Peter Armstrong
| |
| Peter Armstrong | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Homeworld: |
Earth |
| Species: |
Human |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Birth: |
31 July 2350 |
| Physical Description | |
| Height: |
5’11" |
| Weight: |
165lbs |
| Hair: |
Dark Brown |
| Eyes: |
Brown |
| Political Information | |
| Affiliation: | |
| Posting: | |
| Position: |
Chief Strategic Operations Officer |
| Rank: | |
| Played By: | |
| [ Source ] | |
Peter Armstrong is a celebrated Federation Starfleet officer, strategist, and tactician serving during the latter half of the twenty-fourth century. The highlights of his recent career center around assignments as Chief Strategic Operations Officer of the USS Sentinel, Starbase 386, and Deep Space Five as well as Executive Officer of Starbase 386. In these roles, Armstrong not only witnessed major events involving the Elyshan Cold War, the Hobus Disaster, unrest in the Romulan Empire, and growing awareness of the Yang Zutal, but played a key role in them also. He currently serves as Chief Strategic Operations Officer and Second Officer of the Sentinel-class USS Sentinel.
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Physical Description
Most would consider Peter to be quite average in appearance. Perhaps this is because he places a greater emphasis on his own personality as well as his interactions with others rather than on how well he looks. Still, he manages to maintain a somewhat youthful appearance that many have found to be quite approachable.
Peter's well-built physique is a result of genetic heritage and the discipline of competitive swimming. He has certainly displayed the capability of fending for himself when the need arises, though he would prefer to solve things as diplomatically as possible. During duty hours, Peter abides strictly by the Starfleet uniform dress code and prefers to dress simply, avoiding flashy or showy clothing as much as possible, during his time off-duty.
Personality & Traits
General Overview
Peter is a light-hearted spirit who likes to look for the best in everyone, even if that person isn't necessarily aware it is there. He is not easily deterred by those who may be stronger, bigger, or louder than he is and has been able to crack many tough shells to find the 'true' person inside. His ability to listen to others has also helped him to gain an understanding of those around him.
On more than one occasion, his friendly attitude has helped him to quickly settle into new situations or assignments. He prefers to involve the entire team in the task at hand because he feels it helps improve people's ability to work together.
Strengths & Weaknesses
A unique style of leadership has helped Peter to earn praise and recognition from more than one of his superior officers. He has demonstrated an ability to coordinate the efforts of others without lording above them in a way that plays to the strengths of his team. Such dedication to ship and crew has been noted on many occasions, earning him the respect and approval of both superior officers and his peers.
Peter also has a tendency to become extremely defensive or protective of those closest to him, sometimes to the point of pushing what some might consider to be the boundaries of appropriate behavior for a Starfleet Officer. He has also shown a tendency to assume responsibility for things that aren't always his direct responsibility. This has lead him to take on projects and to overwork himself when he has felt that he was responsible for their failure.
Ambitions
It is perhaps most fitting that a man who chose to pursue a career in Starfleet and has accomplished so much during his relatively short career would have an interest in one day earning the right to sit in the center chair. Like so many others who have chosen to dedicate their lives to a career in Starfleet, Peter would very much like to see himself remaining what he considers to be a true explorer.
Hobbies & Interests
Above all else, Peter has always had an insatiable appetite for literature. He learned to read at a relatively early age and has never turned himself away from the opportunity to enjoy the adventure offered by a good book. Though he enjoys a good holonovel as much as the next person, he prefers to visit a location in person whenever possible. He believes that doing so gives him a better sense of the original setting.
In addition to his many adventures, Peter enjoys spending time with his peers and getting to know people outside of the professional setting. He has often played host to various social activities such as card playing and other small gatherings in the hopes of fostering a greater sense of commerodity amongst his shipmates.
Languages: Federation Standard (English), German, and Romulan
Family
| Father: | William Armstrong |
| Mother: | Laura Armstrong |
History
Early Childhood
Peter Lewis Armstrong was born to William and Laura Armstrong on July 31, 2350 in the moderately-sized Midwestern town of Hannibal, Missouri. Most people would have considered Peter's early childhood to be quite average were it not for the fact that he always seemed to be one step ahead of the curve developmentally. He began reading at an early age, much to the surprise of his family and their friends, and quickly devoured any book he could get his hands on. This led to him developing a mastery of language which often made him seem much older than he was.
By the time he began attending primary school, his parents and teachers both agreed that Peter was quite an advanced learner who deserved to be given a chance to grow at his own pace. The young boy's mind was like a sponge, absorbing and retaining anything and everything he encountered. His thirst for knowledge seemed insatiable and it came as no surprise when he quickly surpassed the other students in reading ability.
