Iron Forge

Lt. Cmdr. Iron Forge is the Chief Engineer on the USS Odyssey.
== Background ==
Iron Forge was born among aliens in 2387, even on its homeworld, as both its parents worked as liaisons of various kinds to the Federation. Its parents Forge Ebony and Great Iron were the administrator of the Federation Consulate to the Northern Islands of The Roving and an ambassador to the Federation at the Central Embassy respectively. They both expected Iron Forge to follow them into diplomacy, but it was more technically minded, and had a habit of speaking its mind, which the First Breed had quickly learned not to do in interspecies diplomacy.
In its early life it was a research engineer in the Roving Spacecraft Research and Development Program, but when in 2404 as part of a cultural exchange program a few places in Starfleet Academy were opened to the First Breed, Iron Forge applied immediately, as this was a chance to work with much more advanced technology and with unfamiliar people. It passed the entrance requirements despite its somewhat lacking education relative to Federation citizens, and while it experienced severe culture shock upon leaving The Roving for the Academy, it overcame this, finding friends who could see past its appearance and help instructors and senior cadets to do the same.
There was an unfortunate incident in its third year wherein Iron Forge, stationed on Federation Colony Tau-4 for field training, was attacked by human antigeneticists who believed that its status as a member of a species created through genetic engineering made its mere existence a crime. Following recovery in the colony hospital and a long inquiry, it returned to finish its studies at the Academy, before graduating a year late and being posted aboard the ancient, outdated Excelsior-class USS Chancellor as an Ensign of Engineering straight into the ongoing Federation-Klingon War, where it served on the front lines without particular distinction (at least as far as such is possible in war) until in late 2409, only a few months after Iron Forge graduated, the ship was disabled and returned to Starbase 223 for repair. While serving aboard the station and assisting with the Chancellor’s repairs, Iron Forge was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, largely due to time served. When the ship had completed its repairs, it was sent back out to the front, where its ship continued to patrol the front lines as part of the Sixty-Third Fleet, C Battlegroup. When the war ended in 2410 following the 8472 attack on ESD and Q’onoS, the Chancellor was sent back to spacedock for yet another refit. Iron Forge applied for a transfer, as spending its time sitting in spacedock repairing and uprating a near derelict wasn’t really what it signed up for, but the request was, while accepted, still being processed when all Starfleet vessels were scrambled to fight in the brief but devastating Iconian War. The Chancellor was destroyed in the Battle of Sol, the final military engagement of the War, and when a week later the Armistice was declared, Iron Forge was hoping to finally get its transfer, to finally be able to see the sights of the galaxy.
This hope was shattered, however, when the Chancellor’s sister ship, thought lost, was found with its entire crew missing, and its internal chronometer reading only 2 months after the ship was declared lost. No-one ever figured out what happened to the Adjudicator, but it was in near-perfect condition. The ship was salvaged, rechristened the Chancellor though still with its original registry as Adjudicator, and the survivors of the old crew reassigned. At last, Iron Forge was able to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life, etc.
Two years later, Iron Forge was transferred to the USS Odyssey, being stationed there as the First Assistant Engineer. At first it didn’t want to leave the Chancellor, but when it had a chance to see the Odyssey, it immediately changed its mind. 
== Appearance ==
Iron Forge looks like a Siberian Husky to the untrained eye, except for its graspers, and those are only visible when extended. Its appearance is rather distinctive compared to the majority-humanoid Starfleet; see First Breed species file for details.
== Personality ==
Iron Forge lives to serve Starfleet; most First Breed live to serve some organisation or other, as they were designed to be happy as slaves. It is congenial, but doesn't properly understand the social mores of other cultures - it always speaks its mind, and so often comes across as brash and rude. It is dedicated to its work, to the extent that you'll need a tractor beam or a direct order to take it off duty while it's on shift.
Iron Forge is more technically minded than the average First Breed; it loves to make things work, and to make them work better. Outside of its work as a Starfleet Officer, it enjoys learning about other cultures and receiving and telling stories of different worlds. It has a hobby as a holoprogrammer, but its works are not generally appreciated outside the First Breed.
Iron Forge believes that the Roving should join the Federation, and so wants to do everything it can to ensure there are no factors that would prevent this. It also believes strongly in the rights of the individual, since its ancestors were enslaved.
Iron Forge is very close to its parents and siblings, and still keeps in contact with them. There aren't many other people with whom it shares a bond, especially as both of its close friends at the Academy were killed during the Iconian War.
Iron Forge always has trouble talking to those who are not First Breed, due to the difference in their cultures. It often comes across as too eager to please, because it is.
Category:Characters
Category:Odyssey Crew
Category:Engineering
Category:Lieutenant Commander
Category:First Breed
Category:Genderless
Category:Department Head
Category:Senior Staff
Category:Junior Officer
Category:Albert Newton