Whittaker

Theo's early days as the latest Captain of the ''Columbia'' were unfortunately marked with a series of arguments with Professor [[Olivia Sellards]], the Director of Research at the Federation science station [[Dehner Base]] on [[Delta Vega I]]. Sellards resented Starfleet's presence in the region and the defensive emplacements they had insisted be installed to protect the base. She made several unsuccessful attempts to convince Theo into advocating their removal. Every time he refused and every time it ended acrimoniously. After one argument, Theo takes the [[USS Kumari]], the Captain's Yacht on a test flight and crashes on a planet where he was quickly captured by [[Human Augments]] who had somehow ended on the planet. Following this he became embroiled in the politics of Dehner Base when it transpired that Professor Sellards was hiding evidence of an important archeological discovery on Delta Vega II: ancient Tkon artefacts. The two clashed several times before he ordered Columbia into a nebula in pursuit of raiders that had stolen the artefacts. This was a success and it led to Theo and Sellards calling a truce. He also agreed to allow [[Jev crim Glev]], Dehner Base's head of archeology to work onboard Columbia full time. Theo then established first contact with the Imperial [[Losarian]] Commonwealth and agreed to an officer exchange program. He once again encountered Tkon technology on an abandoned world and saved the Ma'rithh Kenn people from extinction within an advanced computer network of Tkon origin. Most recently, he encountered the [[Shanshuri]] and discovered evidence of a powerful new foe within the [[Sagittarius Reach]] who occupy a different phase variance.

Mirra is Theo's best friend of four years. They first met as junior officers aboard the ''[[USS Columbia]]''. Their friendship grew after Theo placed himself between Mirra and the pirate known as [[Chennel]] during an away mission to [[Tolus Phi System|Hemix I]]. Mirra has a tendency to become exasperated at what she perceives at Theo's reckless streak and his tendency to put himself in harm's way to protect the officers under his command. After the Columbia was withdrawn from active service, they were reunited when they were both assigned to [[StarBase 118]] (Theo was assigned there two months earlier). Their assignment aboard 118 was marked by repeated clashes with [[Chennel]] and their fierce protectiveness for each other ensured that they both survived each encounter. Mirra took a Leave of Absence from Starfleet following Chennel's final defeat (and death) and the two lost contact while she recuperated. However, they once more encountered each other during the [[USS Blackwell]]'s mission to Arndall in the [[Par'tha Expanse]]. Theo was by now a starship commander and he reactivated her Starfleet commission, assigning her to the Blackwell as a Diplomatic Officer. She followed him to the Columbia in September 2395 but was reassigned shortly afterwards. The two remain in contact despite Columbia's assignment at the edge of the galaxy.