In addition to learning, Peter seemed to take a particular interest in competitive swimming. He joined the local swim team at age six and, by the time he was a freshman in high school, had earned a place on the varsity squad. Being on the team taught him how to organize his time well so as to accommodate his academics, family, and social lives into the mix. Looking back, the teamwork and fitness he gained from the experience could only have been surpassed by the fun he had every time he entered the water.
Starfleet Academy
Peter was accepted to Starfleet Academy as a freshman in early 2368 amidst the Federation's effort to recover from the devastating losses incurred at Wolf 359 during the first Borg invasion and serious concerns regarding the ongoing Klingon Civil War. The atmosphere on campus was highly charged with anticipation. Many of his fellow cadets were eager to get out into the field, despite the concerns many of them had about what sort of impact these things were going to have on their dreams. A deadly accident at the Saturn Flight Range involving members of Nova Squadron only served to raise further doubts in many cadets’ minds. Still, it did not seem to completely overpower their collective desire to be helping out wherever they could.
Starfleet Command soon realized expanding the cadet field assignment program could help to alleviate stresses on personnel distributions across the fleet and decided that there might be a use for the cadets after all. Within the first six months of his Academy training, Peter realized he was going to have to split his time between academics and field assignments. Cadets were called upon to assist with a variety of tasks on Earth and within Sector 001 as part of an effort to push officers and enlisted personnel toward positions further afield. More experienced cadets were sometimes granted field promotions before being assigned to starships operating as far out as the Federation frontier.
Peter's first field assignment was as a member of the Security/Tactical department aboard the USS Marinette, an aging Miranda-class vessel assigned to courier duty between many of the core Federation worlds. The Marinette certainly wasn't the most prestigious assignment one could hope to achieve in their career. A majority of his time spent aboard consisted of assisting in security for the transporting of goods and personnel from one location to another. Still, it provided him with his first opportunity to see what life was like aboard a Federation starship and to learn practical skills from officers in the field.
After less than a year aboard the Marinette, Peter was transferred to the Nebula-class USS Menominee where he continued to work with the members of the Security/Tactical department while simultaneously keeping up with his Academy coursework. Peter's ability to handle his academic load while still demonstrating quality performance in his duty assignments greatly impressed his superiors. He was quickly instituted into the Academy's command track program and soon found himself faced with an increasing amount of responsibility to those he served with.
During the Dominion War
Peter graduated from the command program with honors in the spring of 2371 well aware of the growing tensions between the Federation and the newly encountered Dominion, but recognizing the many opportunities a career in Starfleet had to offer him. The explorer in him was not willing to give up so easily, even in the face of danger, and he still looked forward to the opportunity to venture out into the unknown in search of that which had yet to be explored.
His first posting following graduation was as a tactical officer aboard the Defiant-class USS Monitor. The smaller crew compliment and specialized mission profile of the Monitor meant that Peter had considerable opportunity to work with his shipmates in other departments. One of his goals during this time was to better understand flight maneuvering in hopes that it might help him improve his own effectiveness during combat. He would often spend hours working with flight control officer and fellow Academy graduate Ensign Josh Brighton to achieve this goal.
Peter's skills with starship combat and tactical maneuvering quickly gained the attention of his superiors. During an engagement with a belligerent mining vessel near Ishtar IV, Peter was able to put his efforts to good use and coordinated with the flight control officer to disable the alien vessel with minimal damage to either ship. Both Peter and Ensign Brighton were commended for their efforts to improve interdepartmental coordination. They were asked to further expand the benefits of their work by briefing their respective departments on the methods that had been developed thus far.
By 2373, rising tensions with the Dominion had reached a breaking point and it seemed as if war was inevitable. The Monitor was quickly deployed to serve as an armed escort and patrol vessel along Federation supply lines which meant that Peter soon found himself faced with the realities of long-duration combat. It was hoped that the proven success of the Defiant-class starship design would help to ensure the security of Federation assets during the war.
The crew of the Monitor distinguished themselves throughout the course of the war for their effectiveness and willingness to go above-and-beyond the call of duty. Not only did they affirm the defensive capabilities of the Defiant-class, but they also demonstrated how versatile a single starship could be under a variety of conditions. Reconnaissance, search-and-rescue, escort, system patrol, enemy interception, and rapid deployment were all incorporated into the mission profile of what had become affectionately known as "a tough little ship."
A Return to Peace
By the time the war ended in 2375, Peter had received orders to report to the Intrepid-class USS Theseus where he assumed the role of Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer and earned himself a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant JG. The Theseus, by her very nature, maintained a different mission profile, though equally as challenging for any tactical officer, from that of the Monitor. Serving aboard an Intrepid-class starship meant that Peter found himself faced with the more scientific side of Starfleet operations unlike those he had experienced during the Dominion War. Peter quickly demonstrated to his superiors aboard the Theseus what had already been recognized by so many others...his incredible sense of efficiency and organization. The tactics he had developed in conjunction with Ensign Brighton helped to streamline operations and improve tactical efficiency by nearly fifteen percent over the course of only a few short weeks.
