Lhandon Nilsen

USS Octavia E Butler
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Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Position	Helm, Communications, and Operations Officer
Rank	Lieutenant
Species	Human
Gender	Male
DOB	237702.04
Age	24
Birthplace	Gault
Writer ID	O240007LN1
Awards & Service Ribbons Starfleet Academy Graduate Ribbon Legion of Merit Denali Invitational Ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award Diplomacy Ribbon Prisoner of War Ribbon Maiden Voyage Ribbon First Contact Ribbon Innovation Ribbon Purple Heart Starfleet Investigation Ribbon Starfleet Medal of Valor Commemorative Coins

"While he was only a few years younger than Avander, in the XO’s mind, the almost-full Lieutenant was still a kid. Albeit, one who was growing up." - LT CMDR Promontory

Lieutenant Lhandon Joseph Nilsen, born February 4th, 2377 on Gault, is the Assistant Chief of Operations on the USS Octavia E. Butler. He previously held the roles of helm, communications, and operations officer on the USS Oumuamua. Nilsen enjoys rugby, cooking, combat sports and motorsport. Known for his resourcefulness and innovative thinking, he excels in communication and operations. Nilsen often rushes to the aid of others and is a popular member of his crew. Despite this, Nilsen's career has faced challenges due to his recklessness and rash decision-making; however, he has learned to master them.

Initially an unofficial assistant to the Chief of Operations, Nilsen's role became official on the Octavia E. Butler in February 2401, advancing to Assistant Chief in June of the same year. In September of 2401, Nilsen was promoted to Lieutenant. Meanwhile, Nilsen is working towards a possible shift into a diplomatic career and has been taking extra classes during his free time to get qualified.

Basic Profile Information

Nilsen: 6'4" (1.93m), 266 lbs (121kg). Lean, muscular build from farming and rugby. Formally he had unkempt curly brown hair, but has since trimmed this short, blue eyes but he has since cut his hair short. Nilsen speaks with a soft-rising accent, blending Federation Standard with Siberian and Eastern European influences

Traits & Personality

• Driven: Nilsen can take a task to completion but often cares more about the results than the process. It matters not to him how he does a task, only that he does the task. This can mean he can get things done often quicker than others, but it comes with the downside of potentially inconveniencing others in the process.

• Resourceful: During a mission on Alpha Brenkelvi II, Nilsen proposed using a probe as a relay to boost communication with the away teams, overcoming the limitations of the combadges' range. In training, Nilsen stabilized the USS Centris after it was attacked and assessed damages during a system malfunction.
• Peaceful Conflict Resolution: Nilsen exhausts all communication options before resorting to force. He managed to form a temporary alliance with Private O'Reilly, setting aside personal differences for the sake of their home.
• Playful Energy: Lhandon loves a good prank, he's trying to always see the good side of situations and people, he loves a joke with his colleagues.
• Sociable: Nilsen aims to be a sociable person who is easy to get along with. He prides himself on having built an extensive network of contacts. Nilsen enjoys positive relationships with the majority of his crewmates and has friends in every department. He is known for his boundless energy.
• Diving Head First & Recklessness: Nilsen has been known to dive into projects and assignments without fully thinking them through. One notable example was during first contact with the ancient Bajorans of Alpha Brenkelvi II, where Nilsen allowed them in their non-corporeal state to use his body to communicate with the away team while his consciousness was kept safe.
• Stubborn: Commodore V'Airu described this trait when she presented Nilsen with his second Legion of Merit award: "You also performed the admirable and unusual task of doing so successfully and, to my great relief, living to tell the tale, and for your convictions, your perseverance, and your downright bullheadedness."
• 21st Century References: When explaining details surrounding engines or shuttles, he may rely on references to cars and automobiles from Earth from the late 20th century to the early 21st century.

Telepathic Communication

During a mission to Alpha Brenkelvi II, Nilsen facilitated communication between non-corporeal Bajorans and his crew. His consciousness was transferred into Commodore V'Airu's mindscape, where he learned to communicate through images and ideas. Meanwhile, the Bajorans used Nilsen's body to show Commander Lia Rouiancet and Lt. Rivka Brzezinski their people's history. This meant that Nilsen was able to bring justice to this forgotten civilization and let their story be told. The Bajorans gifted Nilsen with minor telepathic abilities.

Nilsen's telepathic abilities (in-character knowledge):

• Dependency: His telepathic abilities are not fully under his control and seem to depend on a number of unknown conditions. He has found that being in the presence of other telepathic beings can enhance his ability to communicate.
• Facilitation: He is able to facilitate communication between peoples more readily, and his abilities seem to tap into his natural proficiency in communication.
• Environment: Nilsen has yet to determine a consistent pattern for what constitutes a favourable environment.

Out-of-character information:

The following points are not known to Nilsen. If you wish to use this in a sim, please contact me first. DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION:

• Mood: His abilities are affected by his mental state and mood. If he is scared, his brain will automatically put up mental walls preventing him from using them. This was demonstrated in the search for the USS Unity Dow.

For more details of this mission, see The Sandbox of Men (USS Oumuamua).

Interests & Hobbies

Nilsen keeping fit and enjoying the weather. (OOC: Image used for Halloween Avatar Contest 2023)

Nilsen's motorbike on the holodeck

Cooking	Nilsen is a keen cook and cannot resist any opportunity to cook for himself or his crewmates. He will aim if possible to not use the replicators.
Rugby	Lhandon found an early passion for rugby while at secondary school. On stardate 239706.25, Nilsen collided with another player and suffered a broken nose. He laughed off this incident and continued playing. Only later seeking medical assistance when forced to by his teammates. Nilsen proclaims to be the Gault Guardian's biggest fan and possesses an encyclopaedic knowledge of the team
Fitness & Combat Sports	Nilsen has discovered that maintaining a regular fitness routine not only supports his mental health but also brings him joy. He also enjoys the social aspect to the gym and fitness, In an effort to manage his temper, Nilsen has turned to combat sports. Since 2400, he's been exploring various styles to find one that suits him best. This has led him to finding enjoyment in boxing and wrestling.
Motorsport	Lhandon is a passionate enthusiast of sports cars spanning from the late 20th to the early/mid 21st century. This interest significantly influences the way he perceives and describes starships in flight. For instance, on one occasion, Nilsen compared the USS Centris, a Nova class training vessel, to an MX-5 sports car—a type of ship that, according to him, could perform sideways drifts around an asteroid field simply by kicking the nacelles out. When he can get onto the holodeck, one of Nilsen's favorite programs revolves around a dramatized version of the Formula 1 championship that is loosely based on the 2020s. If Nilsen forms a strong bond or friendship with someone, he warmly extends an invitation to that person. This program also contains a co-op campaign in which two people may participate as drivers of their preferred team. He also has a holoprogram which replicator of a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro and he hopes one day to get his hands on a real one.

Key Skills and Competencies

Lhandon Joseph Nilsen's Key Operations Skill's and Competencies

Helm, Navigation and Piloting			Operations			Communications & Language
Helm	Expert		Systems			Bajoran (Modern)	Limited working
Navigation	Expert		Transporters	Intermediate		Bajoran (Ancient)	Full Proficiency
Sub-Light Maneuvers	Expert		Replicators	Intermediate		Dominionese	Elementary proficiency
Warp Field Geometry	Advanced		Holodecks	Intermediate		Federation Standard	Professional working
Craft Types			Sensors	Advanced		Ferengi	Professional working
Shuttle & Small Craft	Expert		Logistics			Klingon	Bilingual Proficiency
Transport & Midsize Craft	Advanced		Computer Resources	Intermediate		Romulan	Elementary
Luna/Sovereign Size Craft	Expert		Quartermaster	Advanced		Vulcan	Elementary
Galaxy Class	Intermediate		Resource Allocation	Advanced
			Maintenance Schedule	Expert

Skill Legend

• Being Developed: the individual demonstrates a minimal use of the competency and is currently developing it
• Basic: the individual demonstrates limited use of a competency and requires additional training to apply without assistance or frequent supervision
• Intermediate: the individual demonstrates a working or functional proficiency level which enables the competency to be exercised effectively (has working or functional command of the competency)
• Advanced: the individual demonstrates in depth proficiency level ; is able to assist, consult or lead others in the application of a competency
• Expert: the individual demonstrates broad, in-depth proficiency; is recognized as an authority or master performer in exercising the competency

((OOC: Credit to User:Erik Johnson for helping me to put this together and quantify Nilsen's skills)

Family

Lhandon and Kei'ran circa 2395

Nilsen enjoys an overall positive relationship with his family, even though he doesn't get to see them often due to his career. His environment growing up could be considered somewhat chaotic, with fights breaking out between siblings and then resolving in the blink of an eye. Lhandon is closest to his younger brother Kei'ran; however, as children, the two fought the most. Most of the family live on or near the farm, but Lhandon is the first to leave the planet for such an extended period. His younger brother Madison left Gault and secured a role in law enforcement on Deep Space Nine approximately two years later. Lhandon's younger sister Isabella has expressed an interest in following in Lhandon's footsteps and may be planning to join Starfleet.

Lhandon tries to get a message back home when he can and enjoys the massive data drop he gets when all of the family send their messages in one bulk transmission. His family are proud of him, particularly after he turned his life around after a spate of petty crime.

Grandparents

Althea Nilsen Grandmother (Wife of Adams Nilsen) Born: 231611.25 - Died: 239104.11 - Althea Nilsen (née:Ebrahimi) was a commander in Starfleet and was known her piloting skills. She would have been proud of Lhandon and overjoyed that he was a HCO Adams Nilsen Grandfather, (Husband of Althea) 231705.12 - Died: 238707.19 - Admas Nilsen is a farmer

Grandmother Grandmother To be added Merlin Thompson Grandfather To be added

Parents

Harlod Nilsen - Farmer Father Harold Nilsen DOB: 2343.08.29 is a farmer, he has a reserved and practical nature and is proud of his family's heritage.

Moganie Nilsen - Social Worker Mother Born: Moganie Nilsen (née: Thompson) DOB: 2347.12.24 is a social worker supporting young families.

Siblings

Sariah Nilsen - Social Worker Older Sister - DOB:2372.01.29 Sariah is the oldest sibling. She is often the one who keeps the remaining siblings in check. Sariah as found her calling as a social worker, following in her mother's footsteps. Emilia Nilsen - Artist and Political Critic Older Sister - DOB 2375.08.12 Emilia Nilsen is a creative and outspoken person, known for her passionate opinions and artistic pursuits. She expresses herself through both painting and song. Emilia is an outspoken critic of Starfleet and her concerns can be summarized in five key points: Centralization of Authority: Military Concerns: Cultural Imperialism: Resource Allocation: Accountability and Transparency: Madison Nilsen - Security Officer DS9 Younger Bother - DOB: 2380.01.04 Madison Nilsen is the twin of Isabella, and he is the most stoic and reserved of the Nilsen Siblings. He is a member of the Bajoran law enforcement and is currently stationed on Deep Space Nine. In 2399, Madison met and entered a relationship with Elys Varaan, a Bajoran Archaeologist. After this, Madison elected to move full-time to Deep Space Nine. Madison

Marcus Nilsen - Farmer Older Brother - DOB: 2374.04.03 While Marcus had chosen a life dedicated to agriculture like his father, and his father before him, his dreams are changing, he is considering that now may be the time to sell the Nilsen farm, and split the profits with his family. The other siblings are as of yet unaware of this plan, but he is expecting a negative reaction. Kei'ran Nilsen - Musican and troublemaker Younger Brother - DOB: 2378.06.23 Kei'ran is the most mischievous of the siblings and continues to work on the family farm. He possesses an infectious enthusiasm for life and a natural charm that draws people to him. His sense of humour is often described as irreverent. Kei'ran remains close to Lhandon however Lhandon is glad to be away from the pranks. Lhandon and Kei'ran did commit some minor crimes during Lhandon's pre-Starfleet days, these include trespassing and vandalism Isabella Nilsen - Starfleet Cadet Younger Sister - DOB: 2380.01.04 Isabella Nilsen is the twin of Madison. Isabella's ultimate goal is to become a chief engineer in Starfleet. She possesses a natural aptitude for engineering, often taking apart and reassembling mechanical devices on the farm when she was younger. She will be graduating Starfleet academy soon.

