Westerli, a pirate of human descent, belonged to a group of individuals employed by both Sorath and Maliss. This crew's purpose was to manage a mobile way station and pilfer parts related to Project Stardust for Balanhai Savit, a Grand Admiral. Following an assault on the station by the Grysks, Westerli was among the remaining crew members seized and held as prisoner. The Grysks attempted to coerce the pirates into their service by means of interrogation. Although the torture was not effective on every pirate, Bleary, another pirate, began to believe that Westerli was being swayed.