MJ Shau

MJ is a serious and introverted Security Officer who tries to take in as much as possible before committing to a course of action. He is adept at defusing volatile situations amongst crew members without the use of force.

He is currently dealing with the loss of the USS Picket and many of his friends, which colors his current attitude and demeanor.

Appearance & Style
MJ is average in height but has a broad, muscular build. His hair has small curls, but is neatly trimmed and shorter on the sides. He also has a short, stubbly beard.

He has a tanned complexion and possesses the traditional Risian marking on his forehead.

History

Risa
-MJ was born and raised on Riza and had a very cosmopolitan upbringing, being exposed to people and cultures from throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. His mothers were both dancers and encouraged him to pursue the arts, but he had no creative desires.
-As he got older, he worked in the service industry. He started to dislike the way many visitors treated the locals and became resentful. MJ did not lash out, though; he found he had a knack for diffusing potentially volatile situations through various means.
-Over time, his frustration built, and he knew he had to get away from his home world. For MJ, joining Starfleet was more about leaving home than seeking out new worlds.

Academy
-Cadet Shau struggled when he first entered the Academy. He started in the Command track, thinking he would focus on his ability to influence people and mitigate conflict. As he took introductory courses in all the various disciplines, he learned that Security was really the discipline in which he excelled.
-While there was an implied use of force, much of a Security Officer’s job revolved around finding ways to not use that force… or use the minimum amount possible. Once he made the switch, his performance and test scores improved dramatically.
-He studied comparative history as one of his focuses.
-His cadet cruise was on a science vessel. The first part of the tour was incredibly boring, but during the second, the ship played host for a diplomatic summit, and MJ helped run background checks and mitigate potential conflicts between various entourages.

USS Pickett
-The USS Pickett was his first posting out of the Academy, and he served onboard her for almost 2 years before it was taken over by the alien biomass in the Gamma Quadrant.

USS Chimera

Relatives & Relationships
-Mareelle & Joval (mothers) Performative dancers on Risa.

Medical Notes & Physiology
-Despite the similarity in appearance to humans, Risian internal physiology differs significantly, which can pose challenges to medical compatibility.
-MJ received a concussion and multiple lacerations while evacuating the USS Pickett. These wounds were recently treated onboard the USS Tribute.

Counselor’s Notes
-He took to using the nickname MJ because tourists on Risa teased him for having two feminine-sounding names (Marion Jovani).
-While not promiscuous, MJ has a very casual attitude about sexual relations that caused him some drama during his Academy years.
-Cadet Shau is introspective, especially for a Security Officer. He has a strong desire to understand the big picture and causal factors, and may become too focused on obtaining those details.
-The loss of the USS Pickett and most of the crew has impacted him in ways he cannot begin to understand. He asked to be returned to duty, and it was granted because the structure and purpose of Starfleet duties can help him find balance and deal with this grief. His mental health should be monitored as the situation permits.