Alexandre Tomaso Silva

Summary
Alexandre Tomaso Silva is a Chile-born Starfleet Vice Admiral and the Commander in Chief of Task Force 11 in the Narendra Sector - the Federation’s forward base into the Shackleton Expanse.

Admiral Silva has been in active duty for twenty-one years and is currently, as of 2379, the youngest Vice Admiral in the fleet. His unwavering ambition and strategic mindset have garnered him swift and successful promotions through various conflicts, such as the Dominion War.

Generally based at Starbase 364 - Task Force 11’s base of operations - Silva also commands the USS Valdivia, the task force’s flag ship, a Sovereign Class refit.

2336 – 2346
Born in Laguna Verde, a small coastal town in Chile, Alexandre grew up in modest circumstances, far away from the multicultural glamour of the Federation. His father, a local fisherman and Chilean conservative with royal Portuguese ancestry, spent a lot of time out at sea with his young son, sometimes watching larger ships come into the Santiago spaceport. So he knew hard work for an early age. He would be told stories about the conquistadores and the colonization of the South Americas. About how the achievements of their forefathers were something that could not be rivaled in this day and age. Where people traveled in faster than light ships, surrounded by forcefields and advanced weaponry. Exploration, in his father’s disdainful words, had become a pleasure cruise across the stars.

2346 – 2354
Having always been an inquisitive, albeit impressionable young boy, his parents sent Alexandre to live with his aunt and uncle in Santiago de Chile, eventually. To benefit of a better education, from Middle School onward. Being a good student, the young kid had to quickly adapt to asserting himself in a new environment, and as such had learned valuable lessons in rallying others to his own cause, early on. Still not fully caught up to the equal opportunity standards that the Federation was broadcasting, the young man worked at the local spaceport, all the way through his high school career. This was where his initial ambition to see what was out there, beyond the azure veil, originally came from. Educating himself on interstellar topics, beyond the scope of his scholastic requirements, Alexandre skillfully groomed himself worthy admission into Starfleet Academy.

2354 – 2358
Leaving Chile behind and moving to San Francisco was almost as if Alexandre had left this planet, for a cosmopolitical wonderland. The sleek towers and clean streets. Perfectly manicured foliage and sparkling fountains. It didn’t feel real to him, and over the years, never would. By the time he joined Starfleet Academy, he was already a fully formed character. Ambitious, relentless, charismatic, egoistic … only to name a few. So headstrong that, even though his aptitude tests qualified him for a command training, Alexandre opted for the tactical branch instead. Finding command to be too diplomatic and weak. He wanted to deal in more definitive terms in order to force a difference. Time of his life learning that nothing ever changed when the only weapon at one’s disposal was the spoken word.

His solid ego and commanding nature, however, did serve the man well in brushing through the academy. He was both praised and feared by his tutors and polarized many higher ups in the Starfleet echelons. Ultimately garnering enough of a benevolent, conservative following among the ranks to have his pick at all the postings that would line his ensuing career.

2358 – 2360
Alexandre’s first posting was under Admiral J.P. Hanson aboard the USS Everett as a Strategist for tactical reconnaissance. Handpicked straight out of the academy for his headstrong abilities and totalitarian views, the young man would remain under the Admiral’s wings for the better part of the decade, becoming the poster boy of a more conservative branch of the upper circles within Starfleet.

During the Romulan – Klingon war, the Everett was Starfleet’s forward observatory, estimating and quantifying fleet movements across the quadrant before relating the intelligence back to HQ. In this scenario Alexandre excelled in predicting maneuvers and strikes almost perfectly, garnering him the highest win-ratio at the bets, going on around the crew. By the end of the mission, Admiral Hanson was promoted to Starfleet command, giving the man prime opportunity to lift his prodigy into his next position and rank.

2360 – 2362
Promoted to Lieutenant J.G., Alexandre was posted to the USS Providence, in the Kalndra Sector, as a Tactical Advisor. Its mission, to spy on the newly inflamed border conflicts with the Cardassian’s and their continued occupation of Bajor. Taking into account his experiences and successes alongside the Romulan – Klingon war, the young man was predestined to assess the tactical situations as they unfolded, giving Starfleet a leg up in its preemptive fleet-movements along the border.

