Joshua Alexander Rummel
Squadron Leader of the 807th RNAS
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Biography
Childhood
Joshua was born to parents Michael and Alexandria Rummel in 2984, just outside of Enaj, Sivad. The second child of four, he grew up in the suburbs of Sivad's capitol city and was active in sports through out school. His mother is a teacher at his primary school, and his father works as a maintenance technician for Sivtek. Both parents spent much of their time involved in their work, leaving his sister, Sandra, to look after Josh and his brothers. It forged a close bond between Joshua and her that lasts even to this day.
His family was semi-religious, attending services on Sundays. However, early into secondary school, Joshua came to invest himself more into the Church of Sivad, becoming a fairly devout follower of Christ. He feels a strong dedication to God and His Word that pervades all else.
Education
His grandfather, a marine in the Homeland Naval Service, used to regale him with tales of camaraderie and daring. These stories stuck with Joshua, and in the steps of his grandfather, he entered into the Homeland Navel Academy. His grandfather, who originally joined when it was still the Royal Naval Service, preferred to still refer to it as such. Raised with this indoctrination, the restoration to the Royal Naval Academy was a welcome change to Josh compared to some of the students.
In the fall of 3003, a year into his Academy training, the Sivadian military made a dramatic change in naval doctrine. For the first time in several centuries, Sivad was deploying fighters. Though he initially trained as a marine, the new fighter group intrigued him. Within weeks he had signed up for training with the Volunteer Fighter Group. He found he liked the fighters, and he enjoyed being part of something new.
He was rather studious during his time in the Academy and also displayed an almost natural ability with the fighters. He would have made top honors if it were not for the fact his grandfather died in battle during the Birthright War. It devastated and plagued him with doubts about being in the military. Laxing in his studies out of depression, he was nearly kicked out of the program. Through the mercy of an instructor who realized what was going on, Joshua eventually made a full recovery from his bout of depression and got back on track. During this rough period, he developed a penchant for chess and pocket billiards that helped him cope. He finished the program eighth in the class. His brother, William, also joined the RNS, as an intelligence officer.
The Rifting
During the wide-spread rift occurrence in normal space, Joshua was on patrol from the Sivadian carrier, HMS Majestic. He never returned. Despite a lengthy search, no trace of him or his craft was found, but his wingman was. Cockpit data and camera showed evidence of a rift and it was assumed that the vessel feel prey to the rift. In Hiverspace, he was found floating in a disabled Spitfire, half alive, living on the rations in his survival kit. Life support and powerplant were still intact, along with most of the central systems. Unfortunately, systems with external sensors such as comms and navigation were partially fried along with much of the electrical buses associated with them. The hull was scorched and some panels were crumpled, along with several of the missiles still clinging to pylons. He had no idea how long he'd been drifting.
Comorro Station and Life Without The Service
Joshua spent a while recovering aboard Comorro Station in its hospital, dehydrated and malnourished. Disoriented by the ordeal, he struggled to adapt to his new surroundings, brushing it off as hallucinations or a bad dream he had yet to wake up from. Once released from the hospital, he wandered the station, seeking to make sense of what had happened.
He initially sought to have his Spitfire repaired, but soon gave up on the idea when expenses proved to be prohibitive. Eventually, he gave up all hope of ever returning home and became a regular amongst the local bars, talking of his glory days to whoever would listen. He supported himself with odd jobs around the station.
Personality
He's honest, blunt at times and willing to speak his mind. This isn't to say he leaks information like a broken faucet, but that he simply can't lie. He's quite capable of telling half truths or just keeping his mouth shut. However, his body language occasionally gives him away.
Despite his time in Hiverspace, he still attempts to uphold the rules and regulations of the Royal Naval Aerospace Service and their code of honor in his daily life, and still prefers acquaintances address him as Squadron Leader Rummel. It's a practice found odd by the locals and even odder by fellow refugees of the rifting.
He has a sarcastic, dry wit and is not above pulling minor pranks or making the occasional sarcastic remark; though the remarks have become more cutting. His jovial manor has disappeared since the rifting and his outlook has become more serious and grim. His faith has waned during his time in Hiverspace and he's become more cynical and bitter after being stripped of everything he held dear. Lack of fellow Sivanglicans or services have played a part as well. In his darkest moments, he takes to the bars to forget the past.
