Commodore Travis O'Rourke

Name Travis O'Rourke

Position Task Force Commanding Officer / USS Leonidas CO

Second Position Commanding Officer

Rank Commodore

Stats

8 Mission Posts

Last Post

2025, Sat Sep 13th, @ 2:03am

Basic Info
Personality
History
OCC Info

Character Information

Gender		Male
Homeworld		Earth
Species		Human
Date Of Birth(DOB)		March 3, 2344
Age		58
Nick Name		Ironback

Physical Appearance

Height		6' 2"
Weight		215
Hair Color		Thick, salt-and-pepper gray
Eye Color		Steel blue
Physical Description		Distinguishing Marks: A faded scar across his right collarbone (phaser graze, Dominion War) Slight limp in left leg during cold-weather environments (nerve damage from a boarding action during the Redoubt years) Wears a silver wedding band on a chain under his uniform—only close crew know it’s there Presence: Commands a room without needing to raise his voice. Movements are purposeful. His posture is always “ready.” Officers straighten up when he enters—whether they mean to or not.

Family

Spouse		Cmdr. Elira Voss-O’Rourke (Deceased)
Children		Ensign Saoirse Elira O’Rourke Age: 25 Species: Human Profession: Starfleet Flight Control Officer Current Posting: USS Nimue (Luna-class deep space explorer) Relationship: A talented pilot with an independent streak a parsec wide Carries both her parents’ legacies: her mother's scientific sharpness and her father's tactical instincts Maintains a respectful but emotionally distant relationship with Travis—each afraid of pushing the other away by trying too hard Occasionally sends encrypted personal messages with sharp humor, calling him “IronDad” Known among peers for flying with instinct and calculation—“She doesn’t guess, she just knows”
Father		Garret O’Rourke (Deceased)
Mother		Dr. Marielle Fontaine-O’Rourke

Personality & Traits

General Overview		Core Traits Unshakable – He’s the eye of the storm. Crisis can be raging around him, but O’Rourke doesn’t flinch. This steadiness is why crews trust him without hesitation. You don’t rise to Commodore in a combat-rated explorer without becoming a rock others can anchor to. Blunt – He doesn’t mince words. Whether it’s dressing down a junior officer or challenging a flag officer’s policy, O’Rourke speaks in short, honest terms. He’s not cruel—just surgically direct. Strategic – Beneath the rural grit is a tactical mind honed through war, politics, and deep-space diplomacy. He plays long games, weighs outcomes before speaking, and always thinks three moves ahead. Protective – Of his crew, his ship, and his remaining family. He expects the best and pushes people hard—but he’ll take a torpedo before letting someone under his command go down without a fight. Private – Keeps his emotional life tightly locked away. His grief over Elira’s death runs deep, but you’ll never hear him speak of it. Only his daughter and maybe his XO have seen past that armor. Professional Demeanor Command Presence: Quiet authority. Doesn’t shout. Doesn’t need to. A single look can silence a bridge. Mentorship Style: Harsh but fair. He remembers names, knows backstories, and backs his officers to the hilt—but expects perfection in return. Morality: Firm Federation values, but willing to bend regulation when the spirit of Starfleet demands it. He’s the kind of commander who'd break the Prime Directive if it meant saving lives—and take the heat himself. Personal Quirks Loyal to a Fault: If he calls you “crew,” you’re family. If you betray that, you're dead to him. Old-School Habits: Wakes at 0400 every day. Keeps a leather-bound journal. Prefers analog watches. Still practices hand-to-hand drills with Security weekly. Whiskey Collector: Not a drinker anymore, but collects bottles from every planet he’s been stationed near—each one unopened. The unopened bottle from Elira’s last station still sits in his ready room. Reputation Among Starfleet Brass: “Reliable. Unflappable. Not a politician.” Trusted for high-stakes, high-autonomy missions. Among His Crew: “Tough as hell, but he’ll bleed for you.” A legend in uniform, but one who walks the decks, not just the bridge. Among Adversaries: Feared and respected. The Breen are rumored to refer to him as “The Silent Iron.” Personality Summary Quote: “He doesn’t bark. Doesn’t boast. But if you’re bleeding on a transporter pad and he’s the one standing over you, you’ll live. Because he doesn’t lose people. Not twice.” — Lt. JG Juno Atala, Security Officer, USS Leonidas
Strengths & Weaknesses		Strengths 1. Tactical Discipline O’Rourke is a master of situational control—battlefields, diplomatic stand-offs, or ethical gray zones. He doesn’t blink under fire and can read an unfolding crisis like a chessboard. Example: During a Dominion ambush at the Idran Corridor, he maneuvered an outgunned vessel into a blind spot, crippling a Jem’Hadar cruiser with a single volley. 2. Loyalty-Driven Leadership He builds crews that would follow him into a supernova. His loyalty is ironclad—he takes care of his people and expects the same upward and downward. Effect: Creates fierce crew cohesion and trust, especially in life-or-death scenarios. Weaknesses 1. Emotionally Inaccessible Decades of loss, war, and responsibility have made him emotionally walled-off. He’s not cruel, but he is distant—and few can get past his defenses. Impact: This limits his ability to form close personal bonds with most of his crew, including his daughter. 2. Reluctant Delegator He’ll trust his officers to do their jobs—but when things go sideways, he reverts to doing it himself. Consequence: Can inadvertently undercut junior officers’ growth or create bottlenecks during time-critical missions.
Ambitions		1. Prepare the Next Generation to Survive Without Him 2. Reconnect with His Daughter—Before It’s Too Late 3.
Hobbies & Interests		1. Boxing & Hand-to-Hand Training 2. Hiking & Wilderness Survival 3.Whiskey Collection (Strictly Non-Drinking—he quit after Elira’s death.)

