Editing TNE:GreatExpedition (section)

=== Shadowjack, Mercer "Mercy" Khimamka, army captain and groundside specialist. ===
'''Captain Mercer "Mercy" Khimamka'''


'''UPP 567998-7 Human/M/32 Nike Nimbus'''

''Background Skills:'' Construction 2, Early Firearms 1, Ground Vehicle (Wheeled) 1, History 1, Riding 2, Swimming 1, Willpower 2

''Leadership Training:'' Carousing 1, Instruction 2, Leadership 4, Liaison 2, Persuasion 3, Psychology 2

''Military Training:'' Combat Engineer 1, Communications 1, Environment Suit 1, Forward Observer 1, Grenade Launcher 2, Ground Tactics 3, Gun Combat (Slug Rifle) 4, Martial Arts-Armed (Small Blade) 1, Martial Arts-Unarmed 1, Navigation 3, Observation 3, Pilot (Interface/Grav) 1, RCV Operations 1, Stealth 2, Survival 3

''Scientific Training:'' Biology 3, Geology 1, Meteorology 3, Virus Studies 1

To describe that in words: 
* A master's degree in ecology (via meteorology, geology, and biology), via DELTA.
* The experience you'd expect of a military captain.
* A professional but not exceptional marksman and outdoorsman.
* Persuasive and personable; not a diplomat, but able to keep both military and diplomatic considerations in mind when liaising with indigenous forces.
* Some practical experience but not highly trained in liaison, training, tactics, etc. He knows enough to know when the people under him know their jobs, and can step up when he needs to lend a hand.
* Lots of general outdoors and military experience and cross-training.
* Learned to ride as a kid, and worked summers in construction; kept those skills up in military use and as hobbies.
* Hobby as a historical reenactor, and successfully convinced the mission recruiters that this counted as recontact experience. :D

==== Notable Personal Equipment ====
* Experienced outdoorsman: spare boots; own sidearm; kit in good condition and with good camouflage; lots of useful odds and ends.
* Sidearms: autoloading pistol; stun pistol.
* Survival kit always includes medical kit, small tool kit, entrenching tool, optics, and all the other necessaries.
* Favored weapons in the field: long scoped and silenced rifle; 6-shot grenade launcher. Requested wide variety of grenades on board, and tailors load to mission.
* Scientific equipment: meteorology kit; biosampling kit.
* Other kit in the ship: aerial recon drones; carpentry shop, rigging kit, etc.; a few bottles of good booze for parties or gifts; candy and teddy bears for children.
* Personal possessions: pictures of family and girlfriend; dance music from home; lots of books; magnetic chess set; ramlock black powder pistol and kit; impractical survival knife; old uniform cap and medal; kachina doll.

==== Timeline ====
* 1170 Mercer born. 
* 1184 Lies about age to get into Nike Military Academy.
* 1188 Commissioned into Nike Nimbus New Defense Force as Second Lieutenant of Spaceborne Infantry.
* 1190 Promoted to First Lieutenant. 
* 1191 Makes good impression when attached to an early Trade League mission as chauffeur and aide-de-camp; recommended for interstellar operations.
* 1192 Applies for and accepted to newly-formed Coalition Special Operations Joint Force.
* 1193 CSOJF training completed; assigned to 1st League Special Detachment. 
* 1194 Received League Star for classified action. 
* 1195 Promoted to Captain.
* 1197 Accepted to Dawn League Academy.
* 1199 Watchdog Event.
* 1201 Present.

==== Contacts ====
* The recruiter who let him lie about his age to get in. The guy knew all along, but liked the kid's attitude; Mercer didn't learn this until they served together years later. Now they're well past "mentor-student" and into "old friends." A representative of the military good ol' boy's network. 
* *???? I haven't a clue. Some military contact, I guess?
* The offworlder (Ouriflamme or another?) trade mission officer whom Mercer made a good impression upon as an exchange program aide-de-camp; if this character was doing contact missions then, they are probably part of this very mission now!
* A trusted sergeant or platoon lieutenant from his Special Forces unit, now part of the force assigned to this mission. 
* The noted Dr. [so-and-so], whom he studied Ecology with at the Academy, and who's probably associated with the mission. They've got shared interests.
* Uhhhhhhhh… well, we're going somewhat cinematic here, right? Ex-girlfriend who's a diplomat or government official or something; met her at a League Academy / Embassy joint function. They parted on good terms; he sends letters back when there's the opportunity for a mail packet, but there's no promises or anything. Probably she's using him as an intelligence source, but what the hell.