Theo Whittaker
| USS Columbia | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||
| Theo Whittaker | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Chief Engineering Officer | |||||||||||||
| Rank | Lieutenant | |||||||||||||
| Species | Human | |||||||||||||
| Gender | Male | |||||||||||||
| DOB | 236910.18 | |||||||||||||
| Age | 31 | |||||||||||||
| Birthplace | Tucker's Landing, Archer IV | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Theo Michaelangelo Whittaker is a Terran Starfleet officer, currently serving as the Chief Engineering Officer aboard the USS Columbia. He joined the Columbia during "Between the Rock and a Hard Place" and was promoted to CEO following the events of "Paved with Good Intentions".
Stats
.png)
- 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) ("Paved with Good Intentions")
- 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.
Theo is omnisexual, meaning that is attracted to individuals rather a specific species or genders.
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 were assigned to modify a trio of shuttles that could 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's docking bay staff as well as sabotaged shuttle systems, which lead to Lieutenant Commander Brek expiditing their departure fearing that someone was attempting to prevent them from reaching Avronis. Investigating an open Jeffries Tube hatch on Deck 3 (another security lapse), Theo was viciously assaulted by a cloaked intruder who left him for dead as it fled. He was found by Oori and Ensign Mirra Ezo where his severe maxillofacial trauma and other injuries were repaired by Doctor Johanna MacLaren. While recuperating, Theo came up with an idea to use the holo emitters to detect cloaked intruders- although the intruder was apprehended before they were modified. Brek then had Theo cleared for duty so he could assist in the planning of a covert operate to destroy an Iconian Gateway on Avronis at the behest of beings claiming to be Iconian. While installing a cloaking device- obtained from Tal Shiar prisoners- on a shuttle, Theo met Antero Flynn for the first time and was immediately attracted to him- although he failed to realise this. The covert mission was a success. For his dedication to duty, Theo is promoted by Columbia's new C.O.- Brek- to full Lieutenant and became Columbia's Chief Engineer.
"Forces Of Nature": Theo was still coming terms with his recent assault and also dealing the sudden departure of his friend Tatash when Columbia was assigned to investigate the planet Hemix in the distant Skalur Expanse as part of Operation Knife Point. An island on the planet, previous reported as barren by the Romulan Republic, had spontaneously developed a complex eco system. Theo was assigned to accompany new Intelligence Director Captain Nugra and Security Chief Lieutenant Commander Tyler Kelly on an intelligence gathering away team to investigate reports that pirates were using the island as a base of operations. While en route to Hemix, he devised a method of using the main deflector to create modulating neutrino beam against Columbia's warp field which would dissipate any thorium particles (commonly found in the Skalur Expanse) before they reacted with the duranium in Columbia's hill. Seeking to confront his nervousness since his assault, he confided in Doctor MacLaren that he felt continually on edge and was easily surprised following the assault. He began the healing process when the Chief Medical Officer assured him that it was normal following a traumatic events. Once planetside Theo discovered an energy field that he could identify and was subsequently captured by a band of pirates led by a Bolian, Chennel. Lieutenant Commander Kelly engineeres an escape attempt and Theo briefly toussled with the self styled 'pirate queen', who manged to cut his cheek with a hidden blade but was stopped by a feral Nugra. Along with Kelly and Ezo, he fled into the jungle emerging on a large grassy plain- leading them deeper into the deadly isle. After another confrontation with Nugra left Ezo and Kelly seriously injured, Theo stunned Nugra before the away team were transported aboard Chennel's vessel. He was taken to the bridge and during Chennel's dialogue with Brek was tortured with a Klingon pain stick for the whole bridge crew to see. Rescued by the Columbia when a 4th dimension creature ensnared the raider, he was subsequently relieved of his duties for medical reasons.
"Nightmare" Columbia is invited by the Romulan Republic to investigate the sudden loss of contact with a mining colony called Freedom's Hope on Estava. Theo is recalled to duty following his medical leave and is assigned to find a way to keep the away team safe from harm. Working with First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rendal Renynn they also encounter a problem in 'fistrium'- a mineral in the planet's crust that interferes with ship's sensors and will prevent transmissions being between the crews on the planet and the ship. Plundering the Starfleet database, he adapts a special coating once used by the crew of the Starship daVinci to get around a similar problem. It is also during this mission that he begins to date Antero Flynn.
