Landorians (from planet of Landor)

Landor is only slightly larger than Earth, but has a higher density, and therefore a higher gravitational force. In other words, things weigh more on Landor, about 1.6 times more than they do on Earth. This higher gravity makes living on Landor harder for species like Castarians (and humans), but Landorians are built for it and consider it normal. They have much bigger (thicker) bones than Castarians, and a lot more muscle. The result is a species that is only about 2/3 the height of the average Castarian, but is proportionally much bigger in all other dimensions, and weighs about three times what the average Castarian weighs.

Landorians are tougher in other ways as well. Their skin is much thicker and harder to bruise. They are almost bronze in color and can withstand exposure to the sun for much longer than most other species. They are also more temperature tolerant, meaning they do not need heavy clothing in cold climates and are not bothered by the heat in hot ones. All of this adds up to making Landorians exceptionally good at manual labor and as soldiers. In other words they make excellent slaves.

Landor is also a planet rich in mineral deposits. The Landorians never made much use of those. They had evolved to the state of forming clans where each clan managed it's own territory for farming and hunting. Landorians are omnivores, and can eat and enjoy almost any digestible food, although they require large helpings in order to maintain their high body mass.

It was the mineral deposits that first attracted the Castarian corporation to Landor. They brought in a lot of heavy equipment and started strip mining the planet. When the Landorians tried to defend their planet, using their primitive weapons, they were quickly outgunned by the advanced technology of the Castarians. The Castarians defeated several clans, collared them, and forced them to fight their fellow Landorians, until all of Landor was under Castarian control. The captured Landorians were also pressed into service as miners to deep mine their own planet for the benefit of the Castarian corporation.

After witnessing the physical strength of the Landorians, both in battle and in the mine, the Landorian corporation shifted their focus from mining the planet and exporting minerals to breeding Landorians and selling them as slaves. This exploitation of the Landorians started 224 years before the revolution in the mines led by Turoc, and the discovery of the Landorians and the other Star Children by Alpha Team Fourteen.

Emite – Miner – Sergeant - Councilman

Emite was born a gentle soul. He was also born a slave. When he was only five years old, a Castarian who had very little interest in Landorians, and thought of them only as animals, decided Emite was destined to become a laborer. He did not fight with the other Landorian boys, so he was deemed unsuited for the military, yet he was physically very strong. The Castarian assumed the Emite was stupid, and not worth educating. He was wrong, but that did not matter.

After the five-year-old sorting Emite found himself on a mass transporter with hundreds of thousands of other Landorian boys, headed for the laborer preparation camp. He spent the next ten years there, working long days at various tasks. He enjoyed most of the jobs he was assigned to and was a model student in terms of behavior, ability to follow instructions, and willingness to work. When he was fifteen, he was sold to a mining company and shipped to Delstar Four.

Emite was not happy working in the mine. He did not mind the hard work, in fact he liked to work. He even had friends among the Landorians. His biggest complaint, although he seldom voiced it other than to his closest friends, was that he never got to go outside, other than to move to and from the mess hall, and an occasional trip to the infirmary. He also resented the way the Commandant treated the Landorians. He was unfairly punished several times, and he saw it happen to too many of his friends.

Emite was ripe for recruitment when Trac approached him about joining the revolution. He had no problem recruiting a Cell from his friends. When the night came, he was ready.

Turoc – General, Leader of the Revolution

Turoc is a little taller and a little thinner than Emite. He weighed less too, but he was all muscle. Turoc is not the gentle soul that Emite is. Turoc is a warrior. More than that he is a natural born leader of warriors. It was obvious even back when Turoc was less than five year's old and still on Landor that he was destined for the military. He and his little friends played "soldier" every time they were given free time, and Turoc was always in charge. When he turned five there was no doubt where he was going. He was assigned to the boy's military prep camp.

During his training Turoc rose quickly to the top of the class. He was not only physically strong and a natural leader, he was smart. His team always won at the war games, and it was often because of some unusual strategy ot tactic that Turoc devised. This did not go unnoticed by either the Landorian trainers or the Castarians in charge. At the young age of ten Turoc was sent to NOC training, and at twelve he was assigned to the Special Operation Corp. It was there that he first met Kronan.

At the age if fifteen, Turoc went to war. Kronan, who was a year younger than Turoc, was left at the SOC training camp. Turoc never expected to see his friend again, Then, about five years later, Turoc was assigned to lead a special mission against the Axion's. When he reported to the training facility to meet his team, he was thrilled to see Kronan again. For the next twelve years the two Landorians fought side by side, Turoc always as the leader and Kronan as his second in command.

Then one dark night on a distant planet, Turoc's team got trapped when they raided an Axion camp. They fought their way out, and ultimately prevailed in the battle, but both Turoc and Kronan were badly injured. Their teammates dragged them back to their transporter ship and successfully returned them to the Castarian troop carrier for treatment. Turoc was hospitalized for almost 50 days. By the time he finished his rehab he was chomping at the bit to get back into the action. When his assignment came he was shocked to learn that both he and Kronan were to be discharged and assigned to the mine on Delstar four. He complained bitterly to those in charge, but was told that it was standard policy to retire all warriors who had been wounded in battle. He was told it was something about them not being aggressive enough after being injured.

