Tomaz

Political Information

• Affiliation: Starfleet, United Federation of Planets

Family

• Mother: Avitra, Barzan Ambassador
• Father: Tamfis, Barzan government official
• Adopted Son: S’Tem (Romulan)

Biography

Early Life

Born in the capital city of Barzan II, Tomaz’s early life was filled with not spending much time with either of his parents due to their governmental work. Instead, he was raised by numerous childminders until he was old enough to attend a boarding school. He decided to work extremely hard to get the grades to apply to join Starfleet. A visiting Starfleet captain to the school caught Tomaz’s attention, and the young man went out of his way to impress the captain with his eidetic memory and athletic prowess. With his exceptional gifts, Tomaz was supported to apply to Starfleet Academy. This move was supported by his parents, who saw it as a political move to show how good their family was in the eyes of the public. Eager to leave Barzan behind, Tomaz underwent surgery to have his breathing apparatus augmented.

Starfleet Career

Starfleet Academy

Adjusting to life at Starfleet Academy didn’t take Tomaz long, as he was used to the independent lifestyle from home. He completed the Starfleet Academy Preparatory Program with flying colours, and after six intense weeks, he took the entrance exam. His efforts paid off when he was allowed to start at Starfleet Academy at the start of the academic year. In his first and second years, he enjoyed all his classes and found it challenging to pick a specialist area. Due to his high grades, he was invited to join Red Squad as his professors and instructors believed he had leadership skills that needed further development. As such, he was sent to the Mellstoxx III orbital campus, where he spent some time on the USS Exeter, the campus’ training vessel. Enjoying his time on Mellstoxx, Tomaz finished his last years specialising in astronautical tactics and history.

Starbase 185

Assigned to the strategic operations department on Starbase 185 in 2394,  Tomaz learnt a lot when the station was critical in supporting Starfleet in keeping the remains of the Romulan Star Empire in check. On many occasions, he was given command of a small team that would take a runabout to patrol the border and assist those who needed help. The humanitarian crisis grew, and Tomaz found it challenging to remain objective in not helping those who needed it. 

He decided on the latter during a mission where he had to return to base or answer the distress call of a Fenris Ranger ship. His team saved the crew who were transporting refugees out of the area. For their actions, his commanding officer commended the team for saving lives. Two years later, he was promoted to assistant chief strategic operations officer with the rank of lieutenant junior grade.

His superior officer decided to give Tomaz his own team, which would regularly patrol the border and gain valuable intelligence and insight into what was happening within the destabilised Romulan Star Empire. Commanding an Arrow-class runabout for several weeks at a time gave Tomaz the confidence to build his leadership skills. His team would visit regular worlds and provide some aid when they could—this time allowed Tomaz to create a good network of contacts to gain vital intelligence for Starfleet.

Furthermore, Tomaz took further training to expand his skills. Opting to pick one area he felt he needed work on, he undertook First Contact Training. At the end of it, he could take on the role of contact specialist. 

USS Ma Huan (NCC-86508)

Assigned to the USS Ma Huan, an Inquiry-class starship, as its new chief strategic operations officer and contact specialist, Tomaz excelled in his latest post. The ship had been on patrol along the border of the Cardassian Union. On many occasions, it would support Federation colonists and shipping that pirates and raiders attacked. Thanks to Tomaz’s efforts in analysing a range of intercepted communications against sensor readings and intelligence reports, the Ma Huan determined the location of three bases operated by the mercenaries. With swift action, the ship was able to take all three out and arrest several dozen culprits who were responsible for leading the attacks.

Starbase 38

Wanting a more significant challenge, he was offered a promotion and the position of chief strategic operations officer on Starbase 38 in mid-2399. Happy to showcase his work on his homeworld, Tomaz accepted the offer and returned home. However, he soon found his politically-orientated parents keener on using his positions for their gain, so when Starfleet ordered elements of the Fourth Fleet into the Delta Quadrant, he requested to transfer off the station. He had only been there for two months and felt he couldn’t remain there anymore knowing that his parents were the ones who got him the job.

USS Odyssey (NCC-80000)

Joining the Odyssey before it entered the Barzan wormhole, Captain McCallister agreed to the transfer and could see Tomaz’s potential to be a key asset in his ship’s success while in the Delta Quadrant. McCallister’s hope for Tomaz became true very early on. He aided in the successful diplomatic efforts with the Uxali and was instrumental in assisting his captain when he had to undertake a solo mission against the Kraylor. 

