Riven Maris

Riven Maris

Background

Riven Maris

Riven Maris enrolled in Starfleet Academy in 2268, one of a small but growing number of Betazoids to pursue the Starfleet path as their homeworld deepened ties with the United Federation of Planets. Raised in a traditional Betazoid household, Riven was encouraged to use his empathic abilities responsibly, but his natural curiosity about alien minds and space travel pushed him toward service beyond Betazed.

At the Academy, Riven gravitated toward the Conn division early, showing exceptional aptitude in astro-navigation and small vessel piloting. Instructors noted his ability to anticipate maneuvers from both simulated enemies and classmates—a skill he humbly downplayed as “good instincts,” though it was clear his natural perception gave him a tactical edge in tense situations.

He was academically capable but far from the top of his class. His performance in leadership and ethics courses was solid, though he occasionally struggled to distance himself emotionally from group dynamics and interpersonal conflicts. He was known for stepping in to mediate when tensions ran high among classmates, often acting as an unofficial peacemaker.

Riven completed the Kobayashi Maru simulation in his final year, choosing a unique strategy: prioritizing the emotional well-being of his crew over tactical success. While he “failed” the test like most, his approach sparked discussion among instructors and was noted in his final evaluation as demonstrating “commendable emotional intelligence and command potential.”

During his time at the Academy, he co-led the interspecies outreach group, organizing simulation exchanges with Vulcan, Andorian, and Tellarite cadets to explore how cultural perspectives influenced piloting decisions. His final capstone project involved a proposed redesign of emergency navigation protocols for cargo-hauler retrofits. This effort may have directly influenced his assignment to the converted freighter-class starship—the USS Thelin—now serving as his first posting.

While Riven aspires to the command track, he remains quietly unsure whether he can make the cold, hard decisions required of captains. Time—and deep space—will test whether the empathy he values so highly will prove to be his greatest strength or his most dangerous weakness.

Log Files

• Stardate 7396.4
• Stardate 7696.6