Robert Burnside

Gen. Robert Burnside was the commanding officer aboard the U.S.S.S. Ursa Minor for the duration of its operation. He was unpopular among his crew for questionable delegations of power, which some suspect may have led to the disappearance of the station's crew during the collapse of the U.S.S.S. Ursa Major's wormhole, which linked to the Ursa Minor.

History
General Burnside became a national hero during the event known as the Orion Conflict. Debates between the United States and China over space travel routes and territory very nearly escalated into war. General Burnside approached China in negotiations and successfully brokered a truce between the two opposing powers. Since gaining fame, Burnside has become revered, despite increasing controversy over his later missions bearing common complaints from his crew. An unusual number of people under Burnside's command have met with tragic accidents in recent years, but nothing has ever been publicly brought against him. At one point he had a short romance with Ellen Weaver.

Windows of Time
In Windows of Time, General Burnside is investigated by Agent David Harrison, a former officer under Burnside's command. 5 years before the events of the story, Burnside came under scrutiny for the death of a crew member. Harrison became suspicious of the general, despite once having admired him. Burnside, believing that Harrison had leaked information accusing him of the crew member's death to the public, placed the blame of an asteroid collision with a ship, resulting in the death's of two crew members, on Harrison's incompetency. Harrison became a part of the FBI and obsessed over investigating the general. After Burnside's death in The Stranger, Harrison renews his investigation, eventually learning that Burnside had ordered an outdated and potentially dangerous android to be placed on the U.S.S.S. Ursa Minor, potentially leading to the events of The Stranger, but even in death, Burnside is able to evade public accusations due to his own reputation and Harrison's previous record.