Chance Raschen

Author's Note

Star Trek: Freedom was the fourth game that I submitted this character to, and the only one that didn’t demand that I rewrite him to fit a “cookie cutter” format. Over time I’ve been asked to make minor changes here and there, and other things I altered because I just couldn’t make it work; but the premise of the character has never changed and remained completely intact mercifully.

Pre-Starfleet History

Privateer

Federation Irregular Forces

Chance originally had no intention of joining Starfleet,but he did have a sense of "for God and Country". When the Cardassian-Federation War started just days after his graduation from Hardy-Knox University, Chance joined the Federation Irregular Forces.

The F.I.F. consisted of privateers and mercenaries hired by the Federation to augment Starfleet and the Marine Corps and were required to wear an identification patch on their right arm; their motto was “Auxiliary Power Redefined”.

As member of the F.I.F., Chance was given a Letter-of-Marque' by the Federation Council to attack and destroy, capture, or to take as prize enemy vessels. He was also commissioned to provide logistical and combat support to special units behind enemy lines on some of the Federation’s more clandestine interests. He had also partaken in some of the Federation’s legitimate military campaigns.

Throughout the war there were only two instances where Chance employed unrelenting ruthlessness and made a name for himself. The first was at a starbase designated Echo-Bravo 454. It was there that teams from the F.I.F. turned around and retaliated against their Klingon allies/aggressors after being fired upon; literally, moments after the Cardassians surrendered the base to the allies. Chance led a team that captured a Klingon B'rel class Bird-of-Prey and used it to help destroy a Vor’cha class ship.

The second occurred after escaping a Cardassian Prisoner-of-War compound. An Andorian named Thrall admitted to murdering Chance’s Romulan fiancé T’Lela during the escape while he attempted to take-off in the Star Hawk and leave his fellow escapees behind. Thrall was thwarted by a Klingon, Colonel Kree-ton. In his fury, Chance avenged her death by beating the Andorian to death.

Within a week after the Cardassian-Federation War was officially declared at an end, the Federation Irregular Forces were disbanded and all Letters-of-Marque' were made null and void. Any of the privateers and mercenaries that decided to join Starfleet or the Marines Corps were welcome to do so and “In appreciation of meritorious wartime service” were allowed to continue wearing the patch of the F.I.F. on their uniform.

Civilian Contractor

After the war, Chance continued serving the Federation as a civilian contractor providing the same kind of logistical and combat support for covert operations that he did during the war.

For the first couple of years, he was one of only 20 civilian captains that took part in Operation: Scarlet Pimpernel; a Starfleet Intelligence project to rescue Federation prisoners of war from enemy compounds by any means necessary.

Chance later was sent by SFI to fight for the Ferengi against the Orions, and then again a year later for the Orions against the Ferengi.

For the years between the Cardassian-Federation War and Chance Joined Starfleet; he was occasionally sent to help slow the enemies build-up along the Federation's borders by attacking enemy shipping using pirate methods until Starfleet was able to re-establish the balance of power in those areas.

After several years Chance did join Starfleet, even though he became dubious as to the merits and stability of the Federation.

Starfleet History

Education

Starfleet Academy

When he enrolled into the academy at age 33, Chance was able to receive credit for the civilian Crewman and the Vessel Captain licenses that he received from Hardy-Knox University. He also managed to maintain possession of his ship (Star Hawk) while attending school. This helped make it possible for Chance to rapidly meet all of his field training requirements by taking part in various kinds of missions during school breaks. It earned him extra income as well. While at the Academy, Chance was hired by a Loyalist Intel agent named D’rajevon to infiltrate the “rebellious” 52nd Fleet and to take charge of a group assigned to steal a warship. Chance had the dubious honor of graduating last in his class (2407.01.15).

USS Dennison

Having made the month long journey alone onboard the Star Hawk, Chance reported to Doctor Lewis Nymes and Commander Trevan West onboard the U.S.S. Dennison as an Operations Officer.

After the “Supernatural”, and the “Past, Present...Future” missions, Chance reconsidered his position in the civil war. Except for the Loyalist Murder Squad that made up part of his team, the rest of Chance’s group also wanted to defect.

When the Dennison pulled into space dock on Stardate 2407.07.06, Chance made arrangements for his entire team to be the only ones on duty that night while every one else was out on liberty. After being promoted to a senior grade Ensign at a late night meeting, Chance and his confederates managed to capture the ship and command which consisted of Madison Davis, Eric McDermott, Trevan West, and William Banowsky without firing a single shot.

After announcing the groups desire to defect to the 52nd Fleet, Chance surrendered the Dennison back to Captain Davis. Once the members of the Loyalist Murder Squad had all been killed; Chance was arrested.

Early the next morning Chance was taken before a Drumhead Courts-Marshall and found guilty on charges of mutiny and treason. Due to the pending battle for Earth, he was sentenced to 2 years probation.

Once the civil war was over, Chance was given a choice to remain in Starfleet and allow his personal ship, the Star Hawk, to be commandeered for Starfleet use; or be sent to prison for murder, treason, mutiny, piracy, and profiteering. He agreed to stay in Starfleet with the understanding that the Star Hawk, if not already destroyed, would be returned to him upon his honorable discharge.

On Stardate 2408.01.09 Chance was reduced in rank back to a junior grade Ensign for charges of insubordination toward Commander Eric McDermott by Captain Archibald Stakes. Captain Stakes also arranged for him an immediate reassignment to Captain Susan Rivers and the U.S.S. Rosenante. Later that morning Chance was authorized to take the Star Hawk so that he could make the three week journey more expediently.

USS Rosenante

• More to come as the journey continues...