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+--- Thread: HD01 - Science Cadet Rowan Richards (/showthread.php?tid=603)
HD01 - Science Cadet Rowan Richards - Amelina Whittaker - 01-27-2026
== Welcome to your holodeck, Cadet Richards
Read the following information carefully, because it has a fair amount of important information for you. If you have any questions or difficulties at any time, please contact one of the following people for assistance. We’d be glad to help you out.
Commander Jasal
Commander Shanth
Captain Allen
Remember, during your time at the Academy, people have responsibilities such as school, jobs, and family, as well as maintaining our site. There are times when we may have to wait longer than we’d like for a reply to a post or a question. Patience and treating each other with respect and dignity are two things that are absolutely required of all members.
On the flip side, the Constitution states that players need to post at least twice a week. If you find you are unable to keep up due to something coming up in real-life responsibilities or you’re just going to be on holiday, please let one of the Admins know. You can be granted a leave of absence for the length of time you think you’ll be away. If you don’t let us know and you suddenly disappear, this could end with you being considered AWOL and eventually removed from the active cadet roster.
Now… with all of that said, let’s get to your character’s bio!
Please begin by posting your bio using the template below. Once posted, your bio will be reviewed by an Evaluations representative. They will post comments for you and suggest any adjustments your bio might require. Once they approve your bio, you will be assigned an instructor and your adventure will begin!
Federation Space is a written RPG. With that said, we ask that you try to pay attention to spelling and grammar in your posts. Posts properly formatted are easier and more enjoyable for everyone to read. I strongly recommend you run your bio and any posts you make through a spell check before posting them.
Next are a few resources that can help you as you write your bio:
Be sure to check out playable races.
Our character development page is a great resource to help you fill out your bio form.
One last thing, please take time to read and understand our site’s canon page. This will help you understand what 'Trek' related information is included on our site.
Again, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! And as always - have fun!
== Physical Description ==
Name:
Species:
Gender:
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Build/Body Type:
Complexion:
Hair Color:
Hair Style:
Eye Color:
Voice:
Off-Duty Clothing Taste:
Distinguishing Features:
== Personal History ==
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Marital Status:
Siblings Name & Ages:
Mother's Name:
Father's Name:
Parent's Status:
Pets:
Best Friend:
Personal History:
== Personality ==
Academy Majors:
Academy Minors:
Hobbies & Past-Times:
Short-Term Goals:
Long-Term Goals:
Personality:
Sense of Humor:
Phobias:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Pet Peeves/Gripes:
Bad Habits / Vices:
Achievements:
Disappointments:
Illnesses:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Fears:
Prejudices:
== Questions ==
Most Painful Experience:
Best Time:
Most Crucial Experience:
Role Model:
Referrer / How you found Fed Space (If 'Google' or 'Search Engine', please specify the search engine and the term searched for):
==
== Tag Richards ==
RE: HD01 - Science Cadet Rowan Richards - Rowan Richards - 01-27-2026
== Hi! Thank you for the welcome! ==
== Physical Description ==
Name: Rowan Richards
Species: Angosian-Vulcan
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Height: 6’2” (188 cm)
Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
Build/Body Type: Athletic and broad-shouldered; powerful without bulk, carrying strength with restraint rather than intimidation
Complexion: Light olive with a warm undertone; appears human at first glance
Hair Color: Jet black, with partial curls
Hair Style: Neatly kept, usually parted to the side; practical, unfussy, and regulation-clean
Eye Color: Blue-gray, often softened by warmth and attentiveness
Voice: Calm, resonant, and steady; naturally reassuring, with a quiet authority that invites trust
Off-Duty Clothing Taste: Simple and understated; earth-tone sweaters, fitted jackets, comfortable boots; favors practicality and modesty over fashion
Distinguishing Features: Strikingly human appearance despite Angosian origin
A gentle, open expression that contrasts with his imposing stature
Habitual small gestures of care - subtle nods, steady eye contact, a reassuring half-smile - that make others feel seen and at ease
== Personal History ==
Date of Birth: November 11
Place of Birth: Lya Station, Angosia III
Marital Status: Single
Siblings Name & Ages: None
Mother's Name: Mara Richards (adoptive mother), T'Vel (biological mother)
Father's Name: Dr Alaric Richards (adoptive father), Kaelen Vos (biological father)
Parent's Status: All four of his parents are alive.
