============================================================== CDR Bryan J. Mason CO, USS Kusanagi (played by Susan Phillipps sjp7@hotmail.com) ============================================================== I. Personal Data ================= Full Name: Bryan James MASON Family Name: Mason First Name: Bryan Serial No: 3246-247-8245 Species: Human (Staviian) Gender/Sex: Male, XY Age: 41 years DOB: 23 May 2372 POB: Stavi IV, Luran System Children: Gina Mason, Student (Born: 2400) Ex Spouse: Louise Mason, Engineer, SB Zeta (Divorced 2402) Parents: Jack Mason, Civil Engineer (DEC: 2383) Karen Mason, Doctor (DEC: 2383) Grandparents: Richard Mason, Federation Magistrate, Ret. Sarah Mason, Teacher (DEC: 2410) Citizenship: Federation II. Physical Description ======================== Height: 6' 1" Weight: 140 lbs Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown, Greying at the temples Skin Color: Caucasian Description: Athletic build on the wiry side. He wears his hair short and is clean-shaven. III. Educational Background =========================== A. Base Schooling 2377 - 2386 Base Schooling, Stavi IV 2386 - 2390 Sampson High School, Earth B. Tertiary Institutions 2390 - 2394 Star Fleet Academy C. Star Fleet Academy Record Academic Major: Biology and Xenobiology Professional Major: Navy (Sciences) Graduating Thesis: Quantum Singularities - "The Crystalline Entity" Class Ranking: Top 15% Activities: Chess D. Qualifications: Science Officer Engineering Officer Junior Bridge Officer Qualification Senior Bridge Officer Qualification IV. Chronology (Tabular Form) ============================= 0 - 14: Lived with parents on Staviian 14 - 18: Lived with grandparents on Earth 18 - 21: Attended Star Fleet Academy 21 - 25: Assigned Junior Science Officer, USS Heisenberg 25 - 29: Assigned Chief Science Officer, USS Tokyo 27: Married Louise Kingston 28: Daughter, Gina Mason born 29: Attended Star Fleet Command School 30 - 31: Assigned Science/Second Officer, USS Squal 30: Divorced Louise Mason 31 - 34: Assigned Operations/Second Officer, USS Schofield 34 - 37: Assigned Executive Officer, USS Isis 37 - 39: Assigned Commanding Officer, USS Farragut 39 - 41: Assigned Star Fleet Research & Development Branch 41: Assigned Commanding Officer, USS Kusanagi V. Star Fleet History ===================== Stardate 130830: Assigned Commanding Officer, USS Kusanagi, NCC-45054 Stardate 110730: Assigned Star Fleet Research & Development Branch Stardate 090416: Assigned Commanding Officer, USS Farragut, NCC-23212 Stardate 080217: Received Wounded Lion Medal Stardate 061213: Promoted to Rank of Commander (0-5) Stardate 060120: Assigned Executive Officer, USS Isis, NCC-5486 Stardate 031031: Promoted to Rank of Lieutenant Commander (0-4) Stardate 030605: Assigned 20/OPS, USS Schofield, USS-3256C Stardate 011130: Assigned Science Officer/20, USS Squall, NCC-2376B Stardate 011015: Graduated Star Fleet Command School Stardate 010307: Assigned Star Fleet Command School Stardate 000804: Received Daystrom Medal of Merit Stardate 990720: Promoted to Rank of Lieutenant (0-3) Stardate 990516: Received Pan'or Service Ribbon Stardate 971224: Received Star Fleet Distinguished Service Medal Stardate 971001: Assigned Chief Science Officer, USS Tokyo, NCC-34012 Stardate 960423: Promoted to Rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (0-2) Stardate 950114: Received Star Fleet Achievement Medal Stardate 930820: Assigned Science Officer, USS Heisenberg, NCC-2402 Stardate 930814: Commissioned Rank of Ensign (0-1) Stardate 930814: Graduated Star Fleet Academy VI. Background Summary ====================== Bryan Mason was born to parents Jack and Karen in 2372 on the Terran Colony of Stavi IV. Stavi IV was a new settlement, having being colonised only eight years before Bryan was born. Stavi IV differed in approach from other colonies in the Luran region in that its founders made a conscious move away from the technological comforts of the modern world and instead chose an environment in which to be self-sufficient. By 2367, there was such a clear division between themselves and other Terran colonies that a vote was passed changing the formal name of the settlers to Staviian. While the Mason's believed in the philosophy of the colony, they also believed in exposing Bryan (and other children) to the full spectrum of the galaxy and regular class trips off the Stavi IV were arranged. Although, Bryan was not the most academically of gifted students, he looked forward to these field trips with anticipation and by the age of fourteen, it was the only thing keeping him in school. Tragedy struck Stavi IV in 2386 when the spatial anomaly known as the 'Crystalline Entity' struck. The Colony having turned it's back on most technology was ill prepared for the attack and all colonists were killed, leaving only the small handful of children off world as survivors. Although, the nearest starship in the region, the USS BEIRUT was despatched, they were unable to prevent the tragedy and aside from rescuing the surviving children nothing else could be done. Bryan, along with the other children, was returned to Earth and in most cases were taken in by family members. Bryan was no exception and he moved in with his grandparents upon arrival. However, the three week trip back to earth onboard the BEIRUT had fired Bryan's imagination and by the end of the trip he was convinced that not only could the technology onboard the BEIRUT have saved his parents, but that it could have actually destroyed the entity itself. By the time his grandparents had enrolled Bryan in the local high school, the once 'academically- challenged' child had sourced and read all of the material he could find on the Crystalline Entity and ordered a Star Fleet Academy Entrance Brochure. For the next three years, the Academy was the only thing Bryan was interested in. Unsurprisingly, Bryan sat and passed the Star Fleet Academy Entrance Exams in his final year of High School and was accepted into a cadetship. During his Academy years; both the Counselling staff and his Instructors were concerned with Bryan's obsession with the Crystalline Entity and his perceived lack of social skills. In fact they were so worried that they took the unusual step of placing a restriction on him to undertake at least one non-Science minor (Engineering) and to join at least one social club (chess), which Bryan did. However, the real change in Bryan occurred during his third year Engineering class when he met fellow cadet Louise Kingston and the two continued to date during their remaining time at the Academy. The change was so dramatic, that Bryan's graduating thesis on the Crystalline Entity was accepted. Upon graduation, Byran received a billeting as a Junior Science Officer to the USS HEISENBERG; a dedicated long-range science vessel while Louise received a different billet as a Warp Core Technician on the USS HERCULES. Without his relationship with Louise, Bryan threw himself back into work and shone as a Science Officer, culminating in a Star Fleet Achievement Medal and promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade. In 2397, Bryan was promoted to Chief Science Officer on the USS TOKYO, a Destroyer serving in the Lakorin Sector. It was on this ship that Bryan got a real sense of what being a Star Fleet Officer was all about when the TOKYO was called into a potential hostile situation between two feuding races. Their civil war was threatening to disrupt the balance of power in the sector and drag several other smaller races into the conflict. While 'larger' ships had been put on standby the TOKYO successfully negotiated a resolution, helped considerably in part by Bryan's work with both planets' on extending their natural resources. Following that mission, the TOKYO was re-assigned to the Pan'or Region; another area of space that was threatening to erupt in civil war. It was during this time that Louise Kingston was assigned to the TOKYO as the Assistant Engineer and the two resumed their original relationship. Unfortunately, the TOKYO was not as successful in their negotiations as they had been in the Lakorin Sector and open war was declared in 2399. The TOKYO remained in the region for another six months in the hopes of reaching mediation but was forced to retire later that year. Things quietened down considerably after that and Bryan continued to work on the solution he had helped develop in the Lakorin Sector. At the same time as delivering a number of papers on the subject and picking up two more major awards for his work, he and Louise married. Unbeknown to Bryan, his work was beginning to catch the eye of Star Fleet Command and the possibility of a command offering was being raised. The following year, Bryan and Louise had a daughter, Gina Mason. While Louise took their daughter back to earth, the TOKYO found themselves again in conflict with several Miradorn vessels on a vengeance quest. Bryan, as part of an away team, boarded and released a contagion which temporarily quelled the effects of the quest while a successful solution was negotiated. In 2401, Bryan was invited into advanced Command Training and while this caused some problems for a new family man; he took the opportunity and excelled in the challenge of it. Upon graduation he was assigned to the Science/Second Officer spot on the USS SQUALL. His already shaky marriage dissolved even further as the strain of a long distance relationship, a young child and obvious differences in career paths came to a head. Louise Mason accepted a position at Starbase Zeta where she works as a Test Engineer and brings up their daughter. They formally divorced later on that year, but remain friends and Bryan tries to spend as much of his shore leave as possible with his daughter. The posting on the SQUALL didn't last long before Bryan was promoted to Operations and the Second Officer spot on the USS SCHOFIELD. Once again, he rose in stature and competence, with a promotion to Lieutenant Commander (0-4) coming shortly after his new appointment and less than two years later he made First Officer of the USS ISIS. As well as gaining promotion to full Commander (0-5) during this time he was also the recipient of the Wounded Lion Award for injuries sustained in an attack by a rogue Klingon cruiser. Having come of age as a Star Fleet Officer and found his feet in command, he was made Commanding Officer of the USS FARRAGUT three years later; a Light Cruiser predominately charged with diplomatic missions along the outlaying sectors near the Elysion Boarder. The FARRAGUT had a number of successful missions behind them until the middle of 2411 when the FARRAGUT was ambushed by a rogue pirate outfit operating in the area. The pirates had multi-phased attack systems installed and the FARRAGUT was destroyed n the ensuing battle. While, most of the crew did reach the sanctuary of escape pods, almost a third were listed as killed in action, including Bryan's First Officer. Subsequent Star Fleet Boards of Inquiry into the incident found no fault on behalf of the FARRAGUT's crew or her Commanding Officer. However, Bryan's confidence had been delivered a serious knock and following the Board of Inquiries he requested a non-command billet, which Star Fleet Command complied with by posting him to its Research & Development Branch, which is where he served for almost two years. He was re-assigned as Commanding Officer of the USS KUSANAGI in September 2411, under the command of Commodore Richard Coleman of the KRIMA Expeditionary Force. The Kusanagi is primarily charged with further exploration of the KRIMA area of operations and Mason was chosen as its CO because of his background in sciences and diplomacy. However, his greatest test is likely to remain overcoming the Elysion confrontation and returning to the exceptional Commanding Officer he was before the incident. VII. Skills Profile =================== Little remains of the fourteen-year-old brash youngster who was rescued from the remains of Stavi IV; or the single-minded determined youth from his Academy days. Older and wiser, Bryan accepts he can no longer save the entire universe and there was little that could have been done to save his parents or the Colony from destruction. Not that the facts would ever prevent him from trying to do so. A firm believer that knowledge is the key to understanding and understanding the key to resolution, Bryan remains an avid learner to this day and his favourite way to unwind is still with a good book or science journal. While he could be accused of thoroughness to the point of pedantic, very little escapes his attention and an underlying patience has helped in many of the situations he and his crewmembers have found themselves in. Very much on an even keel, he doesn't anger easily or pick fights on a whim, but he will stand by any decisions or instructions to do so. As a Scientist he has little belief in faith or chance, but an adolescent daughter has helped him to think outside the square in recent years and helped immensely with his conflict negotiation skills. VIII. Psychological Profile =========================== Personality Type: Stable Religion: None Comments: Commander Bryan Mason is a stable individual who takes great care with attention to detail. His background in science shows a hard working individual with a pen chance for problem solving. There is no doubt that his early experiences on Stavi IV with the Crystalline Entity still play a significant part in that dedication, but as he has moved on with life, he has been better able to channel that dedication into leadership and analytical thinking. Commander Mason takes great lengths to ensure he has all points of view before moving forward and is unlikely to be rushed into a decision. While it is true that many great leaders have shown exemplary quick thinking, Bryan Mason brings a different perspective and a perhaps more balanced view to command. If anything though, Commander Mason has a tendency to be too hard on himself at times. This was no more evident than in his withdrawal from command following the incident on the Elysion Border, but while there is little doubt that this new command could be the biggest challenge Commander Mason has faced, it is the view of the counselling staff here that is fit and ready for active duty as the Commanding Officer of the USS Kusanagi. CDR Grere Tong; MD, PhD Counsellor Star Fleet Command Stardate: 140810 IX. Current Recreational Interests ================================== His Daughter - Gina, Science Journals, Xenobiology, Holo 'WhoDunnIts', Paresis Squares and Racket Ball.