Sampson Foster (Lt)
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A noticeably attractive man, Sam reaches a height of five feet, ten inches and weighs approximately one-hundred and sixty-three pounds. His physique is not overly muscular, but well-toned and defined. Sam's hair is the color of salt and pepper, but is kept shaved. His radiant eyes are hazel in color.
Contents
Personality & Traits
General Overview
Sam is a veraciously focused and driven individual, one who is detail and task oriented. Often considered a work-aholic, Sam has also strived to find that difficult balance between career and playtime. He's a very upbeat and positive individual who tends to lean more towards optimism, while finding middle ground with realism. Sam can become easily stressed and may feel pulled in many different directions dependent upon the situation. He has a very kind, endearing, polite and open-minded type of personality. He certainly isn't quick to anger, but can become vehemently frustrated in certain situations or with particular outcomes. Generally, Sam is a very happy individual.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sam has shown true promise in his field of study and shows remarkable intelligence and understanding regarding the field of clinical psychology; he also excels in the qualities and attributes of command, team leadership and motivation. He has an exceptionally focused work ethic that can border on obsession; it can become difficult for Sam to step away from any project after becoming fully immersed. His skills with computer library and research systems are second to none. Sam is a very detail oriented individual to the point of over obsessive tendencies. One of his more dominant weaknesses would be his affinity for taking on too much of a work load, subsequently causing a plethora of stress. This is only exacerbated when one takes into account Sam's tendency to triple check all of his work to the very last detail.
Ambitions
Sam is attempting to self teach the Italian language, but that's turned out to be a very slow process at the moment.
Hobbies & Interests
Reading and writing, listening to music (of various genres), the arts (the performing arts and visual arts), watching/participating in holo-novels, watching twentieth (20th) and twenty-first (21st) century movies and cartoons, playing the violin; working out, swimming, hiking, rock climbing, snow shoeing, playing soccer and baseball. He enjoys socializing with others and meeting new people. Board games (especially chess and cribbage), brain teasers and so much more.
Languages
Federation Standard
History
The only child of Joseph and Kaleena, Sam was born on the 25th of December in 2347.
Assigned to the starship USS Eagle, NCC-956 as the Chief Engineering Officer, Lieutenant Commander Joseph Foster was recalled from Earth after enjoying temporary leave at home in Boulder, Colorado shortly after the birth of Sam. Not yet wanting to depart his wife and newborn child, Joseph requested permission to have his family come on board the USS Eagle for a short time as civilian passengers. With only marginal reluctance, the Commanding Officer of the starship agreed.
While en-route to the Eagle via transport shuttle, an unexplainable engine failure occurred in the main impulse reactor core. Attempting to correct the problem, Commander Foster over compensated the calculations which caused a massive systems failure as the small craft attempted to break free of the Earth's gravitational pull. With minimal power reserves activated, an overload in the main EPS conduit occurred and ruptured nearly all of the circuits on board. Stowed away near the middle of the craft in a safety carriage, Sam remained secured and protected. However, his mother did not. Attempting to assist her husband in reestablishing power to the main engines, the console panel she was interfacing with overloaded and discharged violently. Kaleena passed away immediately. Barely able to send an emergency communique to the Eagle, a distraught Commander Foster pleaded for an emergency transport of Sam, Kaleena and himself. With some difficulty, the transporter chief of the Eagle attempted to respond. After extensive effort, a minimal and largely intermittent transporter lock was established on the shuttle's three occupants. With only seconds remaining to complete the transport, the chief completed the transporter cycle. Sam was the only occupant from the shuttle to survive; his mother and father were lost as the craft tore apart in the lower atmosphere of Earth.
With no other known relatives located on Earth or the surrounding colonies, Sam remained on board the Eagle under the supervision of Doctor Samantha Sparks, the Chief Medical Officer. Sam's upbringing was based singularly around the concept of intra-family relationships. The establishing and cultivation of his moral and ethical behaviors were not limited to Doctor Sparks' guidance, but also that of any member from the Eagles' crew.
Growing up on board a starship had its benefits, but also its difficulties. The Eagle was a scientific research vessel assigned to an extended mission of scientific discovery. Due to the nature of the starships primary and secondary mission objectives, it remained out of port for extended periods of time.
