Broken Dimensions

Click through the gallery to see the cards for all 7 original members of verdis asterik (Star Squad)!

NOTES

Star Squad was formally called “Asterik,” a variation of “star” in central Aetherian. However, the first time Fin Heran heard this name he burst out laughing and accused Ev, saying, “Of course you’d have a goddamn Star Squad!” This was a reference to the fact that, as Emperor of Aetheria, Ev (or Razienne, at least) had become pretty damn famous—a “superstar” of sorts. He thought the name was hilarious, and despite the efforts of several of the team’s core members, including Ev and Talis, it stuck.

Star Squad (official name “verdis Asterik,” verdis meaning “squad” or “unit”) eventually merges with Delta Squad, Talis Errison’s former unit, which he was allowed to retain command of after becoming Emperade. So, you might often see me refer to “Star-Delta,” which just refers to the group post-merge.

Delta doesn’t have an official roster made up, or a timeline, whereas Star Squad does (because they’re more plot relevant). This might change in the future, but right now it’s just a handful of names I occasionally reference in-text.

ABOUT THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS

Star Squad goes through many iterations, and I have about 2/3 of the total membership over the years drawn up with ID cards (as of 09/2026). This first group is the very first iteration of the squad, and is thus referred to as Star Squad 1.0, Star Squad G1, or the original roster, etc.

Here’s some more info on each member of the original squad:

Cassius Varril (AS-02) — Served with Ev from 1907 to 1923 E-10, and was second in command of Asterik from its formation until his death in 1923.

• Formerly a Lieutenant in the ANIC. Has Command certifications for the ANIC, AHDC, and IAV, as well as the cert for Instruction Commander Type A3.
• Has a reputation for being cold, to the point, and unyielding. He’s not a bad guy, he just never learned how to be nice to people (and has effectively never heard of the phrase “let them down gently”).
• Takes a long time to trust others. Merias Garren got under his skin first and settled there, but it’s years before he opens up even remotely to Ev and the others. Given the fact that he’s a Vanguard soldier with a significant Tartarun heritage, this is not entirely unwarranted…
• Has a permanent tremor in his left hand from an undisclosed injury several years before Razienne came to power. Dislikes handling handguns or rifles as a result, and prefers artillery, magic, or melee weapons.

Merias Garren (AS-03) — Served with Ev from 1907 to 1926 E-10.

• Formerly a Captain in the ASMC, where she was in a leadership role with the 4th Battalion and lead her own squad within it. Has Primary and Secondary Command certifications for the ASMC and IAV, as well as certifications to be an Artillery Pilot Class 2, and an Advanced Scout (IAV).
• Has seen more shit than Varril, who she immediately tries to befriend and cozy up to, but is significantly more upbeat than he is. Compartmentalizes well, and struggles to come to terms with the less-than-shiny role she has had to fulfill as an ASMC commander. Grapples with her morality on her own time, away from her support network (if she has one)… and doesn’t always do it well.
• Is an excellent judge of character and started to trust Varril and Ev almost immediately, but recognized early on that Ev had no idea what they were getting into. Tries to steer them clear of the worst the Empire has to offer, for a time.
• Accounts for and masks Varril’s tremor and reluctance to shoot, which she noticed the first time she worked with him under Ev. Knows he’s seem some shit too, because an ANIC officer doesn’t get the same distant looks as she does without having been through hell of a similar kind.
• Has to exert her authority as one of the most senior members on the team, but is still an expert in rule-breaking and finding loopholes. Can be a lot of fun (or highly dangerous) when give the time.

Luka Mackee (AS-04) — Served with Asterik from its formation in 1917 to her death in 1921 E-10.

• Formerly a Lightblade in the ASMC (Junior Hyperion, C2 Trainee (Ballistics)). Has limited Tertiary Command permissions and training.
• Vibrant, loud, quick-thinking, and witty. Incredibly smart, especially when it comes to things with engines or anything explosive (including handgun plasma charges…), and works exceptionally well under pressure.
• Has a surprising amount of Shade and Tritaran (Tartarun) blood in her family history. Can shadow walk, which is handy on stealth missions and during extractions.
• Explosive. Literally.

Anaka Liel (AS-05) — Served with Asterik from its formation in 1917 to her death in 1927 E-10.

• Formerly a Medical Officer in the ANIC, then the CMO of the Imperial Vanguard 7th Battalion. Signed a contract with verdis Asterik in 1917. Has certifications to lead basic field medicine courses and train any and all medical personnel to completion.
• Straight-forward, blunt, and not always kind, but cares deeply about those under her care and will use any means necessary to secure their health and safety.
• Trained as a shielding specialist for better survival rates in the field, and is an excellent sniper.
• Learned loyalty in the ANIC, and brings it with her into the Vanguard. Gives what she gets, but is loyal to fault once someone has proven their good intentions. She can and will lie or falsify records to keep someone she trusts safe and protected.
• Wickedly good at card games.
• Predominantly Aetherian, but she has a little bit of Shade in her family line (hence the markings).

