Edison Trent

The protagonist of the game Freelancer.

## Background

Edison Trent spent a large portion of his adult life in Bretonia on Planet Leeds where he worked for Tobias and helped him fix ships. He disdains titles, and when Juni called him "Mr. Trent" he corrected her and said to just call him "Trent."

## The Deal of a Lifetime

Trent longed to explore the other worlds in the Sirius Sector and finally decided to leave shortly before the Nomad War began. Tobias discouraged him from doing this, but Trent left anyways seeking adventure and fortune among the unexplored and newly discovered areas of the Border Worlds. Indeed, the large numbers of unexplored planets in the Border Worlds and the discovery of alien ruins out there were particularly attractive to him.

On his journey to the Sigma Systems, he encountered several pirates in the Independent Worlds but was saved by police patrols. . Once he arrived at the Border Worlds, Trent spent four weeks exploring the area but didn't find any alien ruins or unexplored systems.  He did, however, come across a Republican Shipping captain willing to sell him a ton of Boron. Trent agreed to buy the Boron in exchange for his life savings, and purchased the Boron on Planet Kurile.

Trent found a buyer for the Boron, a man named Lonnigan who represented Samura Heavy Industries. . They met on Planet Kurile and agreed on the price: one million credits in exchange for the Boron, with the exchange to take place on Freeport 7 the following day.

Unfortunately for Trent, the day the exchange would take place was the same day that unknown forces attacked and destroyed Freeport 7. Trent managed to make it to a nearby life pod before the station exploded, and he managed to save Sam Lonnigan's life by carrying his unconscious body to the life pod. He arrived on Planet Manhattan with nothing but the clothes on his skin and 500 credits - not even enough to book passage back to Leeds on a waste disposal freighter. Desperate to hold on to this "deal of a lifetime", he told the personnel from Medical to make sure that Lonnigan lived, since "he owes me some credits!" Based on this remark, it's safe to assume that Trent's motivation for saving Lonnigan's life was motivated in large part out of a desire to be paid.

Overall, Trent was mostly disinterested in finding out who was behind the attack, describing in his Neural Net Log how the other survivors "simply wouldn't stop talking about what had happened on Freeport 7" and that the whole debate was "useless".

## Working for the LSF

### Finding a Job

Upon arriving in Manhattan, Trent's main concern was holding Sam Lonnigan to his deal so that Trent could get paid his million credits. Since Medical told him that it would take a while before he recovered, and without the credits to make it off world on his own, he decided to start looking for a job while still being close to Manhattan for Lonnigan's recovery. His search took him to the Manhattan bar.

Trent talks with the bartender over a drink. While Trent wanted a Sidewinder Fang he settled, begrudgingly, for a Liberty Ale since that's all the bar served. He later recounts that it's "definitely the only one I'll ever drink" The bartender suggests that he talk with Jun'ko Zane from the LSF if he is looking for a job. The bartender then recognizes Trent as one of the Freeport 7 Survivors and gives him a much better tasting drink, on the house, and toasts Trent to his good fortune in Liberty. Trent is still visibly shaken by the destruction of Freeport 7 and figures as bad as things are, they really can't get any worse.

Eventually, Trent decides to go over to talk with Juni, even though it means interrupting her conversation with an unnamed businessman. Although Juni is initially quite annoyed at his interruption, she begins asking who he works for and if he has a ship. When she realizes that Trent is one of the Freeport 7 Survivors she becomes much more sympathetic and asks him to meet her in the equipment room later if he wants a job and to call her "Juni" if they'll be working together.

When he meets her, Juni offers him a ship, an old Starflier which Trent describes as "old and pretty crappy" and doesn't even have jump access. However, the offer of a ship also came with the offer of a job and some credits. Initially Trent declines. Juni is annoyed and maintains that she is his best chance to get a ship but says that her offer still stands. . Trent thinks about it and realizes that it's going to take a while for Lonnigan to recover so he could hang around the New York System and make some money in the interim. Trent returns to accept the job and proceeds to rendezvous with the mission commanding officer, King, in orbit of Manhattan.

