Records current for stardate 12400/Terran year 2312. [Records in alphabetical order]

Doctor Jobin A'Ochak.

Rank: Lieutenant Commander

Service Number: ME 532-4498w

Assignment: NCC-1976, U.S.S. Sheffield

Position: Chief Medical Officer

Security Clearance: Level 7

Born: January 31st 2283, Grazerite Homeworld.

Race: Grazerite Male

Marital Status: Married

Chief Medical Officer of the U.S.S. Sheffield. Grazerite doctor who has a passion for life: saving life, finding life in all forms. Jobin A'ochak is a doctor of medicine but also has specialisations in botany and zoology. He has spent his formative years studying at various universities across the Federation and participating in Federation Science Council missions before joining Starfleet Medical. A'ochak is like many of the doctors on such historical voyages as the Beagle, studying new forms of plant and animal life, as well as performing the traditional role of doctor.

A'ochak is middle aged and is private about his own life. His focus now is on his career and the discovery of new life. A'ochak relishes finding new curative and medicinal properties in plant and animal life. He has an intense passion for healing the sick and saving lives. A'ochak is well travelled from his studies and numerous field trips and Starfleet voyages. He has knowledge spanning the Alpha Quadrant and intends to add the Beta Quadrant to his list from the Sheffield mission.

A'ochak is a studious man, often found either in Sickbay, one of the medical labs or in the botanical section of the starship. If the ship is in orbit of a planet with any life, or potential life, then he will often be found on the planet. He has written many papers on the life he has discovered and often gives talks at conferences on his discoveries.

Beorin

Rank: Petty Officer 1^st Class

Service Number: TP 148-4551p

Assignment: NCC-1976, USS Sheffield, Miranda class.

Position: Psychology of Play Specialist.

Security Clearance: Level 3.

Born: June 4th, 2277,

Race: Tiburonese male.

Marital Status: Single.

Personal:

Beorin specialises in the psychology of play. Beorin, like all Tiburonese, is an easy-going, hedonistic person. He enjoys playing games of allsorts and finds nothing more pleasurable than discovering a new game to play. Beorin comes from an extended family with many siblings.

Career:

Beorin graduated as a crewman in the Class of 2297. His first assignment was to starbase 26, acting as social sciences technician. Beorin's natural expertise in the psychology of play soon saw him promoted from crewman to Petty Officer [2nd class]. Beorin stayed aboard starbase 26 for the early part of his career, building up his reputation and his amount of psychology papers published.

In 2306 Beorin was approached by an old friend from his Academy days - Nathaniel Hawkins - and asked to work with Hawkins on the U.S.S. Sheffield. Now Beorin is a Petty Officer [1st class] and is the Sheffield's resident expert on the psychology of play.

Kara Cassandra Annabell Fox.

Rank: Lieutenant [junior grade]

Service Number: CQ 467-0563h

Assignment: NCC-1976, U.S.S. Sheffield

Position: Chief Communications Officer

Security Clearance: Level 6

Born: August 1st 2270, xxxx colony.

Race: Human Female

Marital Status: Single

Kara Fox is an expert in linguistics and encryption/decryption. Kara Fox is a free and single young woman who does what she wants for fun. Lieutenant Fox is a strong woman with a career in mind. Little is known of Kara's family, she keeps her private life very much to herself. Through conversation she has mentioned her parents and a sister, although more than that is unknown.

Kara was born in the xxxx colony. Most of her childhood is a mystery, but she did go to the non-Federation world of Adigeon Prime. Once there, Kara was fitted with a dataport at the base of her skull, hidden under her hair. This port allows Kara to remote link with any compatible computer from a short distance away. Fox is far faster at interacting with computers as a result. Kara merely has to think to interact with a computer once her remote modem part of her dataport links. Why Kara was fitted with a dataport, or who paid for the enhancement is not known. All that is known is that this did not effect her application to Starfleet.

A side-effect to the dataport implant are frequent headaches. Painkillers can dull this to a degree, but this can impair the effectiveness of the dataport. Some of Kara's naturally stand-offish impatient nature is down to these frequent migraines.

