Captain Zedd Sykes
Name Zedd Lafayette Sykes
Position Commanding Officer
Second Position Computer Systems Specialist
Rank Captain
Character Information
| Gender | Male | |
| Species | Human | |
| Age | 34 |
Physical Appearance
| Height | 6' 2" | |
| Weight | 220 lbs | |
| Hair Color | Black | |
| Eye Color | Blue | |
| Physical Description | Zedd Sykes stands tall, with a lean but muscular build honed from years of physical labor and engineering side work. His dark hair is usually brushed back, giving him a fairly clean look, while his piercing blue eyes can shift from mischievous to intense in an instant. He often sports a well kept, short beard, adding to his roguish charm. Zedd’s attire is a blend of practicality and pirate flair—functional utility gear that includes a sturdy leather jacket that can be adorned with various tools and gadgets, cargo pants with numerous pockets, and sturdy boots. His belt holds an assortment of devices, from miniaturized engineering tools to weapons for when the time calls. |
Family
| Spouse | None | |
| Children | None | |
| Father | Jaxon (62) | |
| Mother | Lara (56) |
Personality & Traits
| General Overview | Zedd is charismatic and witty, known for his sharp tongue and fearless demeanor. He has a rebellious streak and a disdain for authority, traits that make him well-suited to the life of a pirate. Despite his rough exterior, Zedd is fiercely loyal to his crew and follows a personal code of honor. He believes in fairness and justice, even if his methods are unconventional. Zedd believes in a sink or swim mindset for his crew, for those that state their skills and levels to be at a certain level. He believes that those that can't perform to the levels that are needed to help others survive are best fallen to the wayside of attrition and as such no longer remaining a risk to the rest of the ship or crew. At the same time, for those that ask, he is eager to engage in the sharing of his knowledge and skills to help others grow and succeed. He is driven by curiosity and a desire for adventure, always looking for the next challenge or plunder to be had. | |
| Strengths & Weaknesses | Strengths Zedd is an exceptional engineer and hacker, capable of modifying complex machinery on the fly and infiltrating secure systems with his neural dataport. He is quick-thinking under pressure, a natural leader who inspires loyalty through competence and humor rather than intimidation. His adaptability allows him to turn disadvantages into advantages, and his personal code ensures he treats his crew fairly, fostering trust. Physically fit and resourceful, he handles himself well in combat or evasion scenarios, and his charisma makes him an effective negotiator in shady dealings. Weaknesses Zedd's rebellious nature and distrust of authority can make him impulsive when challenged, sometimes prioritizing freedom over caution. His past with pirate factions left him with lingering paranoia—he is slow to fully trust new people and often keeps parts of his plans close. The dataport enhancement, while powerful, is a constant reminder of his old debts, and over-reliance on it in high-stress hacks can leave him vulnerable to feedback or detection. His "sink or swim" philosophy with crew can come across as harsh to those not ready for it. |
|
| Ambitions | Zedd seeks true independence—no debts, no factions pulling strings, just him and his crew charting their own course through the galaxy. He dreams of building a reputation as a legendary privateer captain who takes what he wants but lives by his code, pulling off impossible heists and exploring uncharted sectors. Longer term, he wants a loyal crew that feels like family, a ship he can continually upgrade into something unbeatable, and the freedom to choose adventures on his terms. Beneath the rogue exterior lies a desire for a place where he belongs without chains. | |
| Hobbies & Interests | Zedd enjoys tinkering with gadgets and ship systems in his spare time, often customizing tools or weapons on his belt for fun or efficiency. He has a taste for high-stakes games—cards, sabotage puzzles, or outwitting security systems—and appreciates a good story or drink shared with crew. Physical activity keeps him sharp; he maintains his fitness through practical labor or sparring. He has a quiet interest in old Earth pirate lore and engineering texts, reading them when the ship is quiet. Exploring new ports or shadow markets for rare tech or rumors is a favorite pastime. |
| Personal History | Zedd Sykes was born on the remote mining colony of Epsilon Prime, located on the fringes of Federation space. Life on Epsilon Prime was harsh and demanding, with the colony's economy revolving around the extraction of rare minerals. Zedd's parents, Lara and Jaxon Sykes, were both talented engineers who worked for the colony's mining company. From a young age, Zedd was surrounded by machinery and technology, sparking his fascination with how things worked. Zedd’s childhood was a mix of exploration and education. The colony had limited resources, but the Sykes household was filled with salvaged gadgets and makeshift devices that Zedd's parents used for both work and teaching. Zedd spent hours dismantling and reassembling these devices, often improving their functionality. His parents encouraged his curiosity, providing him with books on