It could be lonely for Sam. He was the only child on board a starship of adults, with no definitive parents. The only reference to his mother and father was a small picture gifted to Sam when he reached the age of thirteen.
It came as no surprise that Sam developed a deep-rooted interest in scientific discovery and exploration. When he applied for admittance into Starfleet Academy, he received a full endorsement from the Command Staff of the Eagle.
Sam's grades, extracurricular activities and unique experience's of deep space exploration at a very young age were just a few factors that contributed to his acceptance into the Academy.
In 2368 Sam spent the majority of the year temporarily assigned to the USS Gandhi, NCC-26632. This Ambassador-class starship was one of three Starfleet vessels dedicated to the service of Starfleet Academy. On board, Sam joined his fellow cadets in their Senior Cadet Cruise. The Cadet Cruises' purpose was to assist senior-grade students in acclimating to life on board a starship prior to earning the rank commission of Ensign. On board these cruises, the cadet's were tasked with the same duty obligations of any Starfleet officer; yet, they were also required to complete all of the remaining courses (educationally and physically oriented) necessary for graduation.
Unlike life at the main campus on Earth, Sam did well on board the Gandhi. This could be attributed to Sam's overall comfort with living on board a starship. Contrary to many of his peers, Sam excelled in his studies throughout the course of the year and was successful in raising his overall grade point average by two points. He also earned several highly noted reviews from superior officer's and Distance Learning Instructor's who saw Sam take on a more mature and professional demeanor while working as a Counselor's Mate. Sam had substantial developments personally, professionally and culturally. The entire experience was enriching, overall.
A week prior to graduation ceremonies, all senior-grade cadets were required to return to Earth to complete all final examination and physical endurance evaluations.
Overall, Sam did very well and graduated within the top twentieth percentile. He graduated with an earned commission of Ensign and a degree in Clinical Psychology. This degree would permit Sam to serve in a professional capacity on any Federation duty assignment.
Although this degree permitted him to serve as a Counselor on any Starfleet vessel, starbase, colony and/or outpost, Sam decided it best to continue an education in Clinical Counseling; attaining more knowledge regarding the field before stepping up to the rigors and responsibilities of the position. Attending Starfleet Academy's master's degree program, Sam persevered through an additional two years of rigorous and difficult study. The master's program for Clinical Counseling was more intense than the undergraduate program; much was expected of him and there were times when situations did not warrant great success for Sam. However, he did persevere and at the conclusion of his final year in the program, Sam graduated within the top thirtieth percentile.
One week after graduating Starfleet Academy with a master's degree in Clinical Counseling, Sam was reactivated from a short leave of absence to decompress and immediately assigned to the USS Monitor, NCC-61826 where he was to complete a two year residency internship.
It was on board the Monitor where Sam started to meld into a comfortable routine. On board this Nebula-class starship, Sam participated in a two year residency internship. This internship was partnered with Starfleet's medical division and found Sam serving as the Assistant Chief Counselor. Working in tandem with Doctor Brenda Sutherland, Sam pursued an intense distance learning program where he would re-acclimate to life on board a Starfleet vessel, while also earning the credentials to maintain the professional position.
This residency was quite intense and called on Sam twenty-four hours a day, seven day's a week. His case load was much larger than that of Doctor Sutherland's and more was expected of him.
During the second year of this internship, in the year 2372, Sam also participated in the Bridge Officer's training course where he qualified and achieved official clearance to serve as a bridge officer. This ultimately increased Sam's responsibilities, as he quickly took on many of the tasks and duties of Doctor Sutherland when serving bridge duty.
At the conclusion of his two year residency program on board the Monitor, Sam completed all the necessary requirements to retain the official status of a Clinical Counselor with a master's degree. He was asked to remain on board the Monitor as the counseling departments Deputy Counselor.
The Command Staff of the Monitor saw many positive qualities and attributes to Sampson and requested Starfleet Command and Starfleet Medical to permit the officer to attend Starfleet Academy's Distance Learning Program for Command Officer Training. Once approval was garnered, Sam attended all mandatory lessons under the direction of the Monitor's Executive Officer, Commander Phylis Branch.
