Eastman-Williams family tree. Black circles denote current station residents.

The Eastman-Williams Family

The Eastman-Williamses are a blended family. Gerald and Lawrence - while adopted by Max - are biologically Judy's children with her first husband, Joe Berman. The two barely remember their biological father, and aren't much interested in reconnecting. Despite Max having entered their lives when they were teens, he is "dad". The twins are more prone to extremes: Gerald in his professional dedication and drive, Lawrence in his familial life and emotions, reflecting the emotionally raw (though happy) childhood they had.

The youngest two kids, Thomas and Anna, make up a separate "tranche" of children in some sense, being so much younger than the twins. They are much more even-keeled, a function of the steadier place their parents were in.

Gerald and Lawrence each brought large families into the world, seeking to create the kind of warm, happy family environment they've enjoyed in their teenage years. Their (half-)siblings might just do the same.

Ancestors

Judy herself is the scion of many prominent Jewish families. Among these are:

• The Eastmans, who made their money in the Duranium processing industry in the early 22nd century, and have since been prominent old-money philanthropists.
• The Roths, who have been prominent public servants in the Federation in the past century.
• The Strasslers, who made their money selling modular buildings for colonies in the 23rd century. That business dried up, but most of the family made their exit in time.
• The Perlmutters, whose colorful history of questionable deals as 22nd-century merchants made for great scandal when one of theirs married into the holier-than-thou Eastmans.

While many of these ancient fortunes are now divided between numerous heirs (Judy is separated from Judah and Barbara Eastman, the Duranium moguls, by 7 generations), the sum of the inheritances that's made its way to Judy is considerable, though not astronomical.


Max's family, though no less proud, is of humbler means. Max's own parents, Eileen Williams and Thomas Williams Jr (the namesake of Judy and Max's son, Thomas), worked in the freight haulage business, as did Max's grandfather, Thomas Sr.  Other Williams ancestors worked in a variety of trades.

Judy's ancestors are mostly Ashkenazi Jews. Those ancestors whom the family traces back far enough include many who emigrated to the United States in the 19th century, as well as Holocaust survivors. On account of relatively prevalent intermarriage in the last 3-4 centuries, about one-third of Judy's ancestors weren't at all Jewish, but run the gamut of national origins. Max's are predominantly Scottish, although his maternal grandfather was Welsh, and various branches of the family tree lead elsewhere.

Max Williams

Pastry bloke.


Name: Max Williams
Age: 63 (born Sept. 23, 2318)
Height (approximate okay): 6'0"
Weight (approximate okay: 160-165 lbs
Eye color: Blue-green [fn]Peter Capaldi's eyes appear green or blue, sometimes even grey, under different conditions. I'm just rolling with it.[/fn]
Hair color: Grey
Face-Claim (Optional): Peter Capaldi

Profession: Chef, cookbook author
Rank (if Starfleet): n/a
Relation to Character: Trophy Husband (2361-present)

Dialogue color (strongly recommended): fff7cc

Biography (optional):

Childhood (2318-2336)

Max was born near Loch Lomond, the only son of Thomas Williams Jr. and Eileen Williams, two merchants who owned and operated a freighter. He spent much of his childhood traveling on his parents' ship, but also spent several months of the year on Earth. Through this spacefaring childhood, Max is comfortable among boomers as well as landlubbers. Though he doesn't suffer from any of the medical conditions associated with growing up in space, he is familiar with their cultural milieu and slang.

The time Max spent on Earth as a child, especially in his native Scotland, was precious to him. He remains enchanted by the views of that land.

It was also as a youth that Max developed his passion for culinary crafts, which has followed him ever since.

Wandering Years (2336-2358)



As an adult, Max chose to make his own way in the galaxy. He moved between various planets, ships, and stations, working in a plethora of different restaurants. He has plied his trade everywhere from posh resort bars to hole-in-the-wall dives, and from gourmet restaurants to freighter mess halls.

During these years, Max developed many friendships, but never settled down. Romance, in particular, did not come easily to him, though he did have a number of sexy flings. Nevertheless, he was usually a happy man.

In this time, Max gained a broad understanding of people and cultures. He also developed a very versatile professional skill-set, though he remains most adept at baking pastries.

