PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Nick is 6'3", Athletic build, dark hair cut in a common 
military style (neat, layered and off the ears and neck) with 
piercing grey eyes (think JAG). Nick is considered very 
handsome. When not in uniform nick wears the age old ranchers
"uniform", denim jeans, chambray shirt and leather boots.

His superiors consider Nick a perfect officer, his friends 
think he is the greatest party animal ever, and women think 
he is the Heavens' gift to them, but the truth is Nick is
married to his job. His shuttlecraft are lovingly customized 
and in perfect condition. Nick rarely sees what is right in 
front of his nose, if it doesn't fly. His greatest ambition 
is to die, old, grey and shriveled, in the cockpit of one of
his restored ancient Earth atmospheric jetcraft.

collecting and restoring or re-creating ancient Earth 
atmospheric Jetcraft

Nick is the only son of an Earth rancher and his wife. 
Brought up on a nearly old fashoned ranch (they used 
automatic robotic hovercraft rather than horses to gather 
the cattle), Nick was surrounded by nature outdoors and his 
mothers computer systems indoors. Learning the best of both
worlds, Nick grew up a very balanced person. 

The ranch was under a flight path for the Boise Spaceport,
and Nick began dreaming of piloting one of the graceful 
spacecraft as soon as he learned there were people inside of
them. With excellent marks in school and a hobby of 
collecting and restoring or re-creating ancient Earth 
atmospheric Jetcraft (his favorites were the hawkish craft 
of the late 20th century, the F-14 Falcon, the Mig-32, and 
the Blackbird), Nick easily qualified to enter the FSP 
Academy.

On entry to the FSP Academy Nick immediately excelled, 
became class Commander and quarterbacked the football team. 
A knee injury that became infected caused amputation of his 
left leg and replacement with a genetically engineered copy 
of that leg.

After graduation Nick applied for and received flight 
training, specializing in atmospheric flight and shuttle 
operations. He was assigned to a first contact chaperone 
unit, whose job it was to accompany, support and protect 
the Study Team.

Upon his arrival on Pern Nick was stunned to see the 
beautiful, lush, unspoiled, pastoral planet. It reminded 
him of his childhood home. When the dragons arrived bearing 
the Lords, Weyrleaders, and Craftmasters of Pern, Nick was 
overcome with the beauty and grace and intellegence of the 
creatures. He immediately had a new ambition, to ride one 
of the magnificent beasts. The Pernese leaders gifted each 
of the ranking members of the Team with a firelizard egg. 
Puzzled, Nick followed the directions given and was 
delighted when on hatching, he had a miniature bronze 
dragon who seemed to understand his thoughts!

Nick is devoted to this planet he has been assigned to and 
is considering returning to Pern after his eventual 
retirement... if they will have him!