to shipboard administrative work.

First appears in chapter 17

A Third Unit adjunct and leader of its heavy troops. He returns to service under McGill when the centurion regains command for the shipboard combat exercise.

First appears in chapter 17

A Third Unit adjunct who remains with the formation when McGill resumes command. He enters the King of the Hill exercise as part of the badly outnumbered defending unit.

First appears in chapter 17

A Third Unit fighter recognized as the formation's best user of primitive thrown weapons. His ability is especially valuable when the shipboard exercise limits the troops to spears and knives.

Also known as Primus Graves

First appears in chapter 18

The Legion Varus primus who starts and oversees the shipboard King of the Hill contest. He places Third Unit on the central hill while every other unit in its cohort enters with orders to remove it.

First appears in chapter 20

A Third Unit soldier who helps carry ammunition to the hilltop defenders during the shipboard exercise. He supports the line as the coordinated assault reaches McGill's position.

First appears in chapter 20

A Legion Varus technical specialist serving with Third Unit. During the hill defense, she helps move ammunition to the troops holding the summit.

First appears in chapter 20

A Legion Varus technical specialist attached to Third Unit. She supports the hilltop defense by carrying ammunition during the attackers' final coordinated charge.

First appears in chapter 22

The commander of a rebuilt allied fleet that intercepts Scorpio after detecting a stealthy crystal force. He takes operational control and requires the human transports for the approaching battle.

First appears in chapter 25

An officer attending the coalition command conference on how to overcome Crystal World's surface batteries.

Also known as Cherish, Primus Collins

First appears in chapter 27

The Legion Varus primus whom McGill privately calls Cherish and with whom he once had an informal relationship. Assigned to monitor him, she insists that he use her rank and surname in public and maintain professional boundaries.

Also known as Serial-number pilot

First appears in chapter 28

An alien assault-capsule pilot identified by a serial number until McGill nicknames him Seven. His superiors expect him to remain aboard an expendable capsule while it delivers the Crystal World beachhead force.

First appears in chapter 31

A Third Unit scout sent to examine the first apparently empty settlement on Crystal World. He disappears during the reconnaissance, turning the nearby inhabitants into an immediate concern.

First appears in chapter 31

Cooper's scouting partner during the first survey of a Crystal World settlement. She reports his disappearance and withdraws under stealth when McGill orders the scouts back.

First appears in chapter 33

The commander of the Saurian legion deploying through the beachhead. He delays committing troops at first, then reinforces McGill when the rock-bodied inhabitants attack.

Also known as Thompson

First appears in chapter 34

A senior biological specialist asked to examine a living fragment captured from one of Crystal World's rock-bodied inhabitants. Her expertise is needed to clarify the enemy's unusual physical nature.

Also known as X

First appears in chapter 35

The lone Claver accompanying the deployed ape and dogman contingent. Calling himself X, he claims command of the entire force as it arrives to fortify the Crystal World beachhead.

First appears in chapter 39

A Legion Varus primus serving with the command staff. He is killed with Winslade when a landmine explodes near the gateway posts.

Also known as Galina's father

First appears in chapter 48

Galina Turov's father and the council power broker who sent McGill into the coalition campaign. He acknowledges ordering damage to the alliance, accepts limited responsibility for the operation's excesses, and suspends McGill's pending punishment.

First appears in chapter 48

A guest staying with McGill's family after McGill returns from the Crystal World campaign. Etta is anxious for McGill to come home while Derek is there.