Koen Helmich

Koen Helmich is a Federacy fighter pilot and head of the prestigious fighter wing known as the 42nd Fighter Wing in the Federacy Navy. He was born in 2406 on the colony world of Jintao to Dutch parents who had emigrated to the planet three years before for his father, Jurian's, work. At the age of seventeen in 2423 he enlisted in the Alliance Navy, whereupon he was sent to the Naval Academy on Cathtar. After a year on Cathtar he arrived at the Flight Academy on Torani, where he was taught to fly a starfighter. He was naturally gifted and constantly impressed his instructors. He graduated the academy in 2425 and was assigned to pilot a Monarch-class starfighter onboard the ANV Abyssinia. Aside from a few skirmishes with pirates and outlaws, he didn't see much action in his fighter. In 2441 the Alliance Civil War began and Koen defected to the Federacy just a week after the start of the war. He brought with him his Monarch, and was assigned to Phantom Squadron. To the Federacy he was a hero, to the Alliance he was a traitor and murderer, but nobody could ignore his superior piloting skills. Koen became a sort of 'Red Baron'-like figure to the Alliance. During his time on the Abyssinia Koen also served as close friend to Jensen Booth and Memphis Saxon, and he even began a mentor-mentee bond with Saxon.