Name: Adeline M'Benga, M.D.
Rank: Lieutenant, j.g.
Position: Assistant Medical Officer
Assignment: U.S.S. Carolina

Species: Human
Gender: Female

Attributes
Fitness 2
    Vitality +2
Coordination 3
    Dexterity +1
Intellect 3
Presence 2
    Willpower +1
Psi 0

Skills
Athletics (Running) 3 (4)
Computer (Research) 1 (2)
Culture (Human) 2 (3)
    (Medical) (3)
    (Starfleet) (3)
Dodge 1
Energy Weapon (Phaser) 1 (2)
First Aid (Human) 2 (4)
    (Romulan/Vulcan) (3)
    (Wound/Combat Trauma) (3)
History (Federation) 1 (3)
    (Human) (2)
Language, Federation Standard 3
Law (Starfleet Regulations) 1 (2)
Life Sciences (Biology) 2 (3)
    (Microbiology) (3)
Medical Sciences (General Medicine) 3 (4)
    (Neurology) (4)
    (Pathology) (4)
Personal Equipment (Medical Tricorder) 2 (3)
Physical Sciences (Chemistry) 1 (2)
Planetside Survival (Desert) 1 (2)
Shipboard Systems (Medical Systems) 2 (3)
Unarmed Combat (Starfleet Martial Arts) 1 (2)
Vehicle Operation (Shuttlecraft) 1 (2)
World Knowledge (Earth) 1 (2)

Advantages/Disadvantages
Code of Honor (Hippocratic Oath) -2, Contact (Admiral Leonard McCoy) +3, Medical Problem (Richtsmeier's Disease, see below, -1 Coordination/day without treatment) -1, Pacifism (only fights in self-defense) -3, Promotion (Lieutenant, j.g.) +1, Rival (Dr. Toby Russell) -3

Courage: ?
Resistance: 4
Renown: ?

Background
Adeline was born and raised in San Francisco, Earth. She is the middle of three children, with an older sister (Tanya) and younger brother (Eliott). Adeline's mother, Danielle, is a physician instructor at Starfleet Medical Academy; her father, Chinua, is a xenobiologist who now also teaches at the academy, though he was often absent during her childhood, serving as a Science Officer aboard the U.S.S. Yosemite. Adeline grew up around Starfleet, which befits her family history, her great-grandfather having served aboard James T. Kirk's original U.S.S. Enterprise, as Assistant Medical Officer to the also legendary Dr. Leonard McCoy. Although he is now deceased, Adeline grew up listening to her great-grandfather's tales of adventure and deep-space heroics. Reflecting her family background, a career in Starfleet was a given. Her specific career path reflects her mother's interest in medicine and her father's passion for pure science. However, it also reflects her deepest, most personal interests.

At age 9, Adeline contracted Richtsmeier's Disease, catching the rare malady from a diplomat friend of her father's, who was, unknown to all, a passive carrier of the disorder. She nearly died, and in fact was saved only by a timely intervention by now-Admiral McCoy, who came to the aid of his old assistant when he heard about Adeline's plight. As he had done so often in his career, McCoy devised an ingenious treatment for the disorder, almost literally at the last moment. Although even McCoy's genius proved unable to cure the virus that had infected her, his treatment did put it in remission; in fact, Adeline ended up being the test subject for what eventually became, with only minimal modification over subsequent years, the standard treatment for Richtsmeier's Disease.

RICHTSMEIER'S DISEASE
Richtsmeier's Disease is a viral infection that is believed to have originated as a mutated strain of Breen biotechnology. It is not highly virulent in most species, including humans. It is difficult to detect, as adults who are infected are asymptomatic, though for a time they can pass the virus on to others they have contact with. This infectious period lasts a variable time, anywhere from a few days to several months. However, unless recognized and treated immediately, it is usually fatal when contracted by pre-pubertal humans, as the virus winds its way into the victim's genetic structure, causing rapid and system-wide deterioration of all functions. The standard initial treatment for Richtsmeier's Disease consists of high doses of hormones and specially-targeted antiviral agents, but by the time symptoms are noted, the virus will have already merged itself with the host's genes in a manner that has thus far defied all attempts at extraction. Ongoing treatment to keep the disease in remission consists of low doses of the anti-viral agent and modified hormones. When receiving treatment, a survivor of childhood-onset Richtemeier's Disease has no symptoms other than sensitivity to cold and a tendency to feel chilled in temperatures most humans find pleasant to mildly balmy. However, discontinuing treatment results in rapid deterioration of gross and fine motor skills, and cascade deterioration in neurological functioning can result in death within days. Those who contract Richtsmeier's disease, whether during childhood (assuming survival) or adulthood (after the initial infectious period), carry it for the rest of their lives, in a non-communicable form. In addition, women infected with Richtsmeier's Disease either during either childhood or adulthood are unable to carry a child to term, as the virus attacks the developing fetus' genetic structure.

