The Underhill Journal

Hit Journalists – There is a powerful brand of journalism in the Solar System called Hit Journalism. These journalists are careful Character Assassins who, for a fee, will use their media clout to assassinate the character of anyone in the public eye. They have become adept not only at digging dirt on even the cleanest seeming “celebrity”, they are also excellent at putting a devastating slant on the truth – no matter how innocuous an event or action might seem.

General Deuce – The commander of the Elite School and head of the Top Elite (although he is not in fact an Elite himself). He has long despised Lee Chen, sensing in him a streak of rebellion and a lack of loyalty towards the Corporation. He begins to become obsessed with discrediting Chen after Saphora has finished her training, and he puts Chen in some highly volatile situations in the hope that the young Commander will make a fatal mistake and allow the General to get rid of him.

Shogun Nakata - The Shogun of all Japan. He is ruthlessly ambitious and will stop at nothing to reach his goals, even doing things that are considered dishonourable and against the strict Bushido Code of the Samurai. The Japanese have long been on the “losing” side of the China-Japan war, with the odds stacked heavily against them, but they have always managed to struggle on. Nakata wants to turn that into the conquest of China, and so he signs a secret treaty with Eagle Empires, promising to serve their interests in return for military aid in the war.

Lee Chen – A member of Eagle Empires Top Elite division, and one who is particularly popular with “the people” because of his predilection for heroics. This puts him at odds with General Deuce, the ranking officer of the Top Elite, who is ferociously loyal to the Corporation and their ideals. After his time spent training Saphora, he begins to flirt with the idea of rebellion, although it does not become serious for some time, because of the Kill Chip installed in his brain by Eagle Empires.
He is a consummate Martial Artist and a brilliant pilot, but he is hot-headed and impetuous, something which Saphora tempers in him, but only when they are together.

Sakuro Hachi – The older brother of Saphora. He is a reclusive genius, with several degrees, including a medical degree and an engineering degree. His mind is partly cracked, but his sister and his mother are both able to deal with this and help him when he needs it.

Dmitri Jones – A journalist working for News IntraSolar inc. He is famous for his ability to destroy the reputations of people (he is, in fact, a Hit Journalist) and his almost fanatical loyalty to Eagle Empires (of which News IntraSolar is a subsidiary).

Saphora Hachi – A powerful Samurai and general of Shogun Nakata's armies, she is one of only a handful of women Samurai ever to attain such high rank. Her skill with the Katana is second to none and becomes greatly enhanced after her training and surgery at the Elite School on Enceladus. She is pushed forward on a personal, and entirely secret, mission to gain Justice for the death of her father at the hands of Ninja assassins.

Hawk - The Multi-level fighter plane used by the Top Elite. It has an advanced AI system and interfaces directly with many of the implants in it's pilot, so that many manoeuvres can be done purely by thought. The Hawk learns it's pilots flying style and can make adjustments to it's body accordingly and it is self-repairing. Top Elite often develop a deep bond with their ship, not unlike the bond between a Samurai and their Katana.

Swift – A highly manoeuvrable, multi-level fighter used by second level Elite. It is smaller and, generally, faster than a Hawk, but it does not have as sophisticated an interface nor as advanced AI as the Hawk. It is not self adjusting, although it is self-repairing to a certain degree.

Stinger – A small atmospheric level craft favoured by the Titian Mafia. The pilot stands vertically inside the craft, which is propelled by jets on the back and base of the craft. Controls are fitted above the gun mounts, which double as arm-rests for the pilot.