Eol Fefalas
Lord of the Possums
RDI Staff
Karma: 475/28
8841 Posts
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Also...
Just as a little pre-emptive help me out for those new to the Trek games here at the Inn, I figured I'd post MacTavish's original Bio here for reference. More or less the "standard format" hereabouts, I think. Mac's is a bit lengthy, of course... anyway... for what it's worth:
Lieutenant Jonathon (Jack) R. MacTavish
Player: Eol Fefalas
Current Assignment: Chief Tactical Officer , Third Officer, USS Discovery
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: 2334-05-20
Birthplace: New Edinburgh, Caldos IV
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 168 lbs.
Eye Color: Gray
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Physical Description: While there is something imposing (and vaguely threatening) about Jack MacTavish it is difficult to pin-point exactly what it might be. Standing just at six feet tall – give or take an eighth of an inch – and weighing in at a lean 168 pounds, the USS Discovery’s Tactical Officer is far from the largest crew member on board and, if he went toe-to-toe with a Klingon of roughly the same age and experience, some might mistakenly be lead to believe that the wiry human would be hard pressed to hold his own against the “son of Kah’less.” Those who would appraise more than physical stature and appearance, though, would invariably find themselves wondering what it was about the Caldos IV native that made them worry more about how the Klingon might fare… Perhaps the way the Tac Officer carries himself with air of confidence (as if he were twice his actual size) and an authoritative bearing (as if he were Admiral of the Fleet as opposed to a recently pipped Lieutenant) has something to do with it. Or, maybe, it’s the impassive, hawk-like glint in his eyes and the close-cropped severity of his dark hair (already showing a peppering of gray at the temples) that likens him – at least in the minds of many Starfleet personnel – to “that one, relentless, taskmaster, son-of-a-bitch” drill instructor that no rank-and-filer will ever forget even if they live to be 300!
Family and Background: Eldest son of Robert and Bronwyn MacTavish (both employed with the Planetary Engineering Department at the University of New Edinburgh (?) – Robert as a professor/researcher in the Nanotechnology branch and Bronwyn serving as a professor of Ecology). Younger brother, Ian (disappeared from Caldos IV on 2356.07.08 )suspected of being affiliated with the terrorist organization known as the Maquis; current location unknown.
Education: University of Edinburgh, Caldos IV (2351-2354): majored in History (excelled at Military History)
Starfleet Academy (2354-2358 ): History/Tactics major; minored in Security Forces Logistics and Starship Gunnery. Excelled academically but records indicate several incidents where Cadet MacTavish was reprimanded for “insubordination,” “failure to carry out orders as directed by his superior officer,” “Striking a fellow Cadet,” and other, similar infractions.
Service Record: 2354: Accepted to Starfleet Academy
2358.05.15: Graduated Starfleet Academy, commissioned Ensign.
2358.05.29: Assigned to USS Vigilance, Security Forces
2359.04.19: Promoted to Lieutenant (jg)
2361.03.05: Transferred to Starbase 375, Security Forces
2362.01.21: Demoted to Ensign (Disobeying a direct order, assaulting a superior officer, improper treatment of detainee).
2362.03.21: Assigned to Tactical Station, Starbase 375
2363.01.12: Promoted to Lieutenant (jg)
2363.09.13: Instrumental in repelling Cardassian assault on Starbase 375
2364.01.15: Assigned to USS Warden, Security Forces/Junior Tactical Officer
2364.11.04: Assumes Chief Tac Officer duties aboard USS Warden after Lt. Oliver Tahn is killed in the line of duty.
2365.02.04: Promoted to Lieutenant
2366.03.12: Assigned to USS Discovery, Tactical Officer
Medical History: 2354 – Starfleet Academy Entrance Physical: Scans show Cadet has been treated for several fractures, a number of lacerations, and numerous other bodily injuries throughout the course of childhood and adolescence. Compression fractures to hands and microfractures to facial portions of the skull would suggest injuries were largely the result of physical confrontation (fighting).
2363.09.14: Treated for injuries from energy weapon discharge, multiple abrasions and contusions, removed shrapnel resultant of computer panel explosion from right cheek.
Commendations and Reprimands: 2355.11.10: Reprimand: Starfleet Academy - “Striking a fellow Cadet,” “Conduct unbecoming a Starfleet Cadet”. Confined to quarters (7 days), Transporter privileges suspended (30 days)
2357.10.13: Reprimand: Starfleet Academy – “Insubordination,” “Failure to carry out orders as directed by superior.” Confined to quarters (14 days), (Record indicates that Cadet MacTavish was originally supposed to repeat the Tactics program; however, in “disregarding the orders as issued” Cadet MacTavish provided a more efficient and effective resolution to the simulation scenario. Requirement to repeat the program was suspended.)
