Martin

Martin is one of Hadrian's batmen aboard the Tamerlane, having rotated out of fugue during the ship's return to Forum. He is killed when a knife-missile attacks Valka in Hadrian's apartments -- his unexpected entry into the room disrupts the weapon's targeting, and Varro concludes the intervention saved Valka's life, though the missile pierces him fatally before lodging in his sternum. Hadrian orders the death concealed: the body burned, the ashes stored, and Martin's record falsely marked as in fugue to prevent whoever sent the weapon from learning it had been defeated. He was well-liked by the crew, and may have had a sister before he enlisted.