An encounter with a renegade Romulan war party in late 2377 further demonstrated to Peter's superiors his ability to lead and act decisively in difficult or hostile situations. The Theseus had responded to a distress call from what they originally believed to be a mining colony on the surface of a class-M moon in the Tydara system. Peter and his away team were pinned down by enemy fire only moments after landing on the surface. Cut off from the shuttle and with no other way to contact the Theseus, Peter was forced to coordinate the efforts of the team on his own. He managed to keep the team's morale up long enough to overpower the Romulans and re-establish contact with the Theseus.
Aboard the USS Challenger
Peter's actions earned him well-deserved praise from his commanding officer, a promotion to the rank of full Lieutenant, and an offer to serve as Chief Security/Tactical Officer aboard the USS Challenger. The choice did not come easily for Peter, but the strong recommendation of his captain convinced him that it was the right decision to be made. Little did anyone know it would be in his time aboard the Challenger that Peter would most distinguish himself as a Starfleet Officer to date.
The USS Challenger was a Galaxy-class refit that had served with distinction during the combat of the Dominion War as well as the reconstruction efforts in the years following. This meant the Challenger, in contrast to Peter's previous assignments, participated in a broader mission profile than the mostly combat-oriented focus of the Monitor or the Theseus. Peter saw his new assignment as an opportunity to expand beyond the confines of his own specialization to further interact with those in other departments. Once again, he made use of the work he had continued to develop since his days aboard the Monitor to improve the efficiency of interdepartmental dealings.
Peter was an integral part of preparing the Challenger crew for possible combat when the ship was placed on high alert during the Shinzon Incident in 2379. Due to its proximity to the Romulan Neutral Zone, the Challenger was one of many ships upgraded to yellow alert in anticipation of possible conflict. The situation was eventually resolved by the crew of the USS Enterprise and the Challenger was assigned as part of the task force to render assistance to the Romulans under the lead of Captain Riker and the USS Titan.
When the Challenger's Executive Officer was offered a command of her own in early 2381, Captain Kyle Anderson approached Peter to ask if he would be willing to take on the responsibilities of Executive Officer. Captain Anderson had been watching his Chief Security/Tactical Officer with great interest ever since he had come aboard and there was little doubt in the captain's mind Peter was capable of serving in such a position. This shift from Security/Tactical to Command brought about its own share of opportunities and challenges for Peter as well as a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Peter assumed temporary command of the Challenger when Captain Anderson was presumed lost following a catastrophic explosion on the mining station serving as host to tense negotiations between the Faelir and the Kahle. The two species had been fighting over the mining rights to a large asteroid field in their system and had called upon the Federation to serve as arbiters. It was later discovered the explosion had merely been a ruse meant to cover up the fact that Captain Anderson had been kidnapped by a group hoping to sabotage the negotiations. The kidnappers had hoped to convince Federation to withdraw from the negotiations by inciting conflict between the negotiating sides. The crew of the Challenger was eventually able to uncover the plot and rescue the captain, but Starfleet Command ordered them to withdraw from the negotiations, citing the need for the two species to come to agreement on their own.
It was also aboard the Challenger that Peter first met Ensign Thomas Gates, who was assigned as his yeoman only a few months before Peter was transferred to Starbase 386. The two had become rather close friends during their short time together aboard the Challenger and it was because of this that Ensign Gates chose to follow the commander to his new post. To the younger officer, Peter was like an older brother, helping Gates to stretch out and become his own person, rather than always trying to live up to his father's expectations.
New Opportunities
Early 2384 brought about new opportunities for Peter when he was offered the position of Executive Officer aboard the Nor-class Starbase 386. The station's proximity to the unclaimed space between the Breen Confederacy and the Elyshan Empire certainly made Starbase 386 a true frontier outpost poised on the brink of the unknown. It may not have had the mobility of a ship-based assignment, but Peter readily accepted the position and transferred to the station along with several other personnel being transported by the USS Challenger.
Not long after the station had become operational, increased activity within the nearby Elyshan Empire began causing increased tensions along the border which Starfleet Command could no longer ignore. It soon became clear that something needed to be done before these minor skirmishes escalated into another intergalactic war. Starbase 386 was chosen to serve as host to the first Galactic Quadrant Powers Summit because of its relatively centralized location. Peter worked closely with his own yeoman to help ensure preparations for the event continued to run as smoothly as possible. When the Excelsior-Refit-class USS Orlando went missing while escorting the Elyshan delegation to the station, it was Peter who assumed command of one of the station's garrison vessels to begin search-and-rescue operations.
