Theo Whittaker
| USS Columbia | ||
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| Theo Michaelangelo Whittaker | ||
| Position | Engineering Officer | |
| Rank | Lieutenant JG | |
| Species | Human | |
| Gender | Male | |
| DOB | 236910.18 | |
| Age | 31 | |
| Birthplace | Tucker's Landing, Archer IV | |
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Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Theo Michaelangelo Whittaker is a Terran Starfleet officer, currently serving as an Engineering Officer aboard the USS Columbia.
Appearance & Statistics
- Height: 1.7m (5"7')
- Weight: 68kgs
- Hair: Brown
- Eyes: Hazel
- Build: Toned
- T/E Rating: 0/0
- Siblings: None
- Handed: Right
Background
Born to Josiah Bartholomew Whittaker- a former dean of Tucker's Landing University- and Madeline Fatima Whittaker (neé Carson)- a Starfleet officer- Theo Whittaker grew up a well educated and well spoken young man. Attending the best schools on Archer IV, he was expected to comport himself accordingly under the strict rules of his father whom he lived with full time while his mother served in Starfleet. Never the less, he inherited his mother's rebellious nature and often clashed with his uptight, privileged father who expected his only child to continue the family tradition of a career in the academic world. In an open act of defiance, Theo chose to follow in his mother's footsteps and enroll in Starfleet. The decision led to a rift between father and son which had not healed by the time of Josiah's death during Theo's second year attending Starfleet Academy.
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During his teenage years, Theo spent two months every year living with his mother aboard the U.S.S. Sparrow, a Starfleet patrol ship assigned to the 'core worlds' of the Federation. While his mother did appreciate her husband's wishes for Theo to follow in his footsteps, she also privately believed that her son should be allowed to make his own choices and thus did not oppose Theo's decision to enter Starfleet Academy. While she stood publicly by her husband, Theo was never the less aware of his mother's true feelings.
On Archer IV, Theo lived in a mock-Georgian mansion close to Tucker's Landing University with his father. Designed in part by his father to recreate the ancestral home of the Whittaker family who hailed from the United Kingdom as far back as the 16th century, Theo spent many years exploring the various tunnels underneath the mansion. On many occasions he used them to evade his father's punishments. Modern day technology was expressly forbidden in the house aside from replicators, an unusual side effect of this being, it sparked Theo's interest in technology and in engineering.
As a teen, and in another effort to put as much as distance between himself and his father, Theo took up hiking, often disappearing for weekends at a time in the Keating Mountains, which lay on the outskirts of Tucker's Landing. He later regretted not being able to do as much hiking as he would have liked while attending Starfleet Academy in San Fransisco.
Career History
Theo enrolled at Starfleet Academy at the age of eighteen, studying on the Engineering track and specializing in warp mechanics and theory. For the most part he was a model student, with only one near infraction when caught breaking back into the Academy grounds after curfew (he talked his way out of punishment). In his 2nd year he was involved in a bar fight but no disciplinary action was taken due to the fact he responded in self defense and he had recently lost his father. He graduated following a final exam at the training facilities aboard Starbase 118.
Following his graduation, he was assigned as an Engineering Officer aboard the Columbia. He came aboard the ship and was put to work straight away as a AI commandeered partial command of the ship. Theo managed to build a rapport with the AI, who turned out to be the mind of a seven year old human girl codenamed "Providence". He was present when they discovered "Mercy"- a deadly weapons delivery system that had been secretly developed without Federation approval. Providence was all but lost at the conclusion of the mission, leaving Theo deeply troubled. During this time he befriended and confided in Nuvia Oori who helped him come to terms with events and reminded him of why he joined Starfleet. For his conduct during the mission he was awarded the Prometheus and First Contact ribbons and promoted to Lieutenant (JG).
After Columbia recieved orders to investigate a series of accidents on Avronis V- a Romulan world notorious for being a contaminated antimatter disposal site- Theo began to notice odd occurences aboard the ship. The weapon system's targeting sensors were misaligned- even though he and Oori had repaired them after the previous mission and potentially explosive cargo that should have been stored were placed together. He brought his findings before acting Captain Lieutenant Commander Brek who arranged for Columbia to depart Starbase 118 immediately (since it was suspected members of the base's support staff may have had a hand these events). Susequently assigned to modify three shuttles for use on Avronis, Theo and Oori then discovered suspected sabotage to the shuttles and their additional power cells. Investigating an open Jeffries Tube hatch, Theo was attacked and knocked unconscious by an unseen and possibly cloaked figure. After being woken in sickbay, he discovered that he had had severe facial trauma, but that Doctor Johanna MacLaren had repaired much of it. Although he was still in considerable pain, he had to be moved to the secure bio-hazard ward when it became clear saboteur's were intent on stopping him from revealing his attack. There, he formulated a plan to use a shipboard tachyon detection grid to find the location of said saboteurs. Unable to leave, he instructed Oori to modify the holoemitters accordingly.
