NPC Profile: Addison Bonham

[Akirapryde]

Profile: Addison Bonham
Rank: Commander
Assignment: USS Thunderchild
Position: First Officer

Born: August 6th, 2342 (Stardate: 22118.15)
Place of Birth: Alpha Centauri System, Centauri VII

From a young age, Addison loving piloting. His single largest dream was to follow his father's footsteps as a shuttle pilot working the local tourist industry. At the age of sixteen, he bought an old twenty second century shuttle pod and rebuilt it from the ground up. His love for flying moved him towards his father's industry. However, he moved from employer to employer finding that the line of work was simply not what he had the heart for. After a few disappointing years, Addison decided to attempt his hands at Starfleet. The goal was to forge his own path.

After weeks of study, Addison failed to pass the entrance exam and was forced to return the following year. He did return to take the entrance exam and failed to pass it. Still, he would not be rejected. After four failed attempts to pass the exam, he finally managed to secure a passing secure and was accepted in to Starfleet's Academy. Despite his disappointing beginning, Addison became a model student. Though his scores didn't make him top of his class, his tactical mind was keen. But it was his piloting skills that made his name stick out. These very skills allowed him to join the elite Nova Squadron as a second year cadet. Something that was never heard of. After acing his third year, he requested to take the Kobayashi Maru test. His request was flatly denied by Captain S'Tol. This didn't deter him as he intentionally requested to take Captain S'Tol's Advanced Space Tactics Course. While his course grades were not remarkable, he did change Captain S'Tol's mind. After his midterms during his fourth year, Addison Bonham took the Kobayashi Maru test with Captain S'Tol's blessings. He didn't beat the unbeatable test. But he did finish with a score that landed him in the top five percent of all those who had ever taken the test.

He passed Starfleet Academy on Stardate 47504.88 (Mar 30, 2370) with better than average grades. Despite low grades, it was his knack for tactics, strategy and piloting that earned him a Cadet Cruise aboard the USS Valdemar. During his cadet cruise, he served as a security officer and preformed his duties with acceptable ratings. After his tour, he was asked by his captain to remain aboard the USS Valdemar for a second cruise instead of returning to Starfleet Academy for his Advanced Tactical Training. During his time aboard the Valdemar, he trained under Commander Tremblay a former ATT Instructor. Shortly after his commission to Ensign, his father fell ill and Addison returned home to care for his father. Addison remained at home during this time by his father's bedside. He said that it was the hardest thing to do, was watching his father slowly die.

On Stardate 50685.14 Sep 15, 2373 Ensign Bonham arrived aboard the USS Thunderchild and took his post as a Tactical Officer, and unofficially as a combat shuttle pilot. It was during this time that he met fellow Ensign Lindquist. The two fellow pilots become close friends. During the months before the Battle of Sector 001 the pair were known as the Devil's Pair. Because of their daring piloting operations. Just before the Battle of Sector 001, Addison was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. During the Battle of Sector 001, both young pilots showed remarkable courage and valor as they used their own shuttle pods to protect escape pods and life boats. The pair on a number of times would fly in and tractor beam escape pods or life boats out of harms way. Due to their bravery, both officers were awarded the Starfleet Medal of Valor.

After the Battle of Sector 001, Addison was promoted to full Lieutenant and given command of his own shuttle squadron. The idea of the squadron was to test the viability of small craft tactics in a starship battle. The outbreak of the Dominion War on Stardate 50975.2 (Jan 08, 2374) gave Starfleet and the Devil's Pair just the right chance to prove the worth of small craft in a major war. In the beginning, their missions were limited to only picking up life boats or escape pods. During the invasion of Valos, the shuttle wings of the USS Thunderchild proved vital in moving personnel and equipment around the battlefield. This freed up the larger starships to conduct more important missions. But it was not what Lieutenant Bonham or Lieutenant Lindquist had in mind for their wings. They knew that their pilots could do so much more. They just needed the opportunity to prove it.

Lieutenant Bonham was granted permission by his Captain to take his command school training while aboard the Thunderchild. During the war, he officially held the position of security officer. However unofficially, he and Lieutenant Lindquist shared the role of Commander Air Group. Though no such position actually existed. Currently the pilots of the combat shuttle wing fell under the command of the Security Chief. This caused a number of disputes between the pilots and members of security. Another issue that caused problems for the combat shuttle wing was the lacking of a fully functioning support crew. Shuttle repairs and maintenance fell solely on the Engineering staff. Lieutenant Bonham and Lindquist argued the need for a team of engineers to be assigned to the flight deck on a permanent basis. After hours and hours of arguing with the First Officer, the pair finally got their wish. Three engineers were transfered from Main Engineering to the shuttle bay to maintain the twenty shuttles aboard. While they were nothing more then heavily armed shuttles, the pilots called these craft fighters. Addison was quoted saying, "it may not seem like much, but it was a step in the right direction for this ship."

