STAR TREK: FLORA & FAUNA is set in the Lower Decks era...
STATUS: Planning
The U.S.S Tree Sparrow, the first of its kind in the Bloom class of federation starships, originally had a three-year mission to document plant and animal life in deep space. It was an experimental class with a command given to Captain Abstract Merp, the animal-loving clumsiest captain in Starfleet, largely to get her out of the way, since she is the daughter of the first Merp fleet admiral and couldn't for appearances be placed at a lower-level job. They essentially manipulated her into volunteering for the position. But she loves it, she's excited about it, and she's ready.It has a crew of about 250, mostly misfits and unlucky officers who got the job as punishment for some accident or wrongdoing. It also has more labs than typical exploration ships, though all direct work with wildlife is done in the field unless necessary to avoid any disasters. Their goal is to make first contact with animal life - it's still first contact, in a way, the admirals explain.Around a year into their first mission, they make first contact with an energy based species, and upon being contacted by a Starfleet admiral, who was extremely surprised by Captain Abstract's skill at handling sapient-sapient first contact situations, their mission is extended and they are given an additinal mission: to make first contact with non-humanoid or non-organic alien cultures to further Starfleet research.
Characters
Captain Abstract Merp | Merp | 42 | She/Her | Agender & Bisexual
-Speaks mainly in poetic/abstract sentences, only speaks clearly when she's hiding something; First Officer T'Via translates for her
-Has a pet tortoise her family has had for a century
-Xenozoology major at Starfleet Academy
-Extremely clumsy and awkward
-Was a popular poet on Merp in her youth
First Officer T'Via | Vulcan | 34 | She/Her | Bisexual
-Plays 57 instruments
-Abstract Merp's best friend
-Secretly adores animals, pretends to be unaffected by them
-Majored in diplomacy at Starfleet Academy
-Loves literature
Chief Medical Officers Kal (left) and Vrinna (right) | 93 | [Marlynn (original species) | Lesbian
-Part of a species that conjoins with their lovers
-Bickering old married couple
-Love gossip and mischief
-Extremely skilled at their jobs
Ensign Clover V'Lyty | Caitian-Human | 21 | She/Her | Lesbian
-Genius, but seen as incompetent due to anxiety
-Xenoveterinary major at Starfleet Academy
-Child prodigy that graduated high school at age 14; hides it
-Shy and has severe mental health issues
-Has a huge crush on the captain
-Has enhanced senses due to having two sets of ears
Security Chief Xorienne | 29 | Betazoid-Bolian | They/them | Agender Gray-Aromantic
-Runs a comedy club on board; actually pretty funny
-Way too chill and relaxed for a security chief; lets people get away with too much
-Loves a good board game
-Stoner
-Has 3 partners
Chief Engineer Leklo | 33 | Aenar | He/him | Bisexual
-Hates reading minds despite being telepathic
-Really into Earth media and culture
-Writer in his free time
-Has a pet cat named Sol
Ship Counselor Dr. Quin Diaz | 28 | Human | He/him | Bisexual Trans Man
-Absolute sweetheart
-Since the ship is going to deep space, a counselor is appointed to help crew cope, but he has few patients
-Spends most of his time sculpting in the holodeck
Chief Science Officer Beatrice Glass | 31 | Human | She/her | Heterosexual trans woman
-Loves quirky clothing and music
-Everyone's best friend
-Really wants T'Via to be part of her band but she keeps saying no :(
-Goofysilly
-Former professional clown