Personality
It has been noted that at first in a new situation that Theo is rather reserved and quiet, adressing people in a formal, polite manner. However when he settles in to a situation or an assignment he does relax and can be characterized as an easy going, personable and sociable young man while on duty he is driven, focused and a consummate officer. He is able to work well under pressure, while maintaining a witty- and sometimes sly- sense of humor. His examiners and lecturers at Starfleet Academy noted that he is able to easily diffuse tense situations. Counseling staff at the academy have suggested that his innitoak reserved nature and later affable and relaxed characteristics probably stem from his uptight father. They also recognized that Theo carries around a lot of guilt in regards to his father's death and the fact that he had not mended their estrangement before his father succumbed to Meenok's Disease.
When faced with a situation that he that challenges his notions of how things should be, Theo can react badly- turning inwards and questioning himself continually.He dislikes being a burden to anybody and because of this he does struggle to discuss his feelings, preferring to bottle them up inside him, even if he knows that no good can come of it. On occasion, situations have become too much bear and he has been known to vent his rage in anger in the form of rants.
Many dormitory inspectors noted that Theo was unusually tidy for a cadet, preferring to keep his room tidy and well presented at all times, as opposed to many other cadets whose rooms were often messy. Theo attributed this to his parents, who were neat and tidy themselves. Theo is therefore irritated by unessesary clutter and mess.
Relationships
Josiah Whittaker: Possibly the most defining relationship of Theo's life is also the most complex. While there is no doubt that his father loved him very dearly, he was largely unwilling- or even unable- to show his son much affection, possibly stemming from his own upbringing. The two clashed frequently throughout Theo's childhood owing to their differing natures; Theo was more carefree than Josiah expected, Josiah banned modern technology from the family home, so Theo became more and more intrigued by it and finally. Theo would spend hours in the tunnels under their home to avoid his duties around the house. The relationship was perhaps fractured beyond repair through Theo's decision to enter Starfleet Academy instead of following the family's footsteps and entering academia. Josiah cast Theo out of his family home- and out of his will- and ordered his son never to return. He never did. When Josiah passed away during Theo's second years of studies- the guilt of their estrangement almost became too much for the young cadet too bear. Although he received counseling from the academy mental health staff, Theo still carries a great deal of guilt (as stated above) that he never managed to repair their relationship. Even now- and although he will never admit it- Theo wants more than anything to impress the man who shaped so much of his life.
Madeline Whittaker: In stark contrast to his relationship with his father, the one he shares with his mother is completely the opposite. Theo is very close to his mother, even with Madeline spending much of Theo's childhood serving aboard the U.S.S Sparrow as it's Chief Operations Officer and later Executive Officer. Knowing of the difficulties that her husband was having in raising their son (and finding her advice to loosen up falling on deaf ears) she negotiated with her CO and Sector Command Office to allow her to have Theo stay with her for two months every year. She also privately supported his decision to the Academy, although for the safety of her marriage, she publicly asked Theo to reconsider his choice. She is currently in command of the U.S.S. Orb of Prophecy, where she has several bottles of Chateau Picard champagne that Theo was aware of.
Savik Kalor: Meeting the night before starting the Academy in a small tavern in San Francisco Bay, Theo and Savik became fast friends quickly. Theo was instrumental in Savik settling into life in Earth as he had had very limited contact with humans. Together they talked their way out of a curfew violation, got involved in a bar brawl and it was with Theo who gave Kalor his first alcoholic drink. They took their final exam together on Starbase 118 and both graduated at the same time, although they were both assigned to different ships, with Kalor assigned to the
Service Record
| Service History | ||||
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| Insignia | Rank | Dates | Posting | Assignment |
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Cadet First Class | 239203.23 | Graduated Starfleet Academy | Engineering Officer |
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Ensign | 239203.24 - 239205.04 | USS Columbia | Engineering Officer |
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Lieutenant (Junior Grade) | 239205.04 - | USS Columbia | Engineering Officer |
Awards & Service Ribbons
- For award descriptions, see: Awards and Service Ribbons
| Awards and Service Ribbons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SIM Archive
- "Intrusion" - (Stardate 239203.24 - The newly minted Ensign Whittaker follows his orders and introduces himself to Captain Livingston and meets a respected Federation Ambassador.
- "A Different Approach" - (Stardate 239203.24 - Ensign Whittaker proposes that the rogue AI aboard Columbia maybe much more than initally believed.
- "Footsteps" - (Stardate 239204.26 - Whittaker begins to put the recent mission behind with the help a colleauge.
- "Dazed and Incredulous" - (Stardate 239205.04 - A promotion leaves the new Lieutenant (JG) stunned.
NPC Listing · USS Columbia Crew Manifest · Crew History
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