Turoc was still very aggressive, just not against the Axions. He vowed right then and there that he would find away to escapes the mine and free Landor from slavery. At the time he had no idea of how to achieve that, but he told Kronan he was determined to do it. Neither one of them had any idea of the destiny that awaited them.

Kronan – Turoc's #1

Kronan is a warrior. He is also a leader, and men will readily follow him into combat, but he is not the strategic thinker that Turoc is, nor does he have quite the charisma that Turoc has. He is, however the best right hand man a leader like Turoc can ask for.

Kronan and Turoc have been friends since they shared a bunk in SOC training camp, and went on invasion exercises together. It was during those exercises that Kronan first learned that Turoc's tactics and strategies often work much better than the brute force approach that Kronan favors. Kronan is a quick study, and while he never will develop the ability to come up with the ideas that Turoc does, he knows a winner when he sees one. He has attached his wagon to Turoc's star.

Kronan was really upset to lose track of Turoc when Turoc graduated from the SOC training, but they were slaves and had no choice in their assignments, and no way to keep in touch. When Kronan graduated, he was assigned as an instructor at the SOC camp. His hard driving, aggressive approach was viewed as excellent credentials for pushing cadets through the tough training. Then, five years later, Kronan learned through the grapevine about a special team being formed for an exceedingly dangerous mission. Sergeant Turoc would be the team leader. Kronan volunteered for the mission and pulled every string he could to get assigned to Turoc's team. When Turoc learned that Kronan was interested he immediately requested that Kronan be put on his team. The two friends were overjoyed to be together again. They have been together ever since.

Buran – Turoc's inner circle

Buran is older than Turoc, about ten years older. He too has been part of the SOC, and he and Turoc crossed paths several times. When Turoc arrived at the mine, he was surprised to find Buran working there.

Buran is not the aggressive leader that Kronan is, nor does he have Turoc's charisma, but he is a deep thinker, and has excellent organizational skills. Turoc recognized the value of having a man like Buran on his team. In fact, Buran was exactly the talent that Turoc needed to round out the skill set that he and Kronan brought to the revolution. Turoc knew he could depend on Buran, both for providing him with good advice, and for managing the logistics and bringing the much needed detailed organizational skills to the team.

Together, Turoc, Kronan, and Buran, set out to plan, organize, and lead a Landorian revolution at the mine that they hope to spread until it sweeps across the stars.

Goethe – Chief Landorian on harvester

Goethe is also a veteran of the Axion-Castarian war. He served on a supply ship, and saw very little combat duty. As a result he survived much longer than most Landorians do. Then one day he was wounded while delivering supplies to the ground forces. His injuries were not serious, but rules were rules and he was retired from the military.

Goethe's experience working on the supply ships in the Castarian armed forces, made him a perfect candidate to work on a civilian freighter. The military turned him over to the corporation that had the franchise for used slaves, and he was sold to the company that owned the harvester.

Goethe is a hard worker. The work load on the harvester is lighter than military duty and he is not required to take daily physical training, which has worked well for the aging Landorian. That, combined with his military experience and his basic organizational and management skills served him well working on the harvester. He soon rose to the top, and when Captain Garrard assumed command of the harvester, Goethe was put in charge of all of the Landorians.

Goethe likes Captain Garrard. Garrard treats the slaves like employees, gives them decent rations, and always treats them fairly. All in all it was not a bad way to spend his final years, working for a man like Garrard, traveling through space on the harvester circuit. Then came the day that Goethe took the delivery to Delstar Four, and met Turoc. Goethe's life would never be the same again.

Trac – Emite's Captain

Trac was also a veteran. He had served in combat for many years and through a lot of skill and a little luck, he had escaped injury. He had risen to the rank of Sergeant Major and held that position for six years before he reached retirement age. He was still healthy when he was turned over to the corporation that bought and sold used slaves, and was a little bitter that he had been sold to the mining company to work out the rest of his life at hard labor deep in the mine.

When Turoc and Buran drew up the list of possible candidates that they could recruit to help in their planned revolution, Trac's name stood out among those they could identify from the stolen personnel records. Not only had he been a Sergeant Major, he had been educated by the Castarians and had received numerous awards for heroism.

Buran approached Trac one evening in the mine and tried to feel him out without disclosing what they had planned. It became very obvious after only a few minutes of discussion, that Trac was very bitter about his fate, and harbored no love for the Castarian Empire. When Buran attempted to recruit him however, Trac was hesitant. He explained to Buran, that while he supported their efforts, he was old and afraid he would not be much help.

