NPC Profile: Paula K. Pander
Name: Paula Kristal Pander
Nickname: Lucky Seven or Lucky
Born: June 19, 2349 05:40 (Stardate: 28425.53)
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Kansas City
Rank: Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Assignment: USS Thunderchild
Position: Fighter Pilot, Flight Operations
Born on a ranch about an hour from Kansas City, Paula's father was former Commander (retired) Kevin Pander. Paula's first love was riding horses seconded only by her love for her father. She often enjoyed working the ranges of her family's ranch with her father and three older brothers. By the time she was ten, Paula was a highly skilled marksman and horse handler. She had more than a few run ins with local law enforcement before she was fifteen. Many suggested that she took more from her father and older brothers than her mother. By the time she was sixteen, Paula had all but dropped out of school to focus on working on her family's ranch. However her plans for the future changed when an accident took her father from her. On his death bed, he made Paula promise that she would make something better for her life.
On that Paula refocused herself back on her school work. Her father had once been a helmsman in Starfleet before retiring and returning home to start a family. Because of this, Paula wanted to follow in his footsteps. She had planned for a future in Starfleet as a helmsman. Paula struggled to overcome her late start but never failed her father's promise. While she failed to score high in her classes, Paula was tested and discovered to be a natural pilot. Despite her piloting skills, Paula's days at Starfleet Academy were plagued with disciplinary problems. She was regularly late for classes, her assignments were only partially done and her nighttime adventures led her to be confined to the campus after a bar fight between herself and a local man. Paula finally graduated in the lower ten percent of her class.
After an unremarkable showing during her Academy days, Paula was assigned to the aging SS Yorkshire (A Federation Survey Ship) for her cadet cruise. Her time aboard the SS Yorkshire was over cast with more disciplinary problems and substandard reviews from her superiors. There is a note in her personnel file where she misjudged the position of a nearby ship and ran the Yorkshire along side the ship. Both ships were damaged and spent two weeks in dry dock being repaired. Even though her skills with large ships was clearly lacking, she was noted as being a skilled shuttle pilot (if not too reckless). Her personnel file reflected a problem with drinking and insubordination. While her cadet cruise mirrored her Academy days, it was her final report issued by Commander Keval (SS Yorkshire's XO, Andorian) that nearly tanked her career in Starfleet. It was by his suggestion that Cadet Pander's career in Starfleet come to an end.
After her cruise aboard the SS Yorkshire, Cadet Pander was assigned to Starbase 214 as a shuttle pilot. There she waited for her future in Starfleet to be decided by Starfleet Academy. It was there, that fate would change her future once more. While on escort duty near the Hugora Nebula, her convoy of three transports was attacked by Maquis raiders. During the raiders' first pass, the lead escort ship, the
USS Copernicus (an Oberth class scout) was crippled leaving Cadet Pander's own runabout as the convoy's only defense against the raiders. For a critical sixteen minutes while the
USS Copernicus attempted to regain its main power, Cadet Pander managed to hold the raiders at bay. It was during this engagement that Cadet Pander earned her nickname, Lucky Seven. Cadet Pander was able to drive two of the five attacking raiders away during this critical time. The convoy was saved due to her actions.
During the years leading up to the Dominion War, Pander showed time and time again that her skill at piloting any small craft could not be ignored. During the Dominion War, she was permanently assigned to the
Peregrine-class Fighter Group of Starbase 214. During her assignment, Ensign Pander found her stride as she served with honor and courage. Throughout the war, Lucky Seven became a guarding angel for those being attacked by enemy fighters. She learned to master her emotions and took to a cool steady handle of the controls of her fighter. This only made her more dangerous in the cockpit. She was the the only unofficial (or official for that matter) ace of Starbase 214.
At the end of the war, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Pander found herself in a changing world. Starfleet was shifting back from a wartime organization in to one of peace. While her behavior issues could be over looked during times of war, her drunken disorderly conduct became a red flag when the dust of war had settled. Even though she was a decorated hero and highly skilled pilot, her future in Starfleet was no longer certain. Once more her, it was her drinking and disorderly conduct landed her in Starfleet's brig on New Berlin. Once more her future became clouded as she waited for others to decide her fate. In 2376, she was tossed one last life line by Commander Bonham. He personally recruited her for his elite Jolly Roger Squadron.
The two became close friends as the
USS Thunderchild under went its year long refit in to a fully operational carrier. During this time, Lieutenant Pander headed up a training squadron for the ship. With Commander Bonham flying aggressor, Lieutenant Pander would teach her fellow recruits how to counter even some of the most radical of attacks. Beyond being a highly skilled fighter pilot, Lieutenant Pander has failed to successfully master most large shipborne systems. This short fall has not stopped her from attempting to over come this lately. However the last time she was at the helm, she nearly ripped off the starboard nacelle as she attempted to return the
USS Thunderchild back to dry dock.
It was the last time that Commander Bonham allowed her at the helm of the
Thunderchild. A situation that has become more of a joke between them than any point of frustration. Despite this mishap, Lieutenant Pander is the official training officer for the Fighter Group of the
USS Thunderchild. Lieutenant Pander has ensured that the level of skill among her fellow pilots remained much higher than those across Starfleet. Because of this, Starfleet Academy has commended her on turning her career around. They have even offered her a position teaching Small Craft Tactics and Maneuvering. She had refused the position and elected to remain aboard the
USS Thunderchild Since 2376, Lieutenant Pander has managed to keep her record clean under a very watchful eye of Commander Bonham.
Paula speaks with a thick country accent and can normally be seen wearing a cowgirl hat when not on duty. Her brash and unrefined mannerism conceals an honest approach to dealing with others. She is out going and friendly and always looking for someone to share a drink with. She has no problems telling a person how she feels and expects the same from others. This has often gotten her in trouble with others as this behavior tends to offend. Paula has a unique tattoo that covers her entire back. Her favorite holo programs are country westerns.
NPC Profile: Paula K. Pander
