Simon Den Beste

Simon Den Best was the captain of the interstellar scout ship Astra Cartographer and an employee of the Astra Consortium. He is a native of the planet Bella La Cava and a former Commander in the Free Worlds Star Force, where he commanded the Fast Attack Corvette Dangerous Intruder. 
Den Beste was recruited to Astra Cartographer soon after its construction. The Astra Consortium demanded that the commanders of its fact exploration vessels have command experience with either Star Force or the Commonwealth Galactic Fleet. Den Beste, who was due to retire from his command anyway, took their generous salary and signing bonus offer.
Beneath his calm demeanor, Den Beste may or may not be hiding a dark and tragic secret. Who knows? 
Den Beste commands the ship, but Honoria Keeler is in charge of the mission, which frequently brings the two into conflict. 
He appears in the Free Worlds 1 Story: Alpha Priori and the Free Worlds 2 Story: Queed