Down to business?

Aherm, since I'm not fond of spoilers, here is a rather elusive plot summary:
A young graduate of a military academy is assigned to an obscure post because of his odd talents and mild temperament. When he arrives, he finds the rest of the unlikely crew almost as strange as him. They were all assigned to the tiny post for different reasons, but it's very clear that the military does not want them or need them, but simply cannot get rid of them completely. However, a political scandal is brewing that would have gone unnoticed, if not for our crew of odds and ends. As they heroically, but not too successfully, try to save the day, they find that maybe they're not so useless after all.

-Laura

Character Outlines!
Kiloh: A young graduate of the Academy, who really doesn't care for the military at all. If he had his way, he'd be a mechanic right now. He's a mild mannered fellow, who'd rather please someone than upset them with his opinion. Quiet, but bright when it comes to mechanics, he goes unnoticed by most. He feels a little weirded out and uncomfortable when first arriving, but fits in like a glove once he gets to know the rest of crew.

Shelty: She originally went into Academy Service (military service) because she wanted to travel, and see the world. Unfortunately, she got stuck in a tiny port instead. She's what I'd call a burnt marshmallow: looks intimidating, but is a real softy. She is often the one to take charge and organize, though she's not the official captain, only the pilot. Out of all the crew, she tries the hardest to make Kiloh feel at home.

Jerev: He's been just about everywhere and knows just about everyone. Different from the others, he actually requested to be assigned to this post (it was the only place he hadn't been!). Easygoing and utterly hysterical at times, it's not hard to see why he has so many good friends. His only quirk is his extreme messiness, and it's a wonder how he ever finds anything. He is the ship's navigator and can be found either eating, or pouring over his maps he keeps stuffed just about everywhere.

Pepper: A firecracker of a redhead. It's no surprise, due to her sporadic personality, that she's the ship's explosive expert. Though crazy and hotheaded at times, the crew would be lost without her quirky humor and odd antics. She is outspoken and the rest of the crew definitely suffers the side affects, but she has an extremely lovable side which worms its way into just about everybody.

Hian (Hianuro): He is just about the most old fashioned fellow around. Instead of guns, t-shirts, jeans and slang, he prefers swords and daggers, kimono robes, boots, and a large vocabulary. Whoever says "Chivalry is dead" has obviously never met Hian! He is reserved, polite, quiet and intimidating on first aquaintance (but not afterwards!). Nobody has quite a knack for breaking through his reserve like Pepper. They pester eachother to death, and he's the only one who dares to use her real name (Olivia) without fear of annihilation. Besides being skilled in swordsmanship and martial arts, he knows eight languages, and serves as the ship's translator apon occasion.

Meercrat (???): This old toughie used to be quite a general back in the day. Now, the Academy has no more use for his middle age, and has reassigned him here. His rigid demeanor has somewhat softened since he's been exposed to the infectious humor of the crew. He's even been caught chuckling once or twice. He is the ship's "official" captain but has long since given over the role to Shelty.