[quote=Rafale]
Just one question before I continue working on the character (I've decided against going with four, it would be a bit too much for this type of game); how long has it been since SDF re-appeared and how long was the journey?[/quote]
Hyperspace fold travel is [i]apparently[/i] instantaneous to the traveller, at least with these drives, so as far as the crew and anyone they're meeting knows, they appeared only a few moments after they left. They've been at Tirol for only a couple of weeks, while things are being straightened out in the wake of the big battle, so long enough for people to have seen and - in some cases - got to know their new alien allies, but not long enough to really mingle with them fully. 
Pretty much our first posts IC will be all meeting up before the big good bye, I'm thinking, and we embark off on our crusade.

[quote]Also, I'll take a look at the OVA series, thanks for the recommendation![/quote]
I hope you enjoy them! 

I can understand what you mean about four characters - I'm going to do two, and that already seems like hard work!