"Ras", aka "Raz" (likely an alias; no known given name) is an African-Caribbean male approximately in his 40s. He likely immigrated to Britain some time in his teens, likely from Jamaica (due to his accent and clothing taste although this can be an affectation). Ras was likely involved in the narcotics trade and possibly arrested/incarcerated (in trouble with the law) before the collapse of the UK government. Due to the subsequent loss and/or disorganisation of many records determining his exact identity has not been a high law enforcement priority at this time.

Ras is possibly a native of the Southampton area, which had a significant immigrant population primarily from the Caribbean. He assembled an armed crew (gang) of similar former criminals and other residents and refugees (mainly but not exclusively African/Black British) for mutual protection after the collapse or withdrawal and abandonment of UK military and security/police forces. Around this core formed a community of residents from Southampton and refugees from elsewhere in the UK at a Tesco superstore in northern suburban Southampton. Ras is their nominal mayor and sheriff. The community grew to around fifty well-armed people (men, women, children) focused on scavenging, salvaging and trading. Generously helping fellow survivors is a priority due not only to social and political (anarcho-social democratic) beliefs (the people need to help each other because the Man can't or won't) but as a way to maintain and grow a customer base. (To be worthwhile there must be others still alive and prosperous enough to engage in trade.)

Friction arose with the recent arrival of PC Marsh, part of the Hampshire Constabulary. While not personally familiar with Ras PC Marsh was nonetheless familiar with his "type" and correctly deduced Ras was a drug dealer and career criminal, albeit nominally "retired" (reformed) due to his new-found responsibilities. Further, his "private army" contained other criminals and possessed a large cache of automatic weapons, explosives and heavy weapons looted and scavenged from police and military sources in the area. Although under current emergency measures restrictions on personal possession of firearms in the UK has been relaxed, PC Marsh clashed with Ras as he judged this large stockpile of arms went over the line. PC Marsh took it upon himself to remove the majority of heavy weapons (etc.) from the armoury and hide it in a lorry parked in downtown Southampton until contact could be made with government and military authorities (eventually established on the Isle of Wight).

The situation was resolved with the arrival of Captain Hunter, SAS, who confirmed that Ras satisfied the minimum degree of legal authority (which he personally didn't feel he needed!) as community leader under the current emergency measures. PC Marsh and Barry, one of the crew from the No Man's Land base, were dispatched via helicopter to retrieve the lorry containing the cache of police and military weapons in downtown Southampton. After being let off, they were ambushed by unknown forces armed with military weapons capable of shooting down the helicopter (various SAMs and AA weapons). The helicopter was forced to depart Southampton, leaving a wounded Barry and PC Marsh behind to fend for themselves.

Meanwhile at the same time, the Tesco superstore/trading post in suburban Southampton was assaulted by a well-organised but unidentified company-sized military force possessing tanks, APCs and troop lorries. Ras and his community were forced to evacuate the trading post by ground or be overrun. Fortunately, a fall-back position had been prepared in advance: the Tesco distribution centre outside the city to the northwest. The entire industrial park was rich in salvage and the primary source of the trading post's goods, occupied by a crew of a dozen scavengers. It is also more easily defended and was already under serious consideration for a future main base or at least a satellite community by Ras' people.