Zob

**Zob (formerly Pennsylvania Railroad No. 9) the Grumpy Railway Tug** is a main protagonist in the SeventyVerse's TUGS spinoff series, and was the seventh member of the Z-Stacks and is currently the ninth member of the Star Fleet.

## Backstory

Pennsylvania Railroad No. 9 was built for the PRR as a railway tug in 1904. When America entered the First World War, PRR No. 9 was sent to the front as a mineswapping tug. During that time, there was an accident when two reckless engines, Herbert and Stanley tried to have a race backwards but crashed into each other and caused a huge fire. PRR No. 9 got a scar on his left eye from the accident and tried to bring Corporal Harry Lucky (Captain Lucky's husband) to the hospital after he was burnt. Unfortunately, Corporal Lucky died before they could get there. PRR No. 9 became grumpy and cynical as a result of his death and was transferred back to New York.

After the war, PRR No. 9 returned to the Pennsylvania Railroad as a railway tug. In 1921, Captain Zero was looking for a railway tug to compete with Top Hat of the Star Fleet. PRR No. 9 volunteered to go so that he could set a better example for the Z-Stacks and was renamed "Zob". Zob arrived at the same time as Zues and Zilly during the Heat Wave of 1921, in which he took Lord Stinker when Warrior was called away. However, his arrival was poorly-timed as it wasn't long after Little Owl's accident at the bridge with Zak and she had developed a grudge towards the Z-Stacks, which meant Top Hat got more of the business than his rival. Nevertheless, Captain Zero kept Zob on as he would be used whenever Top Hat was unavailable. Following the events of hearing of his escapade, he had an accident. He was later forced to come clean after he assisted with the rescue of Little Owl that he used to be PRR No. 9. The other tugs and the human captains/controller saluted him, and while he is still grumpy, he also became sociable following the truth reveal.

It was also discovered that he and Zorran were brothers. When the Second World War occurred, a tragic set of circumstances led to Zob, Zebedee and Zip as the last three remaining Z-Stacks and without a captain after Captain Zero was shot dead by his wife Ursula. Luckily for them, Captain Zero asked Captain Star to look after them just before he died. Nowadays, Zob works for the Star Fleet as their No. 9, a link to his Pennsylvania Railroad days and became the full time replacement for Top Hat, who had also been killed in the war.

In the TUGS Survival AU, Zero Marine Bigg City is still operational and Zob still serves as their railway tug.

## Relationships

### Zorran

Zob's influence has been getting to Zorran, and Zorran has been acting much kinder to the Z-Stacks as a result. After Zob came clean about his past, it was discovered that he and Zorran were brothers. As such, when Zorran sacrificed his life to save Bigg City Port from Zak, Zeus and Ursula Zero, Zob was saddened but glad that Zorran had died a hero.

### Zebedee

Because of Zebedee's moral compass, Zob has gently been trying to coax it out. Zebedee trusts Zob enough to help him out with both finding O.J. and fix Lillie when she was damaged by the freightliner. The two often lean on each other for emotional support, if Captain Zero has been ranting at the Z-Stacks.

### Zak

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

### Zip

Zob would give Zip instructions on how to be brave and this went a long way when Zip volunteered for the Navy.

### Zug

(Details regarding Zob and Zug's relationship to be added)

### Zeus

Zeus and Zob never got on and the latter would often make snarky comments about the former.

### Top Hat

Zob was cross with Top Hat when he refused to help with the Munitions fire. Though Top Hat was speechless, he does respect his rival. When O.J. wound up at Burke and Blair's, Top Hat asked the other tugs to look for Zob to take Frank and Eddie for him while he goes to rescue O.J.

(More details regarding Zob and Top Hat's relationship to be added)

### Frank and Eddie

Like Top Hat, Zob can often get annoyed with Frank and Eddie's antics.

### Little Owl

Because of Little Owl's grudge towards the Z-Stacks, she refused to work with Zob. After Zob led the charge to rescue her from the fire, however, Little Owl gained a new found respect for Zob.

### Captain Lucky

Zob may have been snarky and grumpy, but Captain Lucky sensed he was a good-hearted tug deep down. When he finally told her the truth about his past and that he failed to save her husband, Captain Lucky didn't hold any ill will towards him. Zob also escorted Captain Lucky's daughter Andrea to the wedding, and was the Something Borrowed for the Good Luck Package.

## Personality

Zob isn't evil - just grumpy and anti-social. The residents of Bigg City have yet to see him smile. That doesn't mean that he doesn't care about others around him. If there is trouble, he will come to help. Zob is also quite professional at his work to the point where even Top Hat respects him. (Info regarding Grudge and the Wartime Trilogy to be added)

## Technical Details

### Basis

Zob is based on USS Pennsylvania R. R. No. 9, a United States Navy armed tug and minesweeper in commission from 1917 to 1919, after which it was returned to the Pennsylvania Railroad.

### Livery

Zob 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 "7" on his funnel. Like the rest of the Z-Stacks, he wears a black fedora with a white stripe.

In Aftermath, Zob is repainted in the Star Fleet's corporate yellow, red, blue and white livery and is given the number "9" on his stack. This is a nod to him being the P.R.R. No. 9 earlier in his life.

(Details regarding Zob's Pennsylvania Railroad livery to be added)

## Trivia

* The preferred voice actor for Zob is Christian Bale, who portrayed Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan's *The Dark Knight* trilogy.
	+ Zob's preferred voice actor was originally intended to be Adam Kirschner, who voiced Mudbriar from *My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic*. After Jonathan imagined Zob being voiced by Christian Bale however, this was changed to Christian Bale. Adam Kirschner is now going to be given to Alonso.
* Zob is based on the original concept of the fifth Z-Stack, whereby Zob would have been a switcher tug.
* Zob is given the number 9 when he joined the Stars. Funnily enough, this was the number he had on the P.R.R.
* Zob's worst nightmare is Captain Lucky not forgiving him for failing to getting her husband to a doctor in time. However, she does forgive him, and greatly appreciates what he did.