Okay, here is the first part of a “sort of” writer’s guide. I’m going to do this thing in more than one post, as they will be rather long. It’s sketchy, an introduction at best, but if you go through the recaps too, (and even better, read the stories!), you will know what I am talking about. Bolded items have entries in the recaps, for further explanations and background.
Katherine Irene Swanson Channing- introduced in the very first post of the first story, as Kathy Swanson. At the time presumed to be in her early twenties, as she had finished university, and was teaching on Ceres, as a payback for having her way through school paid for. Red-head, good looking. After many twists and turns of plot she learns that, unknown to her, she has a **crystal ** implanted in her body, which item has many uses. She develops, thanks to the crystal, powerful mental and physical powers. Others have been watching her, in particular a professor and mentor **Jacob Kenezr ** The professor presented her, when she left school, with the gift of a cat(Terran, felis domesticus), named Tobermory. Kathy is the daughter of Eric and Jacine Swanson, who are thought to be dead, but later in the first story are found to be alive, victims of a plot against their daughter, who takes part in their rescue and revival. Marries Victor Michael Channing Jr at the end of the second story.
Tobermory-also introduced in the first post, we think he is a normal cat, until his peculiar shape shifting abilities are revealed when the school Kathy is teaching at is invaded. He is found to be a Xavvian, member of a race humans refer to as felinoid, because of certain features that hemans see as catlike. Most of his race can’t shape shift, his ability is almost unique. He is very tall, and green in color, as most Xavvians are. Tobermory also bears a crystal, as do other people called couriers. He aids Kathy in fleeing the danger at the school, and together they attempt to reach Prof. Kenezr. Through both stories Kathy and Tobe remain fast friends, looking out for each other, At the end of the first story Tobe takes a position in the school Kathy and her parents organized, but at the beginning fo the second story Tobe is off on a different assignment. In the second story we learn that Tobermory has very high status on his homeworld, being third in line for their throne. His title is “Favored One”, and his real Xavvian name in q’Stant’Lit.
Granthiaxav-Xavvian, former officer under the command of Tobermory. He is of the high nobility, and overly proud of it at first. Devout in the Xavvian religion. Deep inside he carries a sense of sorrow that, because of family pride and status, he gave up the Xavvian girl,** Lissie**, he wanted to marry. Grant is active with the main characters throughout both stories. By the second he is working security on the planet** Sevastol**, so-called “paradise planet”, when two characters from the first story, Kal Trontian and M’Kayla arrive for a vacation.
Crystals- due to the gradually developing ideas in both stories, of what crystals are and what they can aid their bearers in doing, I’m going to just paste here parts of the crystal recaps. Crystals: a device implanted in certain people with proven sensitive abilities. It can enhance those abilities. It takes training for a courier(crystal bearer) to use them to their full potential. Some individuals can use them to greater effect than others. Also can be used for data storage and messaging, hence the use of “courier” to denote those who carry a crystal. Kathy Swanson may have abilities, that, enhanced by the crystal, are unique in their power. Their power and technology is still being explored. Numerous references. If crystal frequencies don’t match, the attempt, one by the other to make contact, can be excruciatingly painful, with sedation needed to control the agony A skilled courier can ease the pain, and gain information, with a three way crystal syncing, but this is usually done in a hospital. M’Kayla plans to use the dangerous technique to aid Kathy. The exercise is successful but leaves Kathy easier to locate by Vorpal The discovery that** Robert** and Martel made in the book from Kenezr’s residence is this. A crystal that has been properly conditioned and manipulated, and then installed in a host of the needed level of talent, can use it not just for recording and information gathering, but to manipulate minds and emotions. It could be a fearsome weapon in the wrong hands. Modifying a crystal frequency can ease the pain of a rogue crystal contact, but it makes the courier easier to locate. Description of a crystal discipline learning session in post #140 of the first story
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Vicki Channing Peterson**- sister of **Victor Michael Channing Jr ** and daughter of Victor Michael Channing Sr. Vicki is prominent in the first story, aiding Kathy and the other characters, but she is barely seen in the second story. She has married, and is now pregnant by, an Adrian Peterson, who is the son and heir of Matthew Peterson. Peterson Works is a company with close business ties to VMC Corporation, a developer of spaceships and the hardware associated with them. Late in the second story we learn she has had her baby, a girl.
Kal Trontiann- (from first story) captain of a second ship sent to escort Kathy and Tobermory to Laxis Prime. His vessel has also been sabotaged, as was that of Granthiaxav. He has a mistress/companion named M’Kayla, who is also a courier .More of his history is in post #55 of the first story. Rumored to have had aid in ship design from Victor Channing. He us human, skin color is a darker shade of brown. He’s very upset at the sabotage to his ship, and he speaks of Kenezr as a “sneaky bastard.” Will be the first captain of an Echo II class ship.(post 188) *In the second story * he is traveling to Sevastol with M’kayla when the shuttle he is on is attacked, by “rogue” droids. Survives, with moderate injuries.(#1)Did riot control work on a penal colony(see Riqaska)Suggests making a decoy to throw Tag off their track(#54) Is of great help throughout the second story, and is killed when he deliberately flies his ship into a “planetbuster” droid, as there was no other way of being sure the droid would be stopped.
The problem is, once I start, I see more I want to include. And if I did that I might just as well copy the whole darned story.