Benjamin Caldwell

Lieutenant junior grade Dakota Stonewall Caldwell is the chief linguistics officer of the USS Cantabrian (NCC-24705).

Childhood
Dakota Caldwell was born to Dr. Jefferson and then-Commander Sydney Caldwell in 2346.

Sometime between his mother gaining a promotion to captain and commanding officer of the USS Cartwright and 2359, the Cartwright crew discovered an ancient alien artifact and brought it aboard. When Dakota went to have a look, it activated and altered his genetic structure. This alteration gave him an unnatural ability with deciphering and speaking alien languages.

In 2359, Dakota's mother and her crew were lost when the Cartwright disappeared during the Federation-Tzenkethi War. In 2360, his father died from a terminal illness. Dakota was 15 and became a ward of the state.

Starfleet Academy
Dakota Caldwell petitioned Starfleet to be allowed to join Starfleet Academy due to his genetically-altered nature. Starfleet approved this request, and Dakota attended from 2362 until he graduated in 2366.

Starfleet History
Fresh out of the Academy, Dakota Caldwell was assigned to the USS Galaxy (NCC-70637) as a linguistics officer. During aboard his time aboard the Galaxy, he grew very withdrawn and unhappy.

The Galaxy made first contact with the elusive Lelari, and, without Dakota's help, the first contact may not have been so successful. The Lelari were so impressed with Caldwell's abilities that they requested a cultural exchange officer, and the Galaxy's commanding officer urged Dakota to undertake this experience.

On Lelar Prime
On Lelar Prime, Dakota Caldwell discovered vital information about the Mhyr'an, Renai'i and other reclusive, hostile and non-aligned races. In addition, he secured Lelari trust: one of the Federation's main objectives.

By 2372, the Lelari grew to trust outsiders so much they allowed a certain number of non-Lelari (called "offworlders") to reside, study and work on their homeworld. It was at this time Dakota Caldwell was moved to Starbase Expanse 4 to await transfer.

Dakota Caldwell, on a cave tour with several others from SE4, survived the Mhyr'an orbital attack. The aftershock separated Dakota and Yh'ahni from the others, who were stranded on the other side of the cave-in.

A Cantabrian away team, led by Antonio Ramirez, rescued the survivors.

Aboard the Starship Cantabrian
After the death of the Cantabrian's chief linguistics officer Threk, Captain Noel Turner asked Dakota Caldwell to join the Cantabrian team.

Excerpt from Admiral's Report
'''Profile by Admiral Zahara Hogan. Stardate 49439.8'''

''Lieutenant Dakota Caldwell has the remarkable talent of near instantaneous understanding of a language after mere minutes. Unhappy with his assignment aboard the USS Galaxy, Caldwell jumped at the opportunity to serve as the Federation's cultural exchange officer to the mysterious, reclusive Lelari on their homeworld, Lelar Prime, where he not only bridged the gap between the Federation and the Lelari but also learned vital information on other races including the Myhr'an and the Renai'i.''

Lieutenant Caldwell lost his mother during the Tzenkethi War, when her ship, the Cartwright'', never returned from a top secret mission. A year later, his father, one of the Federation's leading exoendocrinologists, fell terminally ill and died. Caldwell was 15.''

Caldwell finished his tour on Lelar Prime and has been instructed to wait in Federation space at Starbase Expanse 4 for further assignment.