Post by Scribe on Jul 25, 2009 18:06:53 GMT -5
Character Name: Thomas Ian Merrick
Height: 5'11
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Any other distinguishing marks: MACO tatoo on his right shoulder.
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Place of Birth: Alpha Centauri
Race/ Species: Human
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MILITARY BACKGROUND
Rank: Lt. Colonel
Position: Commanding Officer of the Gaian MACOs
Assignment: New Earth Colony, Gaia
Department: Starfleet Security
Qualifications:
* Camouflage
* Demolitions
* Elec. Ops.: Communications
* Guns: Infantry Anti-Vehicle
* Interrogation
* Leadership
* Pilot: Shuttlecraft
* Reconnaissance
* Small Weapons Combat
* Survival: Asteroid/Moons - Class I
* Survival: Adaptable Planets - Class K
* Survival: Terrestrial Planets - Class M
* Tactics: Small Units
* Unarmed Combat (or Anbo-Jytsu)
Languages: English, Vulcan and some Andorian
Previous Assignments: Europa Colony, SS Bonaventure, SS, Rutherford, NX01 Enterprise
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Background:
Thomas Merrick or simply Merrick as he prefers to be known were born to parents Marion and Jonas Merrick who left their native England to travel to Alpha Centauri to start a new life. Both were too filled with dreams to appreciate the difficulties of colony life and upon arriving found streets not paved with gold and opportunity but a fledgling community where luxury was minimal. Unfortunately, they had gambled all their savings to get to reach colony and when they found that it was not what they anticipated, did not have enough to leave again. His father soon descended into drunkenness by the time and soon began abusing his wife. After years of battery, her escape was to have a child, unaware that she was another victim to the Merrick household. By the time he was in his teens, his mother worn by years of battery had lapsed into indifference and Thomas learnt to fend for himself and spent his youth on the streets getting into trouble.
If it were not for a recruiter as his school shortly before he turned eighteen, Merrick would have most likely embarked on a life of crime. Impressed by the recruiters description of life as a member of Earth's Marine Corp, Merrick decided to join their ranks and was promptly transferred to Earth for his training. Although he tried to keep in touch with his family, his father died shortly after of liver failure and his mother's interest was only obligatory. His first assignment was a post on the Europa colony where he distinguished himself enough to be made a corporal although from the onset, he had difficulties with authority. He lost his corporal stripes witihin two months for insubordination.
When the Xindi launched their first assault against Earth, Merrick was quick to volunteer for duty in the MACO's and despite his record, had earned his CO's confidence enough to recommend it. He was transferred to the MACO's and forced to undergo their punishing training regimen. Completing the training with flying colours, Merrick finished just in time to for news to reach Earth that the Xindi super weapon was on its way. He was transferred to SS Bonaventure and spent the next two years there, witnessing the destruction of Earth and later the colonies.
During his tour of the Bonaventure, the ship was attacked by Xindi and the resulting damage set alight plasma fires throughout the ship. In an effort to reach a group of engineers including Scarpie, a girl with whom he had a casual relationship, Merrick discovered them burning alive in a plasma inferno. Unable to reach them due to emergency containment, Tom did they only thing he could, he blew out the escape hatch and ended their agony humanely. For this action, Merrick was given a field promotion by Colonel Walt Simonson who was later killed in a Xindi engagement. It was promotion he did not want and the guilt of what he had done would plague him for years to come and drive him to find sollace in a bottle.
For the years to it took for the remnants of the human race to reach Ceti Alpha Five, Merrick lead what was left of his team on the Bonaventure. During this time, he took under his wing a somewhat troublesome lance corporal named Derick Rickman whose history with an alcoholic father struck a code with Tom's own troubled upbringing. The two became fast friends.
He was a 2nd Lieutenant when the convoy arrived on Gaia and with the rest of the MACO forces, helped to build the colony in its early years. Promoted to Lieutenant following his service in the construction of the New Earth and the new MACO training facility, Merrick spent six years training new MACO's from the devastated population of humanity's survivors. When he was assigned to the NX01 Enterprise, he was promoted to Captain. From the onset, Merrick's unorthodox manner clashed often with his commanding officer Colonel Hayes and a difference opinion fueled by Merrick's growing alcholism, led him to strike Hayes in a physical assault. Although Hayes attempted to downplay the incident, he could not ignore Merrick's insurbordination and ordered that he be transferred to Gaia to be placed on suspended duty for six weeks with a stern warning to dry out.
Grateful that he still had a career, Merrick took the advice and made an effort to deal with his problem. However, when he returned to active duty, he found Hayes unwilling to reinstate him on the Enterprise and had instead placed him in charge of training new recruits again at the MACO Facility as well as protecting the New Earth Colony from its enemies.
In 2265, Tom met Alexandra Styles, the head of Starfleet Security. Although Alex's by the book manner was galling, the sparks they generated soon became something deeper and very soon, Tom moved in with Alex. Their relationship was passionate and six months later, they were married. It was shortly after the birth of their daughter Juliet Alexandra Merrick called Lexie for short that the threat of the Expanse reached the rest of the galaxy and Gaia was expected to lead the charge to defeat the Xindi once and for all. With Alex's former secretary Meda, taking on duties as nanny, Tom and Alex were deployed to fight with Alex taking command of the NX-03 Saratoga.
During the Battle of Azati Prime, the Saratoga along with 35 other ships of the Alliance (comprising of Romulans, Betazed, Vulcan, Gaian, Tellerite, Andorian, Cardassian, Bajoran and what remained of the Ferengi) was destroyed. There were no survivors. Despite the desire to return to relapse into alcoholism again, Tom refrained for the sake of his daughter.
Facing life as a widower, Tom is uncertain if he ever wishes to be married again. Alex is a tough act to follow.
Psychological profile:
Merrick is a man hardened by life. He has a big chip on his shoulder and pretends not to take too much to heart even when it does. Although he despises authority, is not above using it to get what he wants. He's a natural leader but has a streak of ruthlessness in him which can be difficult on those he serves with. He does not like to talk about his past and has no fond memories of his family. It is part of the reason why becoming a father and worse yet, screwing it up terrifies him so much. Of course, the birth of his daughter has ended all that because Tom has realised that his demons would have to take a back seat because he was Lexie's father now.