Andre Leje

**Andre Leje**, known as simply "**Leje**," is the leader of the ex-Independent crew that travels aboard the Ray.

During Phase 1 of The Severance War, Leje fought for the Independents and was one of the highest ranking soldiers on their side of the war.

## Biography

### Early Life

Leje was born in the Ansmouth region of the CRNC. Raised by his mother and "about 40 hands," Leje apparently received a fairly decent education growing up. Though Leje usually seems more practical than intellectual, he occasionally surprises his friends by displaying familiarity with a wide range of literature varying from the works of Shan Yu, a psychotic dictator, to poems by Makian philosophers (the latter pleasing Valentine very much).

### BOND

Leje volunteered for the Independent army during Phase 1, gaining the rank of sergeant during that time. His second-in-command, David Weying, was by his side for most of the war, surviving many dangerous conflicts with him, such as the Beringer Battles and a long winter campaign in Holanth where he commanded a squad. Leje and David eventually marry; however, David dies three years later in the Disarray.

Leje was also involved in the ground campaign during the Battle of Sturges, which according to Bea was the "bloodiest and shortest battle in all the war", although Leje considered it a distant second. Leje fought in many more battles, but the turning point for him and all of the Independents came with their physical and emotional defeat when the Disarray happened at the Independents' main base in Wache.

In the aftermath of Phase 1, Leje saw a rogue life as an escape from his past battles. To this end, he acquired his own R4 Vehicle, later named the Ray, and approached a select few with his idea. Thus, Leje's crew was formed.

With the Ray and during his various travels, Leje wielded a standard issue officer's blaster, a Hammer, as his weapon of choice, a gun which he'd had since the war and had modified extensively.

## Personality

Despite losing his faith in religion after the Disarray, Leje retains a strong faith in humanity. He mentions to Valentine Coffey in Emissarium that he had risked the lives of his crew on the theory that Valentine was human and not just a living weapon as the Bauers claimed. Though wary in his personal dealings, he puts great stock in the fundamental goodness of people in general. He has a very negative view of governmental institutions; in his words, they are only for "getting in a man's way." The Republic and the syndicates, both of which tend to be particularly fond of interference and regulation, are thus his ideological nemeses. His contempt for the Republic never disappears after Phase 1 (he likes that it's "easy to make a buck off 'em", and was shown on multiple occasions to be happy to steal Alliance supplies), and although he was on the losing side of war, he "doesn't regret it for a second." Leje expresses what seems to be his manifesto:

> "[The Republic] will swing back to the belief that they can make people better. And I do not hold to that. So no more running. I aim to misbehave."
>
>

His anti-government attitude is reflected in his choice to live in the Ray, moving from place to place, as far away from Republic interference as possible. Although he seems morally compromised, he's a man of compassion (refusing jobs that would involve him in slavery, for instance), with a strong sense of nobility. He does, however, kill those who threaten him (with the philosophy that, "If someone tries to kill you, you try and kill 'em right back"). He isn't above joking with his crew or picking bar fights, but he retains his honor in the face of adversity. What separates him from typical heroes is that Leje is the type of person who's willing to shoot first and skip the questions, not even bothering with a "fair fight." He isn't above petty theft, smuggling, or even killing, but often rationalizes such behavior to make it appear more noble or valiant, such as stealing from Syndicates.

He's very protective of his crew and fiercely loyal. He retains the idea that you never leave someone behind and, once you are a part of his crew, you are assured his protection. He treats an attack on a member of his crew as being tantamount to a direct assault on him and won't stand for it. He's a natural leader, inspiring loyalty that's reciprocated as is shown in both his war experiences and in his relationship with his crew. It's hinted that Mal and Lee Kanoska (the woman who takes in the crew after Valentine's rescue) have strong feelings for one another. However, both hide their true feelings and seem to only release the tension by quarreling most of the time.