Career:

Kara Fox graduated in 2292 and was assigned to U.S.S. Noam Chomsky, Oberth class, as communications officer. After a successful three years tour of duty on the ship, examining transmissions from distant civilisations in the Beta Quadrant, Lieutenant [J.G.] Fox was reassigned to U.S.S. Constellation, NCC 1974, Constellation class, as chief communications officer.

Lieutenant Fox's determination was interpreted by some as arrogance and even by some as disliking. Truth be told, Lieutenant Fox is an efficient officer and a perfectionist. She can be frustrated by inefficiency and doesn't suffer fools gladly, although she tolerates them better now. When Captain Ilani was compiling her crew for the U.S.S. Sheffield, Lieutenant Fox's name appeared on the list as amongst Starfleet's finest linguists and communications experts. Captain Ilani ensured through perpetual requests that Kara Fox was to be her chief communications officer.

Another of the important officers on the U.S.S. Sheffield, Kara Fox is the chief means of gathering elint [electronic intelligence] from other sources. With the mission into Klingon space, Kara's duty will be to listen in on any 'stray' transmissions that should happen to cross the Sheffield's path during the mission.

Ieuan Griffiths.

Rank: Lieutenant [j.g.]

Service Number: LL 210-0013i

Assignment: NCC-1976, U.S.S. Sheffield.

Position: Chief Geological Officer

Security Clearance: Level 4.

Born: March 17th 2281, Rhyl, Wales, Earth.

Race: Human Male

Marital Status: Single

Ieuan [pronounced Yeh-yan] was born in Rhyl, North Wales, in 2281. He now lives in Ynysboeth, Glamorgan, when he is back on Earth. Ieuan is a geological officer and has an interest in fossils and minerals. Lt. Griffiths also collects old coins and currency, one of his prized collection being an authentic pre-1980s english one pound note. Ieuan has sporting interests in rugby and plays the game whenever he gets the chance. Lt. Griffiths has just been promoted after a successful mission aboard the U.S.S. Devonshire. Lt. Griffiths is now the Chief Geological Officer onboard the U.S.S. Sheffield.

Nathaniel Gallas Hawkins.

Rank: Captain

Service Number: TQ 793-4902a

Assignment: NCC-1976, USS Sheffield, Miranda class.

Position: Commanding Officer [2312 - ].

Security Clearance: Level 5.

Born: December 28th 2271, Chelmsford, England, Earth.

Race: Human Male

Marital Status: Single

Family:

Father – Captain Richard Hawkins Born 13.3.39, Colchester, England, Earth. Spent a career in Starfleet in the engineering division. Almost retired after the Excelsior transwarp project was abandoned in 2290, but returned to work on U.S.S. Hood.

Mother – Dr Elizabeth Helen Hawkins [nee Turner] Born 24.7.43, Chelmsford, England, Earth. Retired medic, formerly Lieutenant with Starfleet [2264 - 2283].

Sister – Lt. Commander Helen Irene Buckingham [nee Hawkins] Born 19.8.66, Chelmsford, England, Earth. Flag officer aide to Commodore Maxwell Buckingham at Starbase 77. Former Executive Officer aboard the new Renaissance class USS Shakespeare.

Brother – Captain Andrew Richard Hawkins Born 19.11.67, Chelmsford, England, Earth. Currently Commanding Officer aboard the Miranda class USS Chen Te.

Sister – Dr Mary Louise Tovey [nee Hawkins] Born 3.7.69, Chelmsford, England, Earth. Followed in the footsteps of her mothers' early career, joining Starfleet Medical. Now a junior doctor aboard Oberth class USS Galileo, operating out of Starbase 12 in the Maelstrom region.

Career:

Summary:

2297 - Graduated Starfleet Academy

2298 - U.S.S. Monarch, Soyuz class

2299 - U.S.S. Montrose, Constellation class

2303 - U.S.S. Valkyrie, Constellation class

2308 - U.S.S. Blazer, Oberth class

2309 - U.S.S. Sheffield, Miranda class. Executive Officer.

2312 - U.S.S. Sheffield, Miranda class. Commanding Officer.