Peter's service aboard Starbase 386 came to an abrupt end when a family emergency forced Rear Admiral Jason Locke to return to Earth which resulted in a significant shake-up of the station's senior staff. Many of the station's personnel found themselves reassigned to various locations along the Federation frontier as the need arose. Within days of the admiral's departure, Peter received orders to report to Deep Space Five where he would assume responsibility for overseeing that station's Strategic Operations department.
Strategic Operations on the Frontier
It was no secret the myriad of personnel transfers along the Federation's core-ward frontier were a result of the ever growing hostilities between the Elyshan Empire and other Alpha Quadrant Powers. Concern that another war might soon be imminent weighed heavily on the minds of those who lived and served in such close proximity to the focus of action. As Chief Strategic Operations Officer, Peter was responsible for coordinating both Starfleet and allied assets in the region surrounding Deep Space Five. Briefings with the command staffs aboard dozens of vessels as well as his own superiors aboard the station became much more frequent in the months following his arrival. He quickly developed working relationships with those to whom he reported on a daily basis which was matched only by his growing familiarity with the ever fluctuating strategic situation.
The latter half of 2386 brought about a great deal of upheaval throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants which threatened to drastically alter the balance of power even moreso than the Elyshan Cold War ever had. Although the Elyshans had retreated within their own borders following defeats at Starbase 386 and Starbase Gatekeeper, political unrest within the Romulan Empire continued to rise and threatened to boil over into open conflict. Growing concern at Starfleet Command and the Federation Council prompted a renewed effort to formalize many of the diplomatic ties that had been established during the Dominion War.
Just before the start of the new year, Peter received new orders from Starfleet Command to return to Starbase 386 which had become the focus of Starfleet operations within the Eighth Fleet patrol zone. It was felt the rising officer's experience along the Federation frontier as well as his previous service as Executive Officer aboard the station gave him a decided advantage when it came to understanding current regional affairs. He was both surprised and enthusiastic about returning to the frontier outpost, readily accepting the position.
Getting Into the Field
Peter spent over a year aboard Starbase 386 as the station's Chief Strategic Operations Officer and Second Officer under Captain James Lange. His primary responsibilities included maintaining a working understanding of operations along the Elyshan border as well as providing support for relief operations allocated to the Romulan Empire in the wake of the Hobus Disaster. Despite his involvement with planning and overseeing such operations, Peter yearned to take a more active role than what his position aboard a permanent facility such as Starbase 386 could afford.
It wasn't long before Peter found he could no longer suppress his desire for field duty at which point he began discretely searching for assignments which might allow him the opportunity for more direct involvement. His efforts finally paid off in early 2388 when he was accepted to the position of Chief Strategic Operations Officer aboard the Sentinel-class USS Sentinel.
Service Record
| Year | Placement | Rank | Assignment |
| 2368 | Starfleet Academy |  Cadet |
Cadet (First Year) |
| USS Marinette (2368) | Cadet Field Assignment | ||
| 2369 | Starfleet Academy |  Cadet |
Cadet (Second Year) |
| USS Menominee (2369-2370) | Cadet Field Assignment | ||
| 2370 | Starfleet Academy |  Cadet |
Cadet (Third Year) |
| 2371 | Starfleet Academy |  Cadet |
Cadet (Fourth Year) |
| 2371 - 2376 | USS Monitor |  Ensign |
Tactical Officer |
| 2376 - 2378 | USS Theseus |  Lieutenant JG |
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer |
| 2378 - 2381 | USS Challenger |  Lieutenant |
Chief Security/Tactical Officer |
| 2381 - 2384 | USS Challenger |  Lieutenant Commander |
Executive Officer |
| 2384 - 2385 | Starbase 386 |  Commander |
Executive Officer |
| 2385 - 2386 | Deep Space Five | Commander |
Chief Strategic Operations Officer |
| 2386 - 2388 | Starbase 386 | Commander |
Chief Strategic Operations Officer Second Officer |
| 2388 - Present | USS Sentinel |  Lieutenant Commander (Provisional) |
Chief Strategic Operations Officer |
| Preceded by: Not Listed |
Chief Strategic Operations Officer of USS Sentinel 2388 – Present |
Succeeded by: Incumbant |
| Preceded by: Not Listed |
Chief Strategic Operations Officer of Starbase 386 2386 – 2388 |
Succeeded by: Not Listed |
| Preceded by: None |
Executive Officer of Starbase 386 2384 – 2385 |
Succeeded by: Commander Arthur Richardson, PhD |