2360.06.20: Commendation: Meritorious Service Award
2362.01.21: Reprimand: “Improper treatment of a detainee, Disobeying a direct order, Striking a Superior Officer” – Demotion to Ensign, 60 days confinement, Reassignment from SF to Ops.
2363.09.15: Commendation: Medal of Valor – for conspicuous gallantry and actions beyond the call of duty during the Cardassian assault on SB375
Special Skills or Ratings: Expert Qualification – Close Quarters/ Hand-to-Hand Combat (Jeet Kun Do Stylist)
Expert Qualification – Starfleet Small Arms (Type 1 and Type 2 Phasers, Phaser Rifles)
Marksman Qualification – Starfleet Heavy Arms (Phaser Cannon)
Certification – Zero G Combat Operations
Pilot Rating – Class C
Skilled Stratagem Player
Personal Bio: Despite the scientific and academic leanings of their parents, Jack MacTavish and his brother Ian were ‘typical Scottish lads’ in the early years of their childhoods on Caldos IV – boisterous, mischievous, rough-and-tumble boys, all but inseparable, who were always up for fun and/or trouble where ever and when ever it could be found but overall ‘good lads who loved and respected their Ma and Da” and were fiercely proud of and loyal to their family. Both of the MacTavish boys showed an early and rather interesting penchant for strategy and tactics and often easily bested other children they played with in games such as Capture the Flag, King of the Mountain, etc. As they grew into adolescence, they also became somewhat notorious for being two off the toughest scrappers in New Edinburgh – never turning from (and, more often than not, winning)a fight even if it appeared the odds weren’t in their favor. This strategic and tactical awareness, though, wasn’t only limited to the physicality of game-playing and fisticuffs – especially in Jack’s case. While Ian was perfectly happy to be in the thick of things, enjoying the rushes of adrenaline and the frantic energy of combat and competition, Jack also found himself intrigued by the more cerebral aspects of conflict and confrontation. On days when Caldos IV’s weather put a damper on any goings on outdoors, Jack would entertain himself by reviewing historical data archives, reading accounts and reviews of battles of all ages, and recreating them in computer simulations (often taking on the role of the historical loser of the conflict in question and “rewriting history” by figuring out how the tables could have been turned on the documented victor).
The pursuits and interests of his childhood led Jack to enroll in the University of New Edinburgh where his major course of study was History (with a focus on military history, strategies, and tactical operations). He also studied boxing, fencing, and other forms of personal combat while attending the University and held the title of Caldos IV Intercollegiate Stratagem Champion for the last two years of attendance at UNE. It was during Jack’s years at the University that he and Ian began drifting apart. While Jack found his interests and abilities focused and directed by his education, his younger brother had seemed to allow his to be directed by the ideals and precepts of political extremists whom he had befriended in Jack’s absence. This philosophical parting of ways continued and intensified when Jack applied for admission to Starfleet Academy.
During the first two years at the Academy Jack flourished (aside from a few minor incidents where his temperament and respect for authority were called into question) but, in his absence, Ian further aligned himself with “political extremist and special interest groups of questionable intent.” Cadet MacTavish, of course, was questioned extensively by Federation and Starfleet officials in regards to his brother’s affiliations and investigated at length to determine if he, too, demonstrated any such similar leanings. When the investigations concluded – and it was determined that Jack did not, in fact, have any leanings toward or associations with any of these organizations aside from his brother – Jack contacted Ian and “read him the riot act” over the trouble Ian was causing (and likely getting into), promising to “discuss it further” with him when Jack returned home on furlough. Ian, of course, was indignant about the whole thing and railed against the Federation and Starfleet in return, and swore to be more than prepared for that ‘discussion.’ However; on 2356.07.08, when Jack MacTavish returned to Caldos IV on that furlough, his brother Ian also seemingly disappeared from the planet, severing all ties with family and friends. (It is presumed that he left in the company of several other persons of interest monitored by Starfleet Intelligence and, after departing Caldos IV, wound up working as an agent for any number of radical organizations. Ian MacTavish has been spotted several times since, but intelligence cannot confirm that he has settled in any particular location, neither can it determine for certain if he still maintains affiliation with any particular group(s) from his youth. The most recent sighting of Ian MacTavish, however, places him in the company of two known Maquis operatives.) Jack and Ian still haven’t had that “discussion;” a fact that seems to weigh heavily on the elder MacTavish’s mind at times. This familial rift may account for Cadet MacTavish’s handling of his final Tactics examination in which, during a simulation of an historical starship battle, Jack blatantly disregarded the orders of his “Captain,” arguing tactical wisdom with the other Cadet while simultaneously employing his own (repeatedly recommended) tactics to resolve the re-created conflict. While MacTavish’s tactical decisions proved more effective and efficient than did the ‘Captain’s’ – in fact, setting a record time for resolution of this particular scenario – Jack was still reprimanded for his insubordination and appropriately punished (the mandatory failure of the Tactics course, however, was waived due to the Cadet’s outstanding performance, otherwise).
