20 years ago Dwayne Smith was a bright eyed Jemison native filled with patriotic fervor and a sense of direction only afforded to those who fully believe that their cause is just and righteous. Joining the UC Marines only a month after his 18th birthday he was trained, equipped, and deployed... to Mars. Not exactly the most exciting posting, but protecting the industrial might of the UC was still a vital task. Of course this "easy" posting changed dramatically when Freestar forces attacked, hoping to curb the UC's industrial advantage. The fighting took it's toll on Dwayne's unit, but the day was won and Cydonia and the bulk of the Martian infrastructure was saved. However the Battle of Mars was the beginning of a change in Dwayne. It was his first taste of the horrors of war. And when his unit captured three Freestar Militia members it was the first time he came face to face with the enemy. Kids really, no older then himself.

However, he had no time to reflect on that idea, as soon after the Battle of Mars the UC high command decided that enough was enough. The fight must end, and the most affective way to do that was to throw a knock out blow at the Freestar Collective by taking their homeworld, Akila. So, along with practically the entire rest of the United Colonies armed forces, Dwayne was thrown at Cheyenne, hoping to break the Collective. In fact, it was the UC that was broken. With functionally no navy left, and all of the land forces they had sent (Dwayne included) being held as POW's on Akila, the UC had no choice but to sign a humiliating peace treaty.

Being held by FC forces gave Dwayne time to think. It gave him time to analyze life, the universe, and everything. And with the acceptance of the war crimes, and subsequent executions of members of UC high command, Dwayne's image of an invincible and righteous UC was shattered. Along with it went much of his sense of self. When he and the other marines were released and sent back to Jemison, he was a shell of his former self.

Which helps explain why he's spent the last 20 years basically just bumming around the galaxy doing odd job after odd job. He asked for and was granted discharge after the war. He spent the next few years as a laborer in The Well, the poorer, seedier underside of the city he had grown up in. After he'd gotten fed up with home, he got a job as a crew member on a star freighter, hauling cargo primarily between Sol and Alpha Centauri. Familiar route, at least. After that fizzled out, he jumped again and again, until eventually he took a job as a miner for Argos Extractors.