Buran was prepared to pass on Trac, having not been able to convince him to join, but Turoc decided that a Landorian with Trac's experience was simply too valuable to their cause, and in spite of the objections of Kronan and Buran, Turoc decided to break their rule about no one outside of the inner circle knowing who Turoc was. Turoc approached Trac personally and made his pitch. By the time he was done Trac agreed to join, but told Turoc that he was not up to a prolonged second career in the military. Turoc agreed and assured Trac that if he would help with the revolution at the mine, Turoc would find a way for Trac to contribute without having to join them on the campaign to free Landor.

Thus it was that Trac became Captain Trac, Emite's first commanding officer, and Commandant of the POW camp.

Jasper – Administrator on Landor

Jasper is taller and thinner than most Landorians (although he is still much heavier than a Castarian or a human.) He was born on Landor, but unlike most Landorians he was not shipped off of the planet when he was five years old. In early testing he showed great promise in mathematics and logical thinking, so the Castarians enrolled him in a program to teach him math and basic accounting skills. He did so well with the basics that his instructors selected him to take advanced courses in business administration and computers.

At the age of fifteen, Jasper joined the administration on Landor and became an accountant. The work was easy for him, and he enjoyed the benefits that came with being part of the government, including the freedom to move around on his own during his free time. As long as he reported to work each day, and fulfilled all of the tasks assigned to him, he was treated almost as a free man.

Jasper moved up the ranks quickly, and by the time he was 22 he was put in charge of the department that manages the rotation schedule for the breeding females. He held that position for a number of years, but then one night he got into a bar fight with a fellow Landorian. His Castarian office manager was new, and did not want any trouble makers on his staff. Jasper was sold to the corporation that buys and sells used slaves, which, in turn, sold him to the company that owns the harvesters. He was assigned to Captain Garrard's harvester and put in charge of the ship's inventory.

Jasper plays a very important role in Star Children. He provides Turoc and his staff with a wealth of information about life on Landor and about the history of the Landorian slave trade. He comes up with strategies to infiltrate Landor and leads the effort to do so. He is key to the success of the revolution.

Murth – Breeding Farm Slave

Murth is average height and weight for a Landorian. He is intelligent, but not highly educated. For some unknown reason, or perhaps just luck, he was kept on Landor when he was five, given a basic education, and trained to be an overseer on a breeding farm.

At fifteen he was assigned to his first farm, where he was put in charge of twenty-five of the women. His job was to see to their safety, and insure that they completed their assigned tasks. It was not a bad job. He enjoyed the outdoors, where he spent most of his time, and did not have to work very hard. He had the opportunity to meet many Landorian women, although since he was neutered, any relationship was purely platonic.

It was one such platonic relationship that caused his downfall. He was thirty-five, and working at his fourth farm, when he fell in love with a Landorian woman. He knew the relationship could not last, since she would be transferred as soon as one of the bulls got her pregnant, but he was swept up in the love he felt for her. One night, after a bull badly abused her, he attacked the bull. He was flogged and sold to the corporation that buys and sells used slaves, who in turn sold him to the mining company that owned the mine on Delstar Four.

Murth plays an important role in educating Turoc and his staff about life on Landor.

Aluran – Engineer

Aluran had been fascinated by engineering and design for as long as he could remember. When he was young, the Castarians gave him aptitude tests for math, multidimensional relationships, and other related fields. He loved the tests. They were like puzzles to him, and he did well on them. As a result, he was sent to a special school to study math and science.

Aluran loved the science courses, especially physics. He did so well that the Castarians enrolled him in more advanced science and engineering courses. He thoroughly enjoyed the mechanical engineering program.

When Aluran was fifteen he was purchased by the company that owns the harvesters. They put him through a special program on ship operations and maintenance. He spent about five years in the shipyards after which, he was assigned to the harvester that was captured by Turoc six years later. When Buran reviewed the ships records he immediately identified Aluran a rare talent, and assigned him to be the Ship's Chief Engineer.

Aluran plays an important role. He reverse engineers the collars and provides Turoc and his staff with the method for turning them down. Later he assists Grant by showing him how to disable the harvesters, then goes on to work closely with Robtron as they engineer a way to restore all of the harvesters and add them to Turoc's fleet.

Jarac – Emite's Exec Officer

Jarac first appears as Trac's Executive Officer immediately following the revolution at the mine. He later leads the interrogation of the Axion and Aldarian prisoners and the efforts to decrypt their plans.

Kintok – Emite's First Sergeant

Kintok is Captain Trac's First Sergeant immediately following the revolution at the mine. He teaches Emite the basics of being a soldier and advises him on how to act when reporting to the generals.

Noatak – Council Member

Noatak is the Landorian who Goethe selects to be the second Landorian representative on the Sanctuary Council. He is selected to represent all Landorians on the first trip to Beltaria and is the Landorian that informs the team about the mutual destruct treaty between Axion and Castar.

Chock – Interceptor Pilot

Chock is a pilot who was trained by the Castarians to infiltrate Axion space. As a result he speaks perfect Axion. He becomes Turoc's pilot for a number of missions.

Tralon – Former Command Sergeant Major

Tralon is a Landorian Command Sergeant Major. When he first meets Turoc, he challenges him, and then swears allegiance. Turoc makes him a general and assigns him to the general staff.