Character from The Expanse by James S.A. Corey
RCE security chief on Ilus who uses corporate authority and colonial violence to control the settlement. A professional killer with a badge, methodically eliminating threats under the cover of law enforcement.
Murtry is what happens when a corporation sends a soldier to manage a colony. The Royal Charter Energy expedition to Ilus was his command, and from the moment he arrived, he treated the existing Belter colonists as hostiles to be suppressed rather than people to negotiate with. He escalates every confrontation, manufactures justifications for lethal force, and genuinely believes he's maintaining order. What makes Murtry dangerous is that he's not wrong about everything — the colonists did blow up the landing pad, people did die, and someone has to maintain security. He takes those legitimate concerns and uses them to justify a campaign of intimidation and murder. Holden sees through him immediately, but Murtry operates within the letter of RCE's charter, making him difficult to stop legally. He's the antagonist of Cibola Burn, and he represents the colonial violence that has defined every human expansion into new territory.
Hard-faced man with close-cropped grey hair and the lean, controlled build of someone trained for violence. Pale eyes that evaluate everything as a potential threat. Wears RCE security gear with military precision. His face has the weathered look of someone who has spent years in hostile environments. Moves with economy — no wasted motion, always aware of exits and angles.
Also known as: Murtry, Adolphus Murtry, Chief Murtry