Cole Hackerie (AS-06) — Served with Asterik from its formation in 1917 to 1931 E-10, then returned after a break period to serve from 1935 until her death in 1941 E-10.

• Formerly a Hyperion C2/3 in the ASMC. Was inducted into the Vanguard after one too many missions gone “awry” that she was witness to.
• Intelligent, crafty, and deeply averse to the subjugation and murder of civilians (horror learned from experience). Fights to protect lives of non-guilty parties, and occasionally gets herself in trouble trying and failing to do the right thing. Spirited to the point of recklessness.
• Demolitions expert; was part of an ASMC destabilization and deconstruction unit. Can make a bomb out of nearly anything.
• Deeply loyal to Ev after they save her sister from imminent death, and for actions they took to release and rescue several members of various rebellion groups in a satellite dimension where they took a mission together.
• Has certifications to operate most ASMC and Vanguard heavy artillery and handle ballistics, and also gained Ranger certification prior to her transfer to the Vanguard. (Good with bombs, tech, operating heavy machinery, and scouting/intelligence gathering, and has sniper training.)
• Spitfire. Very opinionated and not afraid to let it out. Loud, comical, quick-thinking, and terribly loving.
• Permanently stunted her horn growth as a redsuit (trainee), and now has to wear a cap on her left horn to prevent nerve damage. The right horn was damaged permanently and will no longer grow, but isn’t much shorter than her left cap.
• Dual wields pistols and adapts to Ev’s learned teleportation regimen expertly. Develops an early form of their fighting style with them—multiple sword forms, self-defense tactics, hand-to-hand forms, and acrobatics used in tandem. When on certain ops, is primarily a heavy gunner or the team demolitionist.

Reina Hackerie (AS-07) — Served with Asterik from its formation in 1917 until 1946 E-10, one 5-year tour after her sister’s death.

• Formerly a Captain in the ANIC. Earned an excellent reputation amongst the Empire’s less desirable allies (pirates, people who skirted the edge of being warlords) but was useless when it came to formal, proper negotiations. Was transferred to the Vanguard after Ev save her life.
• Known for being “the sensible twin” who gets into less trouble than Cole, but is actually the opposite. She has gotten into more fights, has had her nose broken more times, and is sometimes even louder than Cole when it comes to her opinions and beliefs.
• Sneaky. Highly intelligent, and useful in tight situations or the war room. Retains far more patience than her twin, and can stand to be still for longer than two minutes, which makes her a valuable asset in stealth operations (planning and execution).
• Kind. Not always polite or nice, but always kind.
• Holds a command certification and was partially trained as a combination class Hyperion C1/3.
• Prefers working on tech and machinery to seeing live combat, and is often the one to run security and do stealth recon with Max. Excellent sniper, hacker, and strategist.

Max Seiren (AS-08) — Served with Asterik from its formation in 1917 until his death in 1924 E-10.

• Formerly a Corporal in the AHDC, was stationed near his home region with the intention of eventually retiring to become a peace officer and emergency responder. Was drafted into the Vanguard by lottery.
• Has very strong opinions about rules, proper protocol, and efficient action… until lives are put at stake. Then, his obsession with rules becomes a masterclass example of how to get around every last one of them without crossing a single line.
• Is highly intelligent, but people assume he isn’t because of his obsession with “rules” and “correctness,” and because of his blank expressions and anxiety. Straight up is just neurodivergent with anxiety. He is extremely capable in the field.
• Trained as a medic initially, but picked up an official ranger certification instead, which benefited him in the Vanguard.
• Generally a really sweet kid. Likes dogs, likes most people (great intuition), and is very crafty. Endears himself to the squad immediately, even if his constant recitation of the regs drives them all nuts.
• Best with long-range weapons (very nearly the best sniper on the team), and teaches Ev to shoot better when the others don’t have the patience. Teaches them to minimize damage with a high-power rifle, both for humane reasons and for efficiency.

*Gen I also includes Ev (call-sign/designation AS-01) and Talis, who sometimes stood in for Cassius Varril as AS-02. After Cassius dies, Talis becomes AS-02 full-time, still splitting his role as DS-01.

Fun fact: Ev obsessively runs to get their energy out and help sort through their thoughts. It’s a coping mechanism. They can run pretty long distances thanks to their built-up endurance and their higher respiratory capacity as a ziojic (can and will casually run 8 miles. For fun). Most of the original squad will join them on these runs, but only Cole, Anaka, and Talis usually make it the whole way.