Pets: None currently
Best Friend: Cadet Thalen zh’Rihn (Andorian, Starfleet Academy). Cadet zh’Rihn and Cadet Richards became friends in the unremarkable way that often proves the most enduring. They were assigned as lab partners during an early Academy science practicum that demanded patience more than brilliance, and both quickly discovered in the other a shared preference for careful work and unhurried thought. Thalen’s sharp Andorian focus paired naturally with Rowan’s steady, grounding presence, each compensating for what the other lacked without competition or friction. Their friendship deepened through late-night study sessions, quiet conversations over replicated tea, and a mutual respect for listening before speaking. Over time, it became understood among their peers that where one was found, the other was rarely far behind, a partnership built less on similarity than on trust.
Personal History: Rowan Richards entered the galaxy under a different name and under circumstances that were never meant to endure public scrutiny. He was born Ruvan, the son of two individuals whose lives were shaped by discipline, restraint, and the consequences of power. His father, Kaelen, was an Angosian super soldier, one of the last products of a program designed to engineer absolute physical supremacy. Though the Federation had long since curtailed such practices, Kaelen’s generation still bore their mark. He possessed strength beyond ordinary limits, accelerated reflexes, and a body honed for survival in extremes. Yet it was not his capacity for violence that defined him, but his determination never to let that power define his son.
Ruvan’s mother, T’Vel, was a Vulcan xenogeneticist attached to a Federation oversight initiative tasked with studying the long-term effects of Angosian genetic enhancement. She was precise, reserved, and unwavering in her ethical commitments. Where others approached Angosian biology with fear or fascination, she approached it with responsibility. Their union was brief and discreet, born of proximity rather than intention, but its result was unprecedented. Ruvan inherited the full physical potential of both lineages. Angosian dominance shaped his outward appearance, leaving him indistinguishable from a human infant at first glance, yet Vulcan physiology asserted itself internally. His blood was green. His neural efficiency exceeded human norms. His endurance and strength developed at a rate that was registered by every medical instrument that measured him.
The absence of pointed ears offered him no safety. His genetic profile was anomalous enough to draw attention from multiple quarters, each with their own interests. Federation observers flagged the child as politically sensitive. Angosian authorities feared renewed stigma. Vulcan institutions debated implications with characteristic detachment. In this climate of quiet contention, Ruvan’s future narrowed rapidly toward containment, study, or controlled relocation. It was during this fragile window that Dr. Alaric Richards, Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Helios, encountered the child.
Alaric was a physician whose reputation rested not on brilliance but on judgment. Years in Starfleet medicine had refined his instincts toward preservation rather than ambition. Assigned to oversee a classified neonatal medical transfer, he recognized immediately that the infant before him was being treated as a problem to be managed rather than a life to be protected. Medical authority, ethical precedent, and Federation law intersected just narrowly enough for intervention. With cooperation from select Vulcan officials, including T’Vel herself, guardianship protocols were quietly invoked. Ruvan was removed from active research registries, his genetic records sealed under the highest medical privacy classifications permitted by Federation statute.
Adoption followed through legitimate channels, recorded with minimal fanfare. With it came a transformation that was both symbolic and practical. Ruvan became Rowan, a name chosen for the tree that survives in exposed ground without becoming harsh, and for its long association with quiet protection. It was a hope that the child would grow rooted rather than hardened, strong enough to endure, gentle enough to shelter. Alaric resigned his deep-space post soon afterward. Together with his wife Mara Richards, a former Starfleet counselor whose career focused on trauma recovery and post-conflict rehabilitation, he chose a life far from political gravity wells. They settled in Ottumwa, Iowa, a place defined by open land, measured rhythms, and communities that valued steadiness over distinction. There, Rowan grew not as a curiosity, but as a child.
