In the year after open and official First Contact between Terrans (mostly humans) and extrasolar species, the United Earth Authority began working with the Kharvamid Alliance. One major focus of interstellar trade was technology, specifically propulsion and military defenses.

After the crews of the Blackbird, Appomattox, and Pina Colada reported on the threat posed by the approaching Zarkonian Armada in spring of 2195 A.D./C.E. (or 1 Terran Galactic Era), the renamed Union of Solar Nations intensified its efforts. Some of the first warships to be produced at the Utopia Planitia shipyards in the Mars Confederacy and in the Asteroid Belt combined Transit faster-than-light capability with robust armor and weapons.

The Dauntless was assigned to patrol the vast area between the outer colonies of the Sol system and the nearest inhabitable star/planetary systems. It was also tasked with law enforcement against smuggling under the auspices of the Interplanetary Patrol, as well as homeworld security for the U.S.N. Navy. In addition, it carried out exploration missions, along with the Blackbird and other members of its task force.

In May 2195, acting command was transferred by Col. Shan Gray to Cmdr. Helena Cain so that “Lt.Cmdr. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.] could take the Blackbird and conduct longer-range missions with the yacht the Pina Colada [telecom team 5c].

Crew: 30 crew, 50 passengers/marines

• Captain: “Lt.Cmdr. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-human male, promoted Interplanetary Patrol officer
• First mate/XO (executive officer): Helena Cain-human female, long-tenured, aggressive starship officer (10 years older than Kevin; Helena and Kevin secretly have a fiery relationship. Helena knows that Kevin is romantically linked to Elektra Contos; see below.)
• Chief engineer: “Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged gargoyle-like alien), formerly of the Blackbird ?
• Assistant engineer: Kedar-male Tharian; Tela’s boyfriend
• Chief weapons officer: “Nylca of Clan Firehoof” [Brian W./Non-Player Character]-male Gustrall (orange-furred, flightless raptor)
• Chief science officer: Mulan Neverland-Olvar (mammal-like, arboreal alien) female; young and very enthusiastic!
• Chief medical officer: Dr. “Phil Phillips”-male Pomuyan (blue-furred, telepathic humanoid from Miakoda; most are reserved mystics)
• Chief communications officer: Harry “Monty Hall” Takahari Jr. -human male
• Chief operations officer/helm/astrogator: Wynona Smoketrail-female Delphine (“Synth,” “Uplifted” dolphin) pilot; once raced “Aughest-vor” with the Achilles battle group on the way to Mars

Ships in the Union of Solar Nations homeworld security task force:

1. The Dauntless -light cruiser and flagship commanded by “Lt.Cmdr./Capt. Kevin Reese”
2. The Avatar — Capt. Tamiko Hanasashi, female Olvar (arboreal, mammal-like alien)
3. The Avenger — Capt. Yuri Russkanov, male Terran Russian human
4. The Blackbird-formerly the Morifaiwet; experimental biomechanical Olvar scout ship — acting Capt. Sebastian Growlick, male Felinoid (bioengineered lion)
5. The Crazy Horse — Capt. Dirk Hatch, male Martian human
6. The Defender — Capt. Anita “Blood & Guts” Phillips, female Terran human
7. The Korolev — interim Capt. “Evander Scofield,” male Gustrall (orange-furred, antlered, flightless avian, raptor-like alien)
8. The Majestic — interim Capt. Bishop Skyline, male Belter “Synth” (android)
9. The Paladin — Capt. Teresa “Terry” Darkseas, female Delphine (“Uplifted” dolphin)
10. The Pendragon — Capt. Merrin “Blackbeard” Garrinov — male Jovian Ursoid (“Uplifted” black bear)
11. The Sovereign — Capt. Aveeshi Stormsea, male Aquarian (amphibious humanoid alien)
12. The Tigress — Capt. Elektra Contos, female Greek Terran human; young officer, has strong relationship with Kevin Reese — this is much more public than Kevin’s relationship with Helena Cain, but Elektra does not know about Kevin’s relationship with Cain.
13. The Windsor — Capt. Will Crusher, male Terran “near-human” (cyborg)

Team 5c, telecom Team 3, crew of the Gryphon, as of autumn 2012:

• “Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, former spy and communications expert/engineer of the Appomattox and Gryphon/Pina Colada

• “Capt. Jasmine” [Sara F.]-female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter and onetime crewmember of the Appomattox, now apart from the grifters in “MarSoupAiL” with boyfriend Darcy

• “Chris McKee” [Josh C.]-male Terran human cyborg, former sniper for the North American Aerospace Marine Corps. and eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.; onetime crewmember of the scout ship Blackbird

• “Orion Starchaser” [Geoff C.]-male Pomuyan [blue humanoid alien] outcast, irrepressible mystic and adrenaline junkie, with exasperated mentor Vovestomosanehe

• “Dr. Srinu Pahul” [Byron V.O.]-male Indian Terran “near-human” (bioengineered) xenobiologist, shadowed by scandal and confident in survival skills; with robots MEGAN and PEPE

• “Lt.Cmdr. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran “near-human” (cyborg), former Interplanetary Patrol officer and member of the Blackbird crew; commander of a Union of Solar Nations task force aboard the Dauntless

• “Chiron” [Dexter V.H.]-male android pilot, assigned to assess and protect humanity

• “Jax” [Robin H./departed ]-male human from the Asteroid Belt, vain space pirate and pilot of the Slipstream

• “Jim Delaney” [Robert A.S./departed ]-male Terran “near-human” gambler and psi, encountered on Mars