engineering, physics, and technology. By the age of 10, Zedd was already an adept engineer, capable of fixing and modifying complex machinery. Despite his technical prowess, Zedd's childhood was not without challenges. The colony's harsh environment and the constant demand for productivity left little time for leisure. Zedd often felt isolated, yearning for adventure and the opportunity to see the galaxy beyond Epsilon Prime. His rebellious nature led him to question the colony's rigid structure and the mining company's dominance, planting the seeds of his future as a space pirate. At 18, Zedd decided to leave Epsilon Prime in search of a life filled with adventure and discovery. With little more than a few personal belongings and his technical knowledge, he boarded a freighter bound for the nearest starport. Zedd found work on various merchant vessels, offering his skills as an engineer in exchange for passage and experience. During this time, he honed his abilities, learning to adapt to different types of spacecraft and their unique challenges. Zedd’s journey took a significant turn when he encountered the Black Nebula, a notorious group of space pirates. Intrigued by their stories of freedom and rebellion, Zedd saw an opportunity to break free from the constraints of conventional life and fully embrace his desire for adventure. He joined the Black Nebula, initially taking on minor engineering tasks. As Zedd became more involved with the Black Nebula, his role expanded beyond mere maintenance. His talents over time extended to hacking, a skill he developed to support the Black Nebula’s operations. His ability to infiltrate and manipulate secure systems allowed the pirates to gain access to valuable information, disable enemy defenses, and conduct heists with great precision. Zedd's journey took a significant turn when he encountered the Crimson Corsairs, a formidable group of space pirates known for their ruthlessness and advanced technology. In preparation for a critical mission that required instant access to data and enhanced processing capabilities, Zedd realized he needed a more efficient way to interface with technology. The solution came in the form of a dataport, a sophisticated device implanted in his neck that allowed him to connect directly to computer systems. The procedure was costly and dangerous, but the Corsairs had the resources and expertise to perform the installation. Desperate to gain this edge, Zedd agreed to the procedure, knowing it would place him in debt to the Corsairs. The dataport enhanced his hacking abilities significantly, allowing him to interface with systems at the speed of thought and manipulate data streams with unprecedented precision. The installation of the dataport came with a steep price, and Zedd was now indebted to the Crimson Corsairs. To repay this debt, he also had to work odd side jobs them, using his enhanced skills for their benefit. Zedd's tasks ranged from infiltrating secure systems to stealing valuable data and sabotaging rival operations. This period of servitude was both a trial and a learning experience, further honing his abilities and expanding his knowledge of the galaxy's underworld. In addition he did his best to keep the Black Nebula from discovering his split allegiances during this time. While both groups weren't direct rivals, they also would be suspicious if they found him going between both organizations freely. One of Zedd’s most notable accomplishments was the successful raid on the heavily fortified Klingon Starbase. The Black Nebula had been captured, and their situation seemed dire. Using his hacking skills, Zedd disabled key parts the base's security systems, allowing the crew to escape and commandeer a Bird of Prey. This daring feat solidified his position as one of Black Nebula’s key strategists. However, Zedd’s success also deepened his entanglement with the Black Nebula and the Crimson Corsairs. The notoriety of his accomplishments brought increased scrutiny and pressure from both sides, with each faction demanding more of his skills. Zedd found himself trapped in a web of commitments that felt more like chains. The Black Nebula viewed him as an invaluable asset, while the Corsairs, aware of his potential double-dealings, kept a tight leash on his debt and made it clear that any attempt to break free would not be without consequences. Zedd knew that if he ever wanted true freedom, he needed a plan to escape the lifetime commitments that bound him to both pirate factions. He began to devise a risky scheme—one that would not only sever his ties but also provide him with enough resources to start anew. Zedd had heard whispers of a virtual bank, an untraceable digital vault used by crime syndicates, corrupt corporations, and wealthy individuals looking to hide their fortunes away from the prying eyes of the Federation. This bank, known as the Vault of Shadows, was said to be protected by some of the most sophisticated security measures in the galaxy, nearly impossible to penetrate. But Zedd knew that with his dataport and his unique set of skills, impossible was just another challenge. Over the next few months, Zedd carefully gathered information, analyzing security protocols, and mapping out the virtual pathways he would need to navigate. He worked quietly, making sure not to alert either the Black Nebula or