Cousin Jenny from Mindoir? I'm assuming that she essentially had the colonist origin story but didn't join the Navy. Interesting little touch there. Speaking of family, Hannah Shepard is a remarkably amusing woman. Also likely a rather embarrassing mother from time to time (As is her right when having someone like Jane Shepard for a daughter, I suppose).
The Thane snippet is possibly even more interesting. Lyta is adorable, Kolyat is amusing, and Thane is... well, going to live. That's a very interesting twist on top of someone already saving Irikah. And the benefactor involved isn't hiring him for killing annoying people. He's certainly a good choice for a spy/infiltrator sort. But now I'm really wondering who it could be arranging things there.
The Thane snippet is possibly even more interesting. Lyta is adorable, Kolyat is amusing, and Thane is... well, going to live. That's a very interesting twist on top of someone already saving Irikah. And the benefactor involved isn't hiring him for killing annoying people. He's certainly a good choice for a spy/infiltrator sort. But now I'm really wondering who it could be arranging things there.