Jean Robert Lap is a talented lieutenant commander for the Free Planets Alliance. He is both a former schoolmate and old friend of Yang Wen-Li, and the fiancée of Jessica Edwards. He served as an operations staff officer in the 6th fleet of the Battle of Astate. Lap died, along with the 6th fleet, in the Battle of Astate. He had insisted upon retreat as defeat was inevitable. But his superior, Commander Moore, refused, suggesting that retreat was cowardly. Lap's death inspired the political activism of Jessica Edwards. Yang also felt some measure of responsibility; if he had been more assertive, many lives (including Lap's) may have been saved. Lap was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain.