Gareth Rhys
Name Gareth Morgan Rhys
Position Intelligence Contractor
Character Information
| Gender | Male | |
| Species | Human | |
| Age | 34 |
Physical Appearance
| Height | 1.9m | |
| Weight | 91 kgs. | |
| Hair Color | Bald | |
| Eye Color | Left—cybernetic, soft silver (occasional faint data-stream glow); Right—dark brown | |
| Physical Description | Gareth Rhys is a tall, formidable man, standing 1.9 meters with the lean, powerful build of a seasoned brawler. He is bald with a neat, full beard framing a strong jawline, and his skin is a deep brown. His most arresting features are his intense eyes; one is a deep brown, while the left is a cybernetic replacement with a subtle, silver iris that occasionally betrays a faint data-stream pattern when interfacing with his tech. |
Family
| Spouse | None | |
| Children | None that he is aware of. | |
| Father | Dr. Niles Rhys, Senior Fellow and Chair of the Historical Studies Department at the University of Archer IV | |
| Mother | Commodore Alyxendra Stiles (retired) | |
| Brother(s) | None | |
| Sister(s) | None | |
| Other Family | A paternal aunt and uncle, along with a maternal aunt and cousins, whom he hasn't been in contact with since his adolescent years. |
Personality & Traits
| General Overview | Years spent in Starfleet Security and in the shadows of Starfleet Intelligence have honed Gareth Rhys into a man of quiet discipline and unnerving analysis. He doesn't need to raise his voice to command a room; his stillness and the weight of his experience are enough. Gareth thrives in the galaxy's gray areas, navigating morally complex situations with a pragmatism that others might mistake for coldness. Yet, beneath it all lies a fiercely held personal code he will not break. His crew trusts him implicitly, following his lead because they know he's always two steps ahead and that he carries the burden of every hard choice himself. While he keeps his own past locked away, his example of integrity and adaptability is the unwavering core his team relies on. | |
| Strengths & Weaknesses | Strengths: Exceptionally skilled in tactical planning, intelligence operations, and hand-to-hand combat, he remains calm, decisive, and resilient under pressure. Adaptable and resourceful, he excels at improvising with limited resources in unpredictable situations. His deep loyalty and protective instincts toward his crew are unwavering. Multilingual, he is fluent in Federation Standard and Rihannsu, conversational in Klingon, and has a basic understanding of Cardassian. Highly disciplined, he maintains rigorous personal habits and meticulous mission preparation. Weaknesses: Struggles with chronic PTSD and heightened hyper-vigilance, particularly after traumatic missions. Emotionally reserved, experiencing difficulty in trusting others or expressing vulnerability. Exhibits moral flexibility, occasionally leading to self-doubt and ethical conflicts. Displays distrust toward authority and institutional power. Can be abrasive, blunt, or intimidating when prioritizing crew safety or achieving mission objectives. |
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| Ambitions | Rhys’s greatest ambition is autonomy. He seeks the freedom to operate according to his own code, unencumbered by bureaucracy or the compromises of institutional service. He is motivated by the challenge of impossible missions, the satisfaction of seeing a plan executed flawlessly, and the quiet hope that he can make a difference from the shadows, protecting innocents when official channels cannot. |
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| Hobbies & Interests | Gareth's discipline is almost ritualistic. Caring for his gear is like meditation, bringing order to chaos. After tough missions that challenge his ethics, he finds comfort in simple rituals: stargazing alone from the bridge, savoring a glass of double-casked single-malt scotch, or diving into classic literature about morally complex characters. His most personal hobby is unexpectedly peaceful: tending to a hydroponic garden in his quarters, where he grows rare herbs. This quiet act of nurturing life grounds him, offering balance to a life spent so close to death. |
| Personal History | Gareth Morgan Rhys was born in 2391 on Archer IV, into a life shaped by two powerful forces: the unwavering idealism of the Federation and the quiet complexities of a family devoted to it. His mother, Commodore Alyxendra Stiles, was a retired Starfleet security officer whose stories filled his childhood with a sense of duty, while his father, historian Dr. Niles Rhys, grounded him in academic discipline at the University of Archer IV. Gareth grew up comfortable and secure, yet the background radiation of galactic turmoil—from the Mars disaster to the Romulan supernova—was impossible to ignore, fostering a keen awareness of the universe beyond his idyllic homeworld. The most pivotal influence of his youth, however, was his closest friend, S’rell tr’Lhaen, a Romulan refugee. It was through S’rell that the galaxy truly opened up. Beyond learning to speak fluent Rihannsu, Gareth learned to see the Federation through an outsider’s eyes, gaining a deep empathy that would later define his command style and moral code. The stability of his own family was eventually tested when his mother was recalled to active duty after his Academy graduation, leading to a separation from his father. Their eventual reconciliation years later taught Gareth a lasting lesson about the personal cost of service and that true loyalty must be chosen and reclaimed. This unique blend of influences, Starfleet discipline from his mother, historical perspective from his father, and a nuanced worldview from his friend, made him a natural fit for Starfleet Academy. He thrived there, channeling his innate curiosity into a major in Tactical Security and Strategic Intelligence. His childhood fluency in Rihannsu gave him an advantage in multicultural studies, which he expanded to include Klingon and Cardassian. He fully immersed himself in every challenge, earning a faint but permanent scar above his eye in a Klingon martial arts bout, a reminder of his belief in understanding a culture through its warrior traditions. He left the Academy known not just as a skilled tactician, but as a rare kind of officer: a bridge-builder with the hardened skills of an intelligence asset. |
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| Service Record | 2391: Born on Archer IV to Alyxendra Stiles (Starfleet Security, retired) and Dr. Niles Rhys (historian). Early years shaped by Federation idealism—and undercurrents of galactic instability. 2400 (Age 9): Defends S’rell tr’Lhaen, a Romulan refugee classmate, during anti-Romulan unrest. Learns first-hand the costs of prejudice—and forges a core loyalty to outsiders. 2409–2410: Graduates Starfleet Academy (Tactical Security & Strategic Intelligence), known for both high academic marks and a reputation for “thinking outside the manual.” 2410–2412 (Ages 19–21): Ensign, Starfleet Security – USS Wyvern: Assigned to volatile patrols along the Romulan, Klingon, and Gorn borders (notably the Berengaria Reach and Spinward March). 2411: Successfully orchestrates a non-lethal hostage rescue during a Gorn incursion on Pentaras IV, skillfully outwits opponents, ensures civilian safety, and earns early recognition for ingenuity and restraint. 2412–2414 (Ages 21–23): Lieutenant (JG), Security/Joint Operations: Rotates through the Cardassian DMZ, collaborating with Bajoran and Cardassian law enforcement to disrupt emerging smuggling rings and former Obsidian Order plots. Coordinates refugee extractions along the deteriorating Romulan Neutral Zone, demonstrating adaptability under pressure and building enduring alliances with frontier colony leaders. Short stint on the Breen frontier, learning the subtle art of subterfuge in a “cold peace” zone. 2414–2418 (Ages 23–27): Intelligence Officer, Starfleet Intelligence Advanced Program / USS Aegis: Rapid deployments to critical areas such as the Spinward March, Tzenkethi Expanse, and the Gorn and Tholian border sectors. 2415: Played a key role in resolving the Xi Draconis science vessel standoff, effectively de-escalating a complex, multi-party conflict involving Federation, Tholian, and Gorn ships. 2417: Goes undercover among Marcher mercenaries on the fringes of the Gorn sphere, successfully sabotaging a bioweapon operation. However, he is betrayed by an informant and suffers wounds that alter his perspective and deepen his distrust of "easy answers." His actions earn the admiration of Romulan agent Vaela t’Selaan, who later becomes a loyal member of his crew. 2418–2419 (Ages 27–28): Lieutenant Commander, Black Ops Field Team Leader: Assigned to Operation Chimera, Gareth leads a team to dismantle a rogue changeling cell and intercept Gorn-sponsored protomatter weapons threatening border colonies. Although the mission succeeds, it results in heavy civilian casualties and Starfleet’s cold calculations leave Gareth grappling with PTSD, injuries, and a deeply shaken trust in the institution he once admired. He is given an early promotion to Commander for completing the mission, which he perceives as Starfleet Command’s attempt to assuage his guilt. While on medical leave, he witnesses his parents’ reconciliation—a rare moment of hope and clarity amid the chaos. In early 2419, Gareth resigns his commission, unwilling to compromise his personal code for Starfleet’s expediency. 2419 (Age 28): Begins life as a civilian intelligence subcontractor—accepts work others fear and quietly builds a new reputation in the lawless zones between Gorn, Orion, and Tzenkethi space. 2420 (Age 29): Resolves the Zeta Hedron pirate blockade using negotiation, cunning, and firepower; receives salvage rights to a battered Stalker-class scout/interceptor (The Long Haul). Completely, refits the vessel as both a home and a headquarters—assembling a crew not of subordinates, but of equals, chosen for loyalty, skill, and survival in the gray zones. 2421–2425 (Ages 30–34): Reputation and Operations as a Civilian Operator: The Long Haul earns a reputation across the Spinward March, Gorn border, Cardassian-Ferengi rim, and beyond for delivering results where the Federation’s reach is weak or diplomatically constrained. Their missions include: - Extracting hostages from outlaw syndicates. - Covertly rescuing and evacuating endangered scientists and diplomats. - Sabotaging illegal weapons operations that destabilize border worlds. - Providing humanitarian aid to colonies struck by disaster. Gareth’s assignments are often arranged through backchannels, sometimes with Starfleet Intelligence’s quiet approval (or plausible deniability), other times for private clients or causes the crew deems worthy. Through it all, Gareth adheres to the code he developed in Starfleet: use force only when necessary, safeguard his crew, stay true to core ethics, and adapt to the complexities of every frontier crisis. Recent Reputation and Influence By 2425, Gareth and his crew are known across several sectors as “the people you call when the rules don’t work and lives are at stake.” His mother, Alyxendra, now a semi-retired diplomatic advisor, continues to use her quiet influence to shield Gareth from Federation political backlash when possible. |