Nashaan Tariq

## Early Life

Nashaan Tariq was born to enlisted Starfleet pilot Ynshara Tariq aboard Starbase 157 on Stardate 23717. Lieutenant Tariq's father, Sharrod-Zur, is a freighter captain affiliated with the Orion Trade Union as a free trader. Lieutenant Tariq has had relatively little contact with his father throughout his life, and has no involvement with Sharrod-Zur's business interests or his suspected ties to the Orion Syndicate. Tariq was raised by his mother, mostly on Federation starbases and planetary installations throughout the Alpha Quadrant. When his mother's postings didn't permit children, he resided with his grandparents on Ganadon VI, an Orion colony world that joined the Federation in the early 24th century. Consequently, Lieutenant Tariq grew up immersed in both traditional Orion culture and the broader mainstream of the Federation.

## Starfleet Academy

Tariq pursued admission to Starfleet Academy from a very early age, establishing a sterling academic record and participating in athletics, science competitions, and cultural activities whenever possible. He graduated from high school at the age of 17 and was accepted into the Academy the following year. Like many cadets, Tariq struggled for a time to adjust to Academy life. Counselor Natalie Hart noted in one evaluation:

> *"Cadet Tariq is accustomed to being exceptional. He now finds himself in an environment where virtually all of his peers are over-achievers of one variety or another, and must wrestle with the challenges that environment poses to his self-image.*
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Initially, Tariq declared his intention to pursue the Command track at the Academy and follow in his mother's footsteps as a Conn officer. While he certainly displayed promise as a pilot and helmsman, his mathematical and scientific acumen proved to be undeniable. He switched to the Sciences track and majored in Astrophysics as a sophomore. By his senior year, Tariq was assisting his instructors with research and developing his own projects. He is a third-generation member of Starfleet, and the first in his family to attend Starfleet Academy and be commissioned as an officer.

## USS Seleya

Tariq's first posting as an ensign was to the USS Seleya (NCC-42011), an Excelsior-class starship under the command of Captain T'Lanis, whose primary duties included patrolling and surveying the Romulan Neutral Zone. Having been born on Starbase 157 (one of the Seleya's frequent ports of call) and grown up on stations and starbases along the Romulan and Klingon borders, Ensign Tariq proved to have valuable insights into local political and logistical issues in addition to his contributions as a junior science officer. When a routine patrol of the Draken system in 2367 picked up unusual tetryon readings in a dense asteroid field, Captain T'Lanis suspected a cloaked Romulan vessel. Ensign Tariq, manning the bridge science station at the time, devised a way of exposing the warbird by emitting a rapidly-modulating EM pulse. The pulse, interacting with the high ferrous-metal content of the asteroids, created a resonant electromagnetic interference pattern that disrupted the containment field in the Romulan's singularity warp core. As intended, the Romulans were forced to decloak and reset their power systems or face a core breach. Captain T'Lanis was then able to defuse the situation peacefully and Ensign Tariq was put up for promotion.

## Deep Space Nine

In 2369, Commander Benjamin Sisko and Lieutenant Jadzia Dax discovered the first known stable wormhole, located in the Bajoran system. Lieutenant (j.g.) Tariq was among the first Starfleet officers assigned to Deep Space Nine to study the wormhole, transferring to the station after a short assignment aboard the USS Maryland. With his specialty in subspace harmonics, Starfleet considered Tariq a natural fit for the station's science staff and Tariq himself quickly developed a good working relationship with Lieutenant Dax, his immediate superior. Throughout his two years on Deep Space Nine, Tariq spent considerable time working alongside Bajoran scientists aboard the station and on Bajor itself. His most notable accomplishments during his time on DS9 was probably determining the frequencies and scan modulations that allow scientists to study the wormhole in great detail without disturbing or harming the non-corporeal beings who reside within it, whom the Bajorans revere as Prophets. Lieutenant Tariq has been recognized by the Bajoran Provisional Government for his role in advancing understanding of the wormhole, while respecting the deeply held beliefs of the Bajoran faithful.

## USS Arcturus

After the loss of USS Odyssey in the Gamma Quadrant, Starfleet's strategic position on Deep Space Nine changed and no part of the station's crew was unaffected. Having worked so hard on finding ways to study the wormhole without harming or disrupting it, Tariq found it difficult to pursue research into how the wormhole might be closed or destroyed. Frustrated and conflicted, Tariq submitted a request for a transfer off DS9. He was surprised, however, when his request was granted along with a promotion to the rank of full Lieutenant at the recommendation of Lieutenant Commander Dax. Initially, Lieutenant Tariq was assigned to join the science staff aboard Starbase 364 (Narendra Station) but *en route* to the Shackleton Expanse aboard the USS Western Star he was informed that his orders had been rescinded. He arrived at Narendra Station without a posting, but this lasted only a brief few days before a chance encounter with Captain Vira Kol of the USS Arcturus resulted in Lieutenant Tariq's current post as Chief Science Officer.

## Notable Quotes

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