the Crimson Corsairs to his intentions. He needed to get in, steal enough to fund his escape, and disappear without a trace. On the night of the heist, Zedd retreated to the engine room of the Black Nebula’s flagship, a place where he could work undisturbed. Connecting directly through his dataport, Zedd plunged into the digital landscape of the Vault of Shadows. Layers of encryption, firewalls, and AI sentinels stood between him and the fortune he sought. His mind raced as he navigated the virtual maze, bypassing security measures with deft precision. At one point, an AI watchdog detected his presence, nearly triggering an alarm that would have exposed his intrusion, but Zedd quickly rerouted its protocol, making it seem like nothing more than a glitch. Finally, he breached the central vault. Data streams of wealth flowed before him—credits, valuable cryptocurrency, and rare digital assets. Zedd siphoned off a substantial amount, careful to take just enough that it wouldn’t be immediately noticed among the sea of transactions. With the funds transferred to an untraceable account he’d set up in advance, Zedd disengaged from the system, his heart racing. He’d done it. He was free. With his newfound wealth, Zedd knew he needed to make his move quickly. The Crimson Corsairs would soon come to collect on his debt, and the Black Nebula wouldn’t take kindly to him suddenly disappearing. Zedd erased his digital footprints meticulously, covering his tracks so no one would know where the money had gone or who had taken it. The first step of his plan was to disappear from the Black Nebula. During a routine docking at a shadowport in the outskirts of Cardassian space, Zedd made his escape. He slipped away from the ship in the dead of night, using a false identity he’d crafted months prior. By the time the Black Nebula realized he was gone, Zedd was already lightyears away, hidden among the crowded space lanes. Zedd used a fraction of his stolen fortune to purchase passage on a series of untraceable shuttles and freighters, eventually making his way to New Ferenginar. The planet had become a bustling hub of commerce, trade, and less-than-legal dealings. It was the perfect place to lie low, find a ship of his own, and start his life as a free man. New Ferenginar was a chaotic blend of neon lights, towering skyscrapers, and busy marketplaces filled with merchants peddling everything from exotic goods to stolen technology. Zedd navigated through the crowds, his mind set on finding the perfect ship. He knew he needed something fast, maneuverable, and with enough firepower to defend himself if necessary—a ship that could take him anywhere in the galaxy without being tied to his past. He entered a dimly lit starship dealership owned by a shrewd Ferengi named Pel, known for having access to ships that weren’t exactly on the market officially. Pel’s eyes lit up at the sight of Zedd, recognizing the glimmer of someone ready to spend big. The showroom was filled with a variety of vessels: sleek scout ships, retrofitted shuttles, and heavily modified freighters. Zedd took his time inspecting each ship, asking pointed questions and negotiating hard. He finally settled on a medium-sized vessel called the Dutchman, a sleek light cruiser that had once been used for patrolling and been retrofitted for privateering. It was equipped with advanced sensor dampening capabilities, powerful engines, and a hidden cargo bay—perfect for smuggling or simply staying out of sight. The ship’s AI was outdated but customizable, something Zedd could easily work on himself. With a sly grin, Zedd transferred the funds, securing his new ship. No longer bound to the Black Nebula or the Crimson Corsairs, Zedd Sykes was his own captain, ready to chart a new course through the stars. He’d pulled of the perfect heist, disappeared, and now had a ship to live as he pleased. Or so he thought…. |
|
| Service Record | 2346 Born on Epsilon Prime mining colony to engineers Lara and Jaxon Sykes. 2356–2364 (Ages 10–18) Self-taught engineering prodigy on the colony. Mastered repair and modification of mining machinery and salvaged tech. Developed rebellious streak against corporate oversight. 2364–2368 (Ages 18–22) Left colony at 18. Worked as freelance engineer on merchant freighters across Federation fringe space, gaining experience with diverse ship systems in exchange for passage. 2368–2374 (Ages 22–28) Joined Black Nebula pirate group. Started as engineer, advanced to key hacker and strategist. Notable accomplishment: hacked Klingon starbase security to enable crew escape and Bird of Prey commandeering. 2372–2375 (Ages 26–29) Encountered Crimson Corsairs. Underwent dangerous dataport implantation to enhance hacking for a joint mission, incurring heavy debt. Performed side jobs for Corsairs while maintaining split allegiance to Black Nebula, honing skills in infiltration, data theft, and sabotage. 2375–2380 (Ages 29–34) Planned and executed heist on Vault of Shadows virtual bank using dataport. Acquired substantial untraceable wealth. Erased tracks, escaped both factions, and disappeared via false identities and anonymous passage. 2380 (Current) Arrived on New Ferenginar. Purchased Saber refit light cruiser Dutchman with heist proceeds. Became independent captain. Began recruiting crew for private venture operations in Gamma Quadrant. |