Trouble Kelp

AF character
name = Trouble Kelp
gender = Male
hair = Copper(Red)
eyes =
species = Elf
appearance = Book 1: Artemis Fowl

Trouble Kelp is a character from the Artemis Fowl series of books. He is not a major character in the first book, but becomes more prominent throughout the series. He has a whiny younger brother known as Grub Kelp. Trouble is famous for choosing the name 'Trouble' at his manhood ceremony upon acceptance to the Lower Elements Police Academy. In Book 1 he is ranked a Captain, but at some point between the events of Book 3 and 4 he gets promoted to the rank of Major.

Character Background

Captain Trouble Kelp is the commander of LEPretrieval One, the LEP's elite task force roughly analogous to a human Special Operations Force, as the LEP are the only military/paramilitary force in existence among the fairies.It is said that is was every little fairy's dream to grow up and join the elite Retrieval Squad and don their coveted stealth-black suits, although, for all their training and experience, they are brought down quite easily by the human Domovoi Butler (due to a large number of things, namely large tactical errors, inadequate weapons, and extremely bad intel). He is mentioned throughout the series, and becomes first a Major, then Commander.

Appearances

In Book 1, Trouble's main role is to lead LEPretrieval One into Fowl Manor, but they are brought down by Butler. Trouble was the first casualty in Butler's counter-assault. He also goes back in the house after the bio-bomb has been released to check for bodies, though he doesn't get much further in than the doorway, having been struck with sorcerery sickness, a side effect of entering a human dwelling without invitation.

In the second book, , Trouble takes command of the LEP forces during Root's absence. His appearance starts out with Trouble and his brother are stuck in a phone booth, during the B'wa Kell uprising. They make a run for it into the emporium, where Trouble order the remaining forces to retreat.

In the third book, , Grub is on patrol with Holly Short when Haven is placed into lockdown. When Holly gets back to Police Plaza, she is briefly reprimanded for being late, and she takes her seat next to Trouble at the captain's table. They briefly discuss Grub. He is also mentioned casually throughout the book. For example, it is mentioned that he once " narrowly missed being impaled by an incoming jet," which in turn put a rule into effect that all flyovers of cities with busy air traffic had to be cleared by Foaly, the LEP technical advisor.

In the fourth book, , Trouble is an LEP Major, promoted from his previous rank of Captain. In the beginning of the book, he is described by Commander Root as a more hands-on Major, which "might be what the force needs." He also secures chute E37 for Holly Short and Julius Root to enter. At the end of the book, Trouble is sent in a supersonic attack shuttle to apprehend Holly Short. He is given orders to shoot her down from Ark Sool, but refuses, instead, giving her a chance to explain things to the LEP.

Trouble Kelp does not appear in the fifth book, .

Trouble also appeared in the mini-story "LEPrecon" in The Artemis Fowl Files, and nearly loses his magic after being kidnapped and brought unwillingly into a human dwelling during an above-ground initiation for Holly Short. He risks his own position in the LEP when he defends Holly's unauthorized actions to rescue him and Commander Root.

In the sixth installment, , Trouble Kelp is promoted to the rank of Commander. He is the replacement for Ark Sool.