Finding the Spark (2358-2361)



In the late 2350s, Max moved to work at a gastropub called "Impulse", at an orbital office complex of the Utopia Planitia yards. It was here that his life would change forever by one regular customer - a blonde Starfleet officer who always dined alone, and whose order (salmon filet, extra garlic) was a lunchtime fixture.

Max first met the blonde at a board game night, where she proved the only opponent able to hold her own against him (and he against her). Though he had, by now, all but given up on dating, Max took a leap of faith and asked his adversary out. She - Lt. j.g. Judy Eastman - accepted. It was a crucial moment in the course of both their lives.

The couple's courtship began slowly, with a series of evening dates. The couple's chemistry was unmistakable, and Max found himself conversing more fluidly with Judy than he had with anyone in his adult life. However, Max noted a hesitation from her to move into a more serious relationship. Max began to feel frozen out, which saddened him; he wanted more from a relationship, and considered breaking up.

After almost two months, Judy invited Max to her home for the first time. At that point, she explained to him how her heart had been broken by her ex, and how she had to protect her sons from losing another dad. He understood, between the lines, that she was protecting herself.

With this understanding, Max realized that he was not in fact being frozen out. He decided to stick with Judy, willing to move the relationship at a comfortable pace for her, and told her as much. He also resolved to himself that for as long as this relationship lasted, he would treat her with the respect and caring that she deserved.

The relationship began to escalate, as the couple went on more and more intimate dates, connecting on a personal and emotional level; Judy even introduced Max to her sons. However, Max was reluctant to initiate physical contact, as he assumed her ex had been physically abusive. In June of 2359, after 8 months of dating, a plasma vent running through Max's quarters burst, and he found himself needing a place to stay. After checking with several colleagues, he turned at last, out of desperation, to his girlfriend. Expecting to couch-surf for a few days, Max was instead invited to share Judy's bed, as she revealed that she was ready for intimacy. During the week that Max spent waiting for his apartment to be repaired, the couple got to know each other on a carnal level.

From these incidents, Max and Judy made two resolutions that have sustained their relationship for the ensuing decades: they resolved to always speak openly about their feelings, rather than making assumptions, and they resolved to have regular sex.

In this relationship status, Max was a happy man. Though he still maintained a separate apartment, he spent much of his free time with his girlfriend, and even began to connect with her children. For now, the couple intended to put off marriage until Gerald and Lawrence left the house, but as the twins grew to love Max, they decided independently that he ought to be their father. At their urging, Judy and Max both proposed to each other in the summer of 2360, and were wed at long last in early 2361. That same day, Max also adopted Gerald and Lawrence.

Along with the new marriage, two major life events came at once. On the one hand, he successfully conceived a child with his new wife. On the other hand, his father was dying. In this time, overwhelmed by sorrow and joy, Max relied on consolation from his new wife and sons.

Ultimately, Thomas Williams passed away in August of 2361, only weeks after his new grandson, Max's son, Thomas Eastman Williams was born.

Family Man (2361-2374)

The joy of fatherhood helped Max deal with the loss of his father. He relished every milestone that little Tom achieved, while also guiding Gerald and Lawrence through their teenage misadventures. With Judy by his side, Max still felt as happy as he ever had.

In this time, Max came to think that it would be good for the family to relocate to Earth. Not only would they be closer to the grandparents (his widowed mother in particular), as well as to Gerald and Lawrence when they went to college, but they'd also be able to raise Thomas in the open air, with a big backyard.

Judy was at first reluctant, but ultimately accepted, and the couple made their home in northern New Jersey in 2365, when she was transferred to work in New York City. The couple also agreed at this time that Judy's career would take precedence; Max took a job at a local diner, and spent more time taking care of the home.

Also in 2365, they learned that, against the odds, the 49-year-old Judy was pregnant with a baby girl. Anna, born in early 2366, was a source of further joy to Max. Having come to terms with life as a bachelor, Max was now a father of four, two of them by blood and two by choice, with a beautiful and caring wife. He had never been happier.

All was going swimmingly, until the war came.

Starfleet Spouse (2374-2380)



When the Dominion War erupted, Judy volunteered for front-line duty. Max supported this choice wholeheartedly, as he could see no higher calling in this time of need. To make it possible, he left his own job and became a stay-at-home father.

The war taught Max just how deep his love for Judy was. Though he was in the company of his children, friends, and infant grandson Michael, Max felt lonelier than ever without his wife. The man who, 15 years ago, was happily solo, now could hardly bear the separation from his other half.

