Tran was a 23rd century Human who was employed as a navigator assistant crewman aboard the freighter Merchantman around the year 2285. Tran had been a member of the crew for some time, and had a standoffish relationship with Farrendahl, the Merchantman's felinoid navigator. The two worked in close quarters and often traded insults, but shared a great deal of camaraderie. In the form "Trần", this name is often used in Southeast Asia as a common surname, although similar names are used by Humans of other nationalities and ethnic origins.