Roland Locke

Roland Locke was the Commanding Officer assigned to the Arctiruan Station in 2295. Roland and his station would play a key role as the station would become a hub for activity and the home base of the USS Augustus.

Early Life
Roland Locke was born on August 5th in Nebraska City, Nebraska, a small town. From a young age, he was gifted with tinkering with technology and had a keen interest in technology. Like many kids in his school, he wanted to be a Union officer and go into space to meet a whole bunch of strange life forms.

He did well enough in school, though he never stood out in terms of grades of achievements. Instead, he tended to be more of a dreamer, usually dreaming of space.

In high school, he earned a scholarship to the prestigious New Tycho University on Luna by entering a science fair competition. His project caught the eye of a Starfleet recruiter who offered him a full scholarship if he signed up to join the Starfleet after going to University. This being his dream he agreed.

Saugn University
At New tycho University Roland did well, again, not so well that he stood out from the rest of the class. Roland always had the issue that he would drift into his own world, only really standing out when he chose to do so, when he wanted to.

He did not engage in the level of partying and frat related activities New Tycho University was known for, instead focusing on his passions such as mathematics and engineering.

Starfleet Academy
After University he made good and did join Starfleet Academy, quickly joining their engineering program. As always he did not stand out, preferring to remain in the background of the group. He would stand out any time he would actually put his full effort into any project. Once more he tended to avoid having much of a social life. He was more focused on his own pet projects and keeping his head down.

It was not until the last year he was at the Academy that he was involved in a shuttle accident where he saved an expedition of cadets by performing emergency engine repairs, while the engine was still in operation. The act earned him a commendation for Bravery.

USS Egress
After leaving Starfleet Academy, Roland was stationed on the USS Egress as a member of the engineering team. At last in his element, he was able to thrive. For a number of years he worked with the team there, eventually being bumped up the command ladder to the Assistant Chief Engineering spot.

Things went well until there was an attack. Engineering was flooded with noxious flammable gas and the Chief Engineer was killed in an initial explosion. With no time Roland took command and began to evacuate the engineering department. He made several trips in and out of the Department to get as many people as he could out but when the department proved too hazardous to go back into he sealed the doors.

His courage earned him the Starfleet Medal of Valor and a drinking problem. Also, because of his fine leadership of the emergency, he was offered a position in command. He accepted.

Starfleet Academy, again
Returning to Starfleet with PTSD and a drinking problem was likely not the best plan, but it was what Roland did. This time around he engaged in far more disorderly behavior and his once untarnished record fell.

It wound up taking him two years to complete the one-year command program, but the Starfleetwas not ready to give up on him.

USS Plateau
After leaving Starfleet Academy again Roland was transferred to the USS Plateau, a transport vessel, to act as the new executive officer. It was hoped that a nice quiet shift would help him get his act together and in a number of ways it did.

He found command a thrilling challenge. While he had always been interested in the mechanical side of things, but there was a certain degree of interest in watching how people would react and thrive when put in the right place. Roland made it a point to try and get his people into the right position for them, even if it meant some of them left his ship.

Before long he began to get a reputation as a damn fine executive officer and later a commanding officer. The USS Plateau, which he would take command of when his commanding officer retired, proved to be a stepping stone for a number of talented individuals while he was in command of it.

PERSONALITY PROFILE
After being forced to leave part of the engineering team he was on inside a dangerous area to prevent the ship being flooded with noxious flammable fumes, Roland has taken up drinking. Though plagued with survivors guilt he knows he did the right thing and has been told so by those in authority, yet he still has his doubts. While he has managed to keep his drinking mostly controlled, it has, on occasion, gotten him into trouble. He has thus far refused to seek professional counseling for this, insisting that he does not have a problem.

Roland is absolutely dedicated to his crew, though his sense of duty will override his sense of loyalty to them if the situation calls for it. This has caused him to acquire a somewhat abrasive personality. He is loyal to the ideals of the Union and what it stands for, believing in it more than anything else.

Roland was raised Catholic, though in his recent years he has fallen out of the faith. He would still claim to be one if pressed, but he does not speak of it often and practices the faith even less often.

PHYSICAL PROFILE
Though not overly tall Roland was quite sturdy in build. His once dark brown hair went all but gone completely grey, with only the sides showing evidence of their original colour. When he was much younger his eyes seemed a much brighter green, but as he got older the green got lighter, leading to them being a pale green. He kept himself physically fit, though as his drinking problem grew so did his apathy toward self-maintenance. Yet still, he would put forward the attempt to appear well kept, in a fresh uniform and clean shaven, even if he was not at the top of his game he did his best to make it look like he was.