His upbringing was marked by careful guidance rather than secrecy. From an early age, Rowan struggled with a body that responded too quickly and too powerfully to emotion. Childhood frustrations shattered objects. Falls ended without injury. What felt like harmless roughhousing to Rowan often left other children bruised in ways that made him withdraw and grow more careful. These incidents were not dramatic, but they were frequent enough to teach him caution before he understood restraint. Alaric trained him patiently in control and awareness, emphasizing responsibility rather than fear. Mara ensured that Rowan never mistook difference for isolation. He was taught that strength carried obligation and that gentleness was not weakness but mastery.
Rowan’s green blood was identified early in childhood and explained to him in practical terms as a result of his Vulcan heritage. He was taught that while biology influenced physical capability and neurological response, it did not determine identity or moral choice. Regular medical supervision was maintained to monitor his mixed physiology, but it was deliberately kept unobtrusive so that he could grow without feeling observed or managed. His Vulcan traits expressed themselves primarily as heightened physical resilience, faster healing, and a stable nervous system capable of sustaining intense emotional states without collapse. Unlike Vulcans who discipline emotion through suppression, Rowan experienced emotions fully and empathetically. His difficulty lay not in feeling too much, but in learning to regulate how strongly those feelings translated into physical action, particularly when concern or protectiveness amplified his already exceptional strength.
Ottumwa grounded him. The routines of school, shared labor, and community expectations taught him how to belong. He learned to move carefully through the world, to anticipate his own reactions, and to place others first by instinct rather than instruction. The vast skies above Iowa and the stories of distant stars shared by his father cultivated a longing that never displaced his sense of home. As he matured, Rowan came to understand that the universe was larger than fear and more complex than power. His yearning was never for dominance or recognition. It was for understanding. He wanted to explore without conquering, to study without exploiting, and to serve without commanding.
When he applied to Starfleet Academy, he did so as Rowan Richards of Earth, his heritage disclosed only where medically and ethically required. Among his peers, he was known for composure, empathy, and a steady presence that anchored others in moments of uncertainty. His physical gifts remained evident, but they were never displayed for advantage. They were contained, disciplined, and governed by conscience. Now, as he approaches the culmination of his Academy training, Rowan carries within him the full inheritance of his origins. The strength of Angosia. The discipline of Vulcan blood. The moral grounding of a human upbringing in a quiet Midwestern town. He stands prepared not to prove what he is capable of, but to demonstrate what he chooses to be.
== Personality ==
Academy Majors: Science (Astrophysics, Exobiology)
Academy Minors: Tactical Operations, Federation Ethics and Intercultural Studies
Hobbies and Past-Times: Rowan spends much of his free time engaged in quiet, methodical pursuits. He maintains detailed stellar maps and anomaly charts beyond curricular requirements, treating them as both scientific exercises and meditative practice. He reads extensively, favoring classical Federation literature alongside Earth novels that explore ethics, identity, and moral consequence. He frequently tutors junior cadets in the sciences, particularly those struggling with confidence rather than comprehension. Observation decks are a favored refuge, where he studies stars or planetary weather systems in silence. He also keeps meticulous personal scientific logs. Outside of formal study, Rowan is an avid tea enthusiast, maintaining a growing collection of Terran and Vulcan teas and carefully documenting their preparation methods, finding the ritual grounding and clarifying.
Short-Term Goals:
Successfully complete his final holodeck examination
Secure placement aboard a Federation exploratory vessel
Demonstrate that Angosian-derived resilience can serve discovery, care, and restraint rather than conflict
Long-Term Goals:
Participate in peaceful first-contact missions as a senior Science Officer
Contribute to Federation research on post-conflict species rehabilitation and ethical recovery
Eventually mentor cadets from politically sensitive, stigmatized, or misunderstood worlds
Personality:
Rowan is warm, composed, and quietly confident in a way that does not announce itself, but settles into a space and remains. His presence tends to slow conversations rather than dominate them, creating room for others to think, speak, and be heard. Though his formal training lies in scientific disciplines that often reward detachment and clinical distance, Rowan does not treat knowledge as something to be extracted or mastered. He approaches science as a responsibility toward living systems, believing that understanding carries an obligation to protect, preserve, and minimize harm. Discovery, to him, is meaningful only insofar as it serves life.