Detailed:

Terran born in Chelmsford on Earth on stardate 7142.5. Educated at Holt House Primary, Carterknowle Junior and Abbeydale Grange Secondary schools. Aptitudes in interpersonal communication and psychology. Sporting aptitudes in track and field, martial arts, climbing and sailing.

Hawkins has had a chequered educational career, entering Starfleet Academy in 2291 with average - low score for entry. Starfleet Academy application received stardate 8911.7. Attended Academy stardate 8940.5 - 9203.2 training in Biological Sciences. Physical training was a shock with grades suggesting he would not make it as an officer. A field training mission aboard the Constitution class U.S.S. Potemkin showed that Cadet Hawkins had potential, however this did not prevent his eventual wash-out at the end of the first year. Hawkins was at the Academy 2291-92, failing the grade to make the second year. He spent a year away from 2292-93 before Hawkins returned all the more determined to complete the four-year course and follow in the footsteps of his Starfleet family. He swapped courses from Biological Sciences to Exopsychology and Behavioural Science.

Cadet Hawkins had much pressure against him. Getting back into Starfleet Academy had been tough. Places at the Academy are scarce compared to the number of applicants, as a resit he had to prove himself twice as much, show that he had the stamina to finish the course. There would be no third time.

Hawkins had a piece of good fortune "...run into me. Well, actually me into it..". Cadet Hawkins, on his way to his first class, ran into a Starfleet lecturer spilling the lecturer's PADDs all over the floor, along with his own. This lecturer turned out to be the one about to take the class he was running to. His name is Commander Robert Carter. Carter became Hawkins' mentor over time, teaching him the skills he needed out in space. Hawkins was worked to the bone, but later understood and appreciated the reasons why. Cadet Hawkins had his first experiences of deep space aboard the U.S.S. Mars (NCC 1009, Bonaventure class), under the legendary Captain "Achilles" Stirling. Hawkins had the finest role-model in being a Starfleet officer that he could ever wish for. Stirling was a legend of his time and was only too honest and open. "Achilles" Stirling was quite the captain to make his feelings known and not beat about the bush. Hawkins learned lessons hard and fast and never repeated the same mistake twice.

Hawkins wasted no time in heading to the berth of the training sloop Inspiration, still in dress uniform from the introductory speeches. He was determined this time to do things right; the Inspiration was one of the first things that Hawkins wanted to do right from ther start. Hawkins had been building up his physical fitness from the year away from the Academy, getting himself ready for the arduous assault courses and long runs that the Academy loved to inflict on the trainees.

The second year of the Academy saw Cadet Hawkins meeting new first year Cadet Judith Peers, seeing her practicing polo when Hawkins and his roommate Sean O'Reilly were returning from a cross-country run. Peers and Hawkins hit it off, the two of them becoming inseperable during the second year of the Academy. Peers and Hawkins worked in synergy; their scores at the Academy were high across the board. Peers wrked hard on her polo and fitness, with Hawkins helping with the psychology; Peers helped Hawkins with his fitness levels as well as helping him to mature as an individual. This was where Cadet Hawkins developed his appreciation for good food and good wine, as well as taking better attention to his personal presentation. This was where the officer-to-be was forged.

Year three of the Academy saw Cadet [Second Class] Nathaniel Hawkins assigned to the Constellation class U.S.S. Montrose, NCC 6236, for experience. It is here that he first met Lieutenant, later Lieutenant Commander, Rangi Turoa. This field experience took Hawkins into Klingon space with the Qo'noS aid programme and also saw the Montrose overseeing the dismantling of the Klingon Neutral Zone and the effects it had on the region and peoples. The real choice for such a deep space mission was that Hawkins and Peers had separated. The best way for him to deal with the grief was to take the first deep space training mission he could find; it had only been a few months since Cadet Sean O'Reilly had been in a similar situation and the two of them had worked through that situation, Sean now returning the favour.

