Neeva

Lieutenant Commander Neeva was the Operations manager , later First officer of the USS Excelsior (NCC-2000-C), in the mid-to late 24th century. (Star Trek: Excelsior)

Background

Neeva was born on a failed Klingon Colony on the border of Tholian Space. Though the Klingons still had a Garrison on the planet, they took no interest in planetary governmental affairs, merely self-defense. This allowed a criminal element to permeate the remains of the colony. Neeva's mother , Derae'e Dulac was a former animal woman turned prostitute, and her father, Thoem-Va, a merchant dealing in 'Yamok Sauce' according to her mother. When she was still a young girl, she snuck aboard her father's transport ship as a stowaway, remaining hidden, revealing herself only after they had departed Koh't. Thoem-va did not acknowledge her as his daughter – a fact for which she had grown grateful over the years. He kept the Tellarite crewmembers from enslaving and killing her, so She was grateful for that, too, and put her to work tending the animals. These were Lissepian antlions. The crew used them during boarding actions to tear through secure bulkheads and break forcefields. The antlions usually came back from missions covered in blood and viscera. Sometimes it was crystal dust, hot to the touch. Neeva was responsible for showering them, especially their fragile eyes. She did make a friend within the Klingon Garrison. The son of the Garrison Commander. His name was Karnas. He gave her his Grandfather's D'k Tahg knife, which saved her life on more than a few occasions. She finally escaped her life of piracy when she was fourteen terran years of age. Thoem-va’s ship struck a spatial anomaly. The ship lost power and propulsion. The damage was superficial, but it was adrift in disputed space with a very big price on the crew's heads. They were out there, running silent, hoping for a miracle, for more than a month. By the third week they were beginning to starve to death. The crew started eating the antlions. Another week and Neeva believed the Tellerites would have eaten her. Then a merchant vessel, flying under Federation colors, happened to pass by. It was armed, or the crew might have attacked it, but instead Thoem-va burned out the last of the battery reserves to call for help. Most of the crew thought Thoem-va was crazy, especially the Brentari – they’d never heard of the Federation, and “extending a helping hand” was a good way to end up dead in our corner of the galaxy. But they underestimated the compassion of citizens of the Federation. Professor Fellowes, a passenger on the merchant ship, was sent over as their representative. They said it was because he had the engineering expertise to assess the damage and posessed the language skills to communicate... ostensibly he was sent because he was braver than the rest. During his tour, he noticed Neeva, a little Orion girl about to hit puberty on a ship full of evil men. He agreed to hand over the necessary supplies to effect repairs, and he told them the price for that assistance: Neeva. Thoem-va thought Professor Jason was a chump for fixing his ship at such a low, low price. He only lost his daughter, not something really important, like the alcohol stockpile. The traders made the exchange, and Neeva was taken back to Professor Jason’s ship. At age Nineteen, Neeva enrolled in Starfleet Academy.

Starfleet Career

After graduating from the academy, Neeva had several successful tours, The Starships USS Saigon, Mon Calla, the Totallic, and Apallachia. She also participated in Project Jericho. It was not all positive. She did face a measure of resistance due to her background. In her own words, "I've never had a male C.O. I didn't hate." Neeva was well-grounded in Starfleet rules and regulations. LT Yubari once commented, "You're an intransigent young hothead who doesn't know the difference between rightness and outrage… We should be friends." Following Excelsior's breakout from Starbase 911, (Every Captain Has Admiral Issues) though she didn't share CDR Dovan's take on the situation and believed he should face court-martial for his actions, she also recognized that he had the support of the majority of the crew, so her best option was to "keep my head down and do my job." When approached by Chief Diplomat (as well as disgraced former Captain) Joshua Underwood about relieving Dovan and securing the ship, Neeva refused to commit herself either way. Though she found Dovan's disregard for the rules disturbing, she found Underwood was definitely no improvement. While she was working on decrypting the pursuing Renegade's comm transmissions, planet New Victoria came under attack by pirates, acting under orders from General Brahms. When Excelsior arrived in orbit, it was jumped by 28 pirate fighters. Ship damage caused the computer core, where she was working on decryption, to start to fill up with viridium 9 gas. Refusing to leave the core after being ordered to by CDR Dovan, Neeva finally broke Brahm's encryption. Underwood pounced on the opportunity, ordering Neeva to signal their surrender to the pirates. Ignoring protests and arguments from both Dovan and Underwood, Neeva opened the channel. Before she could take any further action, the gas rendered her unconscious. Her rescue by CDR Dovan eased her feelings towards him, albeit slightly.