Pets

Uno Nilsen Dog The Goodest Doggo. Bark Bark Bark.

Friends & Relationships

Overall, Nilsen aims to have positive relationships with those he meets, particularly his crewmates.

Romances

Current romantic relationship

Elijah Kovacs Boyfriend Nilsen was aware of Elijah's posting with the two passing each other as lower deckers but it was not until Kovacs took a temporary assignment to Operations that Nilsen got to know Kovacs and a friendship was formed. Nilsen was first attracted to Kovacs at the start of the Alpha Brenkelvi II mission where both were assigned to the bridge. Nilsen found himself showing off somewhat and trying to make Ops seem like a place Kovacs would want to transfer to permanently. Nilsen held on to his own attraction to Kovacs until he could process what he was feeling. These feelings developed over the course of his friendship but came to a head when he found Kovacs attacked by Dask in the cargo bay of Deep Space Nine by Dask Cronin. Nilsen rugby tackled Cronin to disarm him and in that moment realised that his actions which could be described as protective where in part to protect a friend, but also to protect someone he cares a lot about and would like to peruse a possible relationship with. When he came to this realisation, he first told Salo that he was going to ask Kovacs out, and the ensign at the time asked for advice on what to do. After taking her, Nilsen somewhat awkwardly asked Kovacs to join in with coffee, the two got along quite well and have agreed to meet up again. However, Nilsen is unaware the Lt Herrick also had an interest in Kovacs. Through out 2401, Lhandon and Elijah have gotten closer to one another and are taking it slow, they now call each other their boyfriend.

Former romantic relationships

Finn Johanas Ex-boyfriend Nilsen’s former boyfriend was training to be a marine around the same time that Nilsen joined Starfleet Academy. The two connected at first over a shared love of photography; however, their relationship soured as their egos could not be contained in the same room and this lead to a very toxic relationship. Their relationship ended in 2398 after Nilsen’s Echo Squad crash..

Nera Ay Friends with Benefits Nilsen met Nera in the aftermath of the Echo Squad crash. Nilsen and Nera were at the Allegretion, a bar in the Bayside area of San Francisco. Nilsen was attacked and beaten up by a number of assailants, and Nera treated his wounds. The two soon learned that they were both at the academy. While Nilsen was cold towards Nera at first, with a warning not to mention what he was doing there, he soon warmed up to Nera. Nera gave Nilsen tutoring in biology to help him pass the required module. In return, Nilsen was able to repair a rare Bajoran picture frame with parts that were hard to come by. Their friendship grew from there, and they had a friends-with-benefits situation. When they graduated, they lost touch with each other, but overall, they had a very positive relationship.

Friends & professional relationships

Josh Herrick Friend Nilsen and Herrick have a somewhat complex relationship. They initially met during a mission to Paradiso, which involved crash-landing and fending off predators. However, they didn’t have much opportunity to interact closely at that time. After Herrick visited the OC to install a replicator, they got to know each other, and there seemed to be a spark or connection between them, with Lhandon falling for the engineer. Then, after Josh inquired about an incident that Lhandon had been in, Lhandon stormed out of the room, and tension set in, creating a rough patch. They have since been able to move past that, with Lhandon apologizing for his actions. They are now amicable friends, and Josh is someone Lhandon cares a lot about.

Arturo Maxwell Friend Maxwell is someone Nilsen looks up to and trusts, seeing Maxwell as somewhat of a mentor and father figure. He considers Maxwell someone he can turn to when he needs support. They share some common interests, such as cooking, and Lhandon mentions that it’s “sooo good to cook for someone who has the same appetite as me.” They have also planned a number of pranks together, including one on Wes Greaves. When Lhandon is upset or angry, he turns to Maxwell to help him work out his anger, while Maxwell is one of the few people who can give Nilsen a “Gibbs Slap” to set him straight when he is being an idiot.

Morro Caras Friend Nilsen and Morro started their friendship as workout buddies. They regularly exercise together in the gym, with Lhandon noting that Morro didn’t reject the idea of playing rugby. During the Unity Dow Mission, Morro shared some of his insecurities about being an Orion in Starfleet. Lhandon offered support and reassurance and willingly shared his own insecurities. Lhandon has given Caras the nickname “Mo” and respects both his opinion and his out-of-the-box thinking and problem-solving skills. Their friendship appears to have developed quickly, with Lhandon viewing Caras as part of his inner circle of friends despite knowing him for only a few months.

Lia Rouiancet Commanding Officer Lia Rouiancet is Nilsen’s commanding officer on the Octavia E. Butler, and the two consider each other friends. Rouiancet values his confidence in her command, and Nilsen feels comfortable enough with Rouiancet to encourage her to take time off and enjoy shore leave. Rouiancet has supported Nilsen’s career progression, agreeing with his designation as acting assistant chief of operations and later making this role official, and also supporting Nilsen as he explores diplomacy as a possible career option.

Thomas O'Reilly Friend (Former Rival) O’Reilly and Nilsen were formerly rivals. Nilsen’s relationship with Private O’Reilly was, at best, uncomfortable. While the two of them are from the same planet, disagreements between their families threatened to spill over into their work. Their first meeting was not pleasant; while Nilsen did not recall the history between the two families at first, O’Reilly was antagonistic towards Nilsen as he soon learned of his fellow Gaultian. In mid-2401, the two decided to bury the hatchet, realizing that their argument was petty, and they moved forward as friends. Nilsen now trusts O’Reilly and is proud to count him as a friend.

Per’cel Jer-Legrand Friend In 2392 Per’cel signed up for Starfleet Academy. He graduated in 2396 and was assigned to the USS St. Albans, where he served for eight years and reached the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade in 2398. During a visit to Earth in 2399, he met then-Cadet Lhandon Nilsen. The two connected, and Nilsen explained his own connection to the St. Albans, as it was the ship his grandmother served on for many years. They remained in contact as their careers took them on different paths until 2401, when Percy was assigned to the USS Octavia E. Butler, thanks in part to a small amount of influence from Nilsen, who serves on the same ship.

Nic del Vedova Mentor(ish) Nilsen met Captain Del Vedova at a diplomatic conference on Deep Space 14 in September 2401. Despite accidentally knocking the captain to the ground, they built a positive rapport. Del Vedova, impressed by Nilsen’s interest in diplomacy, asked if he truly wanted to pursue it, to which Nilsen affirmed. Nilsen respects Del Vedova’s candid and practical approach, and Del Vedova has taken an interest in Nilsen’s career, offering advice and encouragement. They agreed that Del Vedova would buy the next round of drinks whenever they meet, as long as Nilsen updates him on his progress. Ossa V'Airu Former CO Nilsen has a respectful and professional relationship with Commodore V’Airu and she is someone he looks up to. He seeks her guidance in challenging situations and responds to her instructions effectively during missions⁠. In one instance, Nilsen expressed trust in V’Airu by accepting her hand in a mindscape scenario⁠⁠. Despite sometimes showing nervousness and allowing the commodore to be one of the few people who has seen the scared side of Lhandon, he demonstrates a willingness to learn under her command⁠, seeking her guidance and advice when needed. Kimonzi Lahl Lawyer Kimonzi Lahl was Nilsen’s legal counsel during the trial at Port Coway, and Lhandon is grateful for her support. He spent some time with her during the JOPA meeting that followed, but the two have yet to fully strike up a friendship. However, Lhandon does trust her without question.

Etan Iljor Former XO Nilsen and Etan Iljor relationship started positively however this has become a strained relationship. Nilsen's reckless behaviour during the Denali Invitational led to a reprimand from Etan that has affected Nilsen deeply⁠.⁠⁠ . Nilsen regrets his actions and is seeking to mend his relationship with Etan⁠⁠⁠. Despite this, Nilsen still admires Etan and seeks his approval. Charles Tyber Friend Nilsen enjoyed a very positive friendship with Tyber, the two finding a level of respect between each other. In 2400, Nilsen hyped Tyber up and helped him work through his nerves to ask Lina Dahlquist out. Ensign Tyber has since left the Oumuamua and the two have fallen out of touch.

Aine Sherlock Superior Officer (and one that Lhandon enjoyed annoying) Initially, there was tension and misunderstanding between the two, with Nilsen feeling that Sherlock treated him with unwarranted suspicion. However, after an intense confrontation, they came to an understanding. Sherlock even acknowledged that Nilsen's "isn't that bad" even though she has one eye on him at all times. Wes Greaves Superior Officer Nilsen admires Greaves and sees him as an influential figure and someone he looks up to. He's eager to interact more with Greaves and learn from his experiences.

Negative relationships

Toxin Arlill Fromer best friend/brother from another mother/Denali invitational crewmate Nilsen formally enjoyed a very positive friendship with Toxin Arlill, a fellow HCO officer and roommate who then become the chief of operations, while Nilsen became the assistant chief of Operations. Arlill and Nilsen met when they were assigned as roommates and the two quickly found several shared interests. This friendship grew quickly and Nilsen considers Arlill to be "just another brother" and Arlill's wellbeing is often at the forefront of his mind. Arlill made up up one of the three members of the crew who retrofitted and modified the Taxalin Freighter known as the Foxy Lady and entered it into the Denali Invitational 2400. In 240109, their friendship fell apart after months of tension brought about by the enterty known as Henri.

Harrison Blackwood Echo Squad Teammate The two were in Echo Squad together and never got on, Blackwood is a by-the-books officer while Nilsen is a dive-in and worries about the paperwork later kind of officer. This sparked a rival between the two and at least one physical altercation between the two. This rivalry continued throughout their time in Echo Squad. After Nilsen left Echo Squad, the two never interacted again.

Background

Nilsen was born and raised on the farming world of Gault. He was part of a large family with six siblings. Nilsen's upbringing, while stable, was chaotic. He would frequently fight with his brother Kei'ran. However, as both siblings entered adulthood, they found they had more in common than they realized.

Nilsen leaving Gault for Starfleet Academy. Circa 2396

As Nilsen entered his teenage years, he found that he had a natural talent for operational matters and keeping things organized on the farm. He took on administrative duties, managed logistics, and handled supplies. However, his heart and passion were in flying, and he would take every opportunity to take the family shuttle out on trips, which grew longer and longer. Soon, he developed an independent streak and would often bite off more than he could chew. But as he reached 17, he found that he lacked direction in life and entered a rebellious phase. This lasted throughout his time at Starfleet Academy.

Fueled by a desire for excitement and a break from routine, Lhandon and his brother Kei'ran connected over a spate of petty crime, including trespassing, joyriding, theft, and anti-social behavior. On several occasions, he participated in graffiti sprees that left a mark on several public buildings in the local community, with both brothers venturing out under the cover of night. However, he could see that this was a path that was not going to serve him well. This was hammered home by both siblings being caught by their father trespassing on another farm. Their father did more to set him straight than any law enforcement officer.