During his final year, Hawkins skippered the Academy J-class sloop Inspiration. Hawkins had first joined the Inspiration in 2291, when he was first a cadet. He wasted no time in rejoining the crew in 2293 when he went to the Inspiration still dressed in his dress uniform from the inauguration speech. With Hawkins at the helm, and with a first-rate crew, he managed to win the J-class race of 2297. Hawkins lived by the Commandant's first day comment that the good cadet should "Work hard, play hard - in that order". In retrospect, Cadet Hawkins maybe should have spent more time on his lectures and coursework than on his sailing. Nathaniel always wanted to graduate as Class Valedictorian, or perhaps settle for Salutatorian. In reality Hawkins graduated as just another graduate. He graduated 78th in a class of 115 cadets. It has often been wondered whether he was really happy for that.

Hawkins graduated in 2297, stardate 10597.5, and was commissioned as an Ensign [usual practice for the first year of being a commissioned officer] being first assigned to U.S.S. Montrose [NCC 6236] as deputy Head of Social and Behavioural Sciences department. Hawkins steadily developed his career, gaining promotion to Lieutenant [junior grade] in 2298 and working towards becoming department head which he achieved in 2301. Hawkins was reassigned in 2303 to Oberth class vessel U.S.S. Blazer - training him in command skills ready for his later career. The assignment was on the recognition of Captain An'il'taya.

Hawkins' skills in linguistics can be traced to one of his heroes being Hoshi Sato of the Enterprise NX-01. His skills were taught to him by Commander York, ex-of the starship Enterprise [NCC 1701] from her 5-year mission after her 2273 refit. His specialist languages are Klingon, Romulan and Vulcan. More unusual languages he has studied include Ancient Vulcan, Mag'ii'kitaean and Bajoran. There are many skills that Hawkins had picked up even by his graduation in 2297, amongst them are his natural skills with people that helped him to pass as a Starfleet officer, as well as specialising in Social and Behavioural Sciences. Hawkins also became an accomplished sailor, martial artist in various forms and climber [preferring solo free-climbing in the Derbyshire Peak District region in his native England] and snowboarding, which he practices in the Scottish Highlands in winter.

Hawkins found it hard as a cadet to master the command of a group, but his training and experiences, especially with the sailing sloop Inspiration, soon made him mature into a good leader and resourceful problem-solver. Hawkins is also a loner, preferring a lot of his own company in solitude. He finds it difficult to be in company for long periods without a break and he values his privacy. For this reason, Hawkins likes the company of Vulcans as he finds their discrete nature to be calming. Hawkins underwent a period of stress during his assignment to U.S.S. Montrose. Increasingly, the stress began to take its toll on him. Doctor Helen Marshall noticed this and he was called to Sickbay by Doctor Marshall and given discreet counselling. He is given a regime of treatment and told he must relax or else he will be placed on reduced duties. Hawkins was allowed to continue, under the observation of Doctor Marshall.

Lieutenant Hawkins was reassigned after his successful 12 month mission on the Blazer to U.S.S. Sheffield, NCC 1976 by order of Vice Admiral Kylie Hudson, as her Executive Officer. Hudson was Deputy Head of Starfleet Intelligence. There, he gained experience under the legendary eye of Captain Raekwon Okigbo. The social sciences nature of the mission, plus Hawkins' familiarity with the mission profile and equipment, made him the first choice for the job. A little taken aback by being assigned to such a large ship, Hawkins has taken a short while to get used to being the First Officer. He still does not wear command white undershirts as he is entitled to, he still prefers to think of himself as the social scientist who happens to be the First Officer. Lt. Commander Hawkins was now where history would always record him to be synonymous with - U.S.S. Sheffield.

2312 saw Hawkins promoted to Captain and assume command of the Sheffield. Hawkins devised the mission, which Admiral Hudson approved. U.S.S. Sheffield was assigned to Sector 16447, where a detailed study on the minor powers of the Beta Quadrant, which were overshadowed by the dual Cold Wars with the klingons and romulans. The first part of the mission was about 'taking a base reading' on the status quo of the races of the Beta Quadrant. The mission went to Nimbus III, Planet of Galactic Peace, where Hawkins discovered that his theory that the minor powers had been busy was indeed looking likely, with some unexpected discoveries.

Jonathan Hirst

Rank: Lieutenant [brevit]

Service Number: CK 100-1321f

Assignment: NCC-1976, USS Sheffield, Miranda class.