Personal History		Early Life (2344–2362): “Forged on the Range” Born on a working cattle ranch in Helena, Montana, Travis O’Rourke was raised with blunt truths, early mornings, and the kind of hard labor that leaves calluses before age ten. His father, Garret, was a stern but principled man—a Vietnam War buff who believed honor meant doing the job right, no excuses. His mother, Marielle, was an anthropologist who brought a gentler curiosity to their home, teaching Travis to ask why, not just how. The dual influence of frontier grit and academic thought shaped O’Rourke’s worldview. He grew up splitting fence rails by day and reading history books by firelight at night. Despite his rural upbringing, his mind was always aimed at the stars. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Academy Years (2362–2366): “Steel in the Spine” O’Rourke entered Starfleet Academy at 18, a walk-on cadet with no political connections and nothing but grit. He wasn’t the smartest or the fastest—but he never quit. He gained a reputation for cool-headedness under pressure and an ability to rally classmates during crisis sims. He turned down an invitation to join Red Squad, citing what he called “too much polish, not enough dirt.” His instructors described him as “grudgingly brilliant,” often speaking little in class but delivering field excellence. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Officer Era (2366–2375): “The Crucible” His early years aboard the Thunderchild and Ishimura coincided with increasing hostilities across multiple sectors. He fought skirmishes against rogue Cardassian forces and early Dominion probes, earning field commendations for tactical efficiency. The Dominion War transformed him. Serving as XO aboard the Corvus, he made the kinds of calls that stay with a man—locking down compartments to stop hull breaches, sacrificing systems to save lives, standing on burning decks until the last crewman was clear. By war’s end, he had been hardened, quieted, and bloodied—but never broken. ____________________________________________________________________ Command Years (2375–2400): “The Ironback Emerges” His marriage to Cmdr. Elira Voss, a brilliant astrophysicist, was a rare light in a dark time. They served together briefly aboard the Ardent before she was killed in a containment failure in 2383. O’Rourke never remarried, and rarely speaks of her. Command of the Vigilant and Redoubt shaped his legend. He gained the nickname “Ironback” after surviving a triple-hull breach without abandoning the bridge, using emergency force fields and pure nerve to guide the ship to safety. His refusal to break under pressure became both myth and measure. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Later Years & Leonidas (2401–Present): “The Quiet Edge” Despite repeated offers for a desk job, O’Rourke continues to serve in deep space. His daughter, Saoirse, is now a Starfleet officer herself—a Flight Control specialist on the USS Nimue. Their relationship is respectful, but emotionally restrained. Both carry scars from Elira’s death. He now commands the USS Leonidas, a cutting-edge Echelon-class explorer/strike cruiser. The mission profile fits him: high-risk, ethically complex, and far from the safety of Federation Core Worlds. There’s no retirement plan for O’Rourke—only the