His empathy is active rather than performative. He does not seek recognition for kindness, nor does he dramatize concern. Instead, he listens with sustained, deliberate attention, noting what is said and what is avoided, and responds in ways that reflect careful consideration rather than impulse. When responsibility presents itself, Rowan accepts it quietly, without framing it as leadership or sacrifice. He does not pursue authority, yet others often defer to him because his decisions are measured, ethically grounded, and consistently oriented toward the collective good.
In moments of pressure or crisis, Rowan’s demeanor becomes more focused rather than more forceful. Where others might escalate or harden, he narrows his attention, clarifies priorities, and relies on restraint as a stabilizing tool. His Angosian strength remains present but governed, never allowed to surge ahead of judgment. His Vulcan-influenced physiology grants him exceptional emotional endurance, enabling him to remain present and functional through prolonged stress, grief, or uncertainty. Rather than suppressing emotion, he sustains it, allowing compassion and concern to persist without overwhelming his capacity to act responsibly.
Sense of Humor: Subtle and situational. Rowan favors dry observations and gentle understatement, often using humor to diffuse tension or reassure others rather than to entertain or impress.
Phobias: Failing others through hesitation or inaction
Being placed in roles that require cruelty, coercion, or moral compromise
Likes:
Collaborative research environments
Open, sincere discussion
Long-range sensor data and stellar phenomena
Seeing others grow into confidence and competence
Quiet professionalism
Well-prepared tea
Dislikes:
Intellectual arrogance disguised as rigor
Scientific justification for harm or exploitation
Dismissal of ethical context
Being pressured into decisions without adequate reflection
Pet Peeves and Gripes:
Poorly documented research or incomplete data logs
Interrupting others before they finish speaking
Implicit bias against non-humanoid or non-Federation lifeforms
Bad Habits and Vices:
Assumes excessive responsibility for the well-being of others
Reluctant to seek emotional support when under strain
Occasionally sacrifices rest and recovery for group needs
Achievements:
Graduated within the top tier of his Science cohort
Received commendation for interdisciplinary analytical work
Recognized informally for mentorship, mediation, and peer support
Disappointments:
Persistent discomfort when discussing Angosia’s past in academic settings
Failure to intervene earlier during a cadet conflict early in his Academy years
Illnesses: None chronic. Displays exceptional physical resilience consistent with Angosian and Vulcan physiology
Strengths:
High emotional intelligence
Strong ethical grounding
Analytical rigor balanced with empathy
Leadership through presence rather than dominance
As an Angosian-Vulcan hybrid, Rowan also possesses exceptional strength, speed, and endurance, comparable to the upper limits of Vulcan physical performance
Weaknesses:
Over-identification with others’ struggles
Difficulty maintaining emotional boundaries
Hesitation when decisive action risks unintended harm
Fears: Thanks to his rather problematic heritage, he fears losing touch with the simplicity and grounding of his upbringing, the quiet humanity of Iowa, and the small rituals that keep him connected to life beyond duty.
Prejudices: None consciously held. Maintains a cautious skepticism toward institutions that prioritize control, containment, or expedience over care, informed by Angosia’s history.
== Questions ==
Most Painful Experience: Gradually realizing, as he grew older, that his childhood in Ottumwa was something fragile and finite. The pain came not from trauma or loss, but from the slow understanding that the simplicity of ordinary life, shared meals, quiet routines, and being known without explanation, would inevitably recede as his path carried him farther into the stars.
Best Time: Evenings during his Academy years spent in shared science labs long after scheduled hours had ended, when the corridors were quiet and the work became unhurried. In those moments, surrounded by colleagues rather than hierarchy, discovery felt human and communal, closer to the small-town rhythms he associated with home.
Most Crucial Experience: The decision to formally declare for the Science track rather than Command. In choosing understanding over authority, Rowan affirmed that he could serve Starfleet without surrendering the parts of himself shaped by ordinary life, restraint, and care. It was the moment he understood that leadership could exist without command.
Role Model: Captain Jonathan Archer, for his willingness to step into the unknown without certainty and remain human while doing so.