Position: Chief Security Officer.

Security Clearance: Level 6.

Born: January 30th 2281, Sheffield, Earth.

Race: Human male.

Marital Status: Single.

Family:

Relationship with Father: has made a career out of the security/police force, but he has only ever being able to attain a certain rank in the force. Wanted to live out what he didnt achieve in Hirst, as of rank in the force. But Hirst was only ever interested in Starfleet and this strained the relationship to breaking point when he entered Academy. Hirst was never good enough in his eyes unless he was wanting to join the force. Even when he went through a phase when he did want to he was still criticised because he would have had more potential then him. Basically its a jealousy thing, Hirst's grandfather is a high ranking official in the force and it has formed a vicious circle between the three generations of Hirsts where his father never pleased his grandfather and now his father has pushed his son Hirst away.

Career:

Jonathan Hirst joined Starfleet Academy in 2299 and soon proved himself capable in the physical routines of the cadet course, excelling in the first year. As a result of this, Hirst was selected by Commander Matsui Yoshida, formally the Security Chief aboard the U.S.S. Achilles, to do extra training as she felt he would make a superior security officer.

Somewhere in here we'll mention the important mission that Hirst went on as a cadet and excelled as a security officer - maybe taking over when the regulars are killed. This mission will take place in your third and fourth year at the academy. I'll think of a few cool british names for the ship for ya

Following Hirst's successful mission on the starship 'Lollipop' [hey just a temporary name] Hirst had the rank of ensign made permenant.

Here we'll have Hirst finishing in the top 3 - 5 of the academy and coming out as a Lieutenant [jg] rather like Lt Saavik from Star Trek II. Also going to have Hirst join the Sheffield straight from the academy, with the incident that gained him a good reputation recent in everyones mind.

On stardate 11603, Lieutenant Hirst was assigned to the USS Sheffield as the new Chief security Officer. Hirst was further surprised by his brevit promotion to Lieutenant, not expecting to actually be placed in charge of the department.

Author's note: character created by Chris Henderson of the U.S.S. Sheffield Star Trek club.

Samuel Iverson Hunter

Rank: Lieutenant Commander

Service Number: JS 694-4985n

Assignment: NCC-1597, U.S.S. Duncan

Position: Commanding Officer

Security Clearance: Level 8

Born: March 4th 2271, New Paris Colony

Race: Human Male

Marital Status: Single

The son of Federation diplomats, from a young age Sam Hunter was groomed for "greater things". Whether a statement of rebellion against his parents, or simply a reaction to incidents he may have witnessed during his youth, Hunter has little patience for the posturing of diplomacy. From a young age, his parents lectured him on the brash and irresponsible nature of Starfleet officers. It wasn't until he was 12, and accompanying his parents to a diplomatic conference on Makus XII that he had his first face to face contact with real Starfleet officers.

Young Sam had been exploring the conference facility (ie, snooping in places he shouldn't have been) when he encountered Commanders Sulu and Uhura from the starship Enterprise. Despite his parents best efforts to convince him as to the evils of Starfleet, Sam had reached an age where he had begun to question the dogma of his youth, and he found himself asking many questions of the two Enterprise officers. Sam quickly became fascinated by the stories they had to tell, and after the conference he began to truly question his parents' words, and to learn about the universe through his own eyes. As the years passed, he realised that his destiny lay out among the stars, and he entered Starfleet Academy against the strong objections of his parents.

A dedicated career man, Sam has risen through the ranks at an impressive pace, and is determined to take centre seat on one of Starfleet's Excelsior class starships before his fortieth birthday.

Hunter is a strong supporter of maintaining humanitarian aid to the Klingon Empire, though he has made no secret of the fact that he also believes Starfleet would be foolish to trust the Klingons too easily. He is also believes in maintaining a strong defensive stance against the Romulan Empire, arguing that war with The Romulans is an inevitability that Starfleet must be prepared for, a belief he often quotes when arguing for continued relief to the Klingon Empire.