When the Excelsior Reached the abandoned SS Anbar, Neeva was part of the away team along with Lohrok, Simon Westlake, Major Willis, and 3 Marines. They made it to the makeshift bridge when the instruments started powering up. Simon detected massive movement incoming. It was the Bluegill swarm. Moving rapidly, they covered all the exits. The away team was trapped. The swarm overwhelmed and infested the away team. Neeva became the Zero Esplin. In her dreamscape, Esplin confronted Neeva. Despite an almost overwhelming sense of guilt, Esplund knew this was her one chance at this life. Her 'life' was cut short as Major Willis, despite being infested, had been inoculated, and was in the process of freeing his fellow away team members. He pinched off the gill, and forced Esplin to vacate the body. Working with Anbar Skipper Sam Cox, she, along with most of the away team escaped Gevinon just as The Wasting and the Hellfire torpedoes had begun their deadly work, and were soon reunited with the battered and battle-damaged Excelsior.

Relationships

With Her Peers

Lieutenant Commander Kestra J'Naya

The two Lieutenant Commanders came aboard together from the Steamrunner-class USS Totallic, filling the ranks from the massive losses following Valandria and Gevinon. Kestra was one of the friends Neeva had onboard, willing to go out of her way to lend a hand with a joint inspection of the Starboard warp nacelle. "Well, thank you, anyway. It’s been a tough time trying to fit in with this crew, but you’ve been there for me the whole time. Whether you admit it or not." Kestra expressed her gratitude by baking Neeva a cake from scratch. (The Mapstone) During a routine survey of a Divitian Conglomerate called Centaurus Foods, Kestra rescued Neeva and Lieutenant Aleczahnder Lohrok from the telepathic hold of a race of extragalactic beings controlling the workers. (Nurturing Life) Neeva was also in on a betting pool on how fast Kestra would break up with her current boyfriend at the time, a member of Excelsior's civilian union named Curly during a party. Following that, she steered Kestra towards a more suitable prospect, Master chief petty officer Jack Meyers, who shared her love of baking. (All Men Lie) It was from that beginning the precipitated Jack's arrest for violation of the Prime Directive (And Bear Witness)

With Her Superiors

Commander Alcar Dovan

Neeva made herself clear from the start; "With all due respect, sir, I've never met a male C.O. I didn't hate". They were about as opposite in personality as 2 people could be. Neeva, entrenched in holding fast to the rules, regulations and policies that were the bedrock of the Federation and Starfleet. Alcar Dovan, the very paragon of Protecting the people and starfleet, even from itself, at any and all costs. (Every Good Captain has Admiral Issues) Despite their diametrically opposed positions, They were part of a solid command crew. They proved it at Mantua, at The Star Fountain, and again at Tulia. Neeva and Kestra were providing assistance to the Perenalthorias Union During a raid by the Tulian Island League. On one of the viewscreens the Divitians observed Alcar Dovan and Alecz Lohrok among the Tulians. Kestra and Neeva were arrested, and were facing execution. They were rescued at the last minute by Yubari Asuka and the Starfleet Marine detachment. It wasn't until after the Excelsior returned to Starbase 911 following the end of her two-year mission to the Delta Quadrant that Neeva finally found out how. Master chief petty officer Jack Meyers had been arrested after being accused of aiding the Tulian Island League, precipitating the "Licensing Wars" would involve over 28 Star systems costing over 3 million lives. Neeva and Yubari had been tasked with the investigation. They uncovered that it was in fact Commander Dovan that had violated the Prime Directive , providing the Tulians approximately 50 Starfleet Tricorders enabling the Tulians to have a fighting chance. Neeva wanted to burst in on the proceedings immediately. Yubari, insisted on speaking to the Captain first, threatening the friend she loved dearly with broken limbs if necessary, to stop her. In the end, Dovan confessed to his involvement to save Jack Meyers, and completely exonerate him. Neeva was livid. "We had you, captain. Dead to rights. The phaser on the bridge, the one you keep under your chair. You stuffed a rock under the cushion so no one would notice it was missing!" "Who the hell do you think you are, Captain?! Mark Jameson?! If the Man had asked for phaser rifles, would you have handed those over, too?!" "I swore an oath, Captain, and so did everyone on that Away Team - to give our lives before we interfered! Apparently, you didn't swear the same one!" "You think the Islanders are saints? You think they won't commit atrocities right back at the Divitians - deliberate ones, worse ones - to win? I'm not the one with blood on her hands!" Dovan retorted, "Kirk did it! Captain James T. Kirk on planet Neural. The Klingons gave gunpowder to one native tribe, so Kirk gave gunpowder to the other, so they could protect themselves!" "And how'd that work out for him? Do you know what happened to Neural, or did you skip that class? Do you know why the Prime Directive is so strict now? Because the Klingons upgraded their weapons, and so did we. Onward and onward, faster and faster. In just twenty five years, they learned about grapeshot, trench warfare, the atom bomb! A hundred million people died!" "And? Who won?" "Who won? Nobody won! Maybe the few surviving oncologists! The undertakers' guild!" "The Klingon Empire was not kind, Neeva! Klingon occupation back then meant military governors, chattel slavery, forced abortions, famine. Kirk gave them a fighting chance. So this is not a rhetorical question: after all those millions dead, who won? The Klingons? Or us? We know how it would've ended if they didn't fight back at all!" "That's not fair! People are actually dying because of what you did. You can't pretend to know what would have happened if you didn't!" "I have a pretty good idea." "So did Brahms. That's why he blew up New Victoria. How'd that turn out for him?" "I helped innocents. I didn't kill them." "You've always put your crew first, Captain, sometimes ahead of the rules. You taught me that's okay, and I'm grateful. But you were supposed to know that there was a line. Some rules aren't just paper. Permission to be dismissed." (And Bear Witness) When Dovan returned to the ship as Llrac Ovdan, Admiral Parker informed her of his true identity, and tasked her with keeping an eye on him (The Unpardonable Sin)