After the war, Max supported Judy's decision to stay with the spacefaring arm of Starfleet - on the condition that he and the younger two children would come with. For two years, the family lived on the USS Whirlaway, where Judy served as First Officer.

Max felt at home among the stars, but he developed a healthy dislike of his role as the "political spouse" of a senior officer. He felt socially isolated by Judy's rank, as did she, as though a wall of awkwardness separated them from normal society. This isolation brought the couple closer together. During this time, Max also began to write and publish cookbooks - he has published 5 so far.

After the war, Max also became dramatically more protective of Judy. She had been wounded during the Battle of Cardassia, which only underscored how real - and how scary - the possibility of losing her was.

With Judy's first heart attack in 2377, the family returned to Earth. Max continued to write, becoming a more prolific author in this time. The family was happy, but suburban New Jersey somehow felt a lot smaller than it had before. When in late 2379, after a heart replacement surgery, Judy was offered an XO position on a remote space station, Max urged her to accept.

Frontier Man (2380-Present)



On Front Ear station, Max found a healthy balance. He was among the stars, in cosmopolitan surroundings, but with civilians to socialize with. He also returned to restaurant work, at the Blue Beta bar & grill, which brought him joy.

2380 was a successful year, but in 2381, the year of Judy's captaincy, Starfleet began to take a toll on Max's home life. Judy went through a number of near-death events - the mission to stabilize the Talorian sun and the Vierdeau bushfires, to name just two - which again made Max confront the possibility of losing her. The moral failures of Starfleet, in its dealings with the Caldonians and Nyberrites, made all the sacrifices the family made for Starfleet feel futile. As such, when Judy was offered a civilian job, Max urged her to take it, and she did.

Max now believes he has found a winning formula for the near future. He lives in a place he loves, with friends he appreciates, with his family, and most importantly, with his radiant wife.

Personality and Relationships

Max's hobbies include painting, playing guitar, building a model railroad, hiking, and playing tennis. He also works out often, and (like his wife) enjoys swimming. He spends a good deal of his spare time cooking, just as he does at work, but for his loved ones.

At his core, Max is an observer of people. He is intrigued by people, but is relatively introverted. He's a good conversationalist, with a wicked sense of humor, but he doesn't often initiate conversations. He likes spending time with others, but they should expect to do most of the talking.

Max is very even-keeled and easy-going. He tends to go with the flow, and when the flow is too disagreeable, he quietly goes his own way. He takes care of those he calls his own, but doesn't involve himself in the affairs of others.

Max is a committed family man. He is available at any time of day or night to his children - all four of them. Having once thought he would never have such a family, he fully appreciates it and will never let it go. Likewise, Max adores his grandchildren: to them, he is a gregarious, rambunctious playmate and dessert provider.

More than anything else, Max loves Judy. She is his best friend, nearest advisor, and partner in crime - and he is hers. She is more excitable and erratic, in contrast to her professional persona, and is often the one to pull him into fun adventures. The couple do most activities together, and rarely attend social functions as singles. They each draw validation from the other's love and affection.

Max and Judy are a sexually active couple. Intimacy looks different with aging bodies than it once did, requiring a little more care and a little more foreplay, but to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, it's worth it. Since she left Starfleet, they haven't missed a single day.

Unlike his wife, children, and grandchildren, Max isn't formally Jewish as per the scripture. However, for years, he has led a mostly Jewish lifestyle, lives in a Jewish household, and has learned Hebrew. Max has even participated in services before, and by the standards of some congregations has de facto converted by joining his fate with the Jews.

Appearance



Max is a handsome man, a silver fox in the eyes of many (most importantly, his wife). However, unlike his wife, he does not put much effort into his looks. He dyes his hair to maintain a uniformly silver hue, but often leaves it ruffled. He is fond of closing the top button of his shirt, even when he isn't wearing a tie.

Max prefers polo or button-down shirts with khakis or jeans, in relatively neutral colors. However, he regularly deviates from this at Judy's request.

Max is not averse to working out with his shirt off - his wife certainly doesn't mind. Like Judy, he prefers to sleep in the nude, but will opt for simple t-shirts and sweatpants (or boxers, as the case may be) if that's not an option.