work. _____________________________________________________________________ Personal Philosophy O’Rourke doesn’t believe in heroes. He believes in showing up, knowing your job, and protecting your crew. He’s not out to inspire, but he often does—because he embodies everything a leader should be when the torpedoes start flying. ________________________________________________________________________ Quote from a Former Cadet: “He doesn’t give speeches. He just looks you in the eye like you matter—and then expects you to act like it.” — Lt. Commander Felix Ro, former protégé
Service Record		2366–2368 Ensign Flight Control Officer USS Thunderchild (Akira-class) Early Cardassian conflicts; logged 420+ flight hours in combat patrols 2368–2371 Lieutenant (jg) Tactical Officer USS Ishimura (Nebula-class) Known for rapid target prioritization during Tzenkethi standoff 2371–2373 Lieutenant Chief Tactical Officer USS Ishimura Noted for precision strikes and high crew survivability in Dominion skirmishes 2373–2375 Lt. Commander Executive Officer USS Corvus (Excelsior-class refit) Fought in multiple Dominion War theaters; awarded Starfleet Medal of Valor 2375–2381 Commander Commanding Officer USS Ardent (Intrepid-class) Led early Cardassian recovery ops; wife Elira Voss died during this tour 2381–2392 Captain Commanding Officer USS Vigilant (Prometheus-class) Oversaw covert support during Romulan diaspora; gained “Ironback” nickname after surviving triple hull breach 2393–2399 Captain Commanding Officer USS Redoubt (Inquiry-class) Frontier response patrols near Breen territory; held Line 67 solo for 9 hours 2400–2401 Commodore Task Group Omega Commander Starbase 44 Oversaw Fenris Ranger containment ops and evacuation of Kepler Drift 2401–Present Commodore Commanding Officer USS Leonidas (Echelon-class) High-priority exploratory and security strike missions; ship recognized for precision strike/survey integration ________________________________________________________________ Commendations & Decorations Starfleet Medal of Valor (2374) Christopher Pike Medal of Gallantry (2390) Dominion War Campaign Service Ribbon Grankite Order of Tactics – Second Class Meritorious Command Distinction – Redoubt Campaign Starfleet Cross, Posthumous Citation (awarded to Cmdr. Elira Voss; accepted by O’Rourke) __________________________________________________________________________ Notable Mission Files Operation Frozen Latch (2374): Covert deflector overload to disable Jem’Hadar cloak relay network Sa'Kar Treaty Arbitration (2387): Prevented civil war on pre-warp aligned colony; used bluff and diplomacy rather than arms Breen Interdiction Zone Breakout (2397): Orchestrated extraction of six civilian transports under shield bleed conditions Leonidas Deep Echo Mapping (2402): Led interdimensional field stabilization within contested territory; mission classified under Omega Protocol (Level 10) Operational Notes Often selected for high-autonomy missions requiring real-time ethical judgment Known to keep a lean bridge crew; encourages departmental independence Maintains a personal tradition of reading the names of any crew lost in the line of duty aloud before the next shift cycle Has refused multiple offers to take a desk at Starfleet Command—stating: “My place is out there, not behind a table.”

Out Of Character Info

Character

Go Down With a Fight