Commander Hunter is best known for his defeat of the Terix, a 'rogue' Romulan vessel that attacked a merchant convoy in the Gamma Hydra system in 2301. Unfortunately, the vessel self destructed before her crew could be questioned, and the motives for attacking a peaceful, non-military convoy remains a mystery. A mystery that Hunter continues to ponder and investigate to this day.

Author's Notes: Thankyou to my good friend and co-creator, Nick Cook, for fleshing out this tip-of-the-hat to Nick's U.S.S. Intrepid character.

Ilani

Rank: Commander

Service Number: CA 998-9751j

Assignment: NCC-1976, USS Sheffield, Miranda class.

Position: Executive Officer [2312 - ].

Security Clearance: Level 9.

Born: March 23rd 2271, Shel'gelem'h, Delta IV.

Race: Deltan female.

Marital Status: N/A [see below].

Description

Ilani is the X.O. of the Miranda class starship Sheffield. Ilani is a female Deltan and has had to put her vow of celibacy on record. Commander Ilani is an establised diplomat and has had to deal with Klingons on numerous occasions. This background in Klingon behaviour, coupled with a career in psychology and a natural psionic ability, made Commander Ilani the ideal choice for her assignment to the Beta Quadrant. Ilani was previously the Second and Science Officer aboard the U.S.S. Courageous [N.C.C. 1861].

Commander Ilani aspires to be a commanding officer. The sacrifice of being away from their own people usually disuades deltans from staying in Starfleet long enough to make captain. Being a social scientist, and naturally curious about the less-advanced species of the universe, Ilani was driven to join Starfleet. Ilani is the poster-child captaincy-candidate for the new generation of Starfleet. Diplomacy is the key tool of the new captains of Starfleet and there are some that say the innate pacifist nature of deltans make them unsuitable for command positions such as captain, that they dare not use force for the pain it will cause them in return, however Ilani is politely dismissive of such accusations.

Ilani is a hands-on officer, preferring to be in the thick of things. Ilani is still a social scientist at heart and can be found on deck three assisting at times. Ilani is also a competant swimmer and can be found doing lengths in the ship's pool during her down time. Ilani also likes to keep her finger on the pulse of social sciences, doing her own research and aiding others when not on her bridge duty. Ilani is also a musician, playing the deltan flute to relax along with her fellow deltans in their designated joined quarters.

Ilani is busy studying command, seeking to use her knowledge and skills to get her to be a commanding officer. Hawkins wanted Ilani as his XO due to her experience with the current situation and her recommendations from the Courageous - however there are those who question having former social scientists in the top two positions on the Sheffield.

Ilani has one sister and one brother. Her sister, Aenia, is a social scientist [something they both have in common]. her brother, Nesni, is an artist. Her mother, Eilia, is a teacher and her father, Rebta, is a politician. The family house overlooks the sea [okay the whole city does], and the family still all live together in the house, despite having partners and being adult.

The Deltan race is much older than humans, with brains much more finely evolved in areas of art and mathematics. Ilani channels her finely tuned artistic abilities through her command and diplomacy skills, delivering a sure, flowing precision at these tasks. Delta IV entered the Federation in 2223. The Deltan Oath of Celibacy is a safeguard to protect less advanced species from Deltan sensuality. Deltans in Starfleet usually apply to their racial strengths, applying to be counsellors or medical personnel.

Ilani's face is breathtakingly beautiful. Like all Deltans, she is completely hairless except for the eyes. Her smooth, slender bare head has the almost sensual quality of delicately contoured nudity, always hidden before in other women. It gives her a striking, almost 'Egyptian' look, particularly when wearing a Deltan jewel-band head ornament. Ilani's intelligence level is second only to a Vulcan's and she has also the esper abilities common on her planet. She can transmogrify the emotions of a being simply by physical touch [Author's Note like Ilia on Chekov in ST: TMP]. Unlike the mind-meld of Vulcans, her other abilities consist of the ability to sense emotions in the minds of others. Never words or images, only feelings, and quantity of feelings. On her planet, sexual foreplay consists largely of lovers placing emotions in each others' minds.

Ilani likes to visit her homeworld of Delta IV as often as possible, as it pains her spending so much time away from her partner, Adano, and the rest of her family. Most non-Deltans are not permitted to visit the planet of Delta IV, to limit pheromone exposure. Therefore humanoids are restricted to the Deltan moons of Seyann and Cinera.