Personal Relationships
Josiah Whittaker : Perhaps the most defining relationship of Theo's life is the frought and complex one with his father. A staunch traditionalist, Josiah Whittaker intended for his children to follow him into a life of academia as had 19 generations of Whittaker's before him. Being the main caregiver for the infant Theo while his mother served in Starfleet, Josiah had Theo accepted into all the best schools and was relentles in his education. What he had not counted on was Theo inheriting his mother's rebellious nature. He did not want to follow in his father's footsteps and as a result the relationship detoriated over time. The younger Whittaker would often test his father's patience by refusing to study, disappearing off into the nearby mountains for days at a time or even hide out in the tunnels underneath Whittaker Manor. When Theo turned he announced to his parents that he wanted to enter Starfleet Academy and, naturally, Josiah forebade it. Over the next twelve months, their relationship eroded completely and the last time Theo spoke to his father was the day he left to join his mother aboard the U.S.S. Sparrow. During Theo's first year at the Academy, Josiah contracted Meenok's Disease and sucuumbed to it a year later. Neither father or son made an attempt to repair their relationship- the guilt of which has stayed with Theo ever since.
Madeline Whittaker : Theo's relationship with his mother was a stark contrast to the one he shared with his father. Warm, loving and accepting of Theo's life choices, Madeline arranged for her commanding officer on the U.S.S. Sparrow to sponser Theo's admission to Starfleet Academy. Although she tolerated her husband's strict methods and his expectations, she wanted Theo to lead his own life wherever that might have taken him. She attempted numerous times to engineer a reconciliation between father and son to no avail. While a firm, but fair, mother- Theo remains very close his mother, writing to her often aboard her current assignment, the U.S.S. Orb of Prophecy.
Antero Flynn: Meeting several weeks after Flynn's assignment to Columbia, Theo was instantly struck by the Risian's laidback and carefree nature as well as his striking eyes. Flynn left an indelible impression on naive Theo, which swiftly led to him developing feelings for the pilot. The two became fase during shore leave when they both attended a Risian beach party on one of Starbase 118's many holodecks. After the mission to Hemix the two went hover surfing on Columbia's holodeck, which culminated in the two kissing briefly before Antero left quickly, shocked by his actions and leaving Theo feeling humiliated. They patched things up the following day after an honest talk, with Antero agreeing to cook dinner for Theo as a date.
Mirra Ezo: During the Hemix mission, the two became fiercely protective of each other as they faced the threats of Chennel, the feral Nugra and the deadly environment of the planet. Theo shielded Mirra from the energy vampire moths and Mirra stunned Chennel aboard her raider when she threatened Theo's life. Upon returning to the Columbia, the two of them began sharing meals together and a deep friendship developed. Mirra was the first person that Theo told about his feelings for Ensign Flynn. The two have quickly established themselves as fast friends have been known to indulge in shipboard gossip with one another.
Nuvia Oori: At the conclusion of Theo's first assignment aboard the Columbia, he was deeply troubled by the discovery of a Starfleet 'black project'- believing it to be against everything Starfleet and the Federation stood for. Thankfully, Nuvia Oori was there for him. She listened to his struggle and, taking him to holodeck so that he could indulge in hiking, something that helps Theo work off tension, helped him see that while Starfleet may not be perfect- it was still a force for good. After his assault at the hands of an Iconian, Oori felt a deep sense of guilt for letting Theo go off on another job on his own, despite the acts of Sabotage occuring on Columbia, although Theo did not blame her at all when he came round. She was overjoyed when he recovered and he similarly happy to see her after a brief illness left her stuck in sickbay at the conclusion of the mission.
Service Record
| Service Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia | Rank | Dates | Posting | Assignment |
 |
Cadet First Class | 239203.23 | Graduated Starfleet Academy | Engineering Officer |
 |
Ensign | 239203.24 - 239208.06 | USS Columbia | Engineering Officer |
 |
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) | 239205.03 - 239207.26 | USS Columbia | Engineering Officer |
 |
Lieutenant | 239207.26 - Present | USS Columbia | Chief Engineering Officer |
NPC Listing · USS Columbia Crew Manifest · Crew History
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