### Mission 1: Convoy Escort

The first mission Trent accepts is an escort mission from Fort Bush to Planet Pittsburgh in exchange for 2000 credits.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 **Cutscene: A Ship and a Job - The Offer**

	* <Trent walks into the equipment hangar which has its lights off>
	* Trent: Hello?
	* <lights turn on>
	* Juni: I'm pleased to see you. Are you ready to work for the LSF Mr. Trent?
	* Trent: It's just Trent. And yeah, I'm here to see what you have to offer.
	* Juni: Well, I found this ship for you. It's very basic and you won't have jump access yet. But it should be good enough for now.
	* Juni: This assignment will be easy. All you have to do is babysit a convoy of food and medical supplies. You'll be hooking up with the escort CO King. I'll tell him to expect you. That is, of course, if you're interested.
2. ↑ *I've finally decided to leave Bretonia to try my luck in the Borderworlds. Despite what Tobias says, I can't sit around Leeds for the rest of my life and fix up other people's ships while more and more alien ruins are being discovered. They say that only 11 percent of the Borderworlds have been charted yet and hundreds of unknown planets are awaiting discovery. I'm starting this personal Neural Net Log to keep track of my travels and adventures.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #1
3. ↑ *After two weeks of travel, I finally managed to get to the Sigma system cluster. The trip through the Independent Worlds turned out to be much more dangerous than I thought. I was lucky several times that police patrols happened to be in the area when pirates wanted to blast me out of the stars. Anyway, word has it that there are a number of uncharted systems in this area of space. I will try to find out more information.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #2
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *It's been six weeks since my last entry. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out anything about alien ruins or uncharted systems. Very frustrating. The only thing I've heard was that there's been sightings of strange ships out near Sigma 17. Who knows. The good news is that I've managed to hook up with a captain of a Republican Shipping convoy. He's transporting a large shipment of Boron from Mainz to Honshu, but wants to keep the profits for himself. We agreed to meet on Kurile tomorrow. We'll see, maybe luck is on my side this time.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #3
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Well, I did the deal. I'm now the proud owner of over a ton of Boron. I put all my savings into this deal. It's not entirely legal, but here in the Borderworlds, nobody really pays too much attention to this. I've been in contact with a man named Lonnigan, apparently a hired gun representing Samura Heavy Industries. He says his clients might be interested in the shipment.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #4
6. ↑ *I met Lonnigan as planned on Kurile yesterday and we came to an agreement on the price. The plan is to meet on Freeport 7 tomorrow to seal the deal on the ore shipment. If everything works out they'll owe me a million credits. It's the deal of a lifetime.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #5
7. ↑ *I still can't quite believe it. Lonnigan and I had just signed the deal when the attack occurred. We barely made it out alive. From the time the alert started, we only had a few moments before the station blew up. Hundreds of people weren't so lucky. I actually had to carry Lonnigan to the life pod because a bulkhead collapsed during the attack and hit him in the head. He's been unconscious ever since. The medics assure me that he'll recover. I certainly hope so. We're currently on a rescue ship enroute to Manhattan but things aren't looking so good. I lost my ship and my ore shipment blew up with the rest of the station. All I have left is 500 credits. That wouldn't even buy me a ticket back to Leeds on a waste disposal freighter.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #6
8. ↑ **Cutscene: Trent Arrives on Manhattan**

	* Medical Person: We're here from Medical. Is there anyone seriously injured?
	* Trent: One - inside.
<Medical personnel return carrying Sam Lonnigan on a stretcher>

	* Trent: Make sure he lives - he owes me some credits!
	* Medical Person: Your concern is touching. We'll do everything we can. It may take a while.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 *Well, after several days of travel, we finally arrived on Manhattan. It was about time, the rescue ship was everything but a pleasant experience. The other eight survivors simply wouldn't stop talking about what had happened on Freeport 7. Speculations were running wild, and just about everybody was accused at one point or another. Some were convinced Chancellor Niemann was behind the attack, and others accused Governor Tekagi. A Kruger rep assured me that Samura was the only possible group that had an interest in destroying Freeport 7. After a whole lot of useless debate, the majority seemed to agree in the end that The Order was behind it. Anyway, I have to say Manhattan is everything that Tobias made it out to be: a single giant city that covers almost the entire planet. They say that over 220 million people live here - unbelievable. The medics just took Lonnigan to intensive care in Medical. They said it'll take a while until he's released. No matter how long it takes, I'll stay in Manhattan until he recovers. After all, we had signed the deal already. In the meantime, I should find a job. My 500 credits won't last long. Maybe there is someone in the bar who could give me a lead.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #7
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 **Cutscene: Trent Meets Juni**