Soon, he needed a way out, and while he loved his home of Gault, he didn't see a future there. There was no space for him; his older brother would take care of the farm, and his other siblings would find their own paths. He learned that some years back, the Rozhenko family's adopted son joined Starfleet, but the details were fuzzy. In many ways, Nilsen saw Starfleet as his ticket off Gault, and he signed up as soon as he turned 18. Nilsen tried to persuade Kei'ran to join Starfleet with him but was not successful

Cadet: Starfleet Academy, 2396-2400

Nilsen demonstrated natural skills in operations during his time at Starfleet Academy but struggled with academic subjects and attendance. His rebellious phase included a toxic romantic relationship and confrontational behaviour. Joining Echo Squad for search and rescue piloting, his rivalry with fellow cadet Blackwood culminated in a crash during a training mission. This incident led to his dismissal from Echo Squad and a shift in career focus to operations and communications. Despite frequent fights, he developed a friendship with medical student Nera Ay and graduated as a qualified HCO officer in 2400. He was posted to the USS Oumuamua, having transformed from a potential helm officer to a versatile operations officer.

Years One & Two - Acadmeic Performance & Romantic Relationship

During his training at Starfleet Academy, Nilsen excelled in Operations courses but struggled with academic subjects, attendance, and often displayed confrontational behavior. Initially majoring in helm and navigation with a minor in communications and operations, he showcased his natural aptitude for operational tasks. Nilsen entered into a toxic relationship with Finn Johanas, which ended after his crash with Echo Squad, a specialized search and rescue program he was invited to join due to his skills, typically a rare achievement for second-year cadets.

Cadet Nilsen at Starfleet Museum (2397) Academic Performance During his training at Starfleet Academy, Nilsen demonstrated a natural skill in Operations courses, exhibiting exceptional operational skills and the ability to keep systems running smoothly. However, he struggled with academic subjects like PHYS101 and BIO101 and faced challenges with attendance and attitude. Nilsen was known for confrontational behaviour, often picking fights regardless of the outcome. Nilsen initially pursued a major in helm and navigation, with a minor in communications and operations. This combination of studies reflected his interest in piloting and his natural aptitude for operational tasks. Romantic Relationship In his first year at the academy, Nilsen entered into a relationship with Finn Johanas, who was training to be a marine officer. The two connected at first over a shared love of photography; however, their relationship soured as their egos could not be contained in the same room, and this led to a very toxic relationship. Their relationship ended in 2398 after Nilsen's Echo Squad crash.

Years Two & Three - Echo Squad & Blackwood Rivalry

During his second year, Nilsen joined Echo Squad, excelling in search and rescue piloting operations. His initial success positioned him for a leadership role, intensifying his rivalry with fellow cadet Blackwood, whom he often bullied. Their personalities clashed: Nilsen's impulsive nature versus Blackwood's strict discipline. The rivalry reached a boiling point during a Kuiper Belt mission, resulting in Nilsen's shuttle crash. Despite severe injuries, he attempted to save both shuttles, while Blackwood, defying orders, tried to rescue him. This incident marked a significant turning point in Nilsen's Academy career.

Echo Squad (SARS Training Squad) Nilsen's skills earned him an invitation to join Echo Squad, a specialized program for cadets focusing on search and rescue piloting operations. This achievement, typically reserved for more senior cadets, occurred during his second year at the Academy. Early Success in Echo Squad Initially, Nilsen's performance in Echo Squad was promising: His flying style suited the demands of search and rescue operations, and at the start of his third year as a cadet, squad commanders suggested he consider a leadership role. This recommendation intensified the rivalry between Nilsen and fellow cadet Blackwood. Rivalry with Blackwood Harrison Blackwood, a rival of Lhandon Nilsen Nilsen often bullied and annoyed Blackwood, including pranks like changing Blackwood's PADD language to Klingon. Their rivalry stemmed from contrasting personalities: Nilsen's mischievous and impulsive nature versus Blackwood's strict adherence to rules. Physical differences also added to their dynamic: Nilsen was tall and robust with a rugby player's build, while Blackwood was of average height and athletic. Nilsen gave Blackwood the callsign "Prince," as an insult to how posh he saw Blackwood. Crash on Stardate 239803.12 The turning point in Nilsen's Academy career came during a training mission in the Kuiper Belt: Commander Norton assigned Blackwood as squad leader for the mission, fueling Nilsen's resentment. After the briefing, there was a heated exchange which led to Blackwood punching Nilsen. During the mission, Nilsen's shuttle malfunctioned, colliding with Sh'mais's shuttle. Both shuttles fell into a gravity well towards an asteroid. Nilsen, ignoring orders to evacuate, attempted a risky manoeuvre to save both shuttles. The attempt resulted in a crash landing on the asteroid. Blackwood, also defying orders, landed nearby to attempt a rescue. Nilsen suffered severe injuries, including a fractured leg, smoke inhalation, and facial injuries.

Years Three & Four - Post Echo Squad Dismissal & Relationship With Nera Ay

Nilsen's academy career took a sharp turn after a crash led to his dismissal from Echo Squad, prompting him to switch from Helm/Navigation to the Operations track. This shift aligned with his farm upbringing and sparked a passion for communications, eventually leading to an interest in diplomacy. Despite his tendency for physical confrontations, which continued throughout his academy years, Nilsen found solace in these fights. After one of these fights, he developed a close, albeit non-committal, relationship with medical student Nera Ay, who helped him pass his exams. Nilsen graduated as a qualified HCO officer in 2400 and was posted to the USS Oumuamua, rather than becoming the dedicated Helm officer he initially aspired to be.

Aftermath and Dismissal from Echo Squad Cadet Nilsen after a fight off campus The crash had significant consequences for Nilsen's academy career: He was dismissed from Echo Squad due to the incident and forced to reconsider his career trajectory. He dropped his major in Helm/Navigation and pivoted to the Operations (Ops) track. Nilsen also broke up with his boyfriend at the time, Finn Johannes. Focus on Operations and Communications After the Echo Squad dismissal, Nilsen adapted his career path. He discovered that his farm upbringing suited him well for Operations roles and developed a passion for the communication aspect of the HCO (Helm, Communications, Operations) role, which would in later years expand to a love of diplomacy. He honed his language skills, building on his newfound interest in communications and quietly harbored hope of returning to helm duties in the future. Fighting Incidents Nera Ay Nilsen's tendency for physical confrontations continued throughout his Academy years: He often found himself in fights, claiming they helped him "get rid of his anger" and feel "normal for just a while." A notable incident occurred shortly after the Echo Squad crash: He visited a bar called the Allegation in San Francisco's Bay View district where he got into a fight in which he was outnumbered 2 to 1 and suffered a broken nose and a bruised rib. Relationship with Nera Ay Nilsen met Nera following the fight at the Allegation. He slowly developed a friendship with the medical student, and Nera agreed to tutor Nilsen in the required science topics so that he would pass his exams. As the two spent more time together, they grew closer and started a sexual relationship that would be described as "friends with benefits." Neither was ready to commit, but they shared a mutual attraction to each other. They lost contact soon after Nilsen graduated from the academy. Graduation Nilsen's academic journey concluded with him graduating as a qualified HCO officer in 2400, rather than the dedicated Helm officer he had initially planned to become, and being posted to the USS Oumuamua.

Ensign: USS Oumuamua - Early 2400 - 240102.04

Hoping to leave the stain of his academy years behind him, Nilsen's first posting was to the USS Oumuamua, as a helm, communications, and operations officer. During this time, Nilsen has been working hard in the lower decks and tried to make himself a valued member of the operations team, the change in his attitude post echo squad could be noted, he was more nervous and reserved. He joined the Oumuamua in mid 2400, met his roommate who he affectionately refers to as his "brorooomy," made a huge impact in his first mission and was showing a positive change in his behaviour. He was also valuable in helping the operations team to install their new Operations Centre as a part of the Focused Operation Refit Taskforce (Project Fort). He also took part in a secret mission to learn more about possible Zet behaviour in the Alpha Quadrant.

Nilsen on the USS Oumuamua - Mid 2399

Nilsen was on track to becoming a model Starfleet officer however his time on the Oumuamua has not been without incident. Old issues, a chip on his shoulder and past failures all affected his present day relationships as well as reckless behaviour at the Denali Invitational. According to Commander Etan "It was clear that Nilsen was a gifted and promising officer, but he kept getting in his own way."

Mission: The Esh-o Micronebula

Nilsen's First Mission & Back At The Helm

Nilsen's first mission aboard the Oumuama, deemed "complex" by Commodore V'Airu, tested his abilities and confidence. Affected by the nebula, he penned a resignation letter but was later called to the bridge to retrofit a mission pod. Expressing his doubts to Commodore V'Airu, he was reassured of his potential. Nilsen guided the Oumuamua through a micronebula, executed evasive maneuvers, and played a key role in the evacuation of the USS Nautilus. He admitted writing the resignation letter but hadn't submitted it. For his actions, Nilsen was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Nilsen's first mission aboard the Oumuama was described by Commodore V'Airu as "complex." While in the lower decks, Nilsen felt the full force of the nebula's effect and during this time wrote his resignation letter. During this mission, on Stardate 240008.03, Nilsen was called up to the bridge. With Commodore V'Airu, he joined LT Jack Kessler and LT Sasha Johnson in retrofitting the mission pod from a tactical to a scanning functionality. During this refit, Nilsen expressed his worries and concerns over the effect his crash had on his ability to do his job. Commodore Ossa V'Airu was heard saying, "That officer didn't make up my mind for me. I believe you deserve a chance," in response to Lhandon's worries about this sudden posting. Nilsen: You’ve read my file? You saw that crash report? They said…the commander, my old instructor said I should never fly, he said that he’d tell every captain, every XO, every commander that I will ever have. Any joy that Lhandon had felt was replaced with one of worry as the words of his old instructor started to replay in his head. V'Airu: (with a brief shake of her head) That officer didn't make up my mind for me. I believe you deserve a chance. Nilsen took the helm, guided the Oumuamua through the micronebula, and took evasive action after becoming suspicious of a handful of sensor readouts. Nilsen interpreted these as potentially hostile contacts and took it upon himself to execute evasive maneuvers. Nilsen was involved with contact with the USS Nautilus and facilitated communication with that ship. When the order was given to evacuate the USS Nautilus, Nilsen was able to free up resources to increase the efficiency of the operation. Sometime after this mission, he admitted he wrote the resignation letter to Commander Etan Iljor, but he had yet to submit it. Nilsen was awarded the Legion of Merit for his actions during this mission.

Shore Leave - SD:240009 - Esh-O System

Meeting Herrick, Joining JOPA & Praise From CMDR Etan Ijor

During his first shore leave, Nilsen took care of his recovering "bro-roomy," Toxin Arlill, and met fellow pilot V'Len Kel. He opened up about the Echo Squad crash and received support from First Officer Etan Ijor, who helped him see the parallels in their experiences and ultimately led him to delete his resignation letter. Nilsen also bonded with Josh Herrick, though their budding friendship hit a snag due to Nilsen's sensitivity about his past. With help from Toxin, they reconciled, and Nilsen decided to put his feelings for Herrick aside. This shore leave marked a time of self-discovery and new connections for Nilsen.

