Captain Samuel Reynolds

Character Information

Gender		Male
Species		Human
Age		43

Physical Appearance

Height		5'10"
Weight		195 Lbs
Hair Color		Brown
Eye Color		Hazel
Physical Description		Sam is of slightly above average height, and average build (though it has been declining due to his cushy Academy post). He has inquisitive hazel eyes, an easy smile, spiky brown hair, and a kind face. He has scars from his service in the Dominion War, though they have long since faded.

Family

Father		Marine Captain Malcolm Reynolds (deceased)
Mother		Maria Reynolds

Personality & Traits

General Overview		Sam is a highly intelligent counselor and commander. Obsessed with the need to learn, he strives to understand the people and the world around him. Every person is an onion to peel away and expose, every situation a puzzle to solve. This attention to detail and insightful serves him well, though to some he may appear lackadaisical. Everyone sees a bit of a different side of Sam; it is what helps him connect and interface with them. Plus, he prefers it that way. However, behind the soft eyes and the easy smile, there’s a brain always analyzing and calculating.
Strengths & Weaknesses		+Perceptive & inquisitive +Empathetic +Sharp-witted +Confident and experienced +Flexible and adaptable -Loyal to a fault -Violence is a last-resort -Thoughts and emotions can override logic -Stubborn -Always playing devil’s advocate -Easily irritated
Ambitions		Sam’s ambitions have changed throughout his career. They began as simple wanderlust, of seeing the galaxy and helping them understand themselves, as he understood them. As the Dominion War ended, it expanded to leading his crewmates, solving the problems that the war had created. After the destruction of the Cleveland, it was to escape. Then it was to teach. And now…Sam’s not quite sure. But he’s always followed his instincts, and something’s leading him to the Ascension.
Hobbies & Interests		In his time off-duty, he can often be found in the common areas, often chatting it up with colleagues, people-watching, or catching up on the most recent Counseling Journals. He also enjoys cooking, listening to music, and training up on the meditation techniques of other cultures.

Personal History		Samuel Reynolds was born to Maria Reynolds, a schoolteacher, and Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds, a dedicated Marine, in 2346 during a shore leave on Earth. His father, an enlisted man turned “mustang”, was stationed all over the Cardassian border during the war, which forced Sam and his mother to relocate throughout his childhood. On the one hand, this prevented Sam from forming close relationships with many people. On the other hand, this forced Sam to learn how to read people quickly, and assimilate into a new culture. This thirst for knowledge, in addition to his mother’s coaching, stayed with him throughout his life, even after his father lost his life during a skirmish. The melting pot of cultures on the border helped Sam stave off the resentment and hatred that many of his fellow Federation citizens felt. Sam entered the Academy with aggression, wanted to absorb and understand everything he got his hands on. He double-majored in counseling and psychology, and threw in a tactical minor in small group tactics for kicks and giggles. Though he graduated only third in his class, his enthusiasm allowed him a large range of first assignments. He chose the frontier, hoping to explore and understand as many new experiences as he could. He jumped from ship to ship, going where he felt his talents were best served. His longest tenure was on the USS Monitor, where he served throughout the Dominion War. In one particularly harrowing experience, he was serving on the bridge during the Tyra offensive, and was forced to take over Tactical after several consoles exploded. Sam, along with the helmsman, managed to hold off the Jem’Hadar long enough for the Monitor to limp away, being one of the 14 surviving ships of the Seventh Fleet…out of 112. However, the fire was sparked. Sam had a chance to lead, and didn’t want that spark to go away. Plus, what better way to rebuild after the Dominion War than leading by example? His next assignments allowed him to do just that. It culminated in a personal recruitment for XO of the Cleveland. Sam was beyond the moon. It was his dream assignment. However, all dreams end. Or in this case, a rogue freighter detonated several tons of high explosive too close to his ship while he was in command, crippling it, killing hundreds, and forcing them to abandon ship. That hurt. Though cleared of wrongdoing, Sam took a leave of absence to clear his head and refocus. He rejoined Starfleet as an Academy instructor, deciding that the best thing he could do was to teach the next generation. And he was very happy doing so. That is, until rumor of a new training ship began to float around the academy. That spark was reignited. And so Sam, before he knew what he was doing, was submitting his personnel file for transfer…
Service Record		2364-2368 Starfleet Academy (Majors: Clinical Counseling & Psychology Minor: Small Group Tactics) 2368-2369 Junior Counselor USS Lansing 2369-2371 Junior Counselor, USS Hood 2371-2373 Chief Counselor, USS Berlin 2373-2374 Chief Counselor, USS Monitor 2374 Acting Tactical Officer, USS Monitor 2374 Bridge Officer’s Test Passed 2374-2376 Chief Counselor/Tactical Officer, USS Monitor 2376-2378 Chief Counselor/Second Officer, USS Leeds 2378-2379 Chief Counselor/Second Officer, USS Exeter 2379-2383 Executive Officer, USS Cleveland 2383-2385 Leave of Absense 2385-2389 Instructor of Counseling/Psychology, Starfleet Academy 2389 Executive Officer, USS Ascension 2389- Commanding Officer, USS Ascension