Not much in known about the past of Ernest. The only definite you get is that he is the boyfriend of Opera, and is an archeologist from the planet Tetragenes.

How to Recruit - To recruit Ernest you must have Opera in the party. After you must explore the Mountain Palace until you find Ernest's laboratory. After that you must view the Private Action where Opera shows the party where the ship crashed. Later the party will spot Ernest at the Hoffmann Ruins.