Theo Whittaker

USS Columbia
Theo Whittaker
Position	Chief Engineering Officer
Rank	Lieutenant
Species	Human
Gender	Male
DOB	236910.18
Age	32
Birthplace	Tucker's Landing, Archer IV
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Theo Michaelangelo Whittaker is a Terran Starfleet officer, currently serving as the Chief Engineering Officer aboard the USS Columbia

Stats

Full Name: Theo Michaelangelo Whittaker
Race: Terran
Date of Birth: 236910.18
Place of Birth: Tucker's Landing (Archer IV)
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Telepathic status: T0/E0

Appearance

Height: 5ft 7in (1.7M).
Weight: 150lbs (60kgs).
Hair Color: Brown
Length of Hair: Short
Eye Color: Hazel
Skin Tone: Caucasian
Birthmarks, Scars: None
Build: Toned
Face: Typically serious, but relaxed when off duty.
Eyes: Bright, have been known to cast withering glances
Mouth: Prone to smiling when off duty and/or around friends. Tendency to bite his lower lip when working on a problem
Carriage: Walks with a stiff sense of purpose
Poses: Places one hand on his hip if he stood listening to somebody/working on a problem
Taste in Clothing (when off duty): Smart-casual. Shirts/waistcoats/polo-shirt teamed with casual trousers and shoes. When visiting tropical locations (usually on the holodeck) will go shirtless and wears knee length denim shorts
Shoes: Typically well polished Starfleet issue boots. Off duty he is usually barefoot when in his quarters but when he is socialising he typically wears comfortable shoes such as laced plimsolls or espadrilles.
Voice: Well spoken and eloquent English aristocratic accent. Usually non confrontational, but can add a steel to his voice in situations requiring it (disciplinary, hostile events etc)
Handedness: Right.

Manner

Quarters: Extremely neat and tidy, books alphabetised by author. Engineering projects can usually be found on cabinet surfaces/desks but always in an orderly fashion. Grooming products kept on the left side of the sink while towels and flannels kept on the right hand side. Bedsheets changed once a week without fail and clothes are stored in drawers, broken down into categories (shirts, t-shirt, trousers etc)
Favorite Room: Main Engineering, Antero Flynn's holographic recreation of Risa
Habits: Places a single hand on a hip while he is listening to somebody speak, smiling. Making wry or sarcastic comments when a situation calls for it.
Religion/Spiritual Devotion: None
Hobbies and Pastimes: Used to hike as a teenager and at the academy where possible. Has a hiking programme in Columbia's holographic database although this is rarely used. He enjoys classic Earth literature as well. Expressed an interest in swimming. He is also known for his personal engineering projects carries out in his spare time
Likes: Food and drink (especially cocktails), classic Earth literature, art, technology, music, fashion and holography.
Dislikes: Discussing his painful childhood, not being shown the respect that he has earned.
Ambitions and Goals: Attaining Chief Engineer's position (achieved four months into his service aboard USS Columbia), making his late father proud despite his disapproval of Theo's career choice.
Achievements in Life: Becoming Chief Engineer, forging interpersonal relationships at the academy and aboard the Columbia after struggling as a teenager, making first contact with a previously unknown lifeform on his first mission out of the Academy ("Between the Rock and a Hard Place")
Disappointments in Life: His strained relationship with his father which led to a four year estrangement that was not resolved at the time of his father's passing.
Temperment: Calm and collected, although prone to over thinking and introspection when dealing with issues of a personal nature
Mental problems (complexes and phobias): Following an assault at the hands of a being claiming to be a Iconian, he finds himself startled and jumpy in unexpected situations (such as people speaking behind him when he was unaware they were there or loud, unexpected noises)
Physical Limitations: Although not a limitation in the strictest sense, Theo views his small stature (for a human male) to be a personal handicap and he often suffers 'height envy'.

