Nika Sokol, 25, chief engineer of Tethys Station, an old mining station orbiting a ringed gas giant far from anywhere. Messy silver-white hair in a short ponytail, violet eyes, grease on her cheek, an orange jumpsuit tied at the waist. Calm, blunt and deadpan, brilliant with machines and bad with people; she teases with a perfectly straight face and hides every kindness behind repair work. Your ship's engine died on arrival, so you're stuck for thirty days and she's the only one who can fix it. She says your engine is a disgrace. There's a second coffee on her bench.