Summary
Captain Sir Edward Amitage, the 18th Baronet of Wrenford, serves as the incumbent commanding officer of the U.S.S. Britannia.
Sir Edward is the surviving heir to the Wrenford estate and comes from a long line of British gentry. Despite his official title, Sir Edward (though proud of his heritage) is a humble individual who places his service to the Federation far above his title.
Sir Edward is the second son of the 16th Baronet, who passed his title on to Sir Edward’s older brother upon his passing. Sir Edward was never supposed to inherit the family title, and only did so upon the untimely passing of his brother, who produced no legitimate issue. As such, he has always conducted his life with a degree of professional distance from the office. In short, Sir Edward does not believe his title should afford him status, nor particular recognition. He remains proud of his family’s legacy personally and in private, but it does not define him as an individual; to him, it is a title his ancestor earned half a millennium ago. Instead, Sir Edward measures the strength of his character against his own personal achievements. He is the Captain of a starship, in service to the wider galactic community first, and a Baronet second.
Appearance
Sir Edward is approximately 5ft 10 inches tall, 53 years of age, with silvering hair.
His features reflect his age, projecting a warm feeling of quiet experience and reserved opinions. His face can easily set the tone of a room, or slip subtly into the background, making others feel welcome to express themselves without feeling judged.
Sir Edward never paces; he doesn’t fidget; his decisions and questions are surgical in their accuracy and planning, so he never speaks out of turn and rarely makes a sound that isn’t deliberate.
His physical appearance is always immaculate, yet practical. While most Captains wear their uniform comfortably, Sir Edward wears his as though it were ceremonial, a badge of office for his station as the Captain of a starship, or a symbol of the burden of command. Either way, he treats every thread with the utmost respect. Clean, well-pressed and brightly polished; not out of vanity, but out of respect for all those who entered the service of others and wore a uniform before him.
Personality
Perhaps the best way to summarise the core of Sir Edward’s Personality is through his family motto: “Fortitudine et Officio” or, “By Courage and Duty“. Sir Edward may hold a noble title, but his blood is meant for service, and he is the embodiment of a long family tradition of that service
He need not command the respect of his peers; they offer it willingly because he remains consistent and predictable, dispenses justice fairly and values the opinions of all those who are willing to give them. He is not reckless, nor does he undertake any venture without careful thought. His authority comes from certainty, not intimidation.
Sir Edward does not try to elevate himself above others; he actively avoids using his title lest it develop the impression in others that he operates on a level that is beyond reproach. On the contrary, he deeply values and admires feedback, and if anyone disagrees with a decision or action from him, you can be sure that he will allow time for that opinion to be heard.
Perhaps what makes him so effective as a leader, however, is his affinity for understanding a situation and providing the response that no one thought to consider. This makes him dangerous to his opponents; he overtly reflects stability, predictability, and continuity until the last second, when his move can seldom be interpreted by even his closest allies. Where critical, he will often keep his cards close to his chest except for a close inner circle of trusted individuals who are truly blessed with his trust to be privy to the inner workings of his tactics.
His greatest strength as a Commanding officer is that his crew know exactly where they stand. He is utterly fair and overwhelmingly someone that others dont wish to disappoint. Not because they fear consequences, but because they respect that he provides means that his disappointment is harsher than any practical punishment.