Service
After graduating from the Academy, he was assigned to the 807th Fighter Squadron and stationed aboard HMS Regreb Bay as a Pilot Officer. He served under Commander Simon Eckhart, and was brought aboard the ship during the diplomatic mission to New Luna. The Nocturn Incident was his first mission — during which he was captured by Morden'kamir and subsequently released. But not before he was given a message to tell the world. Through some bungling on his end, the message was delayed, causing some controversy within the interplanetary community. Promoted to Squadron Leader and assigned as commander of the 807th Squadron aboard HMS Indefatigable. In the summer of 3007, he was again stationed aboard HMS Regreb Bay as the commander of her flight bay and given his choice of pilots to bring with him. The vessel was tasked with assisting the OATO fleet with a primary mission in reconnaissance. The vessel was later destroyed in action at the Battle of Waldheim during the Phyrrian organicide conflict. Joshua was able to escape before the destruction, along with most of the officers. After languishing aboard Hancock Station for several months he was sent back to Sivad to reassemble the 807th as well as to oversee construction of a new carrier vessel, but soon after it was felt that he was more valuable, with his recent war knowledge, as a professor and flight instructor to cadets.
Service Record
| 7 JUN 3005 | - | Graduated from Royal Naval Academy |
| 7 JUN 3005 | - | Commissioned Flight Lieutenant |
| 11 MAR 3006 | - | Assigned to the HMS Regreb Bay |
| 24 MAR 3006 | - | Nocturn, Nocturn Incident |
| 24 APR 3006 | - | Quaquan, Investigation of Morden'kamir |
| 29 APR 3006 | - | Val Shohob, Life scan mission to monitor possible activity on the planet's surface |
| 1 MAY 3006 | - | Val Shohob, Planetside expedition to search for signs of Eye Mordecai |
| 23 JUN 3006 | - | Promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and given command of Echo Flight aboard HMS Regreb Bay |
| 2 JUL 3006 | - | Outer Ikeopo System, Engaged and disabled CFF Trakkral. Trakkral crew scuttled her in attempt to destroy Sivadian assets nearby. |
| 35 AUG 3006 | - | L49 System, Assisted New Luna Militia personnel in defending Hancock Station against terrorist's attempts to destroy it. |
| 4 DEC 3006 | - | Reassigned to HMS Indefatigable |
| 15 JAN 3007 | - | Freya System, Commanded 807th RNAS during large anti-piracy offensive in the Freya System. Pirate activity in the system was virtually eradicated. |
| 4 FEB 3007 | - | Promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader and given command of the 807th Royal Naval Aerospace Squadron |
| 7 MAR 3007 | - | Ikeopo System, Intercepted IND Savior Haste on suspicion of terrorism and espionage. |
| 16 JUN 3007 | - | Ikeopo System, Assisted badly damaged vessel into Sivadian territorial space. |
| 18 JUN 3007 | - | Deep Space, Assisted in offensive against rogue fleet destruction, hijacking, and kidnapping along Freya-Ikeopo trade route. IND Diamond Black disabled and captured, seven vessels destroyed. Two RNAS fighters lost. |
| 28 AUG 3007 | - | Reassigned to HMS Regreb Bay to command allied squadron in deep space. |
| 5 OCT 3007 | - | Freya System, Encountered Phyrria fleet. HMS Regreb Bay lost with most hands, 21 vessels lost, 7 disabled, 47 fighters, 9 crippled, and 53 pilots lost. Waldheim destroyed. Freya System still in Sivadian possession. 24 Phyrrian vessels lost, 50 fighters lost, 30 sapper-craft lost. |
| 5 OCT 3007 | - | Aboard New Lunite Militia base Hancock Station, tasked with repairing and commanding remainder of fighters. Reassignment pending. |
| 12 DEC 3007 | - | Transferred with 807th RNAS back to Royal Naval Air Station – Enaj to oversee rebuild of squadron and production of new carrier. |
| 9 FEB 3008 | - | Reassigned to Royal Naval Academy as professor of Squadron Tactics and Flight Theory, and flight instructor. |
| 10 JUN 3008 | - | Reassigned to command 217th RNAS. |
| 9 JUL 3008 | - | MIA after routine patrol. Presumed dead. |
Journal
In the tavern, I met Dame Ramlan. She's apparently the envoy sent by the Foriegn Office to smooth out this whole bit the SBS put us in. If tensions grow sour, I fancy they'll hang a reporter back in Enaj.
The mission to Nocturn is coming up soon. I don't know much about it other than it is to be a scouting expedition. The higher ups have been tight-lipped about it other than to say that we may see combat. It is a little frightening, but all the same, strangely exciting. I've been training for this momement and believe I am prepared, but there is always that lingering doubt that it could potentially be my first, and last mission. I do not so much fear death as it is that I fear that it would devistate Sandra and my darling Alicia. I do plan to spend time with her as well, before we depart. Shall I live or die, I resign myself to God's Will.
It wasn't long before the speculation and the suspicious glances to come my way. Many think I may be brainwashed, even working for the Kamir now. It's maddening.