Lawrence Eastman


Name: Lawrence Eastman
Age: 34 (born 2346)
Species: Human
Height (approximate okay): 190cm
Weight (approximate okay: Skinny
Hair color: Brown
Face-Claim (Optional): John Krasinski

Profession: Homemaker
Rank (if Starfleet): n/a
Relation to Character: Son

Dialogue color (strongly recommended): 87cefa

Biography (optional):

Lawrence was born as Lawrence Eastman Berman, along with his twin brother Gerald, the son of Joe Berman and Judith Eastman. After a relatively tranquil early childhood (courtesy of the big, doting presence of their mother), the twin boys' lives were dramatically transformed by their parents' divorce. They continued to receive their mother's love and affection, but she grew more emotionally tense during the process, developing a palpable air of tension about her that the young boys could fill. In addition, their father dropped entirely out of the picture even before proceedings ended. Lawrence's surname was legally changed to Eastman - his mother's name - in 2351.

The home environment Lawrence experienced in the next ten years was unusual, and perhaps not right for the boy's personality. Judy pursued a doctorate during the boys' school hours, but when she returned home, she devoted immense attention to the two, often at the expense of their personal space.
His mother's overbearing presence, coupled with the absence of a good father figure, led Lawrence to act out. A bright child, he devoted far more energy to practical jokes and schoolyard games than he did to his studies, which drew more motherly meddling in his life. All in all, not a good cycle.

This situation changed, gradually, with the entry of Max Williams into Lawrence's life. Initially, the young man viewed his mother's new romantic partner from a purely transactional lens, as a vehicle to draw Mom's attention elsewhere. Later, Lawrence grew more distrustful of Max; the young man's uneasy relationship with change, protectiveness over his (difficult) mother, and general awkwardness around PDA contributed to this. Ultimately, however, Lawrence came to accept Max, whom he came to even call "Dad", instead of "Step-Dad". It was Max's stabilizing influence that brought Lawrence to focus at least a little on academics in high school.

Lacking a clear professional direction, Lawrence spent a considerable time in college, switching between 5 different majors before graduating with a degree in Theater from the University at Albany in 2370, after 6 years.

At one psychology class that Lawrence took, he met a teaching assistant (and Graduate student) named Jessica Schwarz. What initially began as casual flirting eventually became a proper relationship, and then a marriage. Jessica, a practicing psychologist now that she's completed her education, proved to be a stabilizing force in the volatile world of Lawrence's mind, and his boyish antics charmed her. The two were wed in 2373, and brought three children into the world. Lawrence, who never really had a strong passion for acting, became a full-time father after their firstborn, Michael, came into the world.

Physically, Lawrence is tall, slim, and appears charmingly unkempt. His mop-like brown hair, in particular, is far more high-maintenance than it seems, and he is known to occasionally ruffle it. This habit has its roots in a subconscious childhood attempt to distinguish himself from his goody-two-shoes twin.

---

Threads and Posts

• September 2375 - Lawrence catches up with his parents on their trip to New York (The Big Apple)
• May 2380 - Lawrence and the extended family enjoy some music (Personal)
• June 2380 - The Eastman-Williams clan have dinner, as Lawrence makes an announcement (Personal)
• September 2380 - Lawrence and his mother briefly join Dr. Baker in giving Crewman T'Karra a welcome tour (Boots on the Ground)
• December 2380 - Lawrence celebrates as Judy is promoted, and makes Thea Baker her own First Officer (Changes in Command)
• January 2381 - A formal promotion ceremony is held for Judy and others, and Lawrence attends (A Front Ear Celebration)
• To be continued

To be introduced for S2E3: Customs

Name: Klopar, daughter of Krak
Age: 47
Species: Klingon
Height (approximate okay): 160 cm
Weight (approximate okay:
Eye color: Green
Hair color: Black
Face-Claim (Optional): Klingonized Regina King

Profession: Commanding Officer, Customs Enforcement Team 75
Rank: Commander in the Klingon Defense Force
Relation to Character: Acquainted. Judy Eastman worked with Klopar's now-deceased mate, Drull, during the war.

