Herschel Babbage

Herschel Babbage is a British centurion and the younger brother of Charles Babbage, the inventor of the difference engine. An enlightened materialist with a true passion for science. Time has been less favourable to his appearance than it was to that of many other Centurions; he is chubby, graying and physically unfit. This belies his true value as his greatest strength was never on the battlefield. Rather, he has been one of the Century Club's greatest inventors, while in the field his quick thinking, powerful memory and capacity for jury-rigging has often saved his more martial-minded colleagues. His ingenuity has also lent itself well to understanding ancient machinery, making him vital for Jacob's plans during the Saint Haven Incident; he has been charged with trying to figure out and reconstruct the alchemical machinery of Ancient Aran, as well as with more detailed study of the red mineral of death essential to Aranian alchemy.

A close friend of Armando Estebán Corroto and mentor of Ray Freedom. He took the latter to his workshop/laboratory in London, only to be attacked by Madam Czarna and kidnapped, taken to Saint Haven. Of course, this was all part of Jacob's plan, as was Ray fleeing with Herschel's red stone sample. Perhaps less expected was Czarna's capture of Ray shortly after. While Masque may have preferred to use the boy for leverage over Herschel and also appeal to his scientific curiosity, the torment Czarna had subjected Ray to has made this all too difficult; his captors ultimately refused to let Herschel see him, lest he realise the state that his pupil was put in. Likewise, any sympathy he may have had for their pursuit was neutralised by his contempt for the Shadow Centurions' viciousness. In the end, how ever difficult it was given his concern for his pupil, Herschel stuck to his assigned part in the plan.

His many, many inventions include the wireless telegraph in use by the Century Club, countless computer devices and the large glider-plane used by Else Rommel to help break the siege of the Wapping safehouse. The delaying device used to briefly freeze Oromassi was assembled by Herschel in difficult conditions, but was made in accordance with Jacob's own design. Herschel has also collaborated with the young Centurion Claude Michel in the creation of a code-breaking machine.

After the Saint Haven Incident, Herschel, who was badly wounded by Masque's bombs in the final confrontation, was in nearly as much need of rest and recuperation as his pupil. Eventually they both went back to America, and have not been heard from since.