The Ghost Brigades

Eneshan commandant who attempted to escort Cainan, was shot multiple times by Cainan and died. Provides philosophical warnings about Dirac becoming like Boutin, explains his role in Dirac’s creation, and discusses his own karma.

Administrator, xenobiologist and semi-organic neural net defense specialist, captured by Eneshans, survived quake and battle, killed Aten Randt, interrogated by Lt. Jane Sagan, afflicted with Fronig's syndrome and received antidote. Rraey prisoner who provided technical analysis of brain‑software analogy and offered to assist with a lab for Dirac. Cainen shows Dirac consciousness representations, offers a choice to continue Bouton memory extraction, and discusses the ethics of Special Forces as slaves. Shows Jared Dirac’s recorded soul, explains consciousness transfer, requests Sagan’s help in seppuku, obtains permission from generals

Human lieutenant who interrogates Cainan, explains rock‑dropping detection method, administers antidote for Fronig's syndrome, reveals broader conflict involving humans, Rraey and Eneshans. Handled the assignment of Dirac, led the 2nd Platoon on the Gettysburg mission, and managed post‑battle operations. Led the 2nd Platoon in the Dirluew palace raid, negotiated with the Eneshan hierarch, and ordered the sterilization of the heir. Sagan watches Dirac’s collapse, apologizes for shooting him, urges him to remember his own identity, and facilitates his transfer to Military Research, later overseeing his BrainPal settings. Orders Dirac to report to Szilard for a mission against Boutin, expresses frustration, and briefs him on the imminent Obin attacks on Special Forces ships. Sagan confronts Szilard, receives a temporary mind‑reading BrainPal upgrade, uses it to monitor Dirac and squad, and leads the mission on Arist. Negotiated surrender with Obin, assisted wounded squad members, identified containment fence guns from a science station Engages with gun emplacements, tests weapons with a living creature, climbs and uses a flexible Arist tree to escape gun fire, and witnesses approaching Obin craft. Sagan coordinates the extraction of Boutin, briefly integrates with Dirac, considers killing Dirac, and later appears as a caretaker called Miss Jane who comforts Zoë. Negotiates with Cainen over Dirac’s consciousness, agrees to act as second in seppuku, later visits Zoë’s parents’ gravestone and plans relocation with Zoë

Assistant and aide to Cainan, present during quake, helped retrieve a projectile gun, attempted to stay with Cainan, survived initial attack.

Phoenix Station medical examiner who performs genetic and bone analysis, identifies the body as a clone, and discusses cloning ethics.

Colonist scientist whose cloned body is found; he used Consu tech to refine consciousness transfer and may be a traitor. Cloned body receives his stored consciousness via Consu‑derived technology Referenced as the original mind whose brain was implanted in Dirac and labeled a traitor. Provides background on his work at Covell Research Station and his family tragedy. His consciousness pattern dominates Dirac’s mind; his motivations, location on Arist, and past actions are further revealed. Explained Consu uplift of Obin, BrainPal back door, and Special Forces naming; discussed his daughter Zoë and his role in capturing Dirac Reveals his theories on the Obin, his plan to give them consciousness, and his intention to use Jared as a carrier for a BrainPal virus to overthrow the Colonial Union. Boutin prepares to transfer his consciousness into Jared, offers to put Jared to sleep, and insists the transfer be done while Jared stays awake. His prior work on consciousness recording is referenced in Dirac’s soul display

CDF colonel who interrogates the cloned body, raises ethical questions about cloned bodies, and serves as General Mattson's adjutant. Participates in cloning and consciousness transfer of Charles Bouton Robbins identifies Mattson, discusses Bouton’s consciousness with Dirac, and becomes Dirac’s assigned supervisor in Military Research. Participates in briefing on missing Special Forces ships and plans to use Dirac as a stress trigger in Omagh. Intervenes in conversation, plans to consult Szilard about the Arist mission, and orders Dirac back to Special Forces. Robbins' memos about Dirac are referenced. Describes BrainPal upgrades and upcoming generation; appears eating beef Wellington

Head of CDF Military Research, skeptical and sarcastic, debates the legality and ethics of cloning Bouton and using his genetics. Orders the wake‑up procedure for the cloned soldier without BrainPal activation Mattson shoots Dirac, later interrogates him, decides to keep Dirac for research, sets his BrainPal to record, and welcomes him to Military Research. Mentioned as the officer who took command of Dirac to keep him out of combat. Discusses responsibility for Zoë’s death and his strained relationship with Boutin, revealing personal resentment and decision‑making. Mattson is referenced as having urged detention of Dirac before the mission. Discusses BrainPal backdoor, orders spaghetti, plans Sagan's retirement, denies Obin negotiations