Still a low-level officer under an equally strong-willed and ambitious Captain, though directly reporting to him in his advisory capacity, the relationship between the two was strained from the beginning. Which was in large part due to the fact that Alexandre had been put on the Providence by Admiral Hanson’s decree. So, in an effort to spite the overbearing command officer, who gave him a hard time day in and out, the Lieutenant filed tactical reports on the impending assault on Setlik III in a way, so that Captain Andover did not appraise sector command correctly. The ultimately devastating massacre, and the delay of the USS Rutledge to arrive at the scene, called for a close investigation into the shortcomings of the report.

It was concluded that Captain Andover did not heed initial warnings by his advisory staff enough to relay them to fleet command, thus contributing to the disastrous calamity. He was subsequently dismissed from service and the USS Everett recalled to earth.

2362 – 2364
In recognition of his service, Alexandre was promoted to full Lieutenant, and posted aboard the USS Edinburgh, as Assistant Chief Tactical Officer. The Edinburgh, too part of the Kalandra Sector fleet, was subsequently tasked with the same mission the Everett had served. Making Alexandre an indispensable asset.

During the ensuing quiet of Cardassian activity, however, Alexandre spent a lot of time exploring the Kalandra system and the surrounding sector. It was on Kalandra IV, ironically, that he found a coastal town that reminded him so much of home, and his childhood, that it became a refuge away from his ambition and his ego. The people, so friendly and open, they did not judge him by the means which he himself quantified his success in. But as much as such earthly sentiments could entertain him for a moment, it could not hold him indefinitely. All his other vices ran too deep.

2364 – 2371
Asking for relief of his posting on the Edinburgh, in lieu of actual tactical expertise needed, Admiral Hanson promoted his ‘foster-son’ to Chief Tactical Officer of the USS Lakona, on a mission to the borderlands of the Federation along the Romulan neutral zone. The objective being to investigate the strange disappearances of Starfleet and Romulan outposts, as discovered by the USS Enterprise-D. Instrumental in charting the tactical appraisal of the eradications, Alexandre drew conclusions to an El-Aurian myth, about a yet unseen, superior foe.

It was, however, only after the return of the Enterprise from an excursion to the Delta Quadrant, courtesy of Q, that a direct connection to the Borg could be established. Filing his final report, it was subsequently buried by Starfleet command, allowing for the first rift to form between Alexandre and his mentor.

Finally, after the New Providence outpost on Jouret IV was destroyed by the Borg, marking it their first incursion into Federation space, that Starfleet acknowledged the threat and began with the Defiant program. Tactical analysis having moved on to Commander Shelby – another prodigy of Hanson’s - by that time, who built a majority of her strategy on Alexandre’s initial report a year back. Earning him a condolence promotion to first officer, but still, it was then that the bond between him and his benefactor broke, beneath the surface. He still retained a semblance of cordiality to benefit from further favoritism in the years to come, until the ultimate end.

2372 – 2375
In the onset of the Dominion War, Starfleet was in dire need of good strategists with a commanding presence to lead their defense forces. Alexandre was swiftly promoted to Captain and assumed command over the USS Endeavour.

Although originally leaving earth for the Cardassian border, the ship was briefly recalled in 2373 to fight in the Battle of Sector 001 against the Borg. In which Alexandre’s previous experiences with their tactics and his general expertise were instrumental in coordinating the attack until the Enterprise arrived and the more seasoned officer, Captain Picard, took over.

After the Borg cube was destroyed and the subsequent incursion into earth’s history was averted, the Endeavour was ordered into drydock for much needed repairs. Despite asking for a transfer to the front lines of the Dominion War, Alexandre was refused by Admiral Hanson – who had taken over Sector Command of Kalandra by that time - to stay with his ship. It took until the early months of 2374 for the Endeavour to reach the Cardassian border and join the seventh fleet in the wartime efforts. By which time Alexandre was furious with Starfleet’s passive and lethargic stance, Hanson’s in particular.

To make matters worse, the Dominion subsequently annexed the Kalandra system, his only safe haven, for what little positive memories of a different life remained. It was in that moment, that the captain’s strategic mind, finally turned against his mentor. Fighting relentlessly in the final battles of the war, like the counter-offensive that retook the sector, the Dominion and Cardassian Forces ultimately surrendered in 2375.