Lhandon's first shore leave was spent getting to know his ship and his crew. He was also introduced to an organization known as JOPA, which would become very near and dear to his heart. His shore leave began by taking care of Toxin Arlill, who had returned from a traumatic away mission. He helped to keep his "bro-roomy" company as he recovered. Soon after, Nilsen had to go to sickbay himself for a standard medical checkup, and it was there that he met V'Len Kel, who he learned was a pilot like himself. Nilsen opened up somewhat about the events of the Echo Squad crash. After this, Nilsen was summoned by the First Officer, Commander Etan Ijor, who spoke to him about the events of the mission and learned a little more about Lhandon's context. Lhandon recounted his actions during the mission: retrofitting the Oumuamua into a giant sensor, piloting through the nebula, and responding to the distress call from the Nautilus. His recount was devoid of self-praise or positive self-talk. Etan shared a personal story from his own early days in Starfleet, telling of a harrowing mission that almost cost him his life. This helped Lhandon see the parallels between their experiences. Lhandon soon opened up about his worries and revealed that he had written a resignation letter, but Etan's support led him to delete the letter and stay aboard the Oumuamua. He would later comment that this was the first time since joining Starfleet that he felt he might have a place. This shore leave also saw Lhandon saying goodbye to some new friends as they were transferred to the USS Ronin. Lhandon also met Josh Herrick for the first time, as he came to help Nilsen install the new operations center. The two quickly struck up a friendship, and Herrick was sure that he recognized him from somewhere, but did not ask. Rather, he investigated privately. Nilsen found that he really enjoyed Herrick's company and his friendship, finding him easy to talk to. Quickly, Lhandon started to develop feelings for Herrick and was curious to see what happened next. Unfortunately, Herrick's investigating and questioning about Nilsen's time at the academy and Echo Squad started to hit a nerve. Lhandon snapped at Herrick, thinking that he was looking to get dirt on him. Lhandon soon regretted this and, with Toxin's help, smoothed things over and apologized. As a result, Lhandon pushed his feelings for Herrick aside, realizing that his snap had hurt him.

Classified Mission: Investigating Zet Activity In The Alpha Quadrant

During a off the books mission to assist Toxin Arlill's mother, Fritea, and a Zet named Ze'Nazha in developing a countermeasure against a potent weapon, Arlill and Nilsen face numerous challenges, including evading hostile pursuers. Despite the difficulties, they successfully drop Fritea and Ze'Nazha off on a planet inhabited by Zet dissidents. However, their shuttle experiences a critical malfunction in the warp drive, forcing them to attempt repairs on their own. They manage to return to the USS Oumuamua and report their findings to Commodore V'Airu.

Toxin Arlill and Lhandon Nilsen find themselves in a complex situation involving Arlill's mother, Fritea, and a Zet named Ze'Nazha. Fritea and Ze'Nazha are working together to develop a countermeasure against a potent weapon created by a xenophobic faction of the Zet. During their journey, Arlill and Nilsen face numerous challenges, including evading hostile pursuers. Despite these difficulties, they successfully manage to drop Fritea and Ze'Nazha off on a planet inhabited by Zet dissidents. This planet, just outside of Zet territory, is a safe haven for those who do not agree with the aggressive direction the Zet coalition is taking, providing the ideal location for Fritea and Ze'Nazha to continue their crucial work. However, the challenges for Arlill and Nilsen don't end there. Their shuttle experiences a critical malfunction in the warp drive, bringing their journey to a sudden halt. Despite not being engineers, they attempt to fix the malfunction themselves, determined to resolve the situation without external help. They return to the USS Oumuamua under their own power and inform Commodore V'Airu of their findings.

Denali Invitational 2400

Nilsen attended the Denali Invitational. This event started off positively, and he quickly got to know Dekas, Araxxu Vahin, and Mekor, learning more about Aurelian food. Nilsen entered with Arlill and Vomek in the Foxy Lady, a Talaxian freighter. During the first leg of the race, all the contestants took off in a crowded field of 33 contenders, including a total of 8 Starfleet-affiliated teams. Right off the bat, several teams kicked in their unique special attributes, including the Vela, a refurbished Caitian rescue craft that sprayed the entire field with Kryptilithium, a compound known to gum up impulse engines.

As the racers approached the city proper, preparing for a flyover of the city and the stadium where a large crowd had gathered to watch the race, one of the teams experienced engine problems and crashed in the forest on the outskirts of the city. At the last minute, the crew of the Foxy Lady was able to mitigate some of the damage to the crashing ship with a tractor beam, probably saving the lives of the crew and inhabitants in the city.

Later in the race, the Foxy Lady itself was damaged in an encounter with the large animals living in the Oort cloud around the system of Ring 42 and was assisted by both the Gott Speed and the Phelshant United pit crew, a vessel known simply as "The Wharf." The finished in joint third.

After a thrilling conclusion, the racers ended

1. Gott Speed (Connor Dewitt, Nolen Hobart
2. Ensigns Joyride (Ksivi-Sava, Madison Marsh, Corey Wethern)
3. Gamma Glider (Avander Promontory, Roger Hartmann, TK Cabrillo) & Roxy's Foxy Lady (Lhandon Nilsen, Toxin Arlill, Simon Vomek) - collision at the finish line
4. Allahayer (Oddas Aria)
5. Amiteam (Nathan Richards) & ZD Stars Racing (Jelanna Zarax, Valin Dermont)

Discipline for actions in the Denali Invitational

Ensign Lhandon Nilsen's reckless behavior during the Denali Invitational led to a heated confrontation with Commander Etan Iljor. Furious after reading the report, Iljor demanded an explanation, highlighting Nilsen's failure to adhere to Starfleet's standards. Nilsen initially tried to deflect blame but ultimately broke down and confessed his misconduct, expressing remorse. Iljor issued a stern warning and assigned punitive tasks, emphasizing the need for Nilsen to regain trust through exemplary behavior. Despite recognizing Nilsen's potential, Iljor was frustrated by the pilot's repeated recklessness, seeing it as a barrier to his success.

Ensign Lhandon Nilsen participated in a reckless race at the Denali Invitational, resulting in disciplinary action. Nilsen is summoned to the office of Commander Etan Iljor, who is furious after reading a report from Denali Station's First Officer. Iljor immediately orders Nilsen to sit, beginning the confrontation with a stern tone and Iljor presents a PADD containing the report from Denali Station, highlighting Nilsen's reckless behavior during the race. Nilsen initially tries to defend himself, mentioning other participants' actions and attempting to deflect blame. Iljor demands to know Nilsen's thoughts during the incident, emphasizing his frustration and disbelief at Nilsen's recklessness. Nilsen reluctantly admits to his actions but continues to shift blame. Iljor rejects Nilsen's excuses and focuses on Nilsen’s responsibility and failure to adhere to Starfleet's standards. Nilsen, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, eventually breaks down and confesses his misconduct, expressing remorse and frustration. ljor decides against immediate severe punishment but issues a stern warning. Nilsen is given specific punitive tasks: retaking his pilot's exam and performing menial labor in the cargo bay. Iljor emphasizes the importance of the chain of command and the necessity for Nilsen to regain trust through exemplary behavior. Upon his return Nilsen was summoned to the office of Commander Etan Iljor, who was furious after reading a report from Denali Station's First Officer. Iljor immediately ordered Nilsen to sit and presented a PADD containing the report from Denali Station, highlighting Nilsen's reckless behavior during the race. Nilsen initially tried to defend himself, mentioning other participants' actions and attempting to deflect blame. Iljor demanded to know Nilsen's thoughts during the incident, emphasizing his frustration and disbelief at Nilsen's recklessness. Nilsen reluctantly admitted to his actions but continued to shift blame. Iljor rejected Nilsen's excuses and focused on Nilsen’s responsibility and failure to adhere to Starfleet's standards. Nilsen, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, eventually broke down and confessed his misconduct, expressing remorse and frustration. Iljor decided against immediate severe punishment but issued a stern warning. Nilsen was given specific punitive tasks: retaking his pilot's exam and performing menial labor in the cargo bay. Iljor emphasized the importance of the chain of command and the necessity for Nilsen to regain trust through exemplary behavior. "Hearing the HCO’s voice made Iljor clench his jaw. After the man’s reckless disregard for safety during the recent Denali Invitational, Iljor had lost a lot of faith in the pilot. It was clear that Nilsen was a gifted and promising officer, but he kept getting in his own way: first at the academy, and now as a commissioned officer. He had been extraordinarily lucky to not have avoided serving time in the brig." Commander Etan Iljor - Into The Unknown

Mission: The Sandbox of Man (Alpha Brenkelvi II)

The mission, initially focused on exploration, evolved into the discovery of an ancient Bajoran civilization and an orb linked to the Prophets. Ensign Lhandon Nilsen experienced a neural disruption after his consciousness was transferred into his commodore's mindscape. Nilsen played a key role in scanning the planet and responding to an attack from a moon, alongside Ensign Elijah Kovacs, whom Nilsen later became romantically involved with. Tensions with Lt. Sherlock escalated before they eventually found mutual respect. Nilsen joined an away team and encountered non-corporeal beings resembling his father, engaging in telepathic communication with them. His consciousness was later transferred to the mindscape of Commodore V'Airu as he helped bridge communication between the Federation and the ancient Bajoran entities. After facing personal trauma in a recreated memory, Nilsen was ultimately returned to his body, and began a long recovery in sickbay.

Act 1 - Arrival at Alpha Brenkelvi II

Nilsen expected to provide operational support during the Alpha Brenkelvi II mission but was unexpectedly called to the bridge with Ensign Kovacs to reroute power to sensors. After launching a probe and attempting to maintain communication with the away teams, the Oumuamua was attacked by the moon of Alpha Brenkelvi II. Nilsen executed evasive maneuvers and directed damage control teams but faced criticism for overstepping his bounds. He performed a successful in-system warp jump, making history, but his actions led to clashes with superiors over the chain of command. Despite this, Nilsen identified chroniton radiation on the planet and advocated for communication with "ghost" beings, leading to a successful attempt to establish contact.

Nilsen was expecting to spend the Alpha Brenkelvi II mission in the Operations Centre of the USS Oumuamua, providing operational and logistical support to the away teams. Ensign Kovacs joined him. He was not expecting to take part in the anthropological discovery of the year. Shortly after the mission began, Nilsen was summoned to the bridge by Lt. Sherlock and was advised to bring an engineer with him. Upon arrival, Nilsen and Kovacs were tasked with rerouting power to the sensors. After this action, the bridge was able to get clearer readings from the surface of the planet. Nilsen was concerned by some of the scans he saw and had a sense that trouble was about to happen. Nilsen launched a class three probe and then worked with Lt. Arlill, who was on one of the two away teams, to direct a structural integrity field at the device mounted on the shuttle Nichols. Moments later, Nilsen reported a "massive power build-up" and attempted to maintain communication with the away team. This was unsuccessful. After this, Kovacs stuttered, but Nilsen stood by him as he got his words out and found his voice. Kovacs's suggestion of checking the comms of the other away team was solid; unfortunately, this too was unsuccessful. The Oumuamua was then attacked by the moon of Alpha Brenkelvi II, and Nilsen took to the helm and began evasive manoeuvres. These had some success, but Nilsen incorrectly identified the shots as coming from the planet surface rather than the moon. When he was able to correct his mistake, his manoeuvres were more effective; however, the barrage from the moon was relentless. While evading, he was also trying to do damage control and direct the damage control teams. He knew that "they can go over via Deck 3 and drop down. The tubes are in a loop" to reach Commodore V'Airu, who had been trapped and injured in the attack. While this was a good suggestion on his part, he would later be admonished by Winters for not staying in his lane. As he was evading, he suggested a course of action that would be unwise: an in-system warp jump, with the destination being a short distance away. After giving the option to Sherlock, she gave permission for him to pull the manoeuvre, making Nilsen only the third helms officer in Starfleet history to successfully pull off an in-system warp, after Commander Dax, Colonel Kira Nerys, and Captain Picard. When they were a safe distance away and no longer in danger, Sherlock summoned Nilsen and Winters into the conference room to discuss the next steps. It was here that Winters admonished Nilsen for not respecting the chain of command, even if he was in the right. He then clashed with Winters again in the same meeting over the distribution of power reserves for the shields and weapons. This concluded with Winters telling him to stay in his lane, and Nilsen's lack of respect for Winters and Sherlock grew. Nilsen was then instructed to return to the bridge. There, he established an uplink with the probe and soon had the scanners working and picking up data from the planet. After this, he identified that there were four distinct collections of chroniton radiation. While he was working on this, he saw an image on the bridge that was his father. This image appeared to be helpful as he was able to make a successful connection to the ground team. At this moment, Nilsen was the only person to see an image, but soon, each member of the bridge crew had their own vision. Soon, Winters surmised that these hallucinations were real and caused by the chroniton particles at his station. Soon after, Nilsen was able to give the bridge crew a clear view of the moon and a scan of the structures on the surface and make brief contact with Etan's away team. Further details were discovered, and the other members of the bridge crew started to see their own images. Lhandon then came to the conclusion that these beings were trying to communicate with them and advocated for an attempt at returning communication with the "ghosts." After discussion with the rest of the bridge crew, the solution was found: to use all the chronitons they had collected and pour them into one big attempt at communication.

