Sara Thales

Early career
Sara Thales graduated from Starfleet Academy in 2357 and began her career later that year on Starbase 157 as an operations officer. After three years, she received a promotion to liutenant junior grade and a transfer to much-coveted starship duty. Her first position on the USS Bach was assistant chief operations officer.

Shortly after her arrival, she met Crewman Tegwen Laima, an engineering technician starting her second year aboard the Bach. There was an immediate attraction between the two, and they soon began dating. The romance blossomed and Sara and Tegwen married two years later.

The period from 2360 to 2367 was eventful and prosperous for the pair. Both rose through the ranks, with Thales progressing to full lieutenant and operations department head and Laima entering the petty officer grades being designated transporter specialist. During this time, Thales had the opportunity to command bridge shifts on occasion and became interested in seeking more command experience.

Almost on impulse, she put in a request to be considered for a dual assignment as chief operations officer and second officer when such an opening arose. As the months went on, she forgot about it; the reminder came in 2367 when such a position became available on the newly commissioned USS Pioneer. Thales' personnel record was one of those reviewed by Captain Tobias Quinton; subsequently, he contacted her via subspace to request an interview.

Though she was intrigued by the opportunity, Thales was also conflicted by it. Laima had recently begun a course of reproductive therapy and Thales was reluctant to leave her behind at such a time. However, Laima urged her to accept the appointment. After several favorable conversations between Thales and Quinton, she did just that and began making preparations for her transfer.

USS Pioneer
Thales was one of the first to arrive on board the new ship. She worked closely with Quinton in the weeks before the launch and the two quickly formed a friendship. With the final selection of a first officer delayed until very soon before the beginning of their first voyage, Thales acted as de facto second-in-command until that time and oversaw much of the final preparations aboard the Pioneer.

USS Hawthorne
In 2370, Franklin Xavier received a promotion to Captain and departed the Pioneer hhhhhhimself.himsel