Martha Habiba

Political Information

• Affiliation: Starfleet, United Earth Commonwealth

Family

• Mother: Francine Habiba, BS, PGCE, secondary school teacher, Rose Hill Academy,
• Father: Jasper Habiba BA (Hons), secondary school teacher, Rose Hill Academy
  
• Brother: Reggie Habiba, student, Loughborough University
  
• Sister: Keisha Habiba, journalist, presenter and newsreader for the BB

Biography

Early Life

Martha was born on April 11th 2129 in the British capital city of London. The middle child of three, Martha grew up known as the little scientist in the family. When she was a child, Leo accidentally pushed Martha off the swing and broke her arm. Going in the ambulance and having her arm plastered fascinated Martha and she decided she wanted to know more about biology. Growing up in a household ran by two teachers, Martha was encouraged to follow her academic dreams particularly by her mother who taught science. When she left secondary school she went to Derby University to study biology. During her studies she became a travelling companion of one her lecturers, Doctor John Smith. The two became good friends and Martha, unknown to the doctor, developed a crush on him. After five years of studying hard she was awarded with a First Degree in 2152. She was offered a place to gain her Doctorate at Derby University of which she accepted.

Starfleet Career

Early Career

In March 2153 after the Xindi Attack against Earth, Martha decided to drop off her course. She felt that her talents would best be suited in supporting Earth’s attempts at exploring the universe. That was what she had officially told everyone, however it was due to the fact she could no longer deal with the fact that Doctor Smith wouldn’t notice her in a romantic manner. She decided it was time to get out of the relationship and Starfleet seemed like the best escape. She received a high amount of criticism from her professors and her parents with her decision. She had minored in exo-biology while at University and it felt right for her to use it. She applied to Starfleet Training Command and began her work to become an officer. Her time in training was a refreshing one for Martha. She concentrated hard on her studies and went out of her way to learn more beyond her expertise in biology. Being keen to show she had other talents, she trained in starship operations along with taking a course in stellar cartography. She got the highest grade in her class for sensor analysis on numerous occasions and showed a true gift in being able to understand many areas that covered she would later encounter within the science department. She struggled slightly with some of her survival training, but went on to ace her zero-g assessments. As Starfleet was eager to get as many officers trained and in active field posts, they offered those who were excelling the chance to undertake the fast-track officer’s course. This would condense a year’s worth of training in to an intense six month course. Martha accepted the offer on the spot and was one of the first few officers to do this. The fast-track course kept her on her toes for almost two years; however her family started to see what a difference the training was having on her. Her confidence quickly grew and in 2155 she completed the fast-track officer’s course.

Challenger NX-03

Martha was honoured when she was told that her posting on board the Challenger was to its Second Science Officer and Chief Biologist. Her instructors at Starfleet Training Command were impressed with her high results and positive approach to everything she was given. She had left being the valedictorian of her class; this meant she was highly sought after. One of her instructors was good friends with Captain Rani Karim, the new commanding officer the third NX-class ship. Martha was recommended to Karim who was eager to have her on her ship, especially as both of them shared an interest in biology.

Martha was assigned the duties of overseeing the installation of Challenger’s biology laboratories and facilities while construction of the ship was completed in orbit of Earth. Tragedy struck when Captain Karim, died in accident when another shuttle collided with her shuttlepod and both crashed in to the English Channel. Karim died on impact. The loss of Challenger’s new CO devastated the crew. Martha had become close to the captain who shared her scientific curiosity and had helped Martha for two days in rebuilding one of the labs after the engineers had laid it out incorrectly.

Eventually, Martha became good friends with Lieutenant junior Sakura Masuko, one of the engineers on Challenger and Ensign Niall Stewart, the ship’s nursing office and senior medic.She would often share her meals with one of them.