2375 – 2379
During the immediate aftermath of the war, Alexandre finally dropped the axe on his former mentor, Admiral Hanson. Presenting Starfleet Command with an incomparable tactical report, detailing the mistakes leading to Kalendra being captured and Betazed invaded, he managed to pin almost all wrongdoing on Hanson, while garnering the support of the majority of the sector fleet captains, behind him. A coup, that subsequently led to Admiral Hanson’s forced retirement, as well as Alexandre’s promotion to Rear Admiral and the command position over Starfleet forces in the sector. A position he would hold for 4 years, while the Federation rebuilt.

The USS Sentinel, a Sovereign Class refit, was renamed by his request to USS Valdivia – after a famous conquistador – and assigned as his personal flagship. Which would serve him without interruption, for 4 years, to this day, with mostly its entire original and loyal crew.

By that time he had achieved what he’d always wanted, eliminated the need for a benefactor and become the master of his own luck. He was now the executive arm of the conservative branch within Starfleet, rather than its puppet. The man of conviction and strive that Hanson could’ve never been

2379 – XXXX
And while Alexandre would’ve been content living out his days as the superior leader within his own corner of the Federation – ignoring the spineless political puppet that had been installed as governor by the council – the need for a man just like him arose anew when the warp corridor to the Narendra Sector was reopened in late 2379. Allowing Starfleet to travel into this remote part of Federation territory again for the first time in 5 years. And when he was approached about the possibility to be the sole Commander in Chief of such a task force - a position his conservative peers in Command had relentlessly lobbied for, to claim this new frontier their own – he gladly obliged. No political red-tape, not diplomatic guidelines … it was a Starfleet mission to conquer, not to make alliances and scientific progresses – even though the majority of staff was left under that very impression.

Taking up office on Starbase 364, establishing a loyal command structure among the scattered bases in the sector, Alexandre cast out the opposing remains of what little self-government had formed in the 5 years of isolation. Subsequently branding them as terrorists. Forcing many former Starfleet personnel into an underground movement, the self-proclaimed ‘Keepers’ (in reference to the Klingon mythological creature of Argyros the Keeper, which the Expanse represents), that became far harder to control. And while the Federation mandate for the Narendra sector and Task Force 11 stipulates peaceful exploration of the Shackleton Expanse. Behind the scenes most of the Admiral’s time is spent with solidifying Starfleet totalitarian rule over the bases and ships under its influence.

Appearance
Alexandre was never the tallest, nor the most impressive in his physical build, but he made up for it with a brilliant mind. His handsome face, pale blue eyes and thick, healthy chestnut hair, complimented one another well enough to be considered pleasantly looking. That paired with his infallible charisma, proved to be an infallible strategy in achieving what and who he wanted.

That being said, he also has the ability to clean up well, even with his casual 3-day scruff. Neatly kept hair and otherwise pristine physical appearance played a major role in filling the upper tiers of Starfleet hierarchy well. His posture, always square-shouldered and upright, transports the imposing prowess of his intellect with unmistakable intent and relentlessness.

All the while his face can switch from charming and suave to cold and calculating in a heartbeat, with the former being a simply well groomed façade.

Motivation
What initially motivated Alexandre to follow the call into the uncharted frontier was the promise of complete liberty in how he wished to approach any eventuality presented there. Having grown increasingly weary with federation protocol and its political figureheads, the man longed for the golden days of exploration, long passed, that deserved the moniker ‘conquering’ more than anything.

Dreading the times of political correctness, where every minor stone-throwing species had to be protected and taken into consideration, merely because they managed to draw their hands on a cave wall, he strived towards the more totalitarian approach that Starfleet offered him, in return for assured superiority in the area.

A seasoned veteran of conflicts involving the Romulans and Klingons, as well as the Cardassians, Dominion and Borg, he felt predestined and entitled, to push the boundaries of humanity through, at all costs. Hence his inclination to mostly chart former battle ships and escorts as ‘explorers’ to this new frontier and into his task force.

Episode 01

 * Day 01 | 0000 hrs. | Thread Title with Character 01, Character 02, Character 03