Demi Patterson

Early Life

Patterson was born and raised in Ares City, the vibrant capital of Mars. Her parents were both construction engineers at Utopia Planitia, helping to build the starships that would one day explore the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Their work instilled in Demi a profound appreciation for Starfleet and its mission, but unlike her parents, who were content to work behind the scenes, Demi dreamed of being among the stars herself.

As the middle child of three, she had an older sister and a younger brother, but Demi was the most adventurous among them. While her siblings were content to follow more traditional paths, she always pushed boundaries, whether climbing beyond the safety limits of Ares City’s domes as a child or sneaking off to watch test flights at the Utopia Planitia shipyards. However, despite her thrill-seeking tendencies, she was also fiercely determined. She understood that she needed to put in the work if she wanted to go far.

At school, Demi threw herself into her studies, excelling in mathematics, physics, and aeronautics, knowing these skills would serve her well in Starfleet. Naturally competitive, she always aimed to be the best—not to impress others, but to prove that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to. Her dedication paid off when she passed the Starfleet Academy entrance exam at eighteen and left Mars for the first time to attend the prestigious academy on Earth. It was a bittersweet moment; she loved her homeworld but understood she was destined for something greater.

Starfleet Career

Starfleet Academy

At Starfleet Academy, Demi quickly proved herself to be a dedicated and ambitious cadet. She devoted her energy to her studies, excelling in tactical navigation, starship operations, and flight control. While some of her peers struggled with the intense workload, Demi flourished under pressure, determined to seize every opportunity. Her natural instincts and steady hands made her an outstanding pilot, and she spent countless hours in the simulators, honing her skills. Though she was competitive, she was also a supportive teammate, earning the respect of her instructors and fellow cadets alike. By the time Demi graduated, she had distinguished herself as a skilled and disciplined officer, finishing top of her class in flight training.

Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards

After graduating from Starfleet Academy, Demi’s first assignment took her back to Mars, where she was delighted to return home and work as a test pilot in the R&D division at Utopia Planitia. She found comfort in being close to her family again, spending her off-hours visiting them while contributing to cutting-edge technology development for Starfleet. The work was challenging, but it reignited her passion for engineering and piloting, and she took great pride in testing new experimental shuttles and systems.

However, everything changed in 2385 during the Synth attack on Mars. On that fateful day, Demi was on a test run around Deimos, one of Mars’ moons, when the chaos began to unfold. Desperate to reach her family and assist them, she attempted to use the experimental shuttle she was piloting to rescue her parents. As the battle raged on, she found herself caught in the crossfire, and just as her shuttle was about to be destroyed, she was pulled from the wreckage by the USS Westminster, which had come to Mars’ aid.

In the heat of the evacuation, Captain Zack Marshall-Bennet, who had temporarily assumed command of the Westminster, urgently required a skilled pilot. Without hesitation, Demi volunteered to take the helm of the Parliament-class starship. As the Synth ships closed in, Demi evaded their fire, skillfully manoeuvring the Westminster through treacherous terrain to buy the ship enough time to rescue survivors. Her quick thinking and composure under pressure saved countless lives during the evacuation.

But once the ordeal was over and the devastation of Mars became undeniable—entire sections of the planet now scorched and in flames—Demi found herself at a loss. She had lost everything: her family, her home, and her work. She was numb, struggling to process the enormity of the tragedy. Shock set in, and she didn’t know what to do or say for the first time in her life. She had devoted everything to her career in Starfleet, but the personal toll was far greater than she could have ever imagined.

USS Westminster (NCC-70499)

In the aftermath of the Synth attack, Demi chose to remain aboard the USS Westminster, finding stability in duty when everything else in her life had been lost. Recognising her talent and composure under pressure, Captain Zack Marshall-Bennet promoted her to lieutenant junior grade and named her the ship’s chief flight control officer. She threw herself into her work, determined to prove that she had earned her place, not just because of the tragedy she had endured but because she was one of the best pilots in the fleet.

For the next eight years, Demi remained a loyal officer aboard the Westminster, standing by Bennet’s side as a trusted member of his crew. In 2389, seeking to expand her skill set, she completed Advanced Tactical Training, refining her combat piloting skills and strategic thinking. The rigorous training pushed her beyond her limits, but she excelled. She was promoted to full lieutenant upon completion, a milestone she credited to Bennet’s unwavering support and recommendation. When she returned to the Westminster, he was pleased to welcome her back and rewarded her dedication by making her the ship’s third officer.

By 2390, Demi’s personal life had also flourished. She had been in a relationship with the Westminster’s chief science officer, Isasiah Doyle, for several years, and the two decided to marry. Their bond was strong, built on mutual respect and understanding, and they supported each other’s ambitions within Starfleet.

In 2393, Bennet was given a new command and wasted no time offering Demi a place on his senior staff. With a promotion to lieutenant commander, he wanted her to serve as his chief flight control officer and second officer. The decision was easy for Demi—she had built her career under Bennet’s mentorship, and the chance to continue serving with him was too good to pass up. Unfortunately, Isaiah did not share the same enthusiasm. He was deeply committed to his own work aboard the Westminster and chose to remain with the ship. Though they loved each other, they both knew their careers came first. They agreed to try a long-distance relationship, hoping their bond would withstand the challenges of Starfleet life.

USS Destiny (NCC-92600)

Joining Bennet aboard the Destiny marked an exhilarating new chapter for Demi. The Vesta-class starship was among the most advanced vessels in the fleet, featuring state-of-the-art technology, cutting-edge propulsion systems, and the fastest warp drive Starfleet had ever developed. From the moment she stepped on board, Demi was captivated by the ship’s sleek design and its experimental nature, which reminded her of her time at Utopia Planitia’s R&D division. Flying the Destiny wasn’t just a duty—it was a thrill, and she took immense pride in piloting a ship that represented the pinnacle of Starfleet engineering.

