Being created to mimic the late Virgil, he is the reader's chief source of information upon the latter, and serves as devil's advocate in any discussion by Jack, Draycos, and himself of future plans.

Lieutenant Raven is Neverlin's subordinate, who frames Jack for theft by planting dry ice in place of cargo, and later for murder by killing two noncombatants.

There, Jack deduces that the stolen cargo consisted solely of dry ice, and was entrusted to him to ensure his blame for disappearance of a non-extant machine.

Upon leaving this, they are ambushed by Lieutenant Raven and two other soldiers, who frame Jack for murder by killing two Wistawki, then transfer him unconscious to the spacecraft Advocatus Diaboli.

Having obtained the original device, Jack and Draycos offer it directly to the owner (identified belatedly as Cornelius Braxton), only to be captured at once by Raven and his subordinates Vance and Meyers.

2003, United States, Tor, Pub date February 2003, Hardback and Softcover This book is the first of six, whereof the titles combine the phrase 'Dragon and[...]' with the name of Jack's temporary vocation.