Another CDF general who proposes using Bouton's genes to create a Special Forces soldier and navigates legal loopholes. Oversees the cloning project and plans the soldier's future deployment Assigned Jared Dirac to Lt. Sagan and revealed Dirac contains Charles Boutin's brain, discussing the risks and potential intelligence value. Szilard interrogates Dirac about his identity and Bouton, authorizes his transfer to Colonel Robbins, and approves the transfer order for Cainen’s assistance. Leads discussion on disappearing ships, suspects Obin, and proposes risky Dirac mission to Omagh. Szilard provides Sagan with the mind‑reading upgrade, discusses integration of Dirac, and insists on using Dirac despite risks. Addresses BrainPal security fixes, plans for new generation, discusses Sagan’s discharge and colony politics, mentions Obin non‑negotiations

Technician who shows a holographic representation of Bouton's consciousness and explains the Consu‑derived consciousness‑transfer technology. Handles the technical aspects of the BrainPal and consciousness transfer Wilson provides Proustian memory theory for jellybean trigger, explains consciousness transfer options, and supports Cainen’s plan. Serves as the mess waiter who comments on Robbins’ cookie. Comments on Dirac’s changed demeanor, noting he is now more aggressive and less innocent. Observes Cainen’s request, agrees to act as second in seppuku, shows emotional response

One of Jared’s training squad members who comments on Jared’s collapse after integration. Provided summaries of major Colonial Defense Forces battles for the squad’s shared knowledge

Instructor assigned to Jared’s training squad; leads Jared to meet his squadmates and explains integration procedures and humor bias among Special Forces. Instructed the 8th Training Squad, explained Special Forces purpose and integration, assigned reading of Frankenstein and etiquette research, described the MP‑35A weapon, led obstacle‑course exercise with neural sharing, and revealed his age and the unit’s size within the CDF Training officer who performed forced neural integration on Dirac and oversaw accelerated Special Forces training.

A newly decanted Special Forces soldier with a BrainPal who learns to speak, interacts with Curie, Cloud, and Brahe, and is integrated with a training squad at Camp Carson. Day‑old Special Forces recruit awakened by Judy Curie, receives BrainPal, learns difference between born‑grown and realborn, reads Frankenstein, masters the MP‑35A Empee rifle, participates in integration training, war‑game combat, and is assigned to the ship Kite with Pauling and Seaborg Special Forces recruit with Boutin’s brain; fought on Gettysburg, sustained injuries, and displayed integration abilities. Participated in the palace assault, killed the consort, sterilized the heir, and engaged in the final negotiation. Jared experiences a sudden green arm, vomits black jellybeans recalling his dead daughter Zoë, is shot with a stun bolt, and learns he may house Charles Boutin's consciousness, leading to his reassignment to Military Research with a recorded BrainPal. Central to the plan to infiltrate Omagh as a memory‑triggering stress test. Regains extensive Boutin memories, confronts Mattson about Boutin's death, learns Boutin is on Arist, receives Babar toy, and is assigned back to Special Forces under Szilard. Dirac is monitored via Sagan's mind‑reading upgrade, expresses concern about underestimating Bout, loses BrainPal integration due to Obin interference, and participates in the Arist mission. Gained new knowledge about Obin, Consu, BrainPal back door, and Special Forces naming; experienced hearing from Boutin at the science station Learns extensive new information about the Colonial Union, the Obin, the Conclave, and Boutin's plan to use him as a virus carrier. Jared reflects on the Colonial Union, integrates with Dirac, and grapples with the impending consciousness transfer and its moral implications. His recorded consciousness is displayed as a “soul” and discussed for potential transfer

Guides newborn Jared Dirac out of the crèche, explains the BrainPal, and leads him toward his training mates at Phoenix Station and Camp Carson. Awakened Jared, gave him his name, explained the BrainPal’s role in feeding thoughts

Pilot who shuttles Jared from Phoenix Station to Camp Carson, engages in banter and jokes, and assists Jared’s arrival on the tarmac. Joked with Jared on the shuttle to Camp Carson, discussed philosophy and jokes, later greeted Jared and squad after training Accompanies Dirac to the cemetery, offers a card game, and helps transport him back to Phoenix Station.

