Helen Baker
- Name: Baker, Helen J.
- Rank: Lieutenant
- Born: 2358
- Origin: Human
- Place of Birth: Devonshire, England, Earth
- Assignment: Assistant Chief Medical Officer, USS Medea NCC-81901
- Previous Assignments: Medical Officer, USS Gryphon NCC- 678445; Medical Officer, Starbase 12; Medical Officer; USS Fearless NCC-58773
- Academy Class: 2382 (Starfleet Medical Academy)
- Class Ranking: 124th of 894 Graduates
- Achievements: Gold Palm with Cluster (2385); Citation for Excellence in Space Medicine (2385)
- Family: Father, David Baker; Mother, Lieutenant Commander Christina Baker (ret.)
- Interests: Ancient Greek Myths, Paleontology, Exobiology
History[edit]
Helen grew up splitting her time between starships, starbases and her home town of Devonshire, England. The only child of David and Christina baker, she was accustomed to success and parental support from an early age.
Her mother was a Starfleet operations officer, and her father was a Medical Doctor in Devonshire. Because of a divorce, between her parents at an early age, Helen, found herself spending alternate years with each parent. And experience which broadened her education, while instilling in her a sense of wanderlust.
After completeing her standard education, Helen decided to pursue medicine, since she had developed an interest in that branch of science as a result of her father's work.
In 2376, Helen applied to and was accepted to Starfleet Medical Academy. For the next six years she completely immersed herself in medical studies, and developed a keen interest in paleontology as well as exobiology.
She graduated from the academy in 2382, in the top quarter of her class.
That same year she was assigned to the USS Fearless NCC-58773, where she served as a junior medical oficer. She excelled there during her two years of residency, broadening her horizons to include microbiology and viral studies.
At the end of her residency, she was offered the opportunity to study advanced exobiology and Medical science theory while practicing at Starbase 12, located along the Cardassian-Federation border. She jumped at the chance and was soon absorbing all available information on the subjects available to her.
In 2385 when an unidentified virus ran through the station incapacitating many of the station's personnel, Helen worked furiously, despite her own illness, to develop a cure. Her efforts saved hundreds of lives, and as a result she was awarded the Gold Palm with Cluster and the Citation for Excellence in Space Medicine. The disease was a viral mutation of the dreaded Rigelian fever, which would prove to be a recurring issue for her throughout her life.
In 2386 she transferred to the USS Gryphon NCC- 678445, so that she could participate in a unique scientific study of a newly discovered vacuum-borne virus dubbed Gryphon-283. She remained aboard the Gryphon, studying the virus for nearly three years, during which time she was promoted to Lieutenant junior grade.
In 2389, she was offered the position of Assistant Chief medical Officer aboard the USS Medea which was preparing to undertake a five year exporatory mission of a distant portion of the Beta Quadrant. Not one to turn down a chance at exploration, she agreed and transferred aboard. her transfer included a promoation to full lieutenant.
In 2393, the USS Medea was exploring an uncharted section of the Beta Quadrant and disappeared. After months of searching, the Medea was declared lost with all hands.
The Irlixian Mission[edit]
That however was only the beginning. The Medea had instead detected the presence of a pre-warp society on the planet Irlix. They moved to investigate and to conduct cultural surveys of the planet, in anticipation of a future first contact between the Irlixians and the United Federation of Planets.
Helen was selected to participate in the away team mission and was sent planet side along with other members of the away team which included Lieutenant Ono Nakamura. The away team members had all been cosmetically disguised to appear as Irlixian natives.
During their mission however, some unknown tragedy struck the Medea and it crashed into the surface of the planet killing the crew aboard her.
For three years, the Away team maintained a low profile in keeping with the premise of the Prime Directive. This was despite the fact that the crash of the Medea had sparked a world war over her technology. Helen spent those years learning Irlixian medical techniques.
All was not well, however. Despite the war, or perhaps because of it, Lieutenant Ono Nakamura, finally gave in and interceded into the war effort with the Gab Union. This was in direct violation of the Prime Directive.
As Ono slipped farther into his alternate persona of Khoda Rhone, Helen began to worry for her own safety.
When, in 2394, Ono finally made a play for power (as Khoda Rhone) the other remaining members of the away team, with the exception of Helen Baker, attempted to assassinate him in an attempt to restore a semblance of balance to the irlixian culture.
They failed.
Ono, in his anger, ordered them rounded up. Eventually they were all tortured and killed during an escape attempt, with the exception of Lieutenant Baker, who was allowed to live unmolested in the top secret Seliya Facility, where she befriended Sola Malinae. However in 2395, Helen suffered from a relapse of Rigelian fever, and succumbed to the disease when Ryetalyn could not be synthesized to keep it in check. Before her death, Helen had been cosmetically reverted back to her human form during her stay at Seliya.
Helen Baker was first seen in the USS Rosenante mission: The Gilded Man
