TRAITS

   Steady Calm (Major Asset) – Now the doc, that's a man that isn't rattled easily. I reckon workin' in them fancy hospitals on Ariel hardened him up like that, though it could've been the war as well. Either way, when the tian fuhn di fu, you can count on him to keep his cool.
   Talented – Surgery (Major Asset) – James knows his trade. Bullet-wounds, severed body parts, burns, no matter what, the doc'll patch you up faster than you can say tian-ling-ling, di-ling-ling.
   Branded  (Minor Complication) – The doc don't like Ariel. Can't say I blame him. Them precious few I know from the Core don't like him neither. Stories about being drunk while on the job, stuff like that. He won't talk about what happened, and I ain't gonna press the matter further than need be. Providin' he's sober when he's patching us up, that is.
   Credo (Major Complication) – Curse that doc and his damned Hippocratic oath. Man knows how to use a gun, but he'd just as soon go over and patch up that same guy who was shootin' at him! Man's gotta be a gorram chai neow.
   Indimitatin' Manner (Minor Asset) – There's something about the doc. He's got this look in them grey eyes, that says: "Nee tzao se mah?" People get frightened, y'know? Not in the least his patients.
   Crude (Minor Complication) – For an educated man, he sure don't speak like one. I've known a few jien huo who kept a more civil tongue in their mouths, when they weren't using it elsewhere, if you catch my drift.
   Military Rank (Minor Asset) – Lieutenant Surgeon James Tiberius Andersen. He don't go by that rank no more, but there's plenty a war-vet around that's spent time under his knife, and owe the man their lives. Certainly comes in handy from time to time.
   Hooked (Minor Complication) – One thing I don't like about the doc, he sure loves his whiskey. A bit too much, if you ask me. Still, he pays for it from his own pocket, and as long as he stays sober when he's doin' his job, he can have his booze.
   Straight Shooter (Minor Complication) – Y'know how I said the doc's got a dirty mouth? Another problem is the man don't know how to tell a lie either. He says things like they is, without a moment's hesitation. "Ma'am, you're gonna die a painful and drawn-out death." People don't wanna hear things like that, dohn-ma? They want the truth, but sugar-coated. Heck, even I prefer that!

ROLEPLAYING NOTES

   "Former Lieutenant James Tiberius Andersen was a superb surgeon. Lowest death rate in the entire hospital, and the man was a trauma surgeon, mind you. I reckon it happened back when his wife died on his operating table, that'd be when things changed. She got shot and robbed, and was near death when the paramedics brought her in. Poor James was on duty that night, and I think he blamed himself when he couldn't save her. He took to drinkin', and not a little either. Was times when he'd be drunk while on duty. Accidents happen, but mi tian gohn like that ain't right. I wasn't surprised when he was told – in no unclear terms, mind – to clean out his desk and get lost. Well, that's just what he did, I haven't seen him around since. Ain't really strange, word spread and no hospital would ever hire him here. Wherever he is, I hope he's laid off the booze."

- former colleague, Trauma Surgeon Frank Williams

"Doc Andersen? Why, that young fella saved my life. What's more, he saved over half of my old platoon too! Man's a devil with his scalpel, and I mean that in a good way. Why, I remember takin' a bullet in the gut from some Innepennant scum-bag back on Hera, we were under heavy fire, but the doc comes runnin' over, clutchin' that metal case of his, and I'll be the lio coh jwei jineog hur ho deh yung duh buhn jah j'wohn if the crazy bastard didn't pull the slug out - with bullets flyin' all 'round us, mind – and sew up the hole. Then he pulled out his side-arm, snapped off a few shots, before runnin' off to the next poor bastard who'd been shot. The man's a hero. After the war I heard he got a job in some fancy hospital in the core, guess he's a rich man by now. He sure deserves it."

- former Alliance Sergeant Walter M. Hughes

"James Andersen? I've had the displeasure of knowing him, yes. Haven't seen him around for some time, though. Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. Man was a drinker, and a bad one. Now, I earn my living off selling liquor to them that needs it, but he was a mean drunk. I remember the first time he came in, kinda cute, not too old, greys just beginning to show. Had that look in his eyes, same look all them drunks have. Someone told me it was because his wife died. Always getting into fights, that one. Usually won too. He had a mean punch, and fought like a ching soh. Broke more glasses an' bottles in here than any of my other regulars. Heard he lost his job, so I reckon that's why he ain't been around. Can't say I miss him."

- Janie Wu, owner of the Pilgrim's Resting Place