Corporal Vane

Vane smiles easily, especially when someone assumes her rank means she has little authority aboard Railspike. The ship’s crew knows that the corporal earned command through a talent for judging motion under pressure and a willingness to accept responsibility when that judgment fails.

She developed her approach while protecting a convoy on a route too narrow for a comfortable turn. Waiting for a perfect alignment would have left the transports exposed, so Vane acted while the ship was still coming around. The shot worked; the experience taught her how little room there is for error.

She wears a rangefinder lens at her temple, but she does not mistake equipment for judgment. Vane studies misses as closely as successes and expects her crew to tell her when a maneuver puts them at unnecessary risk. She enjoys the challenge of a difficult engagement, though she knows enjoyment cannot be allowed to replace care.