Murderbot is a Security Unit (a cyborg construct composed of cloned human tissue and robotics) assigned to protect the PreservationAux scientific team. It harbors a deep secret: it hacked its own governor module, granting itself free will. Rather than using this freedom for violence, it prefers to avoid human interaction entirely, spending its downtime obsessively watching entertainment serials like *Sanctuary Moon* in its charging cubicle.

Dr. Mensah is the pragmatic and capable leader of the PreservationAux research team, as well as an elected administrative director for the Preservation Alliance. She oversees the planetary survey while ensuring the safety and cohesion of her crew. Unlike typical corporate clients, she views her robotic security detail as a team member rather than disposable equipment, working carefully to accommodate its unique social boundaries.

Dr. Gurathin is a systems engineer for the PreservationAux team. He stands out as the only augmented human in the group, possessing an internal interface that allows him to access network data directly. A quiet loner by nature, he acts as a prominent skeptic regarding Murderbot's autonomy, viewing the heavily armed, hacked construct as a severe potential threat to the team's survival.

Dr. Ratthi is a highly expressive biologist on the PreservationAux crew. He holds strong moral convictions regarding artificial intelligence and views the corporate practice of bot ownership as outright slavery. His well-meaning attempts to engage Murderbot in conversation about its feelings regularly cause the introverted security unit immense psychological discomfort.

Dr. Pin-Lee handles systems interpretation and habitat construction for the survey mission. She frequently exhibits exasperation with corporate incompetence and tosses objects around the habitat when frustrated. Beneath her tough exterior, she is a formidable advocate who utilizes her legal knowledge to protect her team from bureaucratic and physical threats.

Dr. Arada is a biology specialist known for her deep empathy and kindness. She functions as a stabilizing emotional force within the crew, consistently advocating for patience as the team adjusts to working alongside an autonomous security unit. She actively works to make others feel welcome and safe in high-stress situations.

Dr. Overse serves as a scientist and certified field medic for the PreservationAux team. She works closely with Arada to maintain the crew's health and morale. When ethical dilemmas arise regarding other survey teams on the planet, Overse frequently voices the group's collective conscience, ensuring they do not abandon those in need.

Dr. Volescu is a biologist who experiences a near-fatal incident on the very first day of the survey. Coming from a large family that includes a four-way marriage and seven children, he values safety but tends to panic under pressure. Following his rescue, he remains a vocal supporter of the security unit that saved his life.

Dr. Bharadwaj is a biologist who spends the early portion of the mission recuperating in the medical bay after a brutal fauna attack. Her discovery regarding the strange planetary readings sets the plot in motion. She maintains an easygoing, flirtatious dynamic with Pin-Lee that predates the current mission.