A native of Hosk Station, Dern spent most of his life on the space station in orbit above Kalarba, except for trips to the surface with his father to explore the vast wildernesses of the planet below. Despite being brought up by his father to love adventure and getting away from it, he nevertheless has had little opportunity to nurture these passions. He recently began working as a holonet technician for the Hosk Station's education system, a desk job which ironically gave him the chance to set out on an adventure of his making during the students' vacation. Using Hosk Station's position as a trade hub to his advantage, he's used his meager savings and a willingness to work to catch rides on trade ships, carrying all his possessions in his backpack given to him by his father, with an ultim