Dialogue color (strongly recommended): TBD

Biography (optional):

Klopar was born on Qo'nos to a family of - what else? - warriors. With no brothers, she and her older sister, Egoll, were expected to bring honor to their parents, and to find worthy mates of course. Both were, and still are, aggressive, passionate, hard-driving, hard-drinking warriors, but Egoll always seemed to have it easier. Taller, louder, fiercer, the older sister excelled in all that she did, developing a reputation for her skill with the Bat'leth even as an adolescent. To Klopar, all things came harder, and she remains (by the standards of her species) a mediocre fighter. As Egoll entered frontline service in the imperial fleet, Klopar was shunted off to work in Customs enforcement, the red-headed stepchild of the KDF.

With a career that was nothing to be proud of, Klopar was more than happy to devote herself to raising her six children with her mate, an engineer called Drull. This 16-year interruption set back her career, but it was worth it, for all six grew up to be fierce warriors.

Returning to the KDF, and to Customs, Klopar was a middling middle manager, too proud to fail but not motivated enough to shine. She is still ashamed that she could not enter a more honorable branch.

Even the Dominion War could not rattle Klopar's ennui. Two of her children died heroically, as did Drull, only days after helping devise a countermeasure to the Breen energy weapon. In a mixture of pride (at her heroic relatives) and shame (that she never had the opportunity to die like them), she showed very little outward change.

Klopar appears well-adjusted, because her primary outlets for her frustrations and ennui are partying, drinking, and violence - all accepted pastimes among her people. She gets on just fine; she is in all ways so-so.

Mabel Henriksen


"I'm sorry, that's rude. I'm Mabel, and you're being boarded. Now, freeze, suckers!" - Mabel making an arrest.

Name: Mabel Henriksen
Age: 23 (born 2357)
Height (approximate okay): 5'3"
Weight (approximate okay: About 170 lbs
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Brownish-gingerish
Face-Claim (Optional): Aidy Bryant

Profession: Chief Operations Officer
Rank (if Starfleet): Lieutenant
Relation to Character: Fmr. Executive Assistant

Dialogue color (strongly recommended): 00ff7f

Biography (optional):

Mabel grew up in a warm, large family in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the third child of 7. Growing up, she was often teased about her weight, but she nevertheless maintained a largely positive outlook and friendly disposition. She was an above-average student, and came to develop a passion about protecting those, like herself, who were often bullied and marginalized. It is this that led her to volunteer at orphanages after the Dominion War, and then led her to join Starfleet.

Having somehow managed the physical requirements, Mabel entered the reconstituted Red Squad at Starfleet Academy, and studied as a Command-Track Cadet. This proved to be a horrible mistake, as the new Red Squad was just as toxic as the old, and she was subjected to much harassment over her size. In her second year of the Academy, Mabel spiraled downwards in her academic studies, leading to an intervention by her academic counselor.
Mabel was redirected away from the command track, and towards studying to be a yeoman to a command-level officer, with an eye towards promotion onwards from there. She was to remain a commissioned officer, and the officer she'd be assigned to would be expected to support her growth and development.

That officer was Judith Eastman, fresh off medical leave and headed for Front Ear Station. Mabel gets along well with the nurturing older woman, who in turn has much empathy for the eager but insecure youngster.

As Judy's yeoman, Mabel was a valuable helper, performing a variety of administrative duties over the course of an 18-month tenure. At the conclusion of this period, she was promoted to Chief Operations Officer, an independent senior position.

"My motives are private, Doctor."

Name: Dorga
Age: 63
Species: Caldonian
Height (approximate okay): 5'5" (165 cm)
Weight (approximate okay: 170 lbs (75 kg)
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Bald, grey facial hair
Face-Claim (Optional):

Profession: Caldonian Ambassador to the Federation (2370s), Chief of Staff to Yatin (2350s and 60s).
Rank (if Starfleet): n/a
Relation to Character: Contact

Dialogue color (strongly recommended): ad74ce

Biography (optional):

Dorga is a Caldonian diplomat, a member of the Ruling Class who has held a variety of prominent positions.

Dorga was once very close to Yatin, the Caldonian diplomatic service's head honcho, having facilitated that man's rise. However, in recent years, they have drifted apart, and now Dorga is actively scheming to take Yatin down. To that end, he has contacted Judith Eastman-Williams, who will introduce him to another contact to be revealed.

Dorga has an imposing physical presence on account of his stocky build, but his voice does not fit this at all: it is high in pitch, and somewhere between nasal and whining in tone.
Unusually for a Caldonian, Dorga has facial hair, in the form of a goatee.