Lhandon Nilsen/Cadet: Starfleet Academy (2396-2400)
Lhandon Nilsen's Starfleet Academy years were marked by exceptional operational skills and turbulent personal growth. Excelling in practical operations courses, he struggled academically and often displayed confrontational behavior. His time included a toxic relationship, an intense rivalry with Blackwood, and membership in Echo Squad, a prestigious search-and-rescue program. A shuttle crash ended his Echo Squad career, reshaping his trajectory toward operations and communications. Friendships, fights, and a non-committal relationship with Nera Ay influenced his development. He graduated as an HCO officer in 2400, adapting his ambitions following these challenges.
Years One & Two - Academic Performance & Early Romantic Relationship
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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. 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
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
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
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.