Physical Description

Name: Derek Black
Species: Human
Gender: Male 
Age: 34
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 80kg
Build/Body Type: Reasonably Fit
Complexion: Fair
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Hair Style: Medium Tapered
Eye Color: Green
Voice (optional):
Off-Duty Clothing Preferences: Casual
Distinguishing Features: Small scar by right eyebrow
Face Claim: David James Elliott
Character Image: 
 
Personal History

Early Life/Pre-Starfleet Career:

Growing up in the small Canadian City of North bay, Derek led a typical boy's life; running in the woods, swimming in the lakes, and dreaming of flying. His active childhood was enhanced by the advantages of living close to Starfleet Planetary Traffic Monitoring Station(SPTMS) Hornell Heights, located only a bike's ride away from his home. His father had been assigned to the post for an abnormally long period of time, allowing most of the Black family to be raised in a single homestead, unlike most other 'fleet brats'. The locale had once been home to a Royal Canadian Air Force base, and an avid flying club still utilized the old airfield, introducing Derek to the adventures of flight at a young age. Indeed, the Black brothers spent so much time at the aerodrome, their mother comm-ed there before the school if either boys were found missing classes.

Academy/Technical Academy (if Starfleet):

While his brother, Sam, was willing to continue his education and apply to Starfleet Academy after graduating from secondary school, Derek was eager to venture off into space. Trusting a recruiter's avid promise that he would be allowed to transfer to the officer corp as a pilot only a few years into his contract, Derek brushed off his father's warnings and enlisted as a basic crewman, specializing in a trade completely unrelated to his personal field of interest; Medicine. It was only after a dozen years of service, three starships, surviving the Dominion War, and taking a rank reduction, which finally allowed him to pursue a role in Flight.

Starting as a starbase shuttle pilot, Derek was allowed to challenge the Flight SAR selection at the age of 29, something which his fellow trainees never let him forget. The oldest candidate in his class and known as 'Pappy', he successfully completed the course despite his instructors reservations and was presented with the 'wings' of a Flight SAR Specialist. Though his previous experience granted him the privilege of regaining his former rank quickly, he was soon re-assigned to yet another position which involved an unrelated skillset; instructing basic training and indoctrination at Starfleet Academy. Uncomfortable with the monotony of being 'dirtside' after spending the majority of his career standing on a moving deck, Derek requested an active posting three years in a row before the career manager finally assigned Derek back to an operational crew.

Previous Assignments (if applicable):

01 Jun 2364 - Crewman Recruit, NCM Candidate, Starfleet Academy
12 Aug 2364 - Crewman Apprentice, Medical Specialist Candidate, Starfleet Medical
18 Jan 2365 - Crewman, Medical Technician, USS Stadacona
20 Dec 2365 - Senior Crewman, Primary Leadership Candidate, Starfleet Academy
15 Feb 2366 - Petty Officer Third Class, Medical Technician, USS Stadacona
22 Aug 2366 - Petty Officer Third Class, Senior Medical Specialist Candidate, Starfleet Medical
04 Nov 2366 - Petty Officer Second Class, Senior Medical Technician, USS Stadacona
23 May 2368 - Petty Officer Second Class, Senior Medical Technician, USS Guernica-B
08 Aug 2371 - Petty Officer First Class, Senior Medical Technician, USS Guernica-B
15 Oct 2373 - Petty Officer First Class, SAR (Medical) Candidate, Starfleet Medical
22 Dec 2373 - Petty Officer First Class, Senior Medical Technician, USS Manetheren-C
17 Jan 2376 - Petty Officer First Class, Intermediate Leadership Candidate, Starfleet Academy
19 Mar 2376 - Senior Chief Petty Officer, (Acting) Chief Medical Officer, Starbase Sierra
28 Jan 2378 - Petty Officer Third Class, Flight Specialist Candidate, Starfleet Academy
07 Mar 2378 - Petty Officer Second Class, Flight Operations, Starbase 238
18 May 2378 - Petty Officer Second Class, SAR (Flight) Candidate, Starfleet Academy
15 Aug 2378 - Petty Officer First Class, SAR (Flight) Specialist, Earth Spacedock
30 Sep 2378 - Chief Petty Officer, Basic Qualifications Instructor, Starfleet Academy
01 May 2380 - Ensign, Flight Control Officer, Front Ear Station

Birthdate: 12 Nov 2346
Birthplace: North Bay, ON, Canada
Marital Status & spouse name(s): Separated, Ashley Simms
Siblings Names and Ages: Brother - Samuel Black, Age 31 / Sister - Alice Black-Montclair, Age 22
Parents' Names: Father - Christian Black / Mother - Hannah Wilson-Black
Parents' Status: Alive
Other Important Relatives: Nazar Knox (Godfather)
Pets: None
Best Friend: Archie Parkins (Shipmate from USS Stadacona)
Personality

