Matthew Riley

Authored by Nathan Miller

Character Biography

A family visit to Starfleet HQ as a child convinced Matthew Riley that - like it would any child - he wanted to be a Starfleet officer. He read the histories of famous captains, imagined himself growing up to be like them. He kept a commemorative medallion from that visit to help energize him.

Then he realized he simply did not have the personality for that. He didn’t have the charisma, the bravado, the gravitas.

What he did have was the intelligence. He completed a doctorate in astrophysics at the University of Cambridge - thesis Gravimetric Convergence at Thresholds Above Sol Normal, and a doctorate in subspace physics from the University of Alpha Centauri - thesis Subspace Wave Propagation at Multiples of c Above Cochrane Limits. A life as an academic loomed, spending years doing research, when he realized that he could still join Starfleet and actually do something with his knowledge. He finally enrolled at Starfleet Academy, where he majored in exobiology, and is doing his final Academy tour aboard the Challenger.

Physical description
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Blond

Matthew is of average height, with looks best described as “normal” - nothing spectacular about him in most respects. An aquiline nose is the only stand out feature on his face. His skin is white but not pale, and he tans easily. A day spent in the sun will cause freckles to be more noticeable across his nose and cheeks. He is right handed.

Personality

Matthew is reserved, shy, but friendly and quick to smile. He will rarely be the first to initiate a social encounter, but enjoys the company of friends, and is fiercely loyal.

Medical

During his freshman year at university, the first time he was really away from home, Matthew nearly failed his classes and was later diagnosed with executive function disorder, a lack of seratonin produced by his body and which led to a holodeck addiction. A seratonin stimulator implant was inserted to bring his seratonin levels up to normal; he avoids holodecks as well, knowing the possibility of a relapse is still there.

Skills