Through rigid adherence to McCoy's treatment protocol and a strict exercise regimen, Adeline eventually regained her health. The childhood experience of watching her body fail her left Adeline with a healthy respect for physical fitness that has led her to excel in athletic activities. She will not be satisfied, however, until she has managed to find a cure for her disorder, as she wants to be able to bear children some day. In her spare time, she continues to seek a cure for the disorder that she has become an expert in, a cure that has so far eluded even the most brilliant medical and scientific minds. Among Adeline's personal effects are medical samples taken from her as a child, before she contracted the virus. She believes that some sort of genetic extraction or re-sequencing technique might hold the cure for the disorder, and keeps her samples available, should an opportunity to experiment with such a possible cure arise.

As a child and adolescent, Adeline M'Benga excelled in both academics (particularly the sciences) and athletics (particularly track and field events). She graduated primary education with honors, and won numerous medals as a student athlete. Adeline continued on this path at Starfleet Academy, becoming known as a skilled athlete and graduating third in her class twice, first from general coursework, then again from Starfleet Medical. While completing her basic medical training, she also completed Master's coursework in microbiology and is currently working on her Ph.D. during her spare time. She completed her medical residency during her Cadet Cruise aboard the U.S.S. Hood, excelling and earning promotion to Lieutenant, j.g. before being assigned to the U.S.S. Teresa.

Personality & Appearance
Above all, Adeline is dedicated to her work. She always seeks to do her best, expand her skills and exceed her limits. At times this leads her to try too many tasks, such that she can appear distracted and unfocused, but when necessary, she can focus her attention and her skills with laser-like precision. She is an extremely responsible person who takes pride in her work, and she has had to work hard at learning to delegate tasks, rather than trying to do everything herself. Adeline strives for quality work, but also for efficiency; thus, in doing a job, she always tries to do it right the first time, then checks to make sure. A born scientist, she is a rigid thinker, logical, curious and studious. She expects a great deal of those she serves with, but is very polite, pleasant, and personable, with two major exceptions. First, she has no patience for those who needlessly put themselves or others at risk. Second, she has disdain by those who do not maintain at least average fitness (for their species) due to neglect or laziness.

Also, having literally grown up in Starfleet, Adeline knows a lot of people; Admiral McCoy, a living legend, is a family friend, after all. She has a tendency to mention the various people she knows, by personal or family association, and while some regard this as rude name-dropping, she is very proud of her knowledge of who's who in Starfleet and does not think it is wrong to show this. Though not vain, and certainly not a braggart, Adeline is proud of her achievements, and happy with who she is.

Adeline is generally well-liked, though some feel she is too serious and intense. The only person who really counts her an enemy is Dr. Toby Russell (from the 5th season ST:TNG episode "Ethics"), and the feeling is mutual. The two crossed paths during Adeline's service aboard the Teresa, and she was appalled at Russell's readiness to try out risky, highly experimental treatments in crisis situations. She considers Dr. Russell to be a glory-hound, a narcissist, and an accident waiting to happen; in return, Dr. Russell regards Adeline as rigid, uncreative and little more than a technician, and she very much resented being criticized, and reported for inappropriate medical procedures, by such a young physician.

Dr. M'Benga is a woman of mixed racial heritage, with light-coffee colored skin and smooth complexion. Her facial features are strongly African, save that her eyes indicate some Asian heritage. She has a solid, athletic build and wears her hair in short braids, decorated with blue and golden beads. She wears the standard Starfleet Medical blue uniform, and much of the time wears a long blue lab coat over this. In her off time she tends to dress very warmly, favoring heavy sweaters. The exception is when she works out (about the only time she does not feel at least a little chilled in normal conditions); then, she favors flashy and scanty outfits that show off her well-toned physique.

Submitted by Jeffrey W. Kramer

Editor's Note
Well, you've got two choices for the M'Benga family, as great minds think alike, but not too alike. I like them both so much I wish Jeffrey and I had gotten together to combine our ideas into one M'Benga family!

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