Squad member who helps Jared up after he collapses, engages in light‑hearted banter, and calls him funny. Participated in training, fought Jared, was ambushed during a war‑game simulation and killed by head and neck shots, causing her integration to collapse Platoon soldier deeply integrated with Dirac, provides emotional support, and joins the celebration. Died while trying to secure the sling holding the captured heir during the extraction.

Squad member who makes a remark about pets and later disengages from the group discussion. Questioned training duration, received assignment to research etiquette and conflict resolution, had tense interactions with Jared, later cooperated in war‑game and praised Jared’s rescue Provides technical assistance to Jared and comments on integration capabilities during combat. Seaborg interacts with Dirac, comments on mission logistics, and helps open the capture pod using BrainPal. Sustained a leg injury from Obin fire; unitard mitigated damage; made a profane remark Suffers a leg injury, comments on neural integration, assists in climbing the Arist tree, and survives the tree launch. Seaborg, despite a worsening limp, cuts the power by shooting at a battery, discovers a flammable green gas, and struggles with the violent nature of his mission.

Asked about realborn training length, noted platoon vs squad size differences, shared information with the 8th Squad via BrainPal

Gave assignments to Dirac (read Frankenstein) and Seaborg (research etiquette), later ambushed and killed during the war‑game

Participated in obstacle‑course training, was shot in the leg early, later fought in the war‑game and survived

Collaborated with Jared on MP‑35A rifle design experiments, sharing bullet options and other ammunition types

Joined the obstacle‑course line, took part in the war‑game, survived the simulation Platoon member who assists Jared after combat and participates in the colony investigation and later orgy.

First squad member to run the obstacle course with eyes closed, used neural integration to share perspective with teammates

Member of the 2nd Platoon who organized the post‑battle celebration and discussed integration concepts. Provided battlefield updates, coordinated the team’s movements, and recorded the hostage video feed. Roentgen's BrainPal connection is blocked by Obin, his parachute fails and he dies during the descent.

Antagonistic platoon member who debates the handling of wildcat colonists and provides cynical commentary. Voiced moral objections to the kidnapping mission and later volunteered for secondary tasks. Harvey is present in Dirac's squad and assists during the mission. Recognized the flechette fence as science‑station equipment and commented on odds Attempts to eat and then throws a captured creature at the gun, later carries Wigner’s corpse up the tree and launches it, resulting in Wigner’s death. Harvey creates a noisy distraction using a hovercraft, kills Obin with brute force, and follows his "Occam's razor" combat philosophy.

Commander of the Kite who has not been informed about Dirac’s special status.

Veteran transferred from the Kite to the Peregrine, cited as a reason for Sagan’s squad reduction.

Eneshan hierarch, mother of the heir, engaged in a tense negotiation with Sagan after the raid.

Eneshan ambassador to the Colonial Union present during the hostage negotiation.

The hierarch’s consort, killed while defending the pre‑metamorphic heir.

Human soldier whose head was shot; his fall caused the heir’s sling to be dropped.

Provided covering fire during the palace extraction and was wounded when her Empee went silent.

Pre‑metamorphic Eneshan heir captured, then sterilized by Jared during the raid.

Jared’s deceased daughter, remembered through his jellybean‑induced memory flash, is identified as Zoë, a victim of his grief. Gravestone reveals she died as a child; her death fuels Boutin’s and Dirac’s motivations. Mentioned as being rescued by the Obin during the Covell incident. Zoë, Jared’s daughter, worries about candy, her father’s absence, and later is rescued by a woman called Miss Jane and placed in a capture pod. Accompanies Sagan to her parents’ gravestone, discusses her family, and is offered a new home with Sagan and John Perry

Revealed through Dirac’s memories as Boutin’s wife who died during a hike with a suspected lover.

Manley joins Dirac's squad, experiences the loss of integration, and is injured during the chaotic descent.

Wigner is part of the squad, collapses during integration loss and becomes catatonic. Attempted to fire his Empee without BrainPal verification; was shot in the head by an Obin and killed His corpse is carried up the tree, launched toward a gun, and vaporized by the weapon.

A woman who arrives after the transfer, comforts and secures Zoë, assuring her she is safe.

Nanny briefly appears with an Obin weapon, then leaves the scene during Zoë’s rescue.

Mentioned as a CDF soldier who could be accelerated to entice Sagan’s retirement

Described as an orphan used to persuade Sagan, later referenced in conversation