	* Trent: Sorry, the bartender said you work for the Liberty Security Force.
	* Juni: And who do you work for, Mr...
	* Trent: Trent. I work for myself.
	* Juni: What kind of ship do you have?
	* Trent: I lost mine... on Freeport 7.
	* Juni: I see. Are you staying in Liberty long?
	* Trent: I've got a friend who was injured in the attack. He's in Medical. I'll be staying at least until he's released.
	* Juni: Well as it happens I could use a good freelancer, Mr. Trent. I'll be in the equipment room later. You can meet me there. Oh, and if we are gonna work together, call me Juni.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 *Nice, after all I've been through. The bar here doesn't even carry a Sidewinder Fang. The bartender served me a Liberty Ale - definitely the only one I'll ever drink - but after talking for a while, he gave me something else, which was at least decent. He also pointed me to a Liberty Security Force officer who might have a job for me. Her name is Jun'ko Zane. She's talking to some guy right now. I guess it's okay for me to interrupt and see if she has something for me.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #8
12. ↑ **Cutscene: Trent Walks into the Manhattan Bar**

	* Trent: A Sidewinder Fang.
	* Manhattan Bartender: All we have is Liberty Ale, friend.
	* Trent: Fine.
	* Manhattan Bartender: Her name is Jun'ko Zane. She's a tough one.
	* Trent: Oh? Why's that?
	* Manhattan Bartender: She's LSF: all business - if it's a job you're wanting, that is. On the other hand, if you're looking for something more...
	* Trent: Well, the only thing I'm looking for right now is this drink.
13. ↑ **Cutscene: New Beginnings in Liberty**

	* Manhattan Bartender: I know you.
	* Trent: No, no. I don't think so.
	* Manhattan Bartender: The news - I saw your face on the news. You're one of the Freeport 7 Survivors, aren't you?
	* Trent: Yeah.
	* Manhattan Bartender: I heard it was pretty bad out there. You know, you're lucky to be alive.
	* Trent: Hah!
	* Manhattan Bartender: This one's on me, friend. It's the good stuff.
	* Trent: Why?
	* Manhattan Bartender: Because it's not every day a man has the chance to start again, huh? To your good fortune in Liberty, sir!
	* Trent: Well, it can't get any worse.
<takes a drink from his Liberty Ale>

	* Trent: Thanks.
14. ↑ *I talked to her. At first she seemed pretty annoyed that I interrupted her conversation, but after she heard that I was on Freeport, she was a lot nicer. Seems like I could be in luck! She's looking for a freelancer right now and said that she'd be in the equipment room later. I also have to remember to call her Juni, not Jun'ko. I'll definitely look her up - it sounds promising.* -**Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #9
15. ↑ *I looked up Juni in the equipment room. She offered me an old and pretty crappy ship and a few thousand credits if I help escort a convoy of Food and medical supplies. Right now, I'm not really interested, but she said the offer would still stand if I come back later. She was certainly not pleased that I turned her down and told me that she's my best chance for getting a ship. She could well be right. We'll see.* -**Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #10
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 *I took the job. Juni offered me an old surplus Starflier and a few thousand credits. The ship is old and doesn't have jump gate access, but it's better than nothing. As long as I'm waiting for Lonnigan to recover, I don't mind hanging around in the New York system for a while. The mission itself seems easy enough: escort a convoy of Food and medical supplies from Ft. Bush to Pittsburgh. I don't really know where any of these places are, but she said the mission should be easy. I'm supposed to hook up with the mission CO King in space above Manhattan. Juni said my ship will be moved to the launch pad. All I have to do is get ready and launch into space.* - **Edison Trent**, Neural Net Log Entry #11
17. ↑ **Cutscene: A Ship and a Job - Declining the Job**

	* Trent: I'll have to think it over.
	* Juni: Fine with me if you want to hang around Manhattan, but I think I'm your best shot at getting a ship. I'll be here for a while in case you change your mind.

--- If Trent returns ---

	* Juni: Hmm, look who it is again. Have you thought it over Trent? My offer still stands - take the mission and the ship is yours.
18. ↑ **Cutscene: A Ship and a Job - Trent Accepts**

	* Trent: Sounds good. I'm in.
	* Juni: Good, better get going. I'll have your ship moved immediately. All you have to do is go to the landing pad and launch.
	* Juni: King will be waiting for you near the docking ring in space, okay? I'll see you when you get back.
	* Trent: Thanks.
19. ↑ ==Briefing==
**Mission 1: Convoy Escort**

	* **Objective:** Escort a convoy of food and medical supplies from Fort Bush to the mining colony on Planet Pittsburgh. The mission's commanding officer, Michael King, is waiting to rendezvous in space near the Manhattan docking ring.
	* **Difficulty:** LSF Intel has classified this mission as low-risk. Pirate attacks are considered possible.
	* **Reward:** 2000 credits
## Background

This mission was part of a scheme that Jun'ko Zane and Michael King came up with. Juni had been trying to find a pilot to take the escort mission but found few takers until she came upon **Edison Trent** who was recently destitute after the Destruction of Freeport 7 and looking for a ship and a job.