The program was difficult, of that there was no mistake. Sam had a difficult time in maintaining adequate marks due to the intensity of the course and its seeming unattainable and outlandish expectations. What was even more difficult was maintaining the high expectations of Commander Branch, who was expecting nothing-less than absolute success.
At the conclusion of the year 2374, Sam completed the year long course and achieved official status within Starfleet Command and Starfleet Medical as a command candidate. With this status, Sam could qualify for any position within the Command Department once adequate rank was achieved.
Sam served with the Monitor for an additional two years prior to being reassigned to the USS Washington, NCC-76982. On board this Defiant-class starship, Sam fulfilled the position of Staff Counselor for two years prior to being promoted to the position of Assistant Chief Counselor.
Sam served in this capacity for well over six years, achieving numerous field service decorations along the way. The officer achieved an outstanding reputation on board the Washington and within the vessel's task force as an overly exceptional Starfleet Officer and Counselor.
Six years provided a comfortable life style and living environment. Although residing on board a Defiant-class starship could be difficult at times, merely due to its petite size, Sam did find that the small crew provided a more balanced atmosphere that permitted one to really get to know those they were serving with.
All would not turn out well though. As is the case with any vessel built for war, the Washington was dispatched to the far fringes of Federation territory where they were to be assigned to deep space boarder patrol near the galactic core.
On stardate 63415.22 all contact with the Washington was lost. Only a partial communique was obtained from a distant Federation outpost. The communication was terribly distorted and all that could be accurately deciphered were the words, "immediate", "assistance" and "self-destruct".
A small Task Group of Starfleet vessels were dispatched to the last known coordinates of the Washington. It took that task group over three weeks before they found any definitive evidence of the Washington's existence; evidence that had been discovered at the most pivotal of times as Task Force command was all but on the edge of considering the Washington lost with all hands. A piece of hull was found floating in space with the last four digits of the vessel's registry. After a complete forensic analysis, there was no evidence of foul play.
A full investigation ensued ... a futile attempt to discover what had occurred to cause this destruction. However, the only evidence ever obtained was that single piece of hull plating and the highly degraded communication's blip.
Considered a cold-case, Starfleet Command issued a public statement indicating that the Washington's destruction was caused by unknown circumstances, that all hands were considered lost and that the case would remain open until any new evidence might provide any form of closure to the incident.
In the late part of the year 2383 the Washington reappeared on the fringe of the galactic core through a temporal rift. The vessel was severely damaged and operating on minimal power reserves. Discovered by the USS Nobel, the craft was towed back to the nearest starbase the surviving crew was interviewed and debriefed.
It was discovered that, while on patrol near the galactic boarder, an unusual spacial anomaly attracted the attention of the Washington's commanding officer, Captain Laura Webber. Investigating this anomaly, the crew were able to identify it was temporal in origin. Deeming further exploration was warranted, Captain Webber ordered two scientific probes to be launched into the event horizon of the spacial rift. Scientific technology on a Defiant-class vessel was all but trivial, so they were unable to properly receive, translate and react to the data streaming from the two probes; the presence of which caused a cascading gravitational effect that would forcefully pull the Washington through the temporal event. Violently catapulted through space and time, the Washington was propelled more than nine-hundred and fifty-eight years in the future. A future that was just simply too incomprehensible. Details on how the Washington returned to current space and time and its journey in the future are strictly sealed and classified with Starfleet's Temporal Intelligence Division; however, the final details of their trip and subsequent return reveal that more than half of the crew were killed in the initial pull to the future. The vessel was severely damaged and the surviving crew were forced into personal, professional, moral and ethical directions many were quite unprepared for. During this time in the future, Sam would assume the role of Commanding Officer for the very first time.
Ordered to a brief leave of absence, Sam was recalled to active service where he underwent a plethora of psychological testing and evaluation to determine a healthy state-of-mind. He also underwent a rigorous re-education examination. Deemed healthy enough for command, Starfleet Command temporarily assigned him to the USS Reliant where he would serve as the ships Second Officer and Ships Counselor until 2385 when the ship was ordered for rapid decommission.