Addison was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander for outstanding performance and courage above and beyond the call of duty. When the Senior Tactical Officer was killed, Lieutenant Commander Bonham was selected to replace her. While he fought the transfer from the flight deck, the First Officer demanded it. He recorded in his personal logs that he hated the idea of leaving his fellow pilots behind. But added that Lieutenant Lindquist was a fine pilot and would take care of them.

From the bridge and now a member of the Senior Staff, Addison was able to work more closely with the First Officer and the Captain. He presented a battle plan that he and Lieutenant Lindquist had come up with. The idea was so alien to Starfleet that the Senior Staff actually had Addison present two times. The concept was to use the Thunderchild as a mother ship and allow the combat shuttles to make a series of hit and run raids within enemy systems. Once the raids were over, the shuttles would return and the Thunderchild would withdraw from the area at high warp. It took weeks to finally win over the Senior Staff. Longer to win the support of Starfleet Command. However in the end, the permission to carry out the first test raid was given.

The carefully plotted attacks were so successful, that the enemy didn't even have a chance to react before the attack was over. Despite the success, Starfleet Command was not convinced. However Lieutenant Commander Bonham had an ally. Admiral David Tate and Commander Campbell. Both men saw the future of such attacks and Admiral Tate lobbied hard for them to continue. Lieutenant Commander Bonham and Lieutenant Lindquist planned out each of these raids. These hit and run raids were so successful that the Dominion assigned a task force specifically targeted at the Thunderchild. during this time, Admiral Tate recommended that Lieutenant Commander Addison Bonham be awarded the Grankite Order of Tactics. Later that year, Addison received the award.

On Stardate 52861.3 (Jan 28, 2376) the Thunderchild was ambushed while conducting her hit and run raids on a Dominion system. Out numbered nearly six to one, the Thunderchild proved that she was more than just a carrier for armed shuttles. She gave back more than what she took in damage. Driving back wave after wave of Dominion ships. The combat shuttles of the Thunderchild also proved their worth that day. Giving the Thunderchild a wider range of options. Despite all of their heroics, the battle was far from over.

During the battle both Captain Kayode Del Olmo and Executive Officer, Commander Zdenko Adolfs were killed. It was numbers that kept the battle against the Thunderchild that day. It seemed as if, for each Dominion fighter that was destroyed, two more would arrive to take its place. A Dominion fighter crashed in to the port side impulse drive causing a ship wide power failure at the worse possible time. The ship had been badly beaten, main power was failing and the bridge was smashed. The Thunderchild had been badly damaged and Dominion reinforcements were quickly arriving. It was the combat shuttles that protected the ship during this vital time.

Leaderless and without power, the situation seemed hopeless for the hero ship and its crew. It was in that moment that Lieutenant Commander Bonham assumed command of the Thunderchild. Working with engineering to restore main power, he was able to keep the ship alive for just a bit longer. Working closely with Lieutenant Lindquist, they were able to devise a plan that would allow the ship to withdraw from the battle while using his beloved combat shuttles as cover their withdraw. The battle shifted in a direction that no one imagined when a group of Dominion fighters arrived. The ship was still able to withdraw, but at a loss of five combat shuttles and ten pilots. Despite this Lieutenant Commander Bonham was able to save his ship and the nearly three hundred survivors aboard. After the battle, Lieutenant Commander Bonham was award the Starfleet Medal of Honor for his actions which saved the lives of his shipmates.

While the Thunderchild was undergoing repairs at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, Lieutenant Commander Bonham sought medical treatment for PTSD. According to medical files, he is haunted by nightmares of that final battle. Twice he was officer a promotion and a transfer to a newer ship. Both times he respectfully refused those transfers. During his time at Utopia Yards, he personally over saw the repairs and refit of the USS Thunderchild. With help from supporters, the USS Thunderchild was being redesigned to be the Federation's first dedicated carrier. While the refit has its opponents, both Admiral Ross and Admiral Tate ensured that funding and support for the project continued. Addison designed the Flight Operations and Combat Information Center. It would be from here that the heart of the carrier's operations would beat.

During this time, he had a very private relationship with Lieutenant Kinchlirah, the ship's Klingon exchange officer. The pair enjoyed the relationship for nearly the entire time that the Thunderchild was in dry dock. It only ended when she was recalled back to the Empire. Addison continued his counseling with Starfleet Medical till Stardate 53825.27 (Feb 15, 2377). He was promoted to the rank of Commander and assigned as acting Commanding Officer of the USS Thunderchild. Once Captain Campbell came aboard, Commander Bonham was reassigned as the First Officer of the USS Thunderchild. While his place might be on the bridge, his heart would surely be along the flight deck that he designed personally.