Bernadette Hong

Bernadette was born into a large family, that lived on the edge of poverty. When she was 15, her family sold her in an arranged marriage to a wealthy businessman. Her husband was abusive, beating her almost daily. After her third trip to the hospital, Bernie ran away from her husband and joined the Federation Navy. Her husband tried to use his influence to get her back, but the Navy was immune to it. After her 8 year term of service ended, Bernie went home. She found her husband beating his mistress to death with a brass lamp. Bernie intervened, and her husband hit her with the lamp as well. She defended herself by breaking his neck. Tried for murder, but acquitted on trial, her family disowned her. His family did not want his killer to get his estate, so to forestall a legal battle, Bernie signed it all away in exchange for a battered old Velator frigate. Disowned, she had no family name, so she chose the name Hong which is used as an alias by many, and went among the stars.