Commander Zasha Ikire
Name: Zasha Ikire (family name first)
Rank: Commander (just promoted)
Position: First Officer/Executive Officer,
U.S.S. Odyssey
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Place of birth: Bajor
Species: Bajoran
Education:
Bajoran Resistance (informal)
- Apprentice Saboteur
- Security System Bypass
Bajoran Military Academy
- Starship Engineering
- Energetic Physics
- Command and Control Systems
Starfleet Academy
- Field Physics
- Starship Tactics (minor)
Personality:
Like many Bajorans growing up under the Cardassian occupation, Ikire possesses an intensity and a focus on the pragmatic. Having originally been gripped with xenophobia and racial hatred, she overcame these after witnessing the aftermath of the decimation of Cardassia by the Dominion. While still a performance-focused person, she has now learned something of empathy and tolerance.
Most comfortable in a crisis, what she calls 'decisive' and 'realistic' others have called 'impulsive' and 'disruptive'. What had been considered acceptable in the desperation of the Bajoran Militia was often considered too daring in the hidebound compliance frameworks of the Federation. Too stubborn to change, Ikire adapted by embracing the unconventional approach.
In her downtime, she embraces highly energetic music, physical activity and competition. She disappears into the holodeck at times, and there's been a rumor of piano-playing that she can't quite quash. Less concealed is her enthusiasm for Bri'Tek's Boneyard Olympics, the popular vid-program where teams assemble small craft out of salvage and compete with them in different events to raise funds for charity. Having appeared on the show in season 2 'Starfleet Showdown' as a member of 'Teal Team Six', her aggressive risk-taking style earned her some admirers.
Biography:
After Ikire's childhood ended at age ten, when they executed her father, the young bajoran learned the power of anger. Fortunately, she fell in with a cell that taught her that anger had to be tempered with precision and competence. Screw it up, and innocents die. Or Cardassians do, which might feel good in the moment, but will inevitably draw reprisals … in which innocents die. At first, she worked mostly as a distraction, but as she learned her critical systems … soon she was participating in the sabotage herself. Not long after she was trusted to run missions on her own, the Cardassians just … left.
With purpose gone, there was little reason not to enroll in the initial class of the Bajoran Military Academy. There she learned the balance – how to keep things running, not just break them down. Like many of her compatriots, she specialized in high energy work. But while they mostly chose weapons and warp cores, Ikire embraced the protective and utility applications of deflectors, dampeners, transporters, tachyons and sensors. Graduating at the top of her class (apart from that annoying Velnas Lachin!), she was assigned to the emergency rescue vessel Talara, providing assistance to those who founder in Bajoran space. This task grew more challenging as war broke out between the Federation and the Dominion. What had formerly been responding to accidents caused by neglectful maintenance, and the occasional piracy, became urgent evacuations and critical repairs to starships full of holes. In these chaotic situations, Ikire and the Talara thrived.
Of course, things changed with the political situation. Neutrality was lost, and in the end, their Cardassian enemy caught the dire attention of their former Dominion allies. At first it felt like justice. Then maybe it was karma. But then, once you experience the scale of it, that fire of hatred gutters out and dies. How many civilians need to be slaughtered for the sins of their leaders? Their original captain had been a man of principle, but for the officer promoted to replace him … the answer was always 'More'. Ikire watched as the Talara began to undermine humanitarian efforts to help the shattered Cardassian people. And in the end, she had no choice but to expose them.
At first, this had seemed to be a career-shattering move. Anti-Cardassian sentiment ran high in the Bajoran Militia. But before long the organization was absorbed into Starfleet, and her actions were looked upon more favorably. Brought over at the provisional rank of Lieutenant Commander, but still reasonably young by Starfleet standards, she was sponsored for an accelerated program at Starfleet Academy in order to update her skills to Starfleet standards.
Once enrolled, Ikire departed from the path, pursuing command and science courses, avoiding the staid engineering instructors who were all about standards and regulations and code. A 'simulation junkie' who already had actual in-space experience, she aced the hands-on training. After using a novel approach involving using the sensors to emulate the signature of the deflector field, she was able to assist another student into nearly beating the Kobayashi Maru, which earned her a bit of reputation among those that had failed the sim.
Once graduating from the accelerated program, her provisional rank was confirmed, and she was assigned as Tactical Officer on board the newly commissioned Sovereign-class USS Agamemnon. She has been serving there until called back for a meeting regarding some new assignment.
Command Style:
Commander Zasha is a performance-focused leader, often using metrics to evaluate capabilities. However, she is not a harsh micromanager, largely trusting her people to do their jobs until proven they cannot, and then developing training and improvement plans to figure out how to get them to the point where they can. With the new crew, it is her intention to prioritize the implementation of training, mentoring and teamwork programs to get personnel performance up to - and, she hopes, well-above - par. She takes special care to check her instinct to meddle with the Tactical and Engineering departments. In absence of a crisis, anyhow.
With respect to the Captain, she is more of a stickler for being informed of important matters, but less restrictive than many other XOs about the Captain's presence on away missions. Especially diplomatic ones.
Sexuality: Straightish
Limits: Toilet stuff, underage
Appearance:
What she lacks in imposing physicality, Commander Zasha makes up for it in intensity. Short and blonde, those who judge on appearance are frequently deceived. While it is true that she doesn't have the raw musculature of many of the more martial members of command division, she is fit and with stamina. Silvery eyes border between blue and gray, and her hair is normally kept in a professional bun, though she is not above changing her style to appear younger or older, as appropriate, to lure a rival off balance.
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