Pol Nietro was the Head Zoologist of the original Pern colony. He came from First Centauri. Along with his future bride, Bay Harkenon, Dr. Nietro carried out the initial evaluation of the dragonets' capabilities. He was the one who traded eggs of dead hatchlings for the altered Sean Connell's egg for a gray horse named Cricket. Being the head of large department on First Centauri, gave him the background set up this expedition