Bravo Fleet
Summary
Lieutenant Commander Eliza Carter, Starfleet, serves as the Executive Officer of the Norway-class light cruiser USS Montrose (NCC-68817). The cool, incisive counterpoint to Commander Harvey Hudson’s gregarious bluntness, Carter is a natural XO — a strategist with a keen tactical mind, unshakable composure, and an instinct for seeing the whole board before the first move is made.
Appearance
Carter stands at 5’8″ (172.72 CM), with an athletic build that speaks to a lifelong discipline in both mind and body. Her ash-brown hair, usually tied back in a simple knot, frames sharp features and piercing green eyes that miss little. Carter’s presence on the bridge is calm but unmistakable; even in silence, she exerts a steadying influence, a counterweight to Hudson’s intensity. The corners of her mouth often hold the faintest ghost of a smile — not warmth so much as calculation, as though she’s perpetually three steps ahead of the room.
Personality
Eliza Carter is a creature of order and intent. Analytical, composed, and ruthlessly efficient, she thrives where logic and discipline meet high stakes. She is not cold in presentation, but she keeps her emotions on a tight leash. Her leadership style is rooted in precision: clearly defined expectations, meticulous planning, and a relentless insistence on accountability.
She is, in many ways, Hudson’s foil. Where he leads from the gut, Carter leads from the map. Where he charges into the storm, she studies its currents and shapes the response. Their differences spark tension at times, with debates that occasionally echo across the ship, but they also forge a stronger whole. Carter respects Hudson’s instincts even when she challenges them, and he trusts her judgment even when it grinds against his own. To the crew, their dynamic is the ship’s heartbeat: push and pull, steel and stone.
Carter is fiercely ambitious, but not in a way that undermines the chain of command. Her eyes are on the center seat someday, but she views the XO billet not as a stepping stone but as a sacred responsibility to her captain, the crew, and the mission.
History
Born in San Francisco, Eliza Carter grew up in the shadow of Starfleet Headquarters, the daughter of a civilian engineer and a cultural historian. Surrounded by the ideals and imagery of the Federation’s flagship service from childhood, she set her sights on a commission early — and unlike her captain, her path was smooth. She excelled academically, entered Starfleet Academy on her first attempt, and graduated near the top of her class with a focus in tactical analysis and strategic operations.
By thirty-five, Carter was Tactical Systems Officer and Second Officer aboard the USS Vanguard, where she earned distinction coordinating the defense of a Federation colony under repeated pirate assault. Her performance led Starfleet Command to shortlist her for early executive officer selection.