Elisha Jerone Irvin

Elisha Jerone Irvin was born to career Starfleet officers Barbara and Rick Irvin. Rick was an Engineering Researcher assigned to the Corps of Engineers. Barbara Irvin, then Lt JG, was the Mission Specialist of the Federation border patrol vessel, USS Belknap-B. Barbara had taken a 1 year leave of absence in order to spend some time with Eli and Rick. After her one year sabbatical, she returned to duty on board the Belknap. They heard from her occasionally, but not all that often. She managed to make contact on holidays, birthdays, other important days as well, but she seldom got back to earth. Things remained this way for many years.

Eli grew up with his father mainly. They lived in Americus for many years while Rick was stationed at the Starfleet Propulsion Research Laboratory in Albany, just a short distance from their home. Through out the years, Eli spent most of his time with his grandparents, Irene & Leonard Fletcher, and sister Leslie. Irene was the owner of a successful restaurant in Americus, and Leonard a retired starship exec who served in the Federation/Klingon war. Leslie would later grow up to become a successful family physician living and running a practice in Atlanta.

As Eli advanced in his years, began to spend more and more time with his father. He watched him do work at home on the weekends and at night. Rick took pride in the work he did and was very passionate about the Federation one day being able to reach much further than they could today with conventional warp drive. This same passion and work-pride rubbed off on Eli at a very young age. It was something that would follow him for the rest of his life.

At the age of 16, Eli’s mother, Barbara, retired from Starfleet shortly after the Belknap-B was decommissioned. She had obtained the rank of Lt. Commander and was the Executive Officer at the time of her retirement. When she returned to Americus, she wanted very much to be a part of Eli’s life from here on out. He took it as a feeble attempt to make up for the years that she was not there. Eli took her over protective, totalitarian attitude in stride. He became rebellious where his mother was concerned; spending more and more time away from home at the times he was not in school or spending time with his father at the research lab. It was this same year that Leslie completed medical school as an M.D.

In June of that same year, Rick was on board the engineering research vessel, USS Emerson. They were testing a new version of trans-warp drive that had been on the drawing board for many years. There was a critical malfunction of the power conversion units in the warp nacelles, sending a massive surge back through the warp drive system in much the same fashion as an anti-mater cascade. The dilithium crystal in the core was fractured and knocked out of the articulation frame, an uncontrolled reaction occurred, the core breached, and the ship was destroyed with all hands in orbit of Jupiter. An investigation cleared anyone person of any wrong doing and ruled the incident an accident resulting from an unforeseen design flaw. The project was abandoned shortly there after. This was little to no consolation for Eli who lost the only role model and idol that he had ever had. He was devastated. He retreated in a depression that often manifested itself in his practice of humor, sometimes which others did not find humorous. Eli’s sister, Leslie along with his mother tried to help him through this time in his life. Eli some how mottled through letting his mother know that he help was not needed or wanted. Eli then buried himself in school work and bonded closer with his sister. He pressed to the end of his high school years so that he could get off to the Academy, and away from his mother.

At the age of 18, 3 weeks before graduating from Americus High School, Eli applied to Starfleet Academy. He passed the entrance exam with flying colors. After getting the results of the exam one week after the high school commencement, he prepared for his departure. He made his goodbyes to the few friends that he had, his sister, and especially his grandparents. Before he left, Barbara managed to get a moment of Eli’s time. She sat down with him and talked for 30 minutes. After their conversation, Eli and his mother managed to put to rest many years of resentment and agreed to start a new.