Act 2 - Confrontations

Lhandon Nilsen confronts Sherlock over her perceived treatment of him, leading to a surprising moment of mutual respect. Nilsen joins an away mission with Rouiancet and Brzezinski, transported into a vision of his family home. There, he encounters entities taking the form of his father, learns to communicate telepathically, and discovers they are ancient Bajorans. These beings reveal the events of Alpha Brenkelvi II's final night and Nilsen's past crash. Nilsen agrees to act as a communication bridge, sending his consciousness to V'Airu's mindscape while his body becomes brain dead, awaiting the Bajorans' return.

The bridge crew retired to the conference room and Lhandon could not shake that there was a reason these beings choose the appear as his father and made a mental plan to go over. He argued for the beings, saying that he thinks they want to show his crew something, but what he didn't know. . A plan was made to used the transporter, add in the chronitions and use that to go to their space. He then chose to speak up for himself and asked to be asgined to the away mission. This would be his first meeting with Commander Rouiancet who would later become his commanding officer on the USS Octavia E Butler in 2401. However, his distrust and anger with Sherlock was coming to a head. After the rest of the crew left the conference room, Nilsen confronts Sherlock for constantly belttling him, thinking that he is up to something, creeping around his OC and he confronts her for his perceved treament of ensigns from Sherlock. The two of them has a frank discussion. Nilsen's temper threatens to surface but he keeps a lid on it. To Nilsen's suprise, Sherlock appuaded him for this, said that she did trust him even more shockingly, was proud of him. As the disucssion drew to a close, she left him with a threat, "If you ever speak to me like that again, I WILL make you number sixteen! DO YOU GET ME!?" which was then followed by "Cross me again, and I WILL eat your heart!" A threat that was also a joke...mostly. Nilsen is pretty sure Sherlock would eat his heart if she wanted to. Nilsen is yet to understand what she meant by calling him number sixteen, he thinks it's the number of ensigns she has eaten for breakfast that week. After the plan was made, Lhandon collected communications systems from the OC with the aim of cataloguing everything that happened as well as acting as a form of universal translator. As he was transported over with the rest of the away team made up of Commander Lia Rouiancet and Lt Rivka Brzezinski he found that he had been beam on to a couch, as he came to his senses he realised that he was in living room of his family home in Gault. Nilsen was naturally happy to be home and enjoy the few moments of tranquillity. Soon he heard voices outside and found that they were the voices of Rouiancet and Brzezinski. When he met up with them he found that the could not see what he could see. All they could see was a liminal white space Brzezinski performed some brain scans as Nilsen tried to show that they were in his farm. He set up the communications array that he brought with him and at that pointed noticed that there was someone else with them who appeared to take the form of his father. He soon realised that he could communicate with this entity and it took the form of his father to help facilitie this. This was his first experience with telepathic communication A second entity reveal it's self to be the son of the entity and revealed himself to be Torka Mikal. He soon found that their form of communication was though the sharing of images and vocal communication was possible but different, so keeping an open mind he was successful in communicating with them and embrace this method of communication. However he needed to extend that to the other two members of his away team, and he asked if that was possible. It was and soon they were being shown the events of the final night of Alpha Brenkelvi II After this, Nilsen was able to show and explain to Torka and his father that the farm was his home. They then saw his crash from Echo Squad and told him that he was there. He didn't understand at that moment but would later go on to realize the lesson they were about to give. They also saw the USS Oumuamua before they found the bridge of a galaxy-class starship. Unknown to Nilsen at the time, Commodore V'Airu was in a mindscape after she was injured in the battle with the moon. To further facilitate conversation, the people he had just met asked to use his body to directly talk, where he would act as a bridge. At the same time, his consciousness would be sent to Commodore V'Airu's mindscape to be safe. He agreed to this, and seconds later appeared at the helm of the USS Crow Dog in V'Airu's mindscape. After proving who he was to V'Airu, that process was more for his comfort than for his commanding officers'. He also met Fer’at at this time. He explained why he was there and acted as a sort of ambassador to the people of Alpha Brenkelvi II. He explained that they were Bajorans from around 50,000 years ago and also clarified that these people were not the ones who attacked them; rather, they were wiped out by what was on the moon. He then explained that this mindscape would have to stay open until his consciousness could be returned to his body. If the mindscape should fail, his consciousness may be lost. Unknown but reveal to Nilsen later, the Bajroans who were talking to Rouiancet and Brzezinski needed to depart quickly but promised to return him as soon as possible. The act ends with Nilsen's consciousness in the mindscape of the commodore but his body effectively brain dead.

Act 3 - Bridges And The Eye Of The Night

In Act 3, Nilsen's consciousness remains safe in Commodore V'Airu's mindscape as he acts as a bridge between the Federation and the Bajorans, who reveal their history and the threat of the "Eye of the Night" facility on Alpha Brenkelvi II's moon. V'Airu prioritizes disarming the weapon, bringing justice for the Bajorans. Nilsen grapples with fear and anxiety, but remains hopeful for his return. However, he finds himself confronting past trauma from the Echo Squad crash in a recreated memory. After a period of emotional struggle, Nilsen's consciousness returns to his body in sickbay, facilitated by V'Airu's physical contact, and he begins a slow recovery.

With the stakes set, Nilsen's Consciousness is for now, safe in the mindscape of Commodore V'Airu, topics turn to the purpose of the away mission, making contact with the beings of Alpha Brenkelvi II. Nilsen was happy to be a bridge between the federation and the Bajroans, and the Bajroans were more then happy to come to the table, explain who they are, tell their story and help Nilsen return home. When they arrive, the Bajorans explain that they are cousins of the Bajoran people, but their people were wiped out when the "Eye of the Night" attacked. Through some translation on Nilsen's part, it is figured out that the Eye of the Night is the facility on the moon of Alpha Brenkelvi II which attacked and damaged the Oumuamua. With the Mindscape active and that information given, V'airu instructs Nirid and Fer'at to take orders to Lt. Sherlock: "Disarming, destroying, or otherwise disabling these weapons is our new first priority." This order eventually leads to a sense of justice for the Bajorans as their non-corporeal forms can now find some peace knowing the weapon is dealt with. V'airu, Horque, and Almor, brainstorm ways to locate and reunite Nilsen with his body, while Nilsen grapples with the fear and anxiety of his situation. The Bajorans, represented by Torka, offer their guidance and the chance to stay with them should it all go wrong, but Nilsen remains eager to ensure his survival and share the Bajorans' stories with Bajor. Ultimately, Nilsen expresses his desire to return home, hopeful that the crew's efforts will succeed. V'airu takes his hand helps him step forward and out of the mindscape. But, he does not return to his body, As the conference room dissolves into darkness, Nilsen finds himself in a recreated memory of a past shuttle crash, and his connection to Echo Squad. He unwillingly spends a period of time in this space. This space soon starts to resemble the wreckage of Shuttle FH-421, confronts the trauma of his past. Despite being physically uninjured, he relives the crash that almost killed him and led to his expulsion from Echo Squad. Haunted by guilt and feelings of inadequacy, he struggles with the belief that he is a bad person. Surrounded by smoke and fire, Nilsen is paralyzed and helpless, reflecting on his failures and the judgments he feels he deserves. He was unsure where this took place, but theories suggest that he did not return to his own body. Those theories are proven when he doesn't wake up untill V'airu makes physical contact with him in the normal plane on existence in sick bay. Nilsen, returned to his own body after this and recovered in sickbay.

Shore Leave 240012.27 - Deep Space Nine

This shore leave starts a few days before the end of the year on the USS Oumuamua, before transitioning over the to USS Octavia E Butler in February of 2401 after the damage sustained from the last mission and subsequent mission pod explosion meant that the Oumuamua had to be sent for an extensive repair and refit operation, Meanwhile, on a personal level, Nilsen is coming to terms with his previous actions and is seeking to make amends, while the side effects of the Alpha Brenkelvi II mission come into play with Nilsen experiencing language difficulties and horrendous pain.

Lhandon's Seizure

Six weeks after the Alpha Brenkelvi II mission, Lhandon Nilsen experienced a severe neurological event, causing him to lose the ability to speak Federation Standard language and default to Klingon

Six weeks after the Alpha Brenkelvi II mission, Lhandon Nilsen experienced a severe neurological event, causing him to lose the ability to speak Federation Standard language and default to Klingon. Medical scans revealed unusual neural pathway branching as the root cause, in part due to the effects of his consciousness leaving and returning to his body and in part because of the new telepathic communication abilities that the Bajorans of Alpha Brenkelvi II gave him. These branching pathways caused Nilsen to experience a seizure — a temporary disruption in neural networks related to motor and speech function. The delayed onset of symptoms could be explained by the brain being in a hyper-excitable state for weeks before the event, with the actual seizure serving as the breaking point. The seizure was likely a focal seizure and might have affected his left hemisphere, impacting his Broca's area, which is responsible for speech production. The seizure specifically disrupted the neural pathways linked to his native language. It is likely that the arcuate fasciculus, nerve fibres that connect the Broca's and Wernicke's areas and facilitate communications between them, were affected. However, his brain quickly defaulted to a language stored in an alternate or less affected area, such as Klingon, which he knows well but does not use as often. Simultaneously, his legs gave way as the seizure disrupted signals in the primary motor cortex, which is responsible for coordinating leg movement. This caused a temporary loss of muscle control, leaving Lhandon unable to stand. Due to the severity of his condition, Lhandon was transferred to Hathon Medical Facility on Bajor for specialised treatment. Neuro-devices provided by Brzezinski allowed him to converse without panic, though still in Klingon. Throughout the ordeal, his fear and frustration were evident despite his attempts to maintain a jovial demeanour. His recovery from this took weeks and involved intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation. Lhandon had to relearn how to speak Standard, starting with basic words and phrases, while also working on regaining full control of his motor functions. During this period, he relied heavily on the support of his medical team, fellow crew members, and family, particularly his brother Madison. Sim References:  https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/544 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focal_seizure https://sites.utdallas.edu/fas/ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/31/experience-i-woke-from-coma-speaking-french https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenoglossy

After effects of being in Commodore V'Airu's mindscape

As Nilsen recovers, he also has to grapple with the memories of Commodore V'Airu which he has access to as a result of his consciousness being transferred to her.