In 2358, Jack MacTavish graduated from the Academy and was assigned to the Security Forces detail aboard the USS Vigilance – a military vessel alternately assigned to patrol the border of the Neutral Zone between Romulan and Federation space and the contentious region of space along the Federation/Cardassian border. His outstanding performance aboard the Vigilance – helping to organize and deploy the Security teams more effectively – earned him a fairly quick promotion to Lieutenant (junior grade) and gained him some notice among the Starfleet Security/Tactical Operations Community. Shortly thereafter Jack was re-assigned to the security forces contingent aboard Starbase 375 (at the installation commander’s request) as aSEC.
His career aboard SB375, at first, seemed as promising as his career aboard the Vigilance had been. Upon arrival, Jack immediately set about re-organizing and restructuring the Security details, quickly bringing them up to the performance and efficiency levels of his squads aboard the Vigilance, and even though his ‘gruff, hard-nosed, should-have-been-a-marine’ reputation preceded him, he gained the respect of his superiors and subordinates alike – though, among the subordinates, that respect was paid somewhat begrudgingly. There were some, too, among the Senior Officers aboard SB375 who cringed or curdled at MacTavish’s attitude – he was known to speak his mind in a brutally blunt manner at times and never let rank or protocol prevent him from doing so if he felt it was called for; “Beggin’ yer pardon, Sir, but that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” was not an uncommon thing to be heard from Lt (jg) MacTavish in staff meetings (or in the corridors for that matter) – but, for all intents and purposes, they considered him to be an outstanding officer.
In 2362, a team of Cardassian saboteurs were discovered and captured aboard SB 375. The Cardassians – who were far from cooperative – were taken to detention for questioning. MacTavish was ordered to postpone questioning until the CSO and the installation Commander could arrive as it was suspected that one of the infiltrators was the son of a Cardassian Gul of some repute – protocol dictates that one of such standing may not be questioned by one of lesser standing. Despite those orders, MacTavish began a cursory debriefing of the suspects during which time, several verbal and mild physical exchanges took place between MacTavish and the Cardassians. In the end, the Cardassians’ lit the fuse to Jack’s temper and he was goaded into throwing the son of the Cardassian Gul a good, sound beating. When the Commander and the CSO arrived, Jack was in the midst of pummeling the Cardassian – who had suddenly stopped fighting back – and, when the Commander tried to intervene, he found himself in the path of Jack’s right cross and a flurry of expletives. The incident, much to the delight of the Cardassians, saw MacTavish arrested, sent to the brig, and demoted to Ensign. MacTavish was also required to submit to s psychological evaluation and counseling sessions for anger management. The result of this was to find Jack reassigned, upon his release, from security forces to Ops (thankfully, they at least assigned him to the Tac station) the idea being that he might be less volatile if kept distanced from the hustle and bustle of Security. Again, MacTavish excelled in his position at Tactical Ops and very little that occurred on or around SB 375 escaped his attention. Had it not been for his attention to detail and quick, adaptive thinking at the Tac Station, SB375 might very well have fallen to the Cardassians when they staged an assault on the installation in late 2363. While SB 375 did sustain damage and suffer a handful of casualties in the assault, MacTavish was able to quickly and efficiently direct the defenses and counter assault, despite being wounded himself. He was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions that day.
A few months later, MacTavish was transferred to another military vessel, the USS Warden, at the request of the Warden’s Chief Tactical Officer (who turned out to be none other than Jack’s dorm-mate at the Academy, Oliver Than). The details of the USS Warden’s mission are still classified and under review; thus they are only available to persons with proper clearance and need to know. It is known that Lt Oliver Tahn was killed in the line of duty aboard the Warden and, upon his demise, MacTavish assumed the post of CTO and was promoted to Lieutenant shortly thereafter. Upon completion of the USS Warden’s tour, the crew was disbanded and reassigned while the vessel entered drydock for repair and refitting. Jack was somewhat disappointed to find himself transferred to a Science and Exploration vessel christened the USS Discovery, but manning the TAC station aboard a Galaxy Class Starship does hold a certain appeal.
Posted on 2009-10-17 at 00:16:54.
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