Seth

**Seth** is the captain of the Perihelion, a teaching and research vessel, and occasional cargo hauler. These goals are also a cover for his crew's anti-corporate activities, which are to gather information and strike out against corporations.

## Biography

Seth has one marital partner (Martyn) and one daughter (Iris), who he and Martyn raised alongside the Perihelion AI like a sibling. As of Network Effect he's affiliated with the Pansystem University of Mihira and New Tideland. He and his crew had received word that Barish-Estranza was turning its attention towards the Lost Colony, so they set out to reach it first. They intend to block Barish-Estranza from re-enslaving the colony and, if possible, to make new allies.

Before they can reach the colony, they're intercepted and captured (ironically) by lost colonists who'd hijacked a Barish-Estranza shuttle and were looking for a ship that could travel further. Three of Seth's crew are given implants made of Pre-Corporation-Rim technology and alien code, much like the ones already implanted on the Lost Colonists. Seth and the unaffected members of his crew are approached by a sympathetic colonist, who smuggles them to the Lost Colony's surface in an attempted rescue. The colonist dies in the attempt, and Seth, Kaede, Tarik, Matteo, and Iris continue on to the surface alone, where they're immediately stranded: they have nowhere safe in the colony to go, and no way to return to their ship.

They're struggling to reactivate the lift pod when fighting breaks out among the colonists, triggered by the arrival of Murderbot's drop box. Murderbot, Thiago and Overse reach out, coordinating their rescue. Seth and the others recognize everyone by the Perihelion enviro-suits they're wearing, and Murderbot by the pictures ART showed them previously.

They make it back to the Perihelion, but Murderbot is captured in the process. Once they regroup they immediately coordinate a rescue, and soon Murderbot is safe as well.

An armed ship from the Preservation Alliance arrives some days later, expecting to need to rescue the PreservationAux team. Murderbot reaches out and diffuses the situation, and Seth and Iris tell Mensah about their group's true mission, recruiting her (and her people's) help.

## Personality

He is grim when Murderbot first meets him, injured and cornered by a firefight. He does not trust Murderbot at first, needing proof that it knows Perihelion before he'll cooperate with its rescue plan. Murderbot tells him its personal moniker for ART (Asshole Research Transport), and Seth relaxes, instantly recognizing the sense of humor and what it means about Murderbot's connection to his ship.

Seth is focused and adaptable, able to recognize new allies, gauge their trustworthiness, and accept their help in a very short amount of time.

Although Seth is designated as the captain, the command structure on Perihelion seems relatively informal. Iris calls Seth "Dad" and seems comfortable arguing with him about proposed actions while they are on a mission.

## Physical Appearance

Seth is a tall man with less hair than most SecUnits. His skin is very dark, and during Network Effect he's wearing a bloodstained version of Perihelion's crew uniform, which is blue and includes a jacket with a logo. He is injured, having bruises and a limp.

## Notes

* Murderbot finds a large cabin that could be Captain's quarters while giving ART an initial sweep. There is a photo in this cabin that shows two men, one of which has dark skin and no hair on the front half of his head. (Murderbot avoids identifying the faces at the time, so their identities are only implied.)

## References

1. ↑ *426. All About Murderbot with Martha Wells*, SB Sarah, Smart Podcast Trashy Books, https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/426-all-about-murderbot-with-martha-wells/#transcript