During the mission to Alpha Brenkelvi II, Ensign Nilsen’s consciousness was transferred into Commodore V'Airu's mindscape by non-corporeal Bajorans. This event not only allowed Nilsen to facilitate communication between the crew and the ancient Bajorans but also resulted in him gaining access to a significant portion of V'Airu's memories. The transfer had profound effects on Nilsen, leaving him with not just the experience he picked up from V'Airu, but also what he described as "a fair chunk of her memories." He spoke to V’Airu about this and she we both caring and supportive. When he asked what he should do if he experiences any of her memories, she said that he should tell her right away. As of late 2401, he has not remembered any more. This incident expanded Nilsen's understanding of consciousness and dimensional existence, as he found himself moving between his own body, the Proto-Bajoran's dimension, V'Airu's mind, and other abstract states of being. Even nearly a year after the mission, Nilsen continued to process this transformative experience, which has undoubtedly shaped his perspective on consciousness and reality, and later would lead Nilsen to learn about Transcendimensionalism and the belief system around that

The Hypothetical Case of Metan Miljor

Still recovering, Lhandon's attention turns to the matter of getting back into Etan Iljor's good books

Still recovering, Lhandon's attention turns to the matter of getting back into Etan Iljor's good books. He arranges to work with Commander Lia Rouiancet to review data from the Alpha Brenkelvi mission. Lhandon uses the case of a hypothetical officer that sounds a little like "Metan Miljor" to talk about what he should do regarding his relationship with the XO that had been ruined after Nilsen's actions in the Denali Invitational. Rouiancet was kind and listened to him, and he took her advice on board, but before they could go deeper into the conversation, they were interrupted by the mission pod explosion which took the Oumumua out of the fleet for extensive refits.

Private O'Reilly Animosity continues

The aminosty between O'Reilly and Nilsen grow but they are forced to work together for the benifit of Gault

What is good?

Lhandon gets counsilering and asks if he is a good person

Romantic Relationship with Eli - Getting A Crush

After working with Eli Kovacs, Nilsen devolps a crush on Kovacs and asks him out on a date.

Moving into the OEB

Nilsen transfers to the OEB and gets to know the new OC

Lieutenant Junior - USS Octavia E Butler - 240102.04 - 204109.24

2401 was not just a new year, but also for Nilsen a new start with the commissioning and reassignment to the USS Octavia E Butler along with the majority of the crew from the Oumuamua. To top this off, in early 2401 Nilsen was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (and on his birthday) and soon after, he was officially made the assistant chief of operations by Lt Toxin Arlill, making official the role he had practically been doing, acting as Arlill's right hand man

However, while others may have been celebrating the move, he should have been celebrating his promotion; Nilsen instead was filled with a sense of anxiety; the sense that he didn't deserve his promotion and the lingering question. was Starfleet really the right place for him?

A few months into the move, and after he is taken as a slave by the King's Path, a rouge far right faction of the Cheydalanga people, Nilsen starts to gain a little more experience, and his confidence increases as such. He also starts to explore diplomacy and begins considering it as a possible option for his future.

After this, Nilsen and Kovacs connect further and start going on dates together.

Over this year, Nilsen slowly begins to mature and come into his own, yet he still perhaps, has some trouble not getting in his own way, he also discovers a talent for diplomacy and begins pursuing a possible diplomatic career.

Mission: Cheyd'lang

Prologue

Nilsen on the bridge of the OEB, early 2401

Prior to this mission. Nilsen settles into his new quarters on the USS Octavia E. Butler, and his new role as Assistant chief of Operations. His career so far has involve a series of intense experiences, including a shared mindscape, a Bajoran inquisition, and a promotion. He slowly begins to feel at home as he settles into his quarters and discovers a mysterious, thoughtfully wrapped gift—a model of the USS Oumuamua. The detailed model fills him with nostalgia, and he joyfully plays with it. Finally, he finds the perfect spot to display the model, making a dream come true by performing a barrel roll with it, Something he never got to do with real ship.

He also displayed his old Echo Squad jacket, a symbol of his past and his career path. Determined to organize his achievements, he built a custom display case for his medals, meticulously crafting compartments and finishing it with varnish and a glass door. His reflection on the diplomacy award triggered memories of that challenging day. Curious about his new mission, Lhandon researched the Cheyd'lang and the United Dominion of Planets, scrutinizing their history and culture. Despite the sparse information, he identified potential negotiation angles, driven by a desire to excel and avoid criticism from Commander Etan.

This mission would help Nilsen find out that he is interested in developing his diplomatic skills.

Act One - The Kings Path

Nilsen embarked on his first mission since his transformative experience on Alpha Brenkelvi II, where he acted as a conduit for ancient Bajorans, earning him a diplomacy award. Accompanied by Etan, Sherlock, and Toz, they arrived at the village of Tran’Haleth in the Somatrik Mountains on Cheyd'lang. Nilsen, tasked with scanning the area, appreciated the outdoors and the new TriPADD's efficiency. He speculated on the villagers' motives and noticed signs of agricultural struggle. As they prepared to meet the King's Path representative, Nilsen suspected they were being observed.

As they approached the guarded Cheydalanga, their encounter was tense, with Etan leading introductions, emphasizing their peaceful mission. Despite initial hostility, Nilsen's rural diplomacy skills came into play, advocating for mutual honesty, referencing his experiences with the Dominion on Gault to build rapport. This impulsive but sincere approach aimed to foster trust and ensure the team's mission proceeded on the right foot. Unfortunately, the Kings Path had no intention of listening, and instead, planned, and succeeded in taking the away team as slaves. He soon starts to kick himself that he didn't notice the Chey'd use of third person pronouns. He eventually dismissed the doubt after this mission as he found out that there was nothing he could have done to talk his way out of that trapped. The away team begin plotting their escape

With their weapons, communicators, and PADDs confiscated, the team had gathered useful intel about their surroundings, including potential exits and the guards' lax security. Lhandon proposed creating a distraction, leveraging his negotiation skills, but Sherlock doubted its effectiveness. Toz suggested a dark corner for hiding, and Sherlock advocated for exploring further to understand their environment. They were ushered into a mine, and Lhandon speculated about using the language barrier to their advantage and noted cables leading to the lights, hinting at a possible escape route. Despite his outward attempts at humour and calm, he worried about their predicament and the people he cared about, but remained determined to find a way out.

As they descended into a mine, Lhandon observed the malnourished Chey’d and resolved to help them escape. The team, without weapons or communicators, discussed plans in Klingon, considering how to use their limited resources. They also make their first contact with the Antani. Later they discover the leaves that they had been growing can enhance ones telepathic ability and give a limited version to non-telepaths. Lhandon's abilities reacted very well to the leaves.

At one point, his thoughts drifted to Arlill hoping that he would know they were missing and could do something about it while Sherlock found she was unable to get any benefits from the leaves. Nilsen is able to communicate that the Antani are getting ready to move

In an act with helped to repair their relationship, Etan refered to Nilsen as Lhando, his nickname. The team prepared for a possible escape with Antani's help, gathering rocks as potential weapons. A hostile guard demanded Etan accompany him, which Lhandon instinctively resisted, but Etan complied to avoid escalation. Lhandon utilized his developing telepathic abilities, enhanced by Antani leaves, to communicate their plans and visualize the bat'leth Toz had smuggled in.

Act Two - Jailbird

At the start of this Act, Sherlock is taken away, and this leaves just Nilsen and Dr Toz. The two started to work closer with the Antani In the stifling heat and grime of the cave, Nilsen and Toz struggled with the grueling forced labor. His uniform torn and his hands cut, Nilsen conversed with Antani and he tentatively interpreted the message as a directive to wait. Despite their dire circumstances and Nilsen's hunger, he maintained his humour to boost morale. When two guards approached menacingly, Nilsen impulsively suggested an attack plan to Toz, trusting her judgment completely as they faced the decision to either fight or wait.

With their commanders, Etan and Sherlock, possibly dead or missing, they resolved to escape and free the other slaves. Nilsen and Toz initiated an attack on their guards, resulting in a fight where Nilsen subdued one of the Chey'd. Their actions inadvertently sparked a slave revolt, aided by the Antani who joined the fight and defeated the guards. After the battle, Nilsen communicated with the Antani through mental images, seeking their help to find Commander Etan and asking for a safe place for the freed slaves. The Antani agreed, and they prepared to follow their new allies to safety. his face was heavily bruised and his ribs were hurt in this fight.

Despite the pain from a fight with the Chey'd, Nilsen introduced himself and Toz to the Antani, who confirmed their friendship. The Antani communicated that they didn't know the whereabouts of the commander but offered to help. Toz tended to Nilsen's injuries while they discussed their next steps. They followed the Antani through tunnels to the Queen's grand chamber. Nilsen respectfully communicated their situation and requested assistance in finding their commander and freeing other slaves. The Antani Queen responded positively, and Nilsen, expressed gratitude and outlined their needs, despite his pain. They theorised that they might be able to reach Etan via the leaves and the Queen explains that the honey can enhance that connection

The Queen reveals through mental images that Etan is with the King's Path and in great danger, suggesting that the path to help is challenging and that Etan might hold a key to their success. As they discuss their next steps, the situation becomes dire when hissing sounds indicate a new threat. Nilsen deduces that a poisonous gas is being released, endangering everyone in the lair. The Antani Queen orders everyone to flee. Toz quickly administers atropine to herself and Nilsen as an antidote. They scramble to find a way to save the Queen and themselves from the gas. Nilsen proposes using oxygen or creating an air filter, and they prepare to escort the Queen out of the mine, ensuring her safety as they continue their mission to rescue Etan. With the Queen's sudden effort, she begins to rise above the poisonous gas. Nilsen grabs a container of honey mentioned earlier and, along with Toz, clings to the Queen's abdomen as they ascend to a higher tunnel, escaping the gas.

As Nilsen and Toz fly through the tunnels on the Antani Queen; The Queen, calling them "little ones," warns them of the dangerous path ahead to Alto'Belaranto. Nilsen and Toz discuss rescuing the slaves, with Toz confident they can succeed since the slaves would fight for freedom. Suddenly, the Queen crashes through a wall into a new room, knocking out their captor, Alto. Nilsen ties him up and they search the room, finding their communicators. Relieved, Nilsen tries to contact their ship, but the signal can't penetrate the rock. Nilsen then suggests using the broadcast equipment in the room to send a message, hoping the Starfleet ship monitors it. He expalins the risks However, this risky plan might alert the King's Path to their location.

Nilsen appears on the broadcast, bruised and injured, identifying himself and giving their coordinates. He explains their situation: captured by the King's Path, working in the mine, now assisted by the Antani after a gas attack. He mentions Etan and Sherlock are missing, and shows the recovered combadges.

As banging on the door indicates the Chey’d are trying to break in, Nilsen pleads for anyone who sees the broadcast to inform their ship. With no way to know if the message reaches the OEB, they can only hope it works. Lhandon will later comment after the mission that the rescue was a blur and he doesn't remember much

Act Three - Diplomatic Talks

After some recovery time and painkillers, Nilsen returns to duty and is given a different, and most likely a safer assignment, negotiate an agreement to work together with the UDP. With the UDP representatives more open than ever to the idea of extending the relationship with the federation to some sort of alliance, or at least to avoidance of future aggression, Nilsen is teamed up with Cmdr Katsim and Ensign Yinn. The goal; secure the possibility of a future alliance.

