Steve Newton

**Steve Newton** was a Human Lieutenant Commander, space station engineer, and former Chief Engineer of the USS *Orville*.

Steve served aboard the Orville as chief engineer under a previous captain before the arrival of Ed Mercer. He transferred off the Orville in April 2420 for the chance to design a new space station.

In an alternate timeline where Pria Lavesque never rescued the Orville, Steve was killed alongside the rest of the ship's crew in a dark matter storm.

In an alternate timeline where Ed never became captain of the USS *Orville*, Steve never left the Orville and was promoted to First Officer. He died in the Battle of Earth in February 2421.

## Life

Fragments of information about Steve Newton's early life are known. The only identified family member is an unnamed uncle.

Most of Steve's recollections of early life are marked by drinking. By eighth grade, he drank his first beer.

Steve attended a camp with Harrison Payne, and the two became friends. Payne saved his life by performing the Heimlich maneuver when he choked on a wine cork. Years later, both would work side-by-side on board the Orville.

### Career

Steve later enrolled in, and graduated from, Union Point. He joined the Planetary Union as a Science Officer gradually rose in rank until reaching the position of chief engineer.

Prior to 2419, Steve worked as chief engineer aboard the USS *Orville* under a different captain, a position he continued under Captain Mercer. He worked in the Engineering section, where he:

* Repaired damage to Engineering incurred by a Calivon buoy that self-destructed,
* Figured out how to penetrate equipment from the 29th century that had commandeered the Orville's computer, and
* Updated the ship's navigational array.

In November 2419, Steve worked with Doctor Claire Finn in an attempt to save the life of Science and Engineering Officer Isaac. The pair were unsuccessful, but fortunately Isaac had predicted his own death and transferred his Kaylon mind to the ship's computer.

Steve's longtime friend Harrison Payne died from damage incurred from a plasma storm in March 2420. The Chief Engineer delivered his eulogy in the Shuttle Bay.

In April 2420, Steve left the ship for a position designing a space station.

## Alternate timeline

### *Pria* timeline

In the original timeline where Pria Lavesque did not rescue the Orville, Steve and the rest of the crew died in a dark matter storm in late 2419.

### *The Road Not Taken* timeline

In an alternate timeline where Ed Mercer never became captain of the Orville, Griffith took command of the ship in September 2419. Steve was simultaneously promoted to serve as his First Officer. Steve served in the Battle of Epsilon 2 and saw the early retirement of Chief Security Officer Alara Kitan in September 2420. In January 2421, the Orville took Isaac - who had deactivated - to his people on Kaylon 1. The Kaylon commandeered the ship. Steve died in the ensuing Battle of Earth in February.

## Personality

Steve Newton was a free-wheeling, easygoing individual who loved company and drinking. He drank his first beer around age 13 and joked about being able to drink on the job to Captain Mercer and Kelly Grayson. In fact, his humor often verged upon inappropriate. Ed introduced him to Pria Lavesque by saying, "Steve, this is Captain Lavesque," to which Steve quipped, "And then some." Although still joking, he later recognized that his joke may have harassed her.

Steve was suspicious of younger leaders, especially Chief of Security Alara Kitan. When Alara was made acting commander in early October, 2419, he challenged her decisions and called her "kid," and she politely chastised him.

Despite Steve's foibles, he was a talented creative mind whose abilities were eventually noticed by the Union, which led to his exciting transfer to a space station.

## Production

"Chief Engineer Jim" costume sketch"Chief Engineer Jim" costume sketch
## Trivia

* Steve loved the music of Barry Manilow.
* His uncle gave Steve an antique diamond-tipped drill as a graduation present from Union Point.

## Appearances

* *Episode 1x02: Command Performance*
* *Episode 1x03: About a Girl* (uncredited)
* *Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear*
* *Episode 1x05: Pria*
* *Episode 1x08: Into the Fold*
* *Episode 1x10: Firestorm*
* *Episode 1x11: New Dimensions*
* *Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken* (mentioned only)
* *Digressions, Pt. 1*

## Notes

1. ↑ Steve references graduating in Episode 1x05: Pria.
2. ↑ Steve Newton suggests using a drill to bore a hole into a device belonging to Pria Lavesque. Episode 1x05: Pria
3. ↑ Steve: "Uh-oh, calling HR." Episode 1x05: Pria

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1x01: Old Wounds
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Episode 1x05: Pria
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Digressions, Pt. 1
4. ↑ Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Episode 1x10: Firestorm
6. ↑ Episode 1x02: Command Performance
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Episode 8: Into the Fold
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Episode 1x11: New Dimensions
9. ↑ Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken
10. ↑ Episode 1x02: Command Performance