In message 20011020.223719.-492495.6.rilliara@juno.com, Ellynne G. rilliara@juno.com writes
Also, given this bunches incredible ability to kamikaze, is it still a Mary Sue if you introduce a character whose main purpose is to thwart their usual, lemming instincts?
Well, that depends on whether she has long red hair, violet eyes, and a stunning figure... Or more seriously, how good the writer is. There are two stories in Horizon 2 with original female characters who manage to divert kamikaze instincts, but the one who sorts out Travis is far more plausibly written (and I recommend her to FINALACT) than the one Neil and I have just been rude about. But female characters who rescue the crew are always going to have to work harder to avoid the accusation of Mary Sue.