Tomaz’s ability to develop tactics became something that Captain McCallister quickly depended on during the rest of 2399 when the ship was engaged in a range of missions across the Gradin Belt of the Delta Quadrant. The ship’s senior staff also noted his eagerness to develop his command abilities; as such, he was left in command of the vessel while others undertook a range of surveys when the crew discovered an unusual planet they named Outré. 

In his early days, he developed a strong working relationship with the ship’s new diplomatic officer, Craigen Flemen. The two became quite the pair when dealing with new species or an alien race with some sort of gripe against the Federation. Again, they were depended on to give expert advice during such missions. The two became fast friends and would spend their off-duty time together. 

When an alien ark’s AI captured most of the adults on Odyssey, Tomaz was forced to accept the captain’s decision to remain where they were. Powerless to do anything as the ship had highly advanced technology, the crew were forced to become the carers of the children and young people locked away in stasis on the ark. The AI had selected Tomaz to look after a young boy called Jeddie. Tomaz had never considered becoming a father, but after spending only a few days with the toddler, Tomaz became absolutely devoted. Over two months, Tomaz was transformed by his new ‘job’ and loved every moment. However, he had not forgotten his duty as a Starfleet Officer and was instrumental in helping the captain develop an escape plan. Eventually, they were rescued, but tragedy would strike Tomaz hard during this attempt. His time as a father was sadly torn from Tomaz when the Odyssey rescued him and the others from the alien ark. It was discovered during this attempt that the alien children were only advanced holograms. He mourned Jeddie’s loss and found it challenging to accept that Jeddie was not ‘real’. 

Upon their return to the Federation, the entire crew undertook therapy to help with the trauma sustained by their imprisonment on the alien ark. Tomaz became depressed during this time, and his only outlet was his work. Spending time with Starfleet counsellors helped, as did being with his friends. He became closer to Lieutenant Samris and Lieutenant Commander T’Rani, who had endured a similar fate. The three of them shared their thoughts and feelings about the loss of the children they had been forced to care for. In time, he came out of his depression.

When a temporal anomaly split the ship into various timeframes, it was discovered that a future version of Tomaz would rise to become the Odyssey’s first officer and later captain. During their experimental plan to restore the ship to its original timeline, Tomaz also revealed he had married and became quite the mentor to others on the ship. When the temporal paradox was resolved, Tomaz from the present was briefed about what may happen and was placed under oath not to reveal what he knew by the Department of Temporal Investigations. Knowing that he may rise to become captain someday gave Tomaz a new sense of hope. He joined the command training program with Flemen and became a lieutenant commander. 

By mid-2400, the ship was sent to the Velorum Sector when the Star Empire of Rator collapsed. Sent to help the Romulan colony of Vorash, the crew of the Odyssey aided the settlement with relief efforts. As part of one of the initial away teams, Tomaz assisted with repairs of the colony’s orphanage. While there, one of the children, a young boy named S’Tem, became besotted with Tomaz. S’Tem’s carers shared that he had never shown such emotions or attachment to anyone else. After the crew had prevented a Tal Shiar plot from destroying the colony, Tomaz was asked by one of the members of the Qowat Milat if he would take S’Tem in and care for him. After discussing it with Counsellor Horin and his friends, Tomaz agreed and became a father overnight. 

When the ship returned to the Delta Quadrant, Tomaz’s tactical planning and strategy development was tested when the Hazari attempted to kidnap and kill two members of its crew. Creating a range of tactics and coordinating them with his fellow officers, Tomaz was able to give Captain McCallister a fighting chance to defend the ship effectively. 

As the Odyssey resumed its goodwill tour of diplomatic encounters with civilisations that Voyager had encountered during its time in the Gradin Belt, Tomaz was instrumental in the ship’s efforts to branch out to these races. As a result of their close work on different diplomatic events, his friendship with Flemen became close, and Flemen became S’Tem’s unofficial uncle. When a visiting Pendarian delegation captured Flemen and wanted to mate with Flemen as they believed he was their messiah, Tomaz devised a plan to rescue his friend. After successfully freeing Flemen, Tomaz didn’t let him forget this with the odd jokes at his friend’s expense, especially after the rescue team found Tomaz tied up to a holy totem topless. 

