Susan Rivers

Susan Rivers

Physical Description

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Brown

Height: 5' 10

Weight: 140 lbs

Blood Colour: Red

Skin Colour: Caucasian

Physical Description: Tall, stands very straight, habitually with hands clasped behind her back. Her hair is medium length, although she used to wear it long and pinned up. She has high cheekbones, a nose which is just too long for beauty, large eyes with long dark lashes. Her face shows both the Native American ancestry from her father's side and the Bajoran nose wrinkles from her mother. Her figure is neat and trim - she works out regularly and is always neatly turned out in uniform, though she can be more relaxed off-duty. She has a small scar (no more than 0.5 cm long) on her right temple, just above her eyebrow.

Family and Background

Her mother is Lei Janna, daughter of Kol Shakan and Lei Roma, two Bajoran resistance fighters who died when Janna was only 10 years old. Janna has been fighting her whole life - first to free Bajor, then to free New Terra and the other Maquis worlds. She now holds a senior liaison post between the Maquis and the Federation. As an ex-Starfleet pilot, Susan's late father Thomas Rivers had many skills to offer the Maquis and rose swiftly to a position of leadership.He and Janna moved from colony to colony, setting up resistance cells then moving on to prevent detection and capture. Their son, Marcus, was 10 years old when Susan was born, and so although she was sent to live with her father's sister Luisa on Earth when the Dominion invaded, he was allowed to stay with his parents. Even after the defeat of the Dominion, Susan remained with Luisa (an archaeology professor) while her parents continued the fight for self-determination. By the time the Peace Accord was signed in 2388 and she could have returned home, Susan was 11 years old and in secondary education. It was decided not to disrupt her life by returning her to New Terra. Susan was bitterly disappointed at this decision, and felt as though her family was rejecting her. To forget her unhappiness she threw herself into her studies and graduated top of her class. She went on to study archaeology, but soon realised that she wanted more from life than the study of dead civilisations. She considered applying to the Maquis fleet, but eventually decided that she would have no place there that was not created by her parents and brother for her. She felt that only within the diversity of Starfleet could she make a place that would be hers and hers alone. Her major problem is her constant clashes with authority, and her temper, both of which she is learning to keep under control. She doesn't suffer fools gladly and can be blunt to the point of rudeness, but can be intensely loyal where she feels it is deserved. Her respect, like her loyalty, has to be earned.

Education

Educated on Earth, in the care of her father's sister Luisa (a noted archaeologist), Susan's first degree was in archaeology. However, she soon decided that she wanted more out of life than following in her aunt's footsteps and studying dead civilisations, and after much thought (and a flaming row with her family) applied to and was accepted by Starfleet Academy.

Pre-Starfleet History

Susan was sent to Earth during the war and was brought up there by her father's sister Luisa. She chose to join Starfleet as opposed to the Maquis fleet, rather to her family's disapproval. She has a hot temper and can be assertive almost to the point of rudeness. She is painfully honest but during her Starfleet service has learnt to be tactful - sometimes! Her loyalty and respect once earned are absolute.

Starfleet History

Susan Rivers

Her three years at the Academy were notable for two things: her constant clashes with authority and her equally constant high marks in all her classes. She was on average in the top five students of her year each year, and graduated with honours. For three successive years she held the title for marksmanship, and has kept up her practice. She also gained high grades in hand-to-hand combat, with a distinction in unarmed combat. She has learned to control her temper on *most* occasions. She was first assigned to the USS Nimitz as OPS officer with the rank of Ensign(jg). On the Nimitz she progressed to the position of 2O and the rank of Lt(jg) before being transferred to the USS Spectre as FO, with a promotion to Lt Commander. She served as FO on the Spectre and later the USS Athene, being promoted to Commander, and was then transferred to the New Victory, the temporary home of the Nimitz crew, as FO. After serving as FO on the New Victory and later the Nimitz, she was promoted to Captain and given command of the USS Boudicca. After an attack in which she was severely injured, so seriously that the injuries could not be treated aboard ship, she was put into stasis and on their return to the nearest Starbase, invalided off the Boudicca. When she eventually recovered several months later, Susan was informed by SFHQ that command of the Boudicca had been given to her former FO, Sam Kaneshiro, and that she was to await a new assignment. In the meantime, once certified fit to return to duty, she was given a desk job at SFHQ, reviewing OPS procedures. Never one to accept inactivity gracefully, Susan became increasingly bored and frustrated kicking her heels at SFHQ. Knowing that Sam fully deserved the command, and being glad that the Boudicca was in safe hands, nevertheless did not make things easier for her. Eventually her frustration boiled over into a furious row with Admiral P'Zaan over his refusal yet again to consider her for a return to active service, and at the disciplinary hearing which followed she was reduced in rank from Captain to Commander. Susan was beginning to seriously consider an offer from her brother to leave Starfleet and return to the Maquis, when Admiral Kriller ordered her to join him on board the USS Firebrande. Once aboard and underway, he informed her that they were travelling to rendezvous with the USS Nimitz, and that she was to be given command of her. On leaving the Nimitz she was transferred to Admiral Ohlsson's staff. Further information remains classifed until further notice. A recent court-martial for gross insubordination resulted in a reduction of her rank from Captain to Lt(jg). Now assigned to USS Boudicca as TAC/ASC

Medical History

Numerous appearances in Sickbay due to injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Awards

Squadron Commander Commendation: Awarded to the entire crew of the Nimitz by Admiral Andrews of Vanguard Squadron, for their courageous actions against the Cardassians 2404

Squadron Commander Commendation: For remarkable courage and devotion to duty under the most difficult circumstances during the attempted Romulan invasion of the Nimitz 2405

                             Susan Rivers is played by Liz Geuken.