In the briefing room, Commander Katsim Peri introduces Ensign Yinn and Lieutenant Nilsen to their UDP counterpart, Fraya. Nilsen feels the meeting starts awkwardly, with Commander Peri hesitating. Despite his initial negative impression of Yinn, Nilsen's perspective has shifted after their shared experience as slaves. Katsim begins the discussion, expressing hope for an accord between their organizations. Nilsen emphasizing the need to address many issues before reaching an agreement and highlights the importance of honesty, referencing past interactions where the UDP has been straightforward with Starfleet. He cites examples of the UDP's integrity, such as their choice to assist rather than exploit technology from the Caboto. Nilsen draws a parallel to his family's experience with the Ferengi Agricultural Consortium, underscoring the value of honest negotiations. Seeking to foster a genuine dialogue, Nilsen urges both sides to be brutally honest about their needs and concerns. He stresses that mutual honesty is crucial for this potential alliance to succeed.

Fraya highlights the need to overcome biases and prove their intentions through actions, and Nilsen agrees. Nilsen and Katsim propose forming an official alliance as a tangible step forward. Fraya's concern about differing fundamental values prompts Nilsen to draw parallels with the Federation's successful alliance with the Klingon Empire, despite significant cultural differences. After asking Cmdr Katsim if he could call a big shot; Nilsen suggests demonstrating cooperation by jointly aiding the survivors of the King's Path mine. He proposes involving the UDP in the rescue and recovery efforts to show trust and collaboration. He offers to integrate a UDP representative into the Operations Center, likening it to a cultural gesture of trust from his home on Gault. This proposal, he hopes, will affirm their commitment to working together and dispel any notions of the Federation seeking dominance. This moment was a big step forward for Nilsen. He was able to show that he could hold back and control his impuluse, seeking the approve from Katsim first before diving into a situation.

The conversation shifts to discussing specific agreements, such as mutual respect for UDP member worlds and potential trade partnerships. Fraya insists on clear communication and pre-approval for visits to UDP worlds, citing historical tensions from the Dominion War. Nilsen agrees that such terms would likely be acceptable to Federation superiors and highlights the importance of trade as a foundation for the alliance. An agreement is reached and the discussion ends on a positive note with drinks.

The group then move into the operations centre; In the Operations Center, Nilsen showcases the capabilities of the facility, including real-time translations and data displays. He updates the team on evacuation efforts and proposes converting additional modules to accommodate the influx of former slaves. Seeking Fraya's input, Nilsen demonstrates his respect and commitment to making this work.

Lhandon navigates a conversation with Fraya about the long-term implications of refugee support. He realizes his mistake in asking about the Rij’dal’vak and is relieved when Katsim and Yinn support him. Fraya questions the Federation's plans for the refugees, prompting a discussion about future solutions. Lhandon acknowledges his uncertainty but focuses on immediate actions to provide aid. He coordinates with the team and prepares to assist refugees.

As Fraya challenges the Federation's approach, Lhandon finds himself impressed by her fairness. With Katsim's support, they brainstorm solutions, including using holodecks for additional housing. Lhandon communicates with Herrick via his PADD, and Tox Morse code, considering how to help Tox's team in the mine. He proposes a joint camp with the Chey'd government, but their plans are interrupted by a yellow alert. Fraya questions the situation, prompting Lhandon's honesty about his communications with the SARs team. Despite the chaos, Lhandon coordinates efforts to secure guests and gather medical supplies. Fraya and Yinn collaborate on refugee resettlement plans before departing, while external threats loom. Concerned for the SARs team, Lhandon grapples with the urge to act impulsively but ultimately trusts Katsim's leadership.

Shore Leave: Refugee Reprieve - 240105.08

Nilsen enjoying lunch sometime after the Chey'd mission. Some injuries on show.

After successfully liberating the prisoners of the King's Path and those wanting to leave Cheyd'lang, the USS Octavia E Butler takes a much needed break at Deep Space 14, orbiting New Bajor.

With his new found diplomatic skills, Nilsen was wondering if this was an option for him. This shore leave features learning new skills, and a test of his brotherhood with Toxin, while also attempting to pursue a relationship with Ensign Eli Kovacs.

Diplomacy Lesions

Nilsen is introduced To Lt Martinson and Ens Taggart. Martinson, at the request of LT. Cmdr Sherlock is ask to give him tutoring in diplomacy. He agrees to do so. They all start with some roleplay, Nilsen is given the role of the federation representative whose been requested to secure the rights to a mine, and offer anything shore of federation memberships while Taggart is given the role of a representative from a non-Federation allied planet that has substantial deposits of duranium ore, his people, don't have a use for it, but he know the Federation does. And he has to sell the rights to it.

Lhandon gets off to a rocky start but finds his footing soon after and comes up with a counter offer to Taggart trying to get membership to the federation They then discuss the roleplay and talk about different negotiation tactics

A Smuggling Ring

Nilsen is contacted by Chief Petty Officer Ral Saw of the USS Artemis and discovers a discrepancy in both of their cargo holds. Nilsen finds the suspect crate and he tries to gain access, unfortunally his codes do not work, not does brute strength. Nilsen is also unable to trace where the crate came from, or is going to, so he calls sercuity to help and Lt Richards arrives to help. After Richards makes some progress with opening the crate, Nilsen is able to scan further and finds that this crate contains a quantum flux regulator, a subatomic particle integrator, and a tachyon field generator. Lt Arlill then joins and brings the crate to the Independent Bay on the lower floor of the Operations Centre, a part of the OC that he has kept somewhat of a hidden from Nilsen. While Nilsen expresses excitment in getting to finally use this bay, this bay being kept somewhat of secret slightly irrates him. Nilsen for the meantime keeps this to himself. At some point, Arlill leaves the bay to make a call and Richards suggests that Toxin might be behind this by asking questions to Nilsen about Arlill's actvtives. Nilsen becomes defensive and stands up for Arlill, saying that the Ops officer would never do such a thing.

Nilsen: Look, Toxin…Arlill, he would never do anything like this, he is like my big brother and I swear on my life a thousand times over he could never. I cannot find you a person more loyal to this ship and this crew than Tox.

Soon after, Arlill returns and they get the crate open, using Nilsen's skill at opening locks when he commited minor crimes as a teenager and in the acadamy. They find that the contents are entrie replicator units, which fits with some of the scans from ealier. The three then summise that the best thing to do maybe to put the crate back and see what happens to it. Nilsen suggests that they install some kind of thing to track it and Arlill comes up with a soultion. They return the crate to the cargo bay and set up a sercuity alert. After Richards leaves, Nilsen asked Arlill about Richards questions. Saying that even if he did it, Nilsen would understand and help.

Once Richards had left the room, Lhandon took himself and Toxin's aside, away from prying ears.

Nilsen: Mate, he was sniffing around when you were out, like he was convinced it was you.

Arlill: Do you think it could be me?

Nilsen: Look, if it is, I’d understand cos I know you’d have your reasons.::beat:: but…

Arlill: Even if it was me, do you think I could tell you?

Nilsen: I know, I know. Just tell me straight, is this you?

Arlill: Let’s assume it’s not me. ::turning towards the door:: Oh and Lieutenant, you should focus on who might actually be our culprit and stop worrying about me. Ok?

Nilsen: Alright, I believe you.

And he was honest. This left a bad taste in his mouth, at least after this he had something to look forward to later in the week. Sherlock had set up something for him with her partner and someone called Taggart, he was intrigued, apparently it was something to do with diplomacy. Lhandon decided there and then, that he'd try to forget the whole matter of this crate, and just focus on what is next.

Toxin was uneasy about keeping Nilsen in the dark, especially since he knew more about the crate than he admitted. He had found cryptic communications that he believed were related to it. However, he didn't want to spread rumors and felt it was necessary to keep the information to himself until intelligence could confirm it. They had yet to identify who had sent the cryptic messages. In the past, he would have shared all of this with Lhandon, but now, with Herni and his higher position in the command chain, he had to prioritize the ship's safety, even if it meant keeping his best friend in the dark.

- As you were & All I Could Do Was Crate And See

This is one of the first signs that Nilsen and Arlill's relationship is starting to deterate

Romantic Relationship with Eli - Taking it slow.

Lhandon and Eli's relationship deepens and they become closer. They have discussions about family, where Lhandon reveals that his family would have liked Eli, and Eli likewise says his parents would have admired Lhandon. Eli expresses that he has never spent so much time courting someone. Lhandon gifts Eli with a teddy bear.

They both agree to take their relationship slow, savouring the moment of where they are in their life.

Acting no more

Continuing this positive upward trajectory Nilsen is on stardate 240106.10, Nilsen is promoted officially to Assistant Chief of Operations.

Mission: Search for the The USS Unity Dow

The Octavia E. Butler has been dispatched from New Bajor and Deep Space 14 on a mission that, at least initially, appears to be straightforward: Find the USS Unity Dow.

Hot off his now confirmed position as Assistant Chief of Operations, Nilsen is no longer acting and has proven himself to be a reliable, if somewhat scrappy, member of the crew who is well-liked by the lower deckers. However, his decision, along with Josh Herrick (Cheif of Engineering) and advice from Julien Paradi (transporter OIC) to take down the transporters because the safety of the occupants could not be guaranteed may put a wrench into the operation. A temporary patch for the transporters was presented and accepted. The shuttles, runabouts, and fighters could be used as a bridge. They wouldn't have anywhere near the speed of the OEB's transporters, nor would they have the same capacity, but if needed, it was an option.

Act 1

Nilsen is assigned a different role for this mission; he is sent to the Astrometrics labs as an opportunity for some cross-department training. His team, consisting of Avander Promontory, Katsim Peri, and Yinn, is assigned to gather as much information about the system of Omicron Victor IV as possible. Nilsen notices the system's Oort cloud and, even though he feels out of place in the science team, asks if it is of any interest. To his surprise, Yinn said, "We might make a scientist out of you yet, Lhandon!" which certianlly made him feel welcome and appreciated. As they strategize on ensuring the Butler’s safety, they note the limitations of their sensors in penetrating the enigmatic cloud and consider modifying the ship’s shields for protection. Nilsen then suggests a somewhat cautious approach coming from a pilot point of view. He suggest using radar or radiowaves to probe the Orrt cloud and suggests traveling at no more than 1/4 impulse speed to avoid outrunning the radio waves. Katsim Peri agrees with him

Lhandon also offers the resources of the operations to help the science team.

Building on an idea proposed by Promontory, Nilsen suggest combination of probes and shuttlecraft to extend the observational range and increase the effectiveness of the mission. By leveraging fleet formation mode and remote control, he ensured safety while enhancing data collection and meant that no additional pilots were needed.

In the main Oort Cloud, Nilsen notes a thicker collection of clouds that "doesn't like the look off" and he manouvers the OEB to avoid it. Promotory orders Nilsen to move one of the shuttles, the Wild Steed, closer to the cloud for better readngs while the OEB continues into the system

Upon detecting the USS Unity Dow, Nilsen and the rest of the bridge crew experiences a brief moment of relief, thinking the mission might conclude smoothly. However, this optimism fades when it's revealed that the Unity Dow is in orbit around an unknown planet, has weak transponder signals, and only life support is operational. Nilsen discovers that only one life pod was launched, and the bridge's evacuation hatch is open, hinting at a possible emergency evacuation under dire circumstances. He also sees that only one escpae pod has been launched. He is worried and apprehensive about the fate of the Unity Dow's crew, fearing the worst.

