Paul Torgal

Humans have spent millennia specializing in how to shackle nature to our will. This planet won't cause us any new problems. My one task now is to keep us alive, as comfortably as possible.

― Paul Torgal, Paul Torgal's Log #2 - Dilemma

Paul Torgal was the captain of the Mongolian vessel, the Degasi, as well as the CEO of Torgal Corporation. He, alongside his son Bart Torgal and a hired mercenary named Marguerit Maida, were the lone survivors of the Degasi after it crashed on Planet 4546B. Paul had made a sudden, unscheduled detour to the uncharted planet while en route to deliver Bart to a new deep-space station, where the young man was to spend the next five years as Chief Operating Officer.

During the months that followed, Paul had several arguments with Marguerit, regarding Marguerit's wishes to continue to delve deeper into the planet's ocean. Despite his protests, Paul and the others eventually ended up in the Jellyshroom Cave, and then the Deep Grand Reef. Here, they were attacked by a Reaper Leviathan, leaving Paul with no means of survival. Paul then spotted a strange light and followed it deeper into the ocean. It is unknown whether he died from drowning, as he was low on Oxygen, or from being attacked by fauna. The cinematic trailer seems to imply that he went downwards from the base and was ambushed by a Crabsquid, leading to his death.

Personality

Paul was a resourceful and determined individual with decades of experience in his respective field, known for making rash but profitable decisions that benefitted his businesses. He disliked Maida due to her violent and reckless conduct but was rational enough to hear her out and allow her plans to override his after weighing the risks and benefits.

Compared to his son, who was infatuated with the alien environment and naturally inquisitive, Paul was cautious and focused on survival before all else, believing they could shackle nature to their will and even profit off the world's secrets if and when they got home. He was overprotective of his son and grew increasingly angered by Marguerit's influence on him, his assumptions ultimately being proven correct.

Relationships

Bart Torgal

Despite being father and son, Bart does not appear close to his father, although Paul is overprotective of Bart and often tries to get his son to agree with his decisions. Although like Marguerit, Bart often disagreed with him and claimed that Paul stopped being in charge when the Degasi crashed.

Marguerit Maida

Unlike Bart and Marguerit, Paul and Marguerit shared a very hostile relationship, with both of them arguing constantly. However, Paul knew that both he and Bart needed her to survive, and reluctantly allowed her to relocate to the Jellyshroom Cave. However, Paul did have breaking points with her, threatening to leave her behind if she interfered with his family again.

Relevant Data Downloads

Degasi Crew Manifest: Paul Torgal

Auxiliary Search & Rescue Mission: Paul Torgal Position: Chief of Torgal Corp, Captain of the 'Degasi' Status: Lost in space near planet 4546B Age at time of disappearance: 79

Paul Torgal and his crew fell out of contact with Mongolian authorities close to a decade ago. The Torgals were a resourceful and powerful clan, and the ship was well-equipped, so their survival is considered likely; however multiple vessels passing through the system have since attempted to trace the ship to no effect. It is hoped the Aurora's superior scanning suite can do better.

• Made majority shareholder in Torgal Corp. by his mother upon her retirement
• Interaction with Alterra limited to infrequent chartered munitions deliveries
• Beneficiary of life extension technologies
• Accompanied by his only child, Bart Torgal (19), heir to the Torgal Corporation
• Emissary Khasar reports Torgal often travelled with a skeleton crew, and was known for making rash, but profitable decisions
• Inadequate systems maintenance or straying from its planned route may account for the ship's disappearance

Logs

Paul Torgal's Log #1 - Marooned

Chief's log, five weeks since the crash. The only other survivors are my son, Bart, and Maida, the cut-price mercenary I commissioned for the journey.

After days drifting in the lifepod, rain hammering the roof, the weather cleared and we washed up here. I had Maida salvage the Degasi wreck, set Bart to finding us a stable source of food. His education is paying off sooner than I'd anticipated.

Our only problem is Maida. She says the weather's going to turn. I say she's finding excuses to risk our lives. I imagine she's not gone a week in her life without a physical altercation, and she's itching for a fight. In every judgment she makes things go from bad to worse.

If she had my experience she'd have more faith. Humans have spent millennia specializing in how to shackle nature to our will. This planet won't cause us any new problems.

My one task now is to keep us alive, as comfortably as possible, until the insurance company arranges rescue. In this part of space that could be months, or even years.

Paul Torgal's Log #2 - Dilemma

You know what Maida told me today? She wants to build a habitat 500m below sea level, more than a kilometer north-east of here. And she needs Bart and I to do it. She's got it into her head that she can save us if she just acts recklessly enough. But I've hauled starwhals to Neptune. Plasteel to the Federation... this family operates nine different mining colonies across the Ariadne Arm. Maida thinks she's better suited to lead? Her contract still says otherwise.

But... I just cannot damn tell whether it's the stupidest idea I ever heard, or my only hope. I turned 80 years old last week. I thought I had another 80 in me, but marooned on this planet there's no swapping out of my liver when the old one fails. Here, I'm mortal. And Maida is useful.

So it's my responsibility to make a decision. Return to the island and hope whatever knocked the Degasi out of the sky won't do the same to the rescue ship, or take us deeper in search of answers. And all the while be hoping old age gets me before the seamonsters do.

I'll give Maida just one thing. She was right about these caves. There's enough lithium there to fabricate a hundred tons of plasteel. Enough for a damn FLEET of Cyclops submarines. There was nothing anyone could have done to avoid crashing here, but I was right to order the detour. If we get off this planet they'll be talking about the Torgal share price on the other side of the Federation.

Paul Torgal's Log #3 - The End

Came out of nowhere. An alien kraken, bigger than a Cyclops. Tore a hole clear through the reinforced hull. I barely got my breather in time. I told her. I said others would come.

The rupture threw me clear of the habitat, and the monster turned and bore down on me. Just as its tentacles came within reach, Maida appeared out of nowhere. She had a seaglide in one hand, a jagged piece of scrap metal in the other. She meant to butcher that beast, or die trying. The last I saw her she had the metal lodged in its neck as the monster did its best to shake her, contorting off into the darkness. I'm certain she got her wish, one way or another.

Then I thought I saw a light, deep below me. I hoped maybe Bart had swum clear. I followed it. Now I wonder whether I saw anything at all. My oxygen is low. The habitat is gone. I can't see the sky. Something surely has the scent of my blood.

Gallery

Paul encountering a Crabsquid

Trivia

• Paul's original name was Paal, in earlier development.
• Paul and Bart shared the surname Torgaljin before being shortened to Torgal.