Scribbling Saturday: Andrew Chambers, Helmsman on the Kestrel

Andrew Chambers, the helmsman on the Kestrel, is human, from Earth. He joined the Kestrel a year before the first story. There is an incident in his past which nearly finished his PACT career. Only the captain and First Officer know the details, but there was an accident, and Chambers blamed himself. If he had truly been negligent or careless he would have been prosecuted, so he is not as culpable as he feels he is. But because of it, it was difficult for him to find a posting.
Captain Martin gave him a chance and has been building his confidence. He is still relatively young and has many years of service ahead of him, if he can regain his self-confidence. The helmsman Grey Lanx has just left the Kestrel, so Martin has promoted Chambers to helmsman. Chambers wants to do well, but will his confidence desert him in a tight spot?

Chambers' grandfather fought as a volunteer in the Casparian struggle for independence from Ochra, and when the Ochran representative on the main mission in the first Kestrel story finds out, he demands justice under the Ochran rule of family responsibility. This is another mystery to solve, but he turns out to be a good diplomat.

Chambers takes Tobi Enns under his wing, when he is whisked away from the PACT Training School to fill a temporary gap in the crew, and the two become good friends.