After a year aboard, the Destiny’s first officer was offered command of their own ship, a well-earned opportunity that left a critical vacancy in Bennet’s senior staff. Without hesitation, he promoted Patterson to commander and appointed her as his new executive officer. Though she had always been confident in her abilities, stepping into the role of first officer was a significant shift. Over the next five years, she and Bennet developed into a formidable command team, and under his mentorship, Demi gained invaluable insights into leadership, diplomacy, and decision-making. She thrived in the position, balancing the demands of command with the same drive and determination she had always possessed.

In 2398, the Destiny embarked on a collaborative deep-space exploration mission with a ship from the Romulan Republic. This assignment presented an exciting challenge, necessitating close cooperation with their Romulan allies, where Demi swiftly established a solid working relationship with her Romulan counterpart. Throughout the mission, she cultivated a profound respect for their commitment to exploration, strengthening her conviction in Starfleet’s dedication to building new alliances beyond the conventional borders of the Federation.

By the time they returned to Federation space in 2399, Bennet had confided in Demi that he had been advocating for Starfleet to resume their long-term deep-space exploration projects. His efforts had paid off—Starfleet Command agreed to send a squadron into the Delta Quadrant, resulting in his promotion to commodore and given command of the expedition. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and to her surprise, Bennet disclosed that the entire crew of the Destiny would be reassigned to a new vessel for the mission. He wished for Demi to accompany him as his first officer. Although the offer was enticing, Demi hesitated. Her husband, Isaiah Doyle, had recently undertaken a new role at Starfleet Academy, and after years of long-distance separation, she felt a deep longing to be with him again. She asked Bennet for time to consider the offer, and he agreed. 

Upon arriving on Earth, she reunited with Isaiah and quickly recognised how much she had longed for their time together. After an emotional conversation, it became clear to both that the best choice was for her to remain in the Alpha Quadrant, as they cherished their relationship.

When Demi told Bennet her choice, she was shocked by his reaction—he barely seemed phased. After years of friendship and loyalty, she expected more—a moment of understanding or disappointment—but he accepted her decision without hesitation. She had always seen him as a friend, but now she questioned whether he regarded their relationship as anything more than professional.

Starfleet Academy

Hurt but unwilling to let it shake her, Demi focused on her new position at Starfleet Academy. Accepting a job as a professor, she dedicated herself to training the next generation of Starfleet pilots. Though she missed the thrill of deep-space exploration, she found satisfaction in mentoring young officers.

In 2401, Isaiah led a small research team of cadets aboard the USS Excelsior to investigate various unusual subspace phenomena near the Sol system. The project was scheduled to continue for at least eight months. Realising that he enjoyed and excelled at this endeavour, Demi readily offered her support. Fortunately, they could communicate frequently, and sometimes, Demi would travel via shuttlecraft to see Isaiah on the Excelsior. Ahead of Frontier Day, they had planned to meet after the fleet formation celebrations and spend a few days together. Unfortunately, while enjoying a small gathering of her fellow faculty members at Starfleet Academy, the Borg emanating from Jupiter changed everything that day for Demi. The party was interrupted by the sudden arrival of cadets trying to kill their professors. Demi and several other instructors survived the assault and escaped from the campus via a shuttlecraft. As Demi took control, she attempted to contact the Excelsior, only to hear the last call from the ship before it was destroyed by other Starfleet ships under the control of the Borg. Lost at that moment, Demi didn’t know what to do as she saw the destruction of the Excelsior. Quickly, though, she snapped out of the moment and flew the shuttle away from other ships under the control of the Borg and headed back to Earth, knowing that they needed to help somehow. 

Somehow, she and her team of instructors survived the entire Frontier Day massacre. Knowing that her cadets, partially assimilated by the Borg, would need her, Demi returned to Starfleet Academy. Over the next few months, she worked with those affected, trying her best to help them move on, but the pain of losing her husband was significant, and she felt like she could no longer remain on Earth. One evening, a knock at her house brought back a figure she wasn’t expecting to see. Zack Marshall-Bennet. Over the last couple of years, she had been surprised at how quickly he had risen through the ranks to become vice admiral and head of operations for the Fourth Fleet. However, the man who stood before her seemed different. The friendly smile and charm she knew, before he joined the admiralty, had returned. Bennet explained that while she was visiting Earth back in 2399, he had been captured by the rogue Changelings and replaced. He had recently been found and rescued. He wasn’t returning to the admiralty but wanted to check in on an old friend. Pleased to see the man she respected, who was her mentor for many years, hadn’t become an ass because of his new rank, Demi, without thinking, suggested they get the old crew back. Many of them had just survived the ordeal of their ship being destroyed in the Delta Quadrant, and she knew the Destiny was still in dry-dock at Avalon undergoing routine maintenance. It needed a captain and a crew, Bennet shook his head. Telling her that he wasn’t ready to return, she disagreed and encouraged him to take the centre seat one more time, and she would return with him by his side.

USS Destiny (NCC-92600)

Returning to the Destiny felt like a homecoming for Bennet and Patterson. The Destiny was recrewed by familiar faces, including some that had just survived Frontier Day, like Patterson. Keen to see the back of the Alpha Quadrant, Bennet consulted with Patterson on whether they should put themselves and the ship forward to join the Odyssey Squadron. She agreed immediately.