Nimitz

Nimitz, known as Laughs Brightly among The People, was a male treecat who bonded with Honor Harrington when she was in her teens and he about 45. They were steadfast companions thereafter.

He made history as one of the first treecats to settle on a world other than Sphinx, and as one of the first pair of bonded treecats ever to mate and have kittens, and the first ever to do so away from any Clan.

Physical and psychic characteristics

Nimitz was about 65 centimeters long as an adult, not counting his tail, and weighed about nine kilograms. Like all males he was cream and gray colored and had bright grass green eyes. (HH1)

He accompanied Harrington to the RMN Academy, and during her subsequent Naval career, saved her life on at least one occasion, and helped develop an especially intense bond which allowed them to share images and even small "clips" of live eye sight. (HH8)

Biography

Nimitz was born on the planet Sphinx as a member of the Bright Water Clan in the 19th Century PD. He bonded with Honor Harrington during her youth, and she named him after Admiral Chester W. Nimitz of the ancient United States wet Navy of Old Earth. He had to learn how to cope with human society, including such things as table manners; he even sometimes sat in his dinner plate at first.

In 1900 PD, Nimitz accompanied Harrington to her new assignment as the commanding officer of HMS Fearless. (HH1)

In 1903 PD, he followed her to her assignment aboard the newly commisioned Fearless, and became a "plank owner". He was severely stressed by Honor's distress when she learned of the death of Admiral Raoul Courvosier's; unusually, he was unable to help her cope with her dismay and regret.

After returning to Grayson, Nimitz accompanied Honor to a dinner with Protector Benjamin IX at the Palace. Nimitz liked Mayhew's wives and children and impressed Mayhew, especially when Michael Mayhew and Mayhew's wives were feeding him tidbits. Elaine Mayhew discovered that Nimitz loved celery and kept on feeding him pieces throughout the dinner.

During the assassination attempt on the Protector's life by the Brotherhood of Maccabeus, Nimitz was the first to notice what was happening, sensing the assassins' intent. He warned Honor through their bond and launched an attack at the nearest approaching assassins, killing one and blinding the rest of those he reached. During the melee he also saved Honor's life at least once. He was present later when Harrington regained consciousness aboard Fearless. Nimitz accompanied Harrington to Grayson Command Central, which startled him a little because of all the noise.

During the Battle of Blackbird, Nimitz was in his life support module. He was with Harrington, when she learned of the MNS Thunder of God's arrival in the Yeltsin's Star System. He went into his survival module only after Harrington they finished a meal. (HH2)

In a subsequent deployment, he met and mated with Samantha; they had a litter of 'kittens. Leaving Sphinx for Grayson with Harrington and the kittens, he and Samantha took a few members of his Clan to help raise the 'kittens and establish the first treecat colony on another planet.^[1] (HH6)

Both Nimitz and Samantha were very strongly motivated to learn sign language (avariant of human sign language adapted to fewer fingers) after Nimitz was gravely wounded by StateSec guards during Harrington's capture, and lost the ability to 'speak' telepathically. Dr Alison Harrington suggested that it be tried yet again; this third time the treecats cooperated.(HH7, HH9)

Afterward, they taught other treecats to sign and, as a result, both humans and treecats could communicate with each another directly for the first time. (HH10)

Behavior and tastes

Like all treecats, Nimitz loved celery and learned to enjoy rabbit, but not until he was bonded with Honor Harrington. He was also an avid Frisbee player, and was passably accurate throwing tennis balls at swimming humans. Honor came to call him, affectionately, called him "Stinker", largely because of his mischievous, prank-prone, nature. (HH1)

Family

Nimitz was bonded to Honor Harrington beginning about his 45th year. He is mated with Samantha. Their 'kittens' are:

References

↑ Nimtz and Samantha had convinced their clan's elders that while treecats lived only on one planet, during an interstellar war in which that planet was involved might result in the loss of all treecats due to accident or deliberate attack. It woudl be sensible to begin spreading The People to other planets.

[1] Nimtz and Samantha had convinced their clan's elders that while treecats lived only on one planet, during an interstellar war in which that planet was involved might result in the loss of all treecats due to accident or deliberate attack. It woudl be sensible to begin spreading The People to other planets.

[1]