Ilani is a wiser, more mature version of a deltan than we saw in Ilia. Ilani is a psychologist and a diplomat at heart. Despite being in her 40s, Ilani is as sexual and spiritual as a human female in her prime. Ilani, like most deltans, does not understand the Oath of Celibacy. She sees it as Starfleet trying to come to terms with sensuality in an environment still shaking off the last vestiges of its naval origins.

For information on deltans, please go to the deltan page.

Career

Ilani is a former science officer specialising in psychology. Ilani graduated from the Academy 2292, Class Salutatorian. Ilani's first assignment was to the U.S.S. Oberth (N.C.C. 602, Oberth class doyen) under Captain Edward Matthews. Ilani soon gained the respect of Matthews and became a central member of the crew during their sensitive operations along the Klingon Neutral Zone.

Within a year of Ilani joining the Oberth, Captain Matthews was transferred to the larger U.S.S. Emden (N.C.C. 1856, Miranda class) in 2293 with Lt. [jg] Ilani as one of his junior social sciences officers. Ilani served two missions aboard the U.S.S. Emden, being promoted to Lieutenant by the second mission [2298 - 2303]. Lieutenant Ilani was re-assigned as Chief Science Officer aboard U.S.S. Hathaway 2303 - 2308 and performed with distinction on this deep-space mission and pioneering aid mission to Kronos.

Ilani is fluent in Klingonese and klingon culture. She specialises in klingon command structures and has followed the klingon High Command from 2292 to the present, witnessing the rise and assassination of Chancellor Gorkon, and the succession of his daughter Azetbur. Ilani has made numerous friends, and enemies, in the Klingon Empire. These sources can sometimes prove to be useful 'back channels' for getting information when times are tense or the information not forthcoming. Ilani has met with several Federation Ambassadors during her travels, including Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan. Ilani even survived an encounter with Ambassador Curzon Dax.

Lieutenant Commander Ilani was assigned to Miranda class U.S.S. Courageous from 2308 - 2311 as Second officer and chief science officer. The Courageous performed further social sciences studies of the Klingon people. Ilani was assigned to U.S.S. Sheffield, then in Copernicus Fleet Yards, Luna, undergoing a major systems upgrade and refit before she was to command the Sheffield for a five-year mission studying the Klingon Empire and surrounding Federation region.

Author's Notes:

Details of the Deltans taken from the Star Trek: Phase Two guide in the book by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

When designing the character I considered Ilani, I considered the following things: The Deltan Oath of Celebacy will be obsolete by ST: TNG. This character and the details of the deltan race are my little tribute to Persis Khambatta, and the race she brought to life in ST: TMP. Thanks also go to Greg Bear for his incredible bilogy of 'Darwin's Radio' and 'Darwin's Children'. Both books helped inspire the details of pheromones and helped inspire me to push on with this website and stories. Gail Porter was my choice for being Ilani because she is beautiful, a science fiction fan and has shown the world that a woman minus hair is still gorgeous. Gail said her ideal acting role would be Princess Leia. Well, I think Ilani is a good compromise(!) Gail is an inspiration for people with alopecia, and in 2007 it seems she is regaining her hair. Oh, and 5ft 4.5in is a cute height too.

Kesh. Kesh was the former Chancellor of the High Council of the Klingon Empire before the coup by Junior Council Member Gorkon and his supporters in 2287. Kesh stood aside in the face of a revival in Kahlessian honour.

Author's Notes: Kesh was not killed when he stood aside for Gorkon [as seen in Dayton Ward's In The Name Of Honor']. One wonders if Kesh continued to cause trouble beyond this point as a rival to Gorkon. For further details on Kesh, I shall quote an email from Dayton Ward himself: 'To be honest, I deliberately left many of the details regarding Kesh vague. I knew that I was working in an area of Trek history that had not been defined very well, on screen or in books, and wanted to leave room for anyone who might come after me (The LOST ERA series had not been conceived at the point I was writing the novel.).

