Jax McCleary

Jax McCleary (b. 2887) is a human journalist, pilot, and Spectrum personality best known for hosting the shows Galactic Tour and Whitley’s Guide.

Career
Before becoming a show host, McCleary worked as the sports anchor for the local news program in Aydo on Green, gaining a reputation as a bombastic, tongue-in-cheek commentator on spacecraft races with deep insight on the inner workings and handling of the ships. McCleary left his position in 2931 to launch Galactic Gear, a show that examines and reviews spacecraft through often outlandish means. The show was sold in 2945 to Voyager Direct after years of ratings success and was relaunched and rebranded as Galactic Tour in 2946. McCleary left the show shortly after, and returned to racing commentary until accepting a contract to host Whitley’s Guide in 2950.

Capture and Escape from Pyro (2951)
Whitley's Guide suffered from a ratings drop during IAE 2951, and Jax decided to leave for the Pyro system in search for a new calling by "borrowing" a MISC Odyssey prototype. In 2952, show producers included an "In Memoriam" title card during their coverage of that year's expo, having presumed their former host died in the lawless system. Shortly afterwards, however, Jax began live broadcasting to Spectrum from a Pyro III outpost, disproving his alleged death and announcing his return to the Stanton system. Since he had crashed his Odyssey earlier in the year, he was forced to borrow a Drake Cutter from his friend Bob.

Jax was captured by pirates the following day and held in a run-down 890 Jump, but rescued by a different group of pirates shortly after. Later, a solar flare disabled his ship, and he had to search for replacement parts in a black market on Pyro I, but his live-streamimg scared off the vendors. A local homesteader agreed to provide the parts in exchange for McCleary's repair skills. While Jax was able to fix the MOLE, he couldn't eradicate the on-board Pyro Crab infestation.

Alas, even with the new parts his Cutter failed him yet again, and he crash landed into a racer's Tumbril Cyclone RC. To make up for the damage, Jax had to take the incapacitated driver's place in an upcoming competition. He was able to clear his name, and one of the racers gave him a tip about a Freelancer MAX heading for Stanton.

Jax hitched a ride on the ship, but to his dismay it only dropped him off at Ruin Station. While exploring the station he stumbled upon the prototype RSI Galaxy which hadn't made it to the expo, as well as the pirates who had stolen it. He witnessed their attempt to sell this ship illicitly, but was discovered in the process. Just as all hope seemed to be lost, Jimmy arrived to rescue his friend from the criminals in a blazing firefight.

Trivia

 * Jax owns a penthouse in Castor Point. According to him, it is worth less than two crates of Bon Durant Vaissau Blanc De Blanc Reserve champagne.