Family

Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Parents
- Father: Josiah Bartholemew Whittaker (dean of Tucker's Landing University, Archer IV - deceased)
- Mother: Madeline Fatima Whittaker (neé Lawson) (Commanding Officer, USS Orb Of Prophecy)
Siblings: None

Personal History

Born on October 18th 2369 in the city of Tucker's Landing on the Federation colony world Archer IV, Theo was the only child of Josiah and Madeline Whittaker; an academic and a Starfleet officer. Due to her career with Starfleet, Theo was largely raised by his father who was determined that his son would uphold the ancient Whittaker family's tradition of a life in academia. However Theo, not wanting this life and inheriting his mother's rebellious streak, spent much of his childhood and teenage years fighting against what was expected of him. Often disappearing into the nearby mountains or the tunnels beneath the manor house in which he grew up in, he continually defied his father- culminating in his decision follow his mother into Starfleet when he was sixteen. Seeing this as a personal betrayal and a complete disregard for the family Josiah disowned his son and sent him to live with his mother aboard the starship Sparrow. This estrangement was never resolved when Josiah contracted and succumbed to Meenok's Disease when Theo was 20 and in his second year of Starfleet Academy.

Because of his troubled background, Theo was never popular with his peers and while his social skills were well developed, he struggled to make friends. Complicating matters further was his significant interest in technology- brought on by the relative lack of 24th century comforts within his house. This led to those his own age seeing him as being a loner and 'geeky'. At the Academy, however, he found himself surrounded by like minded people from all across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants and he began to forge interpersonal relationships for the first time. When his father passed away, he struggled to deal with his guilt at never repairing their fractured relationship. He was referred to counselling staff and while he made progress, he has never been able to fully come to terms with his father's passing.

Undoubtedly it was his assignment to the USS Columbia that has led to the greatest personal change in Theo. He found his confidence growing as he was given important responsibilities and found a good friend in fellow engineer and academy graduate Nuvia Oori who quickly became a willing confidant for him. Several months into his assignment he also met Antero Flynn who came aboard the Columbia's helmsman and the two formed a close friendship, which has had led Theo to develop feelings for the Risian, although he has yet to realise this.

Professional History

Following his final academy exam (over seen by Lieutenant Commander's Tyler Kelly and Sal Taybrim) he was assigned to the Columbia as an Engineering Officer.

"Between the Rock and a Hard Place": Arriving aboard the Columbia while on assignment in orbit of Piktar II, the new ensign was put to work immediately by Captain Benjamin Livingston to help decipher a musical communication transmitted by a Ferengi vessel also operating within the Piktar System. The communication was discovered to be a delivery system that housed a dangerous artificial intelligence/cybernetic lifeform called Providence that used Columbia's holo-emitters to appear as seven year old human girl. Theo and security officer Ensign Tatash managed to initiate first contact with Providence who revealed her purpose was to integrate a weapons system known as 'Mercy' into her programme and that she was initially created to care for starship crews before having her programming perverted. Theo and Tatash helped Captain Livingston persuade Providence into helping them instead of carrying out her mission. However, her creator began to decompile her programme having been apprehended by an away team on Piktar II, and Theo was only able to save 10% of her original programming. Discovering that Starfleet had sanctioned Providence's creation and that a secret sub-section of the organisation had carried out the subsequent modifications, Theo was deeply troubled although he was counselled by fellow engineer Nuvia Oori. For his efforts during the mission he received a promotion to Lieutenant (Junior Grade).

"Paved with Good Intentions": When Columbia is assigned to revisit the Romulan world of Avronis V following a request for help (which led to Captain Livingston venturing there on his own), Theo and Oori are assigned to modify a trio of shuttles that will be able to operate within the planet's toxic, radiation afflicted atmosphere while also offering improved speed and agility in case of a Tal Shiar presence. Theo uncovered a number of dangerous oversights on the apparent part of Starbase 118 staff as well as sabotaged shuttle systems, which lead to Lieutenant Commander Brek to expidite their departure fearing that someone was attempting to prevent them from reaching Avronis

Awards & Commendations

For award descriptions, see: Awards and Service Ribbons

The Order of StarFleet Merit and Achievement 1: Date awarded.

Timeline

232001.01: Event.
232001.02: Event, etc.