Near the end of 2400, Tomaz was part of the crew that aided Captain McCallister in retaking the ship after other crewmembers affected by a neurogenic field created by a baby telepathic pitcher plant undertook a mutiny. Blood Dilithium infected the baby telepathic pitcher plant and somehow projected a false image onto those who had telepathic abilities on the crew to help it. During the incident, with help from Doctors Slyvexs and Forbes and Counsellor Horin, Tomaz discovered how the space-dwelling bioplasmic organism was manipulating the telepathic members of the crew. Ultimately, they were able to help the creature, retake the ship and liberate many Brenari refugees. Captain McCallister commended Tomaz for his efforts.

At the start of the new year, when the Odyssey undertook crew changes due to the expansion of the new Odyssey Squadron and officers transferring to the USS Themis, Tomaz was made third officer. With his new role, Tomaz became one of McCallister’s regular counsels during dangerous situations. When meeting with liberated Borg drones, Tomaz ensured precautions were taken to guarantee the captain’s safety and those joining McCallister. During this meeting, Tomaz was able to ascertain how the Borg drones were freed from the hive mind based on his knowledge of Voyager’s interactions with the Borg.  

Later on, in the Kotaba Expanse of the Swallow Nebula region in the Delta Quadrant, the Odyssey engaged in diplomatic negotiations with the Bentherans. Tomaz was instrumental in supporting his friend and colleague, Flemen, with arrangements. Together, they worked out a mutual trade and defence agreement with the Bentherans to support the Odyssey Squadron while it was in the area. When the entire squadron was surprisingly recalled to the Alpha Quadrant to support the upcoming Frontier Day celebrations, Tomaz was not happy to hear that their orders also included the removal of all civilians from the ship. This order meant his son had to leave the Odyssey, too. He considered taking time away from the ship. Still, while they were assured the order was only for the upcoming Frontier Day celebrations, Tomaz was fortunate to depend on Flemen’s parents agreeing to take S’Tefe in. When the Dominion’s Lost Fleet launched an invasion into the Deneb Sector, Tomaz was somewhat pleased that his son was not on the ship. Tomaz was instrumental in preparing the Odyssey Squadron to engage with Dominion forces. Ahead of it, Tomaz helped resolve the mystery that came with the disappearance of an entire Federation colony. Tomaz then worked on the plan to track down the Dominion attack wing that had attacked the Federation colony on Divinium Four. They successfully retrieved all the colonists and prevented the Dominion forces from using a metagenic weapon against any Federation world.

Ahead of the Frontier Day festivities, Tomaz completed his Command Training program with Flemen, and both men were promoted to commander. However, the celebrations were put on hold when the efforts from the unholy alliance of the Borg Queen with the rogue Changelings came to fruition. The Frontier Day disaster engulfed many ships in Starfleet, including the Odyssey. Tomaz was on the bridge of the Odyssey when the Borg Queen sent out the Jupiter Signal, which caused the youngest crew members to become drones and attack the others. Thankfully, Tomaz and the entire senior staff were able to subdue them. Though they attempted to retake the ship, they could not do so. Instead, the whole crew hid in access tunnels or sealed themselves in rooms away from the Borg drones trying to take over. 

Eventually, the Odyssey returned to the Delta Quadrant and returned to its previous exploration exploits within the Swallow Nebula region. While there, the crew discovered the remains of an unfinished Borg transwarp hub within a class nine nebula. Tomaz was tasked with developing a plan to bring down the hub, especially when the Malon were caught attempting to take it. The crew succeeded, and Tomaz’s decisive attack ensured that the Malon had no access to the Borg technology. 

Tomaz’s tactical expertise came to help the crew one more time when the Entharans heavily attacked the Odyssey in mid-2401. Though they were able to flee from the assault, the entire ordeal was traumatic for Tomaz as he tried to help Marova, the ship’s pilot, after she was injured during the attack. She died seconds after Tomaz attempted to give her medical aid. 

In late 2401, McCallister was made a commodore and handed command of the Odyssey over to Duncan. Tomaz found himself made Odyssey’s second officer and spent much more time with McCallister during the opening of underspace corridors across the galaxy. The Odyssey Squadron had returned to the Federation but was sent back to the Delta Quadrant via the corridors to determine how this latest crisis was affecting the governments in the Swallow Nebula region. When they arrived and found a Cardassian force in the area, Tomaz worked hard with others to find a solution to stop them from closing the underspace corridors but failed. Once the Cardassians had left the area and were gone, the entire squadron resumed exploring the area.