Jan Finder was a Earth Union citizen and a non-commissioned officer of the Customs Patrol. He had numerous demerits and reprimands on his service record, making sure that he would not advance through the ranks. In 250 PD, he held the rank of Sergeant and served as an EVA specialist aboard the armed cutter Venerated Gaia, taking part in the boarding of the passenger liner Fragrant Blossom. After entering the craft and encountering hijackers who had killed the original crew and passengers, he gave his commanding officer, Lieutenant Lee Strong, his gyrojet gun.