In my mind, Kesh was one of the Klingons who did not embrace the "revival" of Klingon honor -- at least as I tried to explain it in the book. He, along with others on the High Council, tried to cover up the existence of the prisoners and gave the order for the prison to be destroyed when it became apparent that it would become a sticking point in his bid to retain power. That's corrupt by human standards, and almost certainly by standards of "Klingon honor," but as I tried to display in the book...Klingon honor can be a tricky thing to understand, etc. :)

As for a physical description, since I never actually used him in the book, I never got around to creating him as a character. I had mental picture of him at the time, sort of a cross between General Koord from ST V and Kang as a "ridged" Klingon (mostly because I've always loved the way Michael Ansasra delivered his dialogue). Make of that what you will....in my case, it leaves me free to define him should I choose to revisit the character at some point. :D '

Interestingly, when asked about why he didn't do a Lost Era novel, Dayton replied:'With regard to my being involved with THE LOST ERA, in fact I was approached by editor Marco Palmieri to write one of the books. It never got beyond the "Are you interested?" stage because at the time I was hip deep in writing THE LAST WORLD WAR and could not commit to another project. That's the trouble with working a full time day job and trying to write on the side....not enough time for the important stuff!'

Irina Khmelnova.

Rank: Admiral

Service Number: CA 694-1423h

Assignment: Starfleet Command, San Francisco.

Position: Commander-in-Chief, Starfleet.

Security Clearance: Level 10.

Born: November 17th 2250, Muynak, Karakalpakistan, Earth.

Race: Human female.

Marital Status: Married.

Current Commander-in-Chief, Starfleet. Middle-aged Russian with a family history in the Navy and Starfleet. Khmelnova had the ominous task of overseeing the Starfleet Review for the 24th Century. During that role she was the Starfleet Policy Oversight Committee Chairperson. She knows that there have been many changes initiated by her predecessor, Admiral Toddman, but she knows that more has to be changed. Khmelnova is a hard woman when she needs to be and knows how to get the job done. Khmelnova was chosen to oversee the changes necessary due to her rule of putting her job ahead of her popularity.

Krrurr.

Rank: Lieutenant

Service Number: JA 113-7765m

Assignment: NCC-1976, USS Sheffield, Miranda class.

Position: Judge Advocate General.

Security Clearance: Level 6.

Born: January 4th 2273, Regula.

Race: Regulan male.

Marital Status: Married.

Krrurr is the Judge Advocate General officer aboard U.S.S. Sheffield. He came aboard in late 2306. Krrurr is assigned to advise the captain on all matters legal during the important main mission of the Sheffield.

Krrurr is an expert in Starfleet and Federation law, but also knows Klingon, Romulan and even Gorn law. Krrurr is well-read up and prides himself in being right on matters of law, frustratedly rooting through his library of legal books if he gets something wrong.

Henrik Kyrre.

Rank: Lieutenant

Service Number: CV 771-4502s

Assignment: NCC-1976, USS Sheffield, Miranda class.

Position: Senior Flight Officer.

Security Clearance: Level 4.

Born: October 7th 2280, Alesund, Norway, Earth.

Race: Human male.

Marital Status: Single.

Short-bearded blond Norweigian Senior Flight Officer, formerly the squadron commander for the much-revered Nova Squadron at Starfleet Academy. His beard is almost a statement as it is kept immaculately short. Kyrre's piercing blue eyes do not appear to miss anything, at all and always seem to be on the move, scanning the room or location he's in. He misses nothing, no matter how trivial or small.

Lieutenant Kyrre is happiest in small, manoevreable craft such as the Sheffield's shuttlecraft or Wasp fighters. Anything larger than a runabout just seems too sluggish to Kyrre. Lieutenant Kyrre is an expert in the hands of these small craft, easily the best pilot on the ship when it comes to shuttle or small craft. The manoevres that he is able to perform almost defy belief.

Kyrre graduated in the Class of '02 and was assigned to the Miranda class U.S.S. Emden as her Junior Flight Officer, soon earning himself a reputation as a pilot. A classified incident a year or so after graduation almost cost him his life and his career, but he was able to move forward from this and recover to earn a transfer to the U.S.S. Sheffield in 2306.