View source for Eli Samuels

{{Character
|Department=Civilian
|Last name=Samuels
|First name=Eli
|Image=[[File:Samuels.jpg|150px]]
|Homeworld=Earth
|Species=Human
|Gender=Male
|Birth=2341
|Age=46
|Height=5' 9"
|Weight=185 lbs.
|Hair=Black (salt and pepper) shoulder length
|Eyes=Grey
|Affiliation=None
|Posting=Joliett's Revenge
|Rank=Civilian Trader
|Played By=Joe
}}


==Family==
*'''Father:''' Commander Lee Samuels (retired)
*'''Mother:''' Laura Samuels
*'''Other Family:''' Eli's uncle, Vincent Samuels still serves as a marine Colonel stationed out of Betazed.


==General Description & Personality Overview==
Lean and hard with shoulder length hair, Eli doesn't say much, letting his stare speak for him in many cases. Carries a disrupter pistol better suited to an officer from a Klingon Defense Force vessel of 50-60 years ago with gunfighter customizations (ie, shorter barrel, and no front sight).  Also is known for carrying a tomahawk style hatchet and a Bowie knife.
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His quiet demeanor, rough exterior and soft spoken southern accent lead many to believe that Eli is a non caring crook. To many, that may even be true. But, at the end of the day, Eli will do what is right....as defined by him.  Also, don't touch his ship. The Joliett's Revenge may be a former Romulan shuttle he "acquired" (through salvage or theft is still up for debate) that is held together with spit, duct tape and self sealing stem bolts, with more modifications than original equipment, but it's his.


==Strengths & Weaknesses==
'''Strengths''' - a former Starfleet engineer, his ship, the Joliett's Revenge is capable of maintaining a speed and maneuverability that is quite surprising for something that appears (and actually is) a mass of patches and thrown together fixes.  A straight shooter. You won't have to ask were you stand with Eli, he'll let you know, sometimes while standing behind a disrupter. That being said, earning his trust may be hard, but once given, he won't break it easily.

'''Weaknesses''' - Stubborn; Eli will not stop, it's just not in his nature. While that can be a good thing, it tends to get him in trouble with Security. Doesn't trust authority in general and Starfleet in particular. Again, this tends to lead to trouble.

==Ambitions==
To find a place where he can live in peace and make latinum.


==Hobbies & Interests==
Enjoys wood work. When not delivering questionable items, Eli can usually be found whittling wood.


==Personal History==
When Lee Samuels retired from Starfleet and looked for a location to start a family, he allowed his wife to talk him into a small colony world that some of her extended family had moved to, Dorvan V. 
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Growing up on the backward colony world with family he didn't resemble (Eli took after his father, not his half Sioux mother, appearance wise) was not easy for the youngest of the Samuels. He would beg his father to tell of his travels and the technological wonders of Starfleet and the Federation, while stuck living in the traditional native american culture of the colony.
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It is little wonder that Eli hoped the first available Earthbound freighter and took the entrance exam to Starfleet academy.
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While he showed a decided inclination for coming up with unorthodox solutions to complex engineering issues, Eli chaffed under the regimental discipline required of a Starfleet officer.
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Struggling though the Academy, Eli did graduate, only to find shipboard life little different. While his engineering skill saw him promoted to Lt., his attitude, failure to comply with orders he disagreed with, and tendency to fix interpersonal issues with fists kept him from ever progressing further.
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The final rupture of the rose colored glass through which he'd viewed the Federation occurred when his home of Dorvan V was invaded by the Cardassians and the Federation did.....nothing!
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Eli would like to say he debated on his decision to desert from Starfleet and join the Maquis, but will readily admit that is a lie. The Maquis was an ideal fit for young Eli. He was able to defend his home, fight for freedom and actually be free to express the engineering talent he always felt Starfleet rules suppressed.
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That is, until he was captured in a raid against Starbase K12.
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42 months later, released from the New Zealand Penal Facility, a dishonorably discharged, bitter and much hardened Eli Samuels emerged.
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Life is hard on a convicted felon, especially one that carries the added taint of traitor. Unable to find employment on Earth, Eli began searching in the seedier sections of various ports, finding jobs with private captains that asked little as far as backgrounds, and were willing to pay top credit to someone would could keep warp engines running.
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While he has never been charged by Federation agents again, Eli has been around both the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, and his name has turned up on multiple probes, many with the words "smuggler", "freelancer" and "piracy" attached.


==Service Record==
2352-2356-Academy Cadet<br>

2357 (after remedial training) USS Merrimack-Ensign<br>

2361-USS Merrimack-Promoted to Lt jg/Asst Chief Engineer.<br>

2363-USS Baatan-demoted to Ensign after fight on Utopia Planitia shore leave and reassigned<br>

2365-USS Ronald Regan-promoted again to Lt Jg/Asst Chief Engineer.<br>

2369-USS Ronald Regan-Promoted to full Lt.<br>

Late 2369/2370-AWOL, joins Maquis.


[[Category:Character]]