Referrer / How you found Fed Space: Google search — “Star Trek RPG forum”
== Tag Whittaker! ==
RE: HD01 - Science Cadet Rowan Richards - Amelina Whittaker - 01-29-2026
== A great bio, Cadet, which I have the pleasure to say has been approved, and your lessons will begin momentarily. Let me be the first to welcome you to FedSpace, which is a great game and community. I'll be your Instructor for the duration of your time at the Academy and will help you get ready to join your first ship. If you have any questions or anything, please don't hesitate to contact me :-) ==
Before we move onto the first lesson, I want to make sure you know about the great resource our wiki provides. It has a lot of information, including what your department duties will be. Take some time to review:
https://wiki.fed-space.com/index.php?title=How_to_Play_a_Science_Officer
The wiki also includes an Academy section that contains a lot of resources for you. Be sure to take some time to review them, especially the New Cadet FAQ, while you’re there. We’ll use the wiki later in our lessons, so it’s helpful for you to start navigating it now.
With that out of the way, let’s get started:
Lesson one: Formatting basics
Third Person, Past Tense:
Fed Space has players all over the world, so we use a standardised set of formatting rules. By using one style, it makes it easier for everyone to follow and understand each other’s posts.
The first thing to know is that we post in third person, past tense. An example of this style of writing would be: Amelina was so excited to be finally taking her final examination that she fell out of her seat. NOT: I fell off my seat because I was so excited to take my final examination.
We also use double spacing between paragraphs and character’s spoken lines. This means when you write a spoken line with quotation marks “ ”, leave a space after. This makes it easier for players to follow. A good rule to follow is ‘When in doubt, double space!’
Your Character’s Internal Thoughts
To show your character’s own thoughts, we use italics. When writing your character’s thoughts, it’s acceptable to write in first person. An example of showing my character’s thoughts would look like: I can’t wait to visit my hometown again and see my Father
Showing Emphasis
To make something really stand out in your post, such as if your character was shouting, we use bold text. An example of showing emphasis for my character would look like: Amelina loved a good cup of coffee, especially with a bit of cinnamon.
Telepathic Communication
In general, it is rare a character has the ability to communicate telepathically, and because of this, it is closely monitored by our Senior and Commanding Officers to make sure it isn’t abused. With that said, there are a few telepathic races on Fed Space, and on occasion telepaths will speak to each other through this unique skill. Telepathic communication is shown like this:
~ Hello, I am speaking directly into your mind. ~
If your character is not telepathic, then, in general, you won’t need to worry about this technique, but I want you to be aware that it exists in case you see crewmembers on your ship or others using it.
Using Communication Badges or Comm Badges
Characters can often receive verbal communications through a communication device, such as a comm badge, from another crew member or the computer. When receiving a message, you should drop the quotations “ ” and instead use brackets [ ].
For example, if I received a message from another officer, it would look something like this:
[Commander Whittaker to Cadet Richards, please report to Holodeck 1]
If you are the one speaking to somebody through a comm device, you would still use the quotations “ ”.
Out Of Character posting or OOC:
OOC posting is what I’m doing now. OOC text is surrounded by == ==. Use OOC when you want to talk to another player and not write it as part of the storyline. You won’t need to do this in general discussion areas, such as your ship’s OOC sections like Crew Announcements, as well as in Hailing Frequencies.
Proofing Posts:
When writing a post, it’s important to take time to run your posts through the spell check that many writing software offers. Spell check won’t find all grammar and spelling errors, but it will find many and help correct errors found. Rereading your post can help catch errors. We don’t need anyone to be a speller or grammar whiz, but taking the time to do this extra step will make it easier for everyone to understand what’s written.
A good way to get the feel of these formatting rules and to get a feel of the site in general is to browse the different ship forums. Take some time to look at the different ships. Take time to notice how our players use the elements listed above.
With all that said, let’s get to some posting! Your first assignment is to respond to my post using the above formatting elements. If you have any questions, ask. Good luck and have fun! ==
== Holodeck One - 13:00 hrs ==
Following an early working lunch, going over the new course material with her colleagues in the Security department, Amelina headed to her next equally important task, overseeing Cadet Richards final examination. Having already consulted her PADD and Richards file, the brunette Senior Instructor knew exactly which programme to use, as she reached holodeck one and promptly brought up the scenario that Richards would face. With everything ready, she stood near the holodeck and awaited the future Science Officer's arrival.
== Tag Richards ==