After scanning the Unity Dow and finding no biological matter, they deduce the crew must have left the ship. Katsim experiences a vision reminiscent of Nilsen's encounter with the Alpha Brenkelvi, a species capable of interdimensional interaction. This leads to a brief discussion about the potential significance of her vision. As they approach their destination, Nilsen longs for home and thinks about his relationship with Kovacs, while remaining ready to support Katsim with her visions because he has been in her shoes before.

Lieutenant: USS Octavia E Butler: 240109.24 - Present

Overview of this time to go here

Mission: Thief of Time

Overview of mission here

Mission summeries by act here.

Service History & Awards

Nilsen so far has served on two vessels, the USS Oumuamua and the USS Octavia E Butler and has been decorated a number of times for diplomacy, gallantry and heroism.

Starfleet Service Record Insignia Rank Dates Posting Assignment Cadet 2396 - 2400 Starfleet Academy Cadet Ensign 240007 - 240102.04 USS Oumuamua Helm, Communications, and Operations Officer Lieutenant JG 240102.04 - 240106.10 USS Octavia E Butler Helm, Communications, and Operations Officer & Acting Assistant to the Chief of Ops Lieutenant JG 240106.10 - 240109.24 USS Octavia E Butler Assistant Chief of Operations Lieutenant 240109.24- Present USS Octavia E Butler Assistant Chief of Operations

Awards and Service Ribbons

Award Name Date/Assignment Citation B-Plot Award 240106.30 USS Octavia E Butler The B-Plot Award is awarded to simmers who, despite the demands of the core storyline, illustrate a substantial portion of the character's life. Their sims convey the journey of their character while bringing their fellow crew members along for the ride, allowing for collaboration and making their world feel as though their fellow writers are a part of it. Tom's ability to weave a rich tapestry of Lhandon's life beyond his duty post has been remarkable! He has skillfully portrayed Lhandon's virtues, flaws, ambitions, and (most recently) his romantic life, giving us a well-rounded character who feels alive. Tom's dedication to developing not only Lhandon, but also his other characters, demonstrates well his commitment to collaborative storytelling. His consistent high-quality sims and his knack for always plotting new adventures make him a deserving recipient of this award. Well done, Tom! Sheathed Sword 240106.30 USS Octavia E Butler The Sheathed Sword is awarded to individuals who choose to inflict mental and/or physical suffering on their character, then dig into the following feelings and decisions in a realistic manner. The term is derived from a passage in a Robert Jordan novel in which a warrior must be prepared to 'sheath the sword' in their own body, i.e. incur a painful wound to attain one's objective (in this case, more realistic simming) rather than a genuine aim of the character. Tom's willingness to put Lhandon through significant mental and physical challenges is probably second to none -- Tom loves torturing him! However, this year's nominators specifically called out the mission at Alpha Brenkelvi and its aftermath, in which Tom deftly explored Lhandon's mind-body split and subsequent recovery. This showcased the care and commitment Tom puts in to ensuring Lhandon's realistic character development. His exploration of the aftermath, including Lhandon's struggles with basic functions, demonstrates Tom's dedication to portraying the consequences of such events realistically (or, you know, as realistic as can be...). I'm forever looking forward to seeing what Tom does next! Service Ribbon Name Date/Assignment Citation Innovation Ribbon 240109.24 USS Octavia E Butler The Innovation Ribbon is awarded to an individual who distinguishes themselves by the innovative application of science or technology to resolve a dangerous situation. Actually, I wish to recognize several groups, including those who were instrumental in understanding the phasing phenomenon, as well as those who contributed to our exploration and understanding of the OVIV system itself, whether from the Butler or as a team on assignment. Therefore, I'd like to recognize Lieutenants Yinn/Loq, Toz, Nilsen, Arlill, and Wauhk, Lieutenant Commanders Promontory and Katsim, Ensign Kovacs, and Petty Officer First Class Una Qualunque. And myself, I suppose. - Captain Lia Rouiancet Purple Heart 240109.24 USS Octavia E Butler The Purple Heart is given to those who have been injured in the line of duty. Lieutenants Arlill, Sh'shelo, Nilsen and Ensign Caras put their bodies and lives on the line to get the Dow operational and out of the system. While I understand they will make full recoveries, the effects of radiation poisoning can be quite serve. And before we give these officers the proper applause, I want to mention one more officer who will be given the Purple Heart, in absentia, Lieutenant Kessler. -LT CMDR Promontroy Starfleet Investigation Ribbon 240109.24 USS Octavia E Butler And now, the Starfleet Investigation Ribbon is awarded to individuals who use investigative skills to solve a crime, defuse a threat, or resolve a dangerous situation. And this last mission had more than it’s share of threats and dangerous situations. From the bridge of the Dow, to the unpleasantness in its Engineering as well as those who navigated intelligence gathering on Port Coray we have over a dozen officers deserving of this award.- LT CMDR Promontroy Starfleet Medal of Valor 240109.24 USS Octavia E Butler The Starfleet Medal of Valor is awarded to individuals who have displayed extraordinary bravery and courage in the finest traditions of Starfleet, even when not engaged in conflict with a traditional enemy. The acts of heroism our crew performed were particularly notable and involved a conspicuous risk of life, setting the recipient apart from their comrades. For their service we award the Starfleet Medal of Valor to Captain Rouiancet, Lieutenants Herrick, Nilsen, Kessler, Richards, Arlill, Sh'shelor, and Ensgins Caras, Lahl. Thank you thank you thank you. -LT CMDR Promontroy Prisoner of War Ribbon 240106.12 USS Octavia E Butler The Prisoner of War Ribbon is a general service ribbon awarded to an individual who has been taken prisoner. Lhandon, this ribbon isn't a cause for celebratiion, but is rather a recognition for you, and everyone who might see your service record or ribbon cluster, of just what you've been through, and something of the tenacity you possess." - Commander Lia Rouiancet Maiden Voyage Ribbon 240106.12 USS Octavia E Butler The Maiden Voyage Ribbon is a milestone service ribbon awarded to an individual who has served in the first mission of a newly commissioned vessel or installation. Each of you, everyone who served during the mission to Cheyd'lang, is now receiving four ribbons -- the Maiden Voyage Ribbon, the First Contact Ribbon, the Diplomacy Ribbon, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award -- along with stars, as appropriate. " - Commander Lia Rouiancet First Contact Ribbon 240106.12 USS Octavia E Butler The First Contact Ribbon is a general service ribbon awarded to an individual who participates in a successful first contact event. Each of you, everyone who served during the mission to Cheyd'lang, is now receiving four ribbons -- the Maiden Voyage Ribbon, the First Contact Ribbon, the Diplomacy Ribbon, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award -- along with stars, as appropriate. " - Commander Lia Rouiancet Joint Meritorious Unit Award 240102.02 USS Oumuamua The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a general service ribbon awarded to an individual who participates in a joint action with an allied or neutral force toward a common goal. Nilsen, you not only acted as a crucial conduit for diplomatic efforts at Alpha Brenkelvi, you made yourself into a physical -- and mental -- conduit for those efforts to go forward, and eventually come to a fruition that delivered justice to a people long forgotten. You more than earned the Joint Meritorious Unit and Diplomacy Ribbons. " - Commodore V'Airu Diplomacy Ribbon 240102.02 USS Oumuamua The Diplomacy Ribbon is a general service ribbon presented to an individual who has distinguished him/herself by resolving a significantly dangerous or hostile situation through diplomatic means. Nilsen, you not only acted as a crucial conduit for diplomatic efforts at Alpha Brenkelvi, you made yourself into a physical -- and mental -- conduit for those efforts to go forward, and eventually come to a fruition that delivered justice to a people long forgotten. You more than earned the Joint Meritorious Unit and Diplomacy Ribbons. " - Commodore V'Airu Legion of Merit 240102.02 USS Oumuamua The Legion of Merit is a gallantry & heroism service ribbon awarded to an individual who has distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. However, you also performed the admirable and unusual task of doing so successfully and, to my great relief, living to tell the tale, and for your convictions, your perseverance, and your downright bullheadedness, I also wish to recognize you with the Legion of Merit. Congratulations, and (with a glance at Rouiancet) I wish your new CO good luck. - Commodore V'Airu Denali Invitational Ribbon 240011.16 Denali Station Awarded for participation in the inaugural Denali Invitational event. Legion of Merit 240010.11 USS Oumuamua The Legion of Merit is a gallantry & heroism service ribbon awarded to an individual who has distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. "Even though you were only called into bridge service -- and much besides -- in the latter part of the mission, Nilsen, you made your mark indelibly. (beat, a little quieter) We know what it meant for you to take the helm, especially in such a difficult context. (normally) I'm sure you didn't expect something quite so complex for your first mission, but you distinguished yourself nonetheless. It's my honor to recognize you with the Legion of Merit." - Commodore V'Airu Starfleet Academy Graduate Ribbon 2400 Starfleet Academy Awarded to those who have graduated from Starfleet Academy.

For award descriptions, see: Awards and Service Ribbons

Trivia

Nilsen does not like the smell or taste of deka tea. Every time he smells it, he is reminded of the moment Commander Etan Iljor chewed him out.

Nilsen is left handed.

Nilsen is a fan of the Gault Guardains, a rugby team from his home planet that never seems to make it out of the lower leagues.

Lt Sherlock has given Nilsen the nickname "number 16", Nilsen is unaware of it's meaning.

Nilsen favourte genres of music are alt rock, indie and punk.

In additon to his music tastes, Nilsen is a Swiftie.

Nilsen's most listened to song is Don't Speak by No Doubt

Gallery

Gault (Home Planet)

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  Nilsen Family Farm

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  Nilsen Family Farm

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  Gault Landscape

Family

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  Father - Harold Nilsen

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  Mother - Morgain Nilsen (nee-Thompson)

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  Brother - Marcus Nilsen

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  Sister - Sariah Nilsen

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  Sister - Emilia Nilsen

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  Brother - Kei'ran Nilsen

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  Brother - Madison Nilsen

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  Sister - Isabella Nilsen

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  The Goodest Doggo - Uno Nilsen

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  Kei'ran and Lhandon

Starfleet Academy

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  Nilsen after a fight during his cadet years

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  Ex Boyfriend - Finn Johanas

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  Rival & Echo Sqaud Member - Harrison Blackwood

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  Friend - Nera Ay

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  Cadet Nilsen at Starfleet Museum (2397)

USS Oumuamua

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  USS Oumuamua - Nilsen's first posting

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  Holophoto of Ensign Nilsen (2400)

USS Octavia E Butler

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  USS Octavia E Butler-logo

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  OEB MSD

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  OEB MSB

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  LtJG Nilsen (2401)

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  Lhandon Off Duty After Chey'd

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  Nilsen outside the awards 2401

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  Friend - Per’cel Jer-Legrand

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  Nilsen quaters on the OEB

Halloween Avatar Collection

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  2023 (2400) - Theme: Grand Thief Auto: Gamma Quadrant

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  2024 (2401) - Theme: Tarot Cards

Medical Records

Nilsen's medical record can be found below - Lhandon Nilsen/Medical Record

Crewmates

NPC Listing   ·   USS Octavia E Butler Crew Manifest   ·   Crew History Commanding Officer Lia Rouiancet Executive Officer Avander Promontory Chief of Science Katsim Peri Science Officer Yinn Counsellor Karen Stendhal Acting CMO Toz Medical Officer Jania Nis Chief Engineer Josh Herrick Eng. Officer Morro Caras Eng. Officer Kimonzi Lahl Chief of Ops Toxin Arlill Asst. Chf. of Ops Lhandon Nilsen Act. Chf. Sec. Anton Richards Tac. Officer Alex Forsyth Marine Ofc. Arturo Maxwell Edit This Nav