Captain Aleczahnder Lorhrok

Neeva and Excelsiors future Commanding Officer didn't start off on anything but a professional relationship. All of that changed after the S.S. Anbar was destroyed, and the Away team was infested. The two Bluegill parasites that infected Neeva and Lorhrok became the Zeero Esplin and Temrash, the latter being lovers. Esplin was overwhelmingly conflicted with guilt over co-habitating the host body, but was determined she wanted this life, to see to feel to touch, and to love. Without suppressants, Esplin was in a dreamscape - based battle for control of Neeva's body, a battle that ended when Major Willis forced the parasite out of her body by pinching offf its gill. The away team, joined by Skipper Samantha Cox, late of the S.S. Anbar, managed to escape the planet by various means, Neeva and Lorhrok grabbed a Bluegill shuttle in barely enough time before they were overwhelmed by infected Zeero. (The Graceful End) They were far from safe. The Shuttle had numerous 'issues' that complicated their escape several times over. Keeping the shuttle functioning on even an near intolerable pushed the duo to their limits. Added to the fact that the close quarters and failing systems pushed Neeva's pheromone levels far beyond safe levels. If they didn't kill each other, they would die in the throes of uncontrolled passion "If I can’t keep the air scrubbers going, you’ll succumb to my pheromones and we’ll die rutting like animals on the floor long before we reach the planet." They were intercepted and picked up by an alien species never before encountered, and transported the rest of the way to the Excelsior. (Picking Up the Pieces) The first days back onboard were extremely awkward for Alecz as he could not bring himself to discuss what happened in the shuttle with Neeva, or anyone else. It got to the point where Doctor Sharp ordered him to deal with it. "That’s a medical order, Lieutenant. Talk to her yourself, or you’ll talk to her in my office."

Chronology

• 2360 - Born on Koh't
• 2374 - Rescued from her father's Pirate ship by United Federation of Planets citizen Professor Fellowes
• 2379 - Enrolls in Starfleet Academy
• 2383 - Graduates from Starfleet Academy, is posted to the New Orleans-class Starship USS Saigon (NCC-65304) Subsequent tours include the Starships Mon Calla, Newburgh, Totallic, Appalachia, and the Excelsior. She also served on The Jericho Project.
• 2388 - Replaces Lieutenant commander Yubari Asuka as First officer of the Sovereign-class USS Excelsior

Memorable quotes

" With all due respect, sir, I've never had a male C.O. I didn't hate."

— (Star Trek: Excelsior - Every Good Captain Has Admiral Issues)

" Have I mentioned how big a fan I am of the Starfleet Code of Conduct?"

— (Star Trek: Excelsior - Every Good Captain Has Admiral Issues)

" What I said goes double for captains."

— (Star Trek: Excelsior -The Pursuit

" Following the rules is doing the right thing. That's why they're the rules. Otherwise you're just... making up right and wrong for yourself."

— (Star Trek: Excelsior -The Pursuit

" I was already halfway into Starfleet when Professor Fellowes rescued me. Karnas had taught me about my honor; after four years on a pirate ship, my honor was about the only thing I had left. Starfleet rewards honor. When I met Uncle Allonz, a pilot assigned to the D.M.Z., the idea of following him into service seemed natural."

— (Star Trek: Excelsior - Biography -Neeva)

" You've always put your crew first, Captain, sometimes ahead of the rules. You taught me that's okay, and I'm grateful. But you were supposed to know that there was a line. Some rules aren't just paper. Permission to be dismissed"

— (Star Trek: Excelsior - And Bear Witness)

" Mister Ovdan. The reason the rest of this ship doesn't know exactly who and what you are is because Admiral Parker assigned me to prevent them from finding out -- and I am a very good First Officer. But if you can't be bothered to learn the basics of the job that is keeping you out of that jail cell where you belong, then so help me [I will tell Admiral Parker I'm taking you back to the stockade myself.] "

— (Star Trek: Excelsior - The Unpardonable Sin)

Background

• Neeva is played by Kennedy in all her appearances in Star Trek: Excelsior.