Tech World characters

Also known as McGill

Appears from the start

A Legion Varus weapons specialist who becomes a visible campaigner for keeping the legion independent of Earth's hegemony. He is on shore leave when Natasha Elkin asks where he stands on the approaching vote.

Also known as Natasha

Appears from the start

A Legion Varus tech specialist who approaches McGill about the legion's imminent vote. She has two votes as a specialist, challenges his disregard for official messages, and has an ongoing personal relationship with him.

First appears in chapter 3

A balding hegemony specialist identified as the officer who led the attempt to arrest McGill before the Legion Varus independence vote.

Also known as Imperator Turov

First appears in chapter 3

A former Legion Varus commander who now serves Earth's hegemony as an imperator. She directs the legion's urgent departure and admits that she arranged the attempt to arrest McGill during the independence campaign.

First appears in chapter 4

A returning Legion Varus legionnaire who joins McGill and Natasha during the emergency muster. He is a close associate of McGill and casts his vote for the legion to remain independent.

Also known as Graves

First appears in chapter 5

A Legion Varus centurion who knows McGill is organizing votes against incorporation into hegemony. Although officers are barred from influencing the decision, Graves quietly allows the campaign to continue.

Also known as Harris

First appears in chapter 5

A Legion Varus veteran and McGill's immediate superior. He reacts angrily to the legion's year-long Tau Ceti assignment, while his position on the preceding independence vote remains unclear.

Also known as Drusus

First appears in chapter 8

The commanding tribune of Legion Varus during its arrival at Tau Ceti. He formally accepts the new assignment as the legion begins its handover with Legion Germanica.

Also known as Old Silver

First appears in chapter 9

A Legion Germanica adjunct assigned to guide Legion Varus during the Tau Ceti handover. He presents the orbital habitat as largely safe and directs the arriving heavy troops toward private bodyguard work.

First appears in chapter 9

A Legion Varus trooper stationed with McGill and Carlos in the newly installed Tau Ceti barracks.

First appears in chapter 11

The Legion Varus adjunct leading a platoon on Claver's unusually lucrative private escort. Leeson accepts the assignment even though the clients' cargo and the origin of their payment have not been disclosed.

Also known as Dubois

First appears in chapter 15

A Legion Germanica centurion responsible for Claver's unit aboard Minotaur. He initially refuses to surrender Claver to Legion Varus, then changes course when Graves reports an imperial-credit offense.

First appears in chapter 17

A Legion Varus bio specialist who supervises McGill's difficult revival after a prolonged delay. She is handling casualties during the widening station unrest and agrees to meet McGill after her shift.

First appears in chapter 22

A Legion Varus heavy-weapons specialist who joins the battered defenders during the Tau assault. He uses a belcher to break part of a stairway and helps McGill delay the attackers.

Also known as Thompson

First appears in chapter 31

A centurion revived when Minotaur has too few officers and a severe revival bottleneck. Thompson becomes the available specialist responsible for organizing further revivals aboard the ship.

Also known as Lisa

First appears in chapter 33

The centurion who takes charge of the Legion Germanica survivors recovered with their damaged module. She organizes the badly reduced unit and assigns McGill to help locate Turov.

Also known as Conqueror Glide

First appears in chapter 37

A cephalopod conqueror who contacts Minotaur after the destruction of a cephalopod colony in Zeta Herculis. He says his people occupy several worlds, rejects an ambassadorial role, and forbids the human ship from approaching his vessel.

First appears in chapter 8

The senior officer leading Legion Germanica during the Tau Ceti handover. He formally welcomes Legion Varus while openly disparaging the arriving legion.