Lieutenant John Commer, USSF copyright 2013 by Michael D. Smith Lieutenant John Commer, USSF. Pencil on paper, 2013. 9.5” x 4.5”

Dreamy, impetuous Typhoon I Sensor Officer, youngest of the four Commer brothers, killed at Mercury June 2034.
Lieutenant Jim Commer copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Lieutenant Jim Commer, Typhoon I Navigation Officer. Pencil on paper, 2014. 7.75” x 6”

The third of four Commer brothers, killed at Mercury June 2034.
General William C. Scott copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith General William C. Scott. Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, 2014. 10″ x 8″

Supreme Commander, United System Space Force, through January 2035, and mentor to Jack Commer.
Major Harri McNarri, USSF copyright 2013 by Michael D. Smith Major Harri McNarri, USSF. Ink, watercolor and gouache on aquabord, 2013. 10” x 8”

Brilliant, argumentative Typhoon I Physician/Engineer who set the standard for all subsequent USSF engineers.
Alycia of the USSF copyright 2001 by Michael D. Smith Alycia of the USSF. Ink and colored pencil on file card, 2001. 6” x 4”

I loosely copied a fashion magazine image on a 4″ x 6″ file card to make former USSF Technical Sergeant Alycia Klave. From Nonprofit Chronowar:

The blue gauze was echoed below in her low-slung wrap. Mercifully this wasn’t transparent, but both well-defined hipbones were exposed and much of her ass showed in the rear, with the black belt of her EnviroField draped casually around all this tantalizing sculpture. There was so much long slender exposed torso, and so much long slender exposed thigh, that Mandy had a hard time believing this woman’s figure was real. It all seemed like a computer simulation.
Trotter copyright 2017 by Michael D. Smith Trotter. Ink on mat board, 2017. 8″ x 10″

Jonathan James Commer’s beagle, twenty-two years old in 2075 but rejuvenated to about three or four, and Garthah-/yuu Zarj brother with Jonathan James and the Centaurian Clopt.

T'ohj'puv copyright 2018 by Michael D. Smith T’ohj’puv. Pencil on paper, 2018. 10″ x 8″

An ancient Martian robot created to sew dresses for Martian empresses, but upgraded to astonishing AI levels after being incorporated into the chromium tetrahedron with Rick Ballard and Jonathan James Commer in Book Six, The SolGrid Rebellion.

Amy Nortel copyright 2018 by Michael D. Smith Amy Nortel. Ink and watercolor on paper, 2018. 10″ x 8″

Jack and Joe’s old 2020’s high school AP English teacher, rejuvenated and by 2076 assisting with research with the Ywritt at Iota Persei.

Waterfall Sequence copyright 2018 by Michael D. Smith Waterfall Sequence. Ink and colored pencil on paper, 2018. 10″ x 8″

Waterfall Sequence of the Ywritt, sentient life at Iota Persei, master communicator, a bubble of swirling fog approximately seven feet in diameter, with a blue-purple coloration, though hints of red and orange appear at times.

Huey Vespertine copyright 2013 by Michael D. Smith Huey Vespertine. Charcoal on paper, 1973; digital scan and edit, 2013. 8.5” x 11”

USSF Academy dropout, dissolute, treasonous cofounder of the Vespertine and Commer AresNet program, and Jack Commer’s personal nemesis.
Airman Carl Posttner copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Airman Carl Posttner. Pencil, colored pencil, watercolor and ink on paper, 2014. 7” x 5”

Celestion-converted USSF Detention Services airman, killed by shattergun February 2036.
Major John West copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Major John West. Pencil on paper, 2014. 11” x 8.5”

Combat hero and grandstanding bastard assigned to investigate Martian ruins, shattered by Martian ray guns June 2034.
Corporal Rappol McBoerland copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Corporal Rappol McBoerland. Ink on canvasette, 2014. 9” x 6”

Sam Hergs’ obese human guard on Venus, “Serving His Majesty the Emperor With a Trouble-Free Smile!” and grilled at 100,000 amps by the Commer brothers on June 15, 2034.
The Alpha Centaurian Crab Emperor copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith The Alpha Centaurian Crab Emperor. Ink, watercolor crayon, watercolor, pencil and colored pencil on canvasette, 2014. 9” x 12

A Scihk crab who had himself cut up and confined to a glass box to withstand the suffering of being the Emperor of Alpha Centauri. He’s not easy to draw!
Lieutenant Ken Garrison copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Lieutenant Ken Garrison. Pencil on mat board, 2014. 5″ x 5″

Typhoon I
Communications Officer, killed at Mercury June 2034.
Jonathan Commer, Sr. copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Jonathan Commer, Sr. Pencil, ink and colored pencil on claybord, 2014. 10” x 8”

