Bravo Fleet
Summary
Ensign Jackson Smith is freshly transferred from the from the USS Kaladar to the USS Calistoga and looking forward to a new start to his career. His former posting gives him more experience in dangerous situations than most of his crewmates on the Calistoga, but he’s the ‘new guy’ on a team who has worked closely together for the past two years. Nobody on his team is aware that he froze at a critical point in a past mission, and he’s not sure if he should keep it a secret or talk it through with a team who doesn’t know him and doesn’t trust him yet.
Appearance
Jackson has black hair that seems to have a mind of its own no matter how much he tries to plaster it in place, bright hazel eyes and a ready smile. He smiles a lot, particularly when he’s happy, but wider and more often when he’s nervous.
He has a fit, athletic build, looking like someone who moves around a lot without the focused bulk of a bodybuilder. He’s clean and tidy without being trendy, and visually strikes you as someone who fusses over his appearance for a short while every morning before giving up and deciding he has better things to do.
His tastes in off duty clothing is simple and comfortable, dominated by khaki slacks and long sleeved plain fitted shirts in a variety of dark colors. He has a pair of well loved sneakers from secondary school days which took him to the Lunar Teenage Basketball 3 on 3 Championships in 2395, which he wears any time he feels he needs an extra boost of luck off duty.
Sometimes his fingertips are stained green or brown from his off duty hydroponics experimentation.
Personality
Jackson Smith is a gregarious farmboy who loves his family. He has a bright smile and a warm tone, and prefers to listen rather than talk. He has a tendency to smile when he’s nervous and has a trademark Jackson ‘I’m smiling so we don’t have to talk about this anymore’ Smith smile ™ when he’s uncomfortable in a conversation.
He moves slowly, unless tasked to do something quickly in his duty. He tends to process things inwardly and speak deliberately. He likes to keep his belongings at a bare minimum because he knows if he has too much stuff he won’t put it away and his quarters will become a big messy pile that stresses him out. The one exception to this are his hydroponically grown plants which he tends like they are his pets.
His team leader would note that he is extremely protective and a great defensive security officer, but very hesitant on the offensive side of security work. If his emotions don’t get in the way he’s excellent at responding to situations, has excellent spatial awareness and a strong ability to move through dangerous situations unscathed.
History
Jackson Smith grew up on Green Valley Lunar Colony, the middle of five children. His father, Jameson, was originally from an impoverished outer colony world where struggled farming hydroponics in hostile conditions. Jameson Smith enlisted in Starfleet at the first chance he got, and served for fifteen years. This gave him the resources and connections to build a new life on Luna. It also introduced him to his wife Martha, an agricultural biologist. Together they built an impressive hydroponics farm and a family.
Jackson grew up hearing his father’s tales of Starfleet security and was inspired. He was always protective of his younger sisters, and not destined to inherit the family farm, so he decided he would take inspiration from his father and try to get into Starfleet.
It took him two tries to get into Starfleet Academy. The first time he was a bit too immature, and didn’t take the whole process as seriously as he should have. Why should he? His older brother got in the first time, he would be fine, right? Wrong. He spent the next two years diligently studying his weak subjects and was successful on his second attempt.
It was a good choice, because once Jackson did get into Starfleet Academy he took it seriously and was a dedicated student. He needed that because he was facing tough competition from some of the best and brightest from across the Federation. Starfleet Academy humbled Jackson, and he managed good grades graduating decidedly in the middle of the pack. He was placed on the USS Kaladar, a Niagara Class cruiser as a junior security team member.
He served diligently for four years, getting experience in a number of different missions, but never really standing out. In late 2400, he signed up for a junior officer leadership program to get more leadership training in the hopes he could make it to Lieutenant Junior Grade and become a team leader. In 2401 he got that chance… and almost immediately blew it.
He froze, and panicked when he had to make a critical decision for his team. They were tasked with to suppress a riot on Drendar VII, and his team was rushed by an oncoming mob. It was an innocent mistake, but one that cost him his promotion.
Now he’s looking at a fresh start, moving to the Calistoga to see if he can find his place in Starfleet.
Service Record
| Date | Position | Posting | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2398 - 2401 | Security Officer | USS Kaladar |
 Ensign |
| 2401 | Security Officer | USS Kaladar |
 Lieutenant Junior Grade |
| 2401 - 2402 | Security Officer | USS Calistoga |
 Ensign |