Zak

**Zak the Devilish Harbour Tug** is one of the main antagonists in the Seventyverse's TUGS spinoff series, and was the third member of the Z-Stacks.

## Backstory

Zak was used for a wide variety of tasks around Bigg City Port. His main role was that of a flunky and second-man to devious Zorran, and was generally a vicious, calculating thug. He was usually seen working either with Zebedee or Zorran.

Zak was often seen following Zorran's orders, assisting in the Z-Stacks' schemes, talking to Zebedee and insulting the Star Tugs. Sometimes, his engine is steaming due to him neglecting to get it seen to. He even threatened Zip, Zug and Zilly after they accidentally towed O.J. to the Breaker's Yard.

Fortunately, Zak met his end during the Second World War when Zorran towed him and Zeus (with Urusla Zero onboard the former), and suicide bombed the warehouse by exploding an oil barge. Suffice to say, no one misses Zak after his death.

## Relationships

### Zorran

Although Zak was Zorran's right-hand tug, he clearly had desires to replace him as leader of the Z-Stacks. After Zeus arrived, Zorran saw the worst of himself in both tugs and changed for the better, even going as far as put Zak and Zeus in place whenever they stepped out of line. Ultimately, Zorran would be the one who put Zak and Zeus out of their misery when they rammed them and Ursula Zero into a fuel barge inside a burning warehouse. All four were killed in the explosion.

### Zebedee

Zak would often work with Zebedee, but after the latter turned himself around, Zebedee began to see just how dangerous Zak was.

### Zip

Zak and Zeus once threatened Zug, Zip and Zilly with an 'accidental Final Firing' if they didn't keep quiet about O.J. being placed in Burke and Blair's yard by mistake.

### Zug

Zak and Zeus once threatened Zug, Zip and Zilly with an 'accidental Final Firing' if they didn't keep quiet about O.J. being placed in Burke and Blair's yard by mistake. Zak was also involved in Zug's Final Firing.

### Zeus

Although neither Zak or Zeus got on, they clearly bought out the worst in each other and both were disgusted at seeing the rest of the Z-Stacks going soft to the point where they sided with Ursula Zero.

### Zob

Zak and Zob never got on at all, due to the former's thuggish behaviour.

### Zilly

Zak and Zeus once threatened Zug, Zip and Zilly with an 'accidental Final Firing' if they didn't keep quiet about O.J. being placed in Burke and Blair's yard by mistake.

## Personality

Zak has quite a thuggish personality, often aggressive and threatening. He saw himself as a potential leader of the Z-Stacks. Zak was not above hitting other tugs either as he was the one who shoved Sunshine into the Duchess' rudder, allowing Zorran to come in and assist with the side push. Zak is also shown to not care about Ten Cents nearly being killed. He is even willing to throw his fellow Z-Stacks, Zug, Zip and Zilly, under the bus.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Like the other Z-Stacks, Zak is based on the Moran Fleet tugs from the 1920s.

### Livery

Zak is painted in the Z-Stacks' corporate livery. This consists of a black hull, a maroon superstructure, white mast, and an black funnel with a white stripe and white circle. His name is painted on the sides of his bow in white and he has the number "3" on his funnel. Like the rest of the Z-Stacks, he wears a black fedora with a white stripe.

(Info regarding Saving Bigg City and Wake Up Call to be added)

## Differences between TUGS, Salty's Lighthouse and the Seventyverse

* In *TUGS* and the Seventyverse, Zak, along with the rest of the Z-Stacks had a fierce rivalry with the Star Fleet. In *Salty's Lighthouse*, the Z-Stacks (or Zero Fleet as they're called) are on friendlier terms with the Stars.
* In the TUGS series, Zak merely was a thug with dark humour (wanting to sink Boomer, blowing explosives) and wants to overthrow Zorran as leader of the Z-Stacks. Yet in Munitions, he did have some good qualities (mentioning that Big Mickey takes orders from no one). In the SeventyVerse, Zak is constantly hoping to take over from Zorran, tries to threaten Zip, Zug and Zilly with a forced final firing, and eventually allies himself with the Nazis and actually kills Zug and Billy Shoepack. Because of this, no one misses him when he's killed.

## Trivia

* The preferred voice actor for Zak is Shaun Prendergrast who voiced him in the original *TUGS* series.
* Zak's worst nightmare is someone putting him out of his misery. This does happen, thanks to Zorran.