Star Trek: Surefoot

Star Trek: Surefoot is a fanfiction series written by Derek O'Brien. The main protagonist is Captain Esek Hrelle, an older Caitian in command of the supply ship USS Surefoot.

Overview
Captain Esek Hrelle, former captain of the frigate Furyk, was based at Station Salem Four, married to human engineer Hannah Eismann and stepdaughter to 10-year-old Sasha. One day in 2350, he left the station in response to a distress call.. and never came back. Days later, Salem Four was attacked by the criminal Bel-Zon in raid for trilithium resin, killing many there - including Hannah. When Starfleet found the Furyk, they discovered the crew dead, and Hrelle missing. Starfleet court-martialled him in absentia, believing he had betrayed the uniform and colluded with the Bel-Zon.

In truth, he had been tortured for Salem Four's security codes, and then sold into slavery, where he spent six years working in mines, fighting rings and toxic chambers, before affecting an escape. He was subsequently retried and cleared of any charges of treason, though a faction in Starfleet Intelligence refused to accept this and continued to investigate him.

Hrelle turns down command of frigates, cruisers and border ships, settling on a supply ship rechristened the USS Surefoot, on a safe run within Federation space, chiefly because it will be one of the vessels participating in Starfleet Academy's Advanced Work Experience (AWE) Program, whereby gifted cadets continue to study while serving onboard ships performing actual missions. And because his stepdaughter Sasha, now 17, is one of the cadets in the Program.

Cast of Characters

 * Captain Esek Hrelle: Captain Hrelle is a Caitian, a felinoid race. He has had a long and lauded history within Starfleet, serving as captain of the USS  Furyk . He is facetious, irreverent, and paternal, talking of the cadets as his 'cubs'.
 * Commander T'Varik: Commander T’Varik is a Vulcan, who was served for 30 years as an instructor in various subjects at the Academy. She was a proponent of the Advanced Work Experience (AWE) Program which allowed second-year and older cadets to continue their education while performing actual duties onboard starships. She is second in command of the  Surefoot, although she has never served onboard a starship before, and has the final say over the cadets’ academic side. She was initially wary of Captain Hrelle’s paternal style of command, but is beginning to appreciate its benefits.
 * Counselor Kami Shall: Kami is Caitian as well, a mother and widow, her husband Rmorra having died while a Starfleet security officer years before. She is tasked with maintaining the emotional and mental well-being of the cadets as well as the crew, and especially Hrelle, who is still recovering from his ordeal. She maintains an unusual relationship with him due to the figurative shields he puts up around himself, a relationship that veers from flirting to swiping him across his muzzle as and when appropriate.
 * Squad Leader Sasha Eismann Hrelle: Human stepdaughter to Captain Hrelle, though both often just drop the “step” part, given the closeness of their relationship both before and after his disappearance. Intelligent and feisty, she has continuously defended him against his detractors, sometimes even to the point of fisticuffs. She is on the Command track, and is the leader of the cadet’s Alpha Squad as well as serving as an Ops Officer.
 * Cadet Giles Arrington: Human cadet who was also on the Command track, but currently serves in Flight Ops, helming the Surefoot or shuttles on various missions. His extended family, all Starfleet personnel who have hated Captain Hrelle, initially coloured his opinion, but on meeting the man, he is beginning to form opinions of his own. He can be glib and smarmy and fancies himself a ladies’ man, though his time onboard the ship is maturing him.
 * Cadet Eydiir Daughter-of-Kaas: Capellan cadet studying Medicine, a capacity her Spartan warrior race finds incomprehensible, though she sees the fight against injury or disease every bit as honourable as fighting Klingons. Eydiir (pronounced "Eye-dire") is tall, taciturn but with an acerbic wit. She is best friends with Sasha and will be protective of her.
 * Cadet Neraxis Nemm: Bolian cadet studying Security. Bald and blue-skinned with a ridge bisecting her and a caustic body chemistry, she has a crude, boisterous wit, and considers Jonas to be her new little brother, her having grown up in a large family.
 * Cadet Jonas Ostrow: Human cadet who grew up on the distant world Hyralin with his mother and her vessel salvage company, he is small, slight and self-conscious but has deeply embraced his new family within Alpha Squad. Growing up helping his mother, he has developed a proficiency for diagnosing equipment and has great practical experience with activities such as spacewalks and managing equipment.
 * Cadet Kitirik Abyss Zuinthinem Emijiz: Kit for short, he is Qarari, a non-Federation race recently contacted. They are reptilian, with one female but five male genders, each gender appearing slightly different and performing different functions within their society (Warriors, Workers, Chancellors, Seekers, and a fifth as yet revealed). Kit is a Seeker, who serve as scientists. He is etiquette driven, fascinated by humanoids and very enthusiastic to be a part of Starfleet.

Stories (in chronological order)

 * The Universe Had Other Plans
 * Imbarazzo
 * Field Trip
 * The Nist Sanction
 * Secrets and Lies
 * Grey Matters