Commanding Officer, USS Merlin NCC-84401
Rank: Commander
Position: Commanding Officer
Age: 45
Height: 6�0�
Weight: 178lbs.
DOB: July 12, 2335
Place of Birth: London, England, Earth
Family: Father, David; Mother, Lorraine; younger brother, Christopher
Languages: Federation Standard, Klingon, Vulcan, French, German
Hobbies: History, Chess, Building model sailing ships, Swimming, Boxing
Education/Starfleet:
2349-52: Sanford Preparatory School
2352-57: Starfleet Academy/Command School
2357-60: USS Constitution, Tactical Officer
2360-66: USS Crazy Horse, CONN/Second Officer
2366-73: USS Freedom, First Officer
2373-75: USS Questor, First Officer
2375-76: Diplomatic Attache to Admiral T'Val
2376-80: Diplomatic Liasion to the Federation Council
Matthew Quentin Drake is a descendant of the legendary Captain Sir Francis Drake, who circumnavigated the Earth in his galleon the Golden Hind in 1577. He was born in 2335 to Lorraine and David Drake. Though born in London, England on Earth, Matthew Drake grew up constantly on the move, instilling a love for travel and exploration in him from an early age. Drake was a bright and imaginative child, learning to read on his own before any formal education. He was also stubborn and independent, and had to "do things his own way". His childhood was not without some tragedy: His younger brother Christopher was lost in 2352 while visiting relatives away from Earth and presumed dead, though he was later recovered. The history of his famous ancestor, Sir Francis Drake, influenced young Matthew's own interest in becoming an explorer. At age 17, he entered Starfleet Academy and was soon on the fast track to command, graduating from Command School at the same time that he finished Academy training in 2357.
During flight training in his second year at the Academy, Drake deviated from a pre-ordered flight plan which led to the accidental death of a fellow cadet, and in turn to Drake's near-expulsion. He learned and grew from the incident, and thanks to those who saw the makings of a future captain in him--including one Admiral T'Vel, a Vulcan woman who had a powerful impact on his life -- he stayed in the Academy, though he lost all credits and had to repeat his second year. Drake came close to marrying a cadet at the Academy named Moira Stone, who conceived but lost a child by him; this tragedy ultimately drove them apart. He graduated Command School with only average marks but later excelled in actual command.
Drake was first officer aboard the USS Freedom and the USS Questor. Once, Drake was forced to activate the Questor's auto-destruct sequence to prevent the ship from falling into enemy hands when the Captain had been killed, and though its destruction was avoided, it nearly incited a mutiny led by Damon Crowley, the Chief Engineer. This incident became the basis for an ongoing enmity between the two men. The Questor continued serving as a standard Starfleet vessel until it was destroyed during the Dominion War.
After the Questor, Drake served as Admiral T'Vel's attach� for several months until he joined the Starfleet Diplomatic Corps as a liaison to the Federation Council. He disliked the job for its posturing and political tones and longed to command a ship, but accepted it as a valuable learning experience, coming away with a greater understanding and appreciation for the art of interstellar diplomacy.
He has recently taken command of the newly commissioned USS Merlin, an Excalibur class vessel in Obsidian Fleet's Task Force 21. His goal is to return to that which he loves most. Exploration.
Drake is take-charge by nature and asserts his authority without question. He "runs the show" aboard "his" ship, though it sometimes causes conflict with those around him. Still, he knows how to back off and let people do their jobs. His need for order and discipline drives him. He takes his role as a great responsibility and when problems arise on or off the ship, he feels he must answer for it in the end. He prefers the "simple" thrills of exploration.
Occasionally, Drake shows a residual streak of brazenness in his actions from his younger days, but as he has gotten older he has grown more modest and reserved. He is generally calm and casual, and sometimes quips with the crew, but when it comes to business he is all business. He believes anything is possible and refutes the "no-win" scenario. He rarely questions whether he's putting forth his best effort; he just naturally does so, and since he does, he expects the best from those around him. He pushes & challenges his crew if he feels they can do better, though sometimes he seemingly expects the impossible. Fiercely loyal to his crew, he'll risk much for them in life-threatening situations, even if it jeopardizes the ship. This is his personality "sore point": the piercing sense of loss he feels if he loses a crew-member under his command. His crew is his family. For this reason he strives to avoid such situations and proceeds cautiously, though he has been known occasionally to rush in where angels fear to tread. This also accounts for his aloof, business-like nature... he maintains a personal distance from those around him, to avoid becoming 'too attached'.
Preferring the solitude of command, Drake refuses to "get involved" in lasting romances, fearing that the potential complications might interfere with his command obligations. He is always on the go, and even during "off" hours can be found busy doing something. He is rarely seen in his quarters--more often on the holodeck or tending matters of shipboard efficiency. Drake is a natural leader. He has clear-cut ideas of what Starfleet officers should and should not do, and sometimes has difficulty reconciling this with their individual quirks. Nevertheless, he knows how to step back and let others "be themselves".