Jack and Joe’s father, a former Air Force fighter pilot and Illinois congressman. On December 2, 2033, the Typhoon I loses its fifth passenger shell, Endymion. Jack has taken the Commer parents on board the Typhoon proper on this flight, but Jonathan Sr. has a heart attack right after the passenger shell breaks off the ship. Ship’s physician Harri McNarri stabilizes the old man, but he never fully recovers.
Joyce Mandala Commer copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Joyce Mandala Commer. Ink and watercolor on aquabord, 2014. 10” x 8”

Jack and Joe’s mother. From The Martian Marauders:

At fifty-four, Joyce Commer was dark, trim, round-faced, still young and lovely, still fashionable and alluring, as Joe could verify from a glance at Captain Henderson who, through almost twenty years younger than her, was having trouble keeping his mouth closed and his eyes off her slender torso and the tiny red dress clinging to her petite legs. Joe was surprised she hadn’t already reduced Henderson to babbling with her trademark mixture of flirtation, high humor, and quick spite, all nonchalantly twirled into the world like poisoned-tipped Ninja throwing stars.
Lieutenant Craig Reynolds copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Lieutenant Craig Reynolds. Ink and watercolor on paper, 2014. 7” x 5.5”

Typhoon I Weapon Turret 2 gunner, killed at Mercury June 2034.
Commander Robert (Bobby) Athens copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Commander Robert (Bobby) Athens. Pencil and pen on paper, 2014. 5.5” x 4.25”

Twelve-year-old refugee aboard the Typhoon II, later copilot of the Typhoon IV and pilot of the Jonathan Commer.
Polot copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Polot. Watercolor and colored pencil on paper, enlarged with digital edits, 2014. 10” x 6”

Ship’s Archivist aboard the Alpha Centaurian Imperial Flagship GnlSaljPraraq, and inventor of the Chronowarp time viewer which was later weaponized to become Heuristic Time Transition.
Airman, Later Lieutenant, Li Bao copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Airman, Later Lieutenant, Li Bao. Pencil on paper, 2014. 5.5” x 4”

Airman First Class who saved Jack and Joe Commer from Alpha Centaurian spy Robbert Geswindoll, February 2036; Typhoon III Navigation Officer, 2075.
Former Major John Perkins copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Former Major John Perkins. Pencil on paper, 2014. 6” x 9”

Former commanding officer of the USSF Spaceport Vehicle Fulfillment Division at Marsport, 2075. From The Wounded Frontier:

In any case Major John Perkins was now Lieutenant Perkins in charge of Vehicle Fulfillment at some remote underground base on Mercury, but not before he’d filed a grievance that had tied up all USSF jeeps throughout the solar system for the next several hours.
Al Carson, Usurper Thug copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Al Carson, Usurper Thug. Pencil on paper, 2014. 12” x 9”

Sam Hergs’ cohort, killed fighting Jack and Joe Commer outside a bus, June 2034.
Lieutenant Sandra Markham copyright 2018 by Michael D. Smith Lieutenant Sandra Markham. Permanent marker on paper, 2018. 8.5″ x 5.5″

Typhoon III and Typhoon VI sensor officer.

Lieutenant, Later Captain, Andrew Donnelley copyright 2014 by Michael D. Smith Lieutenant, later Captain, Andrew Donnelley. Digital image from ink drawing, 2014. 4″ x 5″

With the most minor mention as a 2034 rotating staff pilot in The Martian Marauders behind him, by 2075 Donnelley earns a promotion to captain the Typhoon III, only to lose the ship to a hijacker before he ever has a chance to fly it.
Fulr, Senior Martian Scientist copyright 2011 by Michael D. Smith Fulr, Senior Martian Scientist. Ink and colored pencil on paper, 2011. 9” x 6”

Martian scientist killed on the Typhoon II.
Lieutenant Mickey Michaels, USSF copyright 2013 by Michael D. Smith Lieutenant Mickey Michaels, USSF. Pencil on paper, 2013. 8.5” x 11”

Typhoon I Weapon Turret 1 gunner. Panel 20 from Trip to Mars, the Picture Book.
Stewart Neal Frankston copyright 2013 by Michael D. Smith Stewart Neal Frankston. Ink on paper, 2002; digital scan and edit, 2013. 5” x 6”

Amav Frankston-Commer’s father and the planetologist who came up with a plan for restoring Earth after its destruction in 2033.
Robbert Geswindoll copyright 2000 by Michael D. Smith Robbert Geswindoll. Ink on paper 2000, scanned and edited, 2013. 11” x 8.5”

This is the earliest Nonprofit Ladies (now Chronowar) image, from May 2000, and depicts the derelict moocher poet Robbert Geswindoll who later becomes USSF Public Relations Director.

All words and images copyright by Michael D. Smith