Cherp'Eng

TLDR
Cherp’Eng is a 2.35m tall, intelligent, avian-evolved Avisarite Starfleet Science Officer and lecturer, known for his specialization in stellar cartography and archaeological interests. He carries distinct red splotches on his blue-grey skin, a permanent reminder of a near-fatal Academy-era chicken pox infection that complicated his education. Deeply committed to his communal culture on Avi II, he has taken many leaves to attend death ceremonies for revered elders, or Greyfeathers, a subject he finds profoundly meaningful and un-taboo, leading to his unique interest in the diverse death beliefs of other species. His recent return to active duty is unusual: after fully participating in the Avisarite mating season, which involves ritual dancing and communal nesting, he is now serving on a starship while actively caring for a fertilized egg in a secure carrier, trusting his multi-species crew to assist with the intense social incubation process.

Avisarite Species: www.star-fleet.com/core/command/gmd/notes/7191
Appearance
Hatching: May 2371
Sex: Male
Skin Colour: Blue/Grey pigment; though with red ‘splotches’ due to the chicken pox suffered while in the Academy
Eye Colour: Brown
Head Comb: Small, ranging in colour from blue/green during June/July/August through to red/yellow during December/January/February. During the months of March/April/May and September/October/November it is purple/orange in colour.
Upper Leg Scales: Blue

Background
Cherp’eng is from a Roost on the southern continent of Avi II, a relatively warm part of their homeworld. He was part of the hatching in May 2371.

He showed promise during his ‘bird brain-less years’ as a scientist and towards the end of his formal schooling spent time on one of the Avisarite ships, specialising in stellar cartography.

Cherp’eng applied for Starfleet Academy and got through on the first attempt. He entered the science pathway, and continued to specialise in stellar cartography while also developing an interest in archeology.

While on an archeological dig on Ume Prime, he was struck down by a particularly nasty bout of chicken pox which saw him in quarantine for most of his sophomore year of the Academy, resulting in him having to repeat the year. He almost died from the effects, and has red splotches on his skin.

Once cleared, Cherp’eng returned to his studies, determined to graduate and become a Scientist. He achieved this goal, graduating in the top 5% of his class. He has previously served on the USS Viking, before returning to the Academy to extend his scientific knowledge to other areas of the field and to serve as an occasional lecturer on the history and practices of his people. After three years of this service, he desired to return to active service, but on an Outpost rather than a starship. And thus, he found himself assigned to Outpost 42 orbiting Gamma Tiltium IV. Word reached him during this appointment that a Greyfeather from his Roost had died, and that it was requested tthat he return there to take part in the remembrance of the Greyfeather’s exalted status within the Roost. The leave was granted and he left to return home. He stayed there for a while, passing on his knowledge to the hatchlings, the bird-less brained, the empty nesters and those who were considering a life as a Starfleet Officer, when Cherp’Eng realised he longed for the adventure of space travel again and enquired to Starfleet about returning to active service again, this time on a Starship. He found he was to be recommissioned. He hoped he’d last longer this time before being called back home to attend another death ceremony. It wasn’t to be, however, and it wasn’t long before he was forced to return to his home world once again.

While he loved the life of a Starfleet Officer, this return home had special meaning for him, as the death ceremony was for that of an Avisarite Grey Feather who was looked up on by Cherp’Eng as a mentor in his formative years.

It turns out that it was mating season for the Avisarite when Cherp-Eng was back home for the death ceremony and Cherp-Eng fully took part in the practices of mating season - that is the nest building, the dancing movements and the visiting of and being visited by the female Avisarites of his Roost and nearby Roosts. It would appear that on one occasion that the practices results in at least one successful egg, and that his mate on that nesting decided that he should not miss out on the incubation process by sitting on the egg and waiting for it to hatch. Among the Avisarite, the raising of hatchlings is a social affair with all members of the roost being involved in the process. Cherp’ing and his offspring will be the only Avisarite among a crew of aliens and Cherp’ing hoped they’d be open to egg and hatchling sitting.

Physical Health
The Avian flu of 2380 may have had an impact on Cherp’eng’s immune system, making him susceptible to other diseases, including the chicken pox suffered while at the Academy. He was given the usual medications prior to his departure from Avi II.

The bone structure of the Avisarites is close to that of birds, particularly ostriches, and their bones are light compared to humans. That means they are more likely to suffer injuries than most other species. However it also means that they require much less time to recover from their injuries. The Avisarites have three stomachs, and each plays an important part in their digestion. A common problem for Avisarites who live and work off world is that they need to replenish their levels of heroglymacis, a naturally occurring enzyme found on Avi II. Fortunately, this can be administered by trained medical personnel at Federation facilities quickly and painlessly through a hypospray.

Mental Health
Cleared as having good mental health prior to departure from his Academy Cadet Training.

Has a tendency to be overly concerned that he is being insensitive to other species and does not want to cause offense to them. Interested in death and the beliefs about dying among other species. Learnt about the achievements of the Greyfeather and wants to celebrate that with others outside of his people. Not a ‘taboo’ subject for his people. Also interested in understanding about why knowing one’s birth parents is so important to other species, can ask embarrassing questions at times … and doesn’t understand why they are embarrassing.

USS Manhattan USS 88000 Science Department Section Heads

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OOC Note for introing Cherp’Eng
OOC: Cherp’Eng is an Avisarite, a custom species of my own devising and approved for use within STF. Basically think sentient ostriches. A link to the approved species sheet is on the character sheet for Cherp’Eng. However, both are linked below for ease of access/use by the lucky doctor who gets to look after Cherp’Eng
Character Sheet: https://www.star-fleet.com/core/character/551/
Species Template: https://www.star-fleet.com/core/command/gmd/notes/7191/
There are items for both medical and counselling in both the sheet and the template.
Russell