Alexander Beckett

Doctor Alexander Beckett is a brilliant scientist, and an expert in space, Astrophysics, and Stellar Cartography, as well as Engineering, computer systems, and various other intellectual disciplines. Unfortunately he is accutely aware of his own abilities, and tends to spend a lot of time attempting to assert his intellectual superiority.

Officially, he currently serves as the Chief of Stellar Cartography at Starbase 326, supervising a team that catalogues the data transmitted by Starfleet's explorers in the Hurucan Sector ready for input into the Starfleet central database. However, since the reassignment of the Chief Engineer of the USS Cambrian, Beckett has been filling the role in an "Acting" capacity.

[edit] BACKGROUND

The eldest of two children born to a Mathematics Professor, Xander grew up in his father's shadow. His parents divorced when he was young, and he and his sister Elizabeth were separated for much of their childhood. Xander remained with his father, who urged him to follow in his footsteps, pushing him into university in the hopes that he too would become an academic. Ultimately he achieved his PhD, but rather than remain in the field to follow his father into Professorship, he opted to join Starfleet.

Breaking away from pure mathematics, Beckett trained as a Science Officer, specialising in astrophysics and stellar cartography, and graduating top of his class. He joined the crew of the Galaxy-class USS Atlantis a year after she launched, and quickly found himself in a rivalry with Katerina Voronkova as the two contested for the post of Assistant Chief of the Science department. Beckett ultimately won, but only because Voronkova was offered a more prestigious appointment with Starfleet Research & Development.

During the lead-up to the Dominion War, Beckett's role brought him in close cooperation with the Engineering department. As the conflict began the Chief Engineer was tragically killed, and Beckett was made his temporary replacement. Despite his abrasive leadership style, he proved to be an especially efficient Chief, and the appointment was made permanent.

A few years after the war he was offered a position with R&D at Starbase 51, leading a development team. Voronkova was later appointed to another team and their rivalry was rekindled, ending only when Beckett returned to the Engineering field as the Senior Engineer during the last two years of construction on the new Galaxy-class USS Athena. He followed the ship on it's shakedown cruise, and briefly served as Chief Engineer and later Executive Officer, before returning to Utopia Planetia to supervise the construction of a second ship.

Strangely, Beckett's appointment on that second ship was at the request of the Supervising Officer: Voronkova. He remained aboard when the ship - the USS Cambrian - was launched on her shakedown cruise, and joined Voronkova as her First Officer when she temporarily took command of the USS Orion during it's assignment as a patrol ship in the Hurucan Sector. He remained aboard until the ship was reassigned to another sector of operation, at which point he took up a post as the Chief of Stellar Cartography on Starbase 326, coordinating the mapping of the Hurucan Sector.

After aiding in extensive repairs of the USS Cambrian, he was asked to remain aboard as Chief Engineer. He agreed grudgingly, but insisted that it was only on an Acting basis, as a temporary measure until the Captain could select an appropriate permanent replacement.

[edit] STARFLEET SERVICE RECORD

2364 - 2365	General Studies Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2365 - 2366	Science Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2366 - 2367	Science Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2367 - 2368	Science Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2368 - 2370	Science Officer	USS Atlantis (NCC-73741)
2370 - 2373	Assistant Chief Science Officer	USS Atlantis (NCC-73741)
2373 - 2374	Chief Engineer (Acting)	USS Atlantis (NCC-73741)
2374 - 2377	Chief Engineering Officer	USS Atlantis (NCC-73741)
2377 - 2381	Science Officer	Starfleet R&D, Starbase 51
2381	Astrophysics Specialist	Outpost G-12 (Lacrim Nor)
2381 - 2383	Supervising Officer, Engineering	Unnamed Galaxy-class (NCC-80353)
2383	Chief Engineering Officer	USS Athena (NCC-80353)
2383	Executive Officer (Acting)	USS Athena (NCC-80353)
2383 - 2384	Supervising Officer, Engineering	Unnamed Nebula-class (NCC-74986-A)
2384	Supervising Engineer	USS Cambrian (NCC-74986-A)
2384 - 2385	First Officer / Science Officer	USS Orion (NCC-76303)
2385 - 2386	Chief of Stellar Cartography	Starbase 326
2386 -	'Acting' Chief Engineer	USS Cambrian (NCC-74986-A)