Department Preference: Flight Control
Commissioned, Enlisted or Civilian: Commissioned
Reason for joining Starfleet or moving to a Federation base:
Academy/Tech Majors and Interests: Basic Medical Specialist, Advanced Medical Specialist, Basic Flight Specialist, Search and Rescue Specialist (Medical and Flight), Primary and Intermediate Leadership (NCO). 
Hobbies: Hiking, skiing, recreational hunting, cooking, gardening. 
Short-term Goals: Not crash anything larger or more important than a shuttlecraft.
Long-term Goals: Developing his own micro-distillery to run after retirement.
Defining Characteristic: Will adventurously try anything once.
Sense of Humor: Fairly black humour, deadpan wittiness, and occasional casually inappropriate sarcasm. 
Phobias or Fears: Dislikes freefalling or near-drowning.
Favorite Things: Venison, rye whisky, Muskoka sunsets. 
Least Favorite Things: Mosquitoes, conspiracy theorists, avalanches.
Bad Habits or Vices: Tends to say what's on his mind unfiltered when heavily intoxicated. Can be short tempered when faced with immaturity or lack of discipline. 
Achievements (personal or professional): Awarded several commendations for his bravery and expertise. Though only a NCO, was assigned as the CMO of Starbase Sierra. Created a rye blend which sold fairly well in several crew lounges throughout his postings. Retroactively awarded a field commission due to his contributions during the war and on Starbase Sierra. 
Disappointments: Blames himself for the collapse of his marriage in part due to irreconcilable differences. 
Illnesses: Mild exertional asthma.
Strengths: Protective, patient, pragmatic, enjoys mentoring.
Weaknesses: Philistine, vindictive, can be overly blunt.
Prejudices: Hostile towards Cardassians, Breen, Vorta, and Changelings. 
Please write a brief answer to 3 of the following (a sentence or two for each is fine):

Your character's most painful experience:
 Having been away from USS Guernica when she was destroyed in the opening months of the Dominion War, along with most of her crew, and reading the names of his shipmates who were lost while he was safely back on Earth. 

Your character's best or favorite experience:
His first solo flight as a youth in an open-cockpit 'aeroplane' designed to emulate a vintage Earth design. 

Your character's most crucial experience:
The first time he was given leadership of a medical detachment on a ground offensive and having to make ethical life or death decisions while triaging wounded Starfleet and Dominion soldiers brought to his aid station. 

Who is your character's role model and why?:
The retired Starfleet officer who taught him how to fly as a teenager, and who enforced the mantra that it was okay to make mistakes, so long as you learnt to not repeat them, because you might not be so lucky the next time. 

Please write a brief sample post from your character’s perspective:

[Starfleet Academy Hangarbay: USS Piper]

Sitting quietly while waiting for the remaining passengers, Derek was milling in his own thoughts before a young woman took the spot next to him, instinctively glancing at the rank on her collar as she apologetically pulled on a seatbelt which he happened to be sitting on. Shifting forward until she had freed the errant strap, he gave her a slight smile in greeting. Though it wouldn't be a very long commute to the starship which would take them onwards to Front Ear Station, Derek would still rather a pleasant conversation instead of silence for several hours. And judging by their pilot closing the runabout's hatch, he'd have slim pickings to choose from. I wonder if she's going all the way to Kerelia. 

Truth be told, Derek could scarcely believe he was going himself. It was practically as far as one could go while still remaining inside Federation space, and just barely at that. He actually had to look it up as to where it was, double checking twice to make sure he'd gotten the location right. At warp 9, it'd take nearly two months of travel, and Derek had spent a few days debating if he should call in some favours instead, but decided to accept the posting. For Ashley, just the notion of him requesting a ship assignment had been the last straw. He couldn't blame her. After years of accompanying him on starship after starship, and then waiting on Earth during the war not knowing if he would return, she wanted stability and to settle down. Ashley deserved a home and a husband who worked 8 to 4, but he wasn't ready for that, and many tears had followed. After she left, Derek didn't have anything else to stay on Earth for. He'd made his bed, and now would have to lie in it, for better or for worse. A new base, new ship, new rank, and new challenges.

A few more years on the outer frontier, maybe that'll be enough. Maybe I'll be ready then.
Do you have previous experience with a role-play forum? A little bit.

What brought you to the Frontier? Reminiscing. 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us? Pineapple is delicious on pizza.