Martha had been on duty when the ship was attacked by Orions, she had been left in command when the delta duty officer had to visit engineering. During the battle many of the crew were kidnapped by the Orions. Martha went on to serve as Acting Chief Science Officer when Commander Levesque was kidnapped. She was helpful with Captain Burton’s plans to rescue their missing crewmates and attended several briefings as the head of the science department. The thrill of being on the bridge in such a critical and crucial mission was something she never thought she would experience. On Levesque’s return, both Burton and Levesque praised Martha for her efforts and contribution to their success. Captain Burton placed a commendation in her file. Levesque saw raw potential in Martha and began training to develop her leadership skills further.

Being keen to extend her friendship pool, she was soon part of a friendship group that had developed between many of the younger junior officers on board the ship. She became closer to Ensign Stewart when he started to date Private Jenkins, becoming his confidant and seeking her advice on his relationship with the MACO soldier. From this close circle of friends she soon became sexually involved with the ship’s new chief helm officer, Ensign John (Jack) Conrad. The two eventually developed their relationship in becoming a romantic one. Initially they kept their relationship a secret from the others, until Ensign Stewart discovered the truth. Eventually their relationship became public and when Jack went on a dangerous mission the two of them decided they couldn’t live without each other. For the first time in years Martha was finally over her previous love interest and was moving on with her life. She couldn’t have been happier.

During the middle of 2155, the ship was ordered to make official first contact with the Deltan species on behalf of the Earth Commonwealth and its allies in the Coalition of Planets. Initially, the first contact went well with both side exchanging ideas peacefully, but the ship was dragged in to an ongoing conflict the Deltans were having with a neighbouring race known as the Carreons. In the open battle between both sides, Challenger was forced to leave its orbit of Delta to avoid being destroyed by the Carreons. Unfortunately Martha, along with many others, was left behind on Delta. She had been visiting the planet with Ensign Stewart along her colleagues from the science department. Commander Nicolette Levesque, the ship’s first officer and science officer, had been on the planet too when their ship had left. The Deltan government gave the stranded crew accommodation in a high class governmental residential that was used for VIPs. Those from Challenger that were left behind became agitated at their situation and almost helpless at not being able to do anything. Niall had recommended to Commander Levesque for them to carry on the diplomatic mission that Captain Burton had been assigned to do. They were safe on Delta, for now, and collecting as much information on the race would keep them all focussed on something. Levesque liked the idea; however Martha (who was Levesque’s right hand woman) opposed it. She didn’t think studying the Deltans and engaging with them would help them and could create higher risks to their survival. Martha felt they should adopt the Vulcan’s stance on non-interference as it wasn’t their place to get involved in the Deltan-Carreon conflict.  She became quite vocal in her opposition and this resulted in her own isolation from the others in the group. Due to her outburst, Commander Levesque relieved her of her duties. Deciding not to engage with Martha’s negativity, Commander Levesque decided not to officially order Martha to undertake any assignments that would place her in a position in engaging with the Deltans. With the arrival of the Challenger, almost two months later, Martha returned to the ship and attempted to rebuild her friendship with Niall. Niall confronted her, stating that she wasn’t the woman or officer he thought she was.  Martha’s opinion on their situation developed in to a fall blown argument between them. It resulted in the two of them ending their friendship and being unable to speak to each other when they were in the same room as each other. Deciding to keep her head down and away from any more trouble (Martha knew she may face disciplinary from Commander Levesque for her behaviour), she volunteered to help Commander Stanton in engineering with repairs to the ship. Martha assisted Stanton in ejecting the ship’s warp core when it had been sabotaged by the Deltans in a last ditch effort to cripple an oncoming Carreon armada in to their home system. Once the entire crew had been rescued and the ship was heading back to Earth (with help from the Andorians), Captain Burton informed Martha that under recommendations from Commander Levesque he wasn’t pursuing any disciplinary action against her. Nevertheless he reminded her that even in hopeless situations she needed to remain focussed on the task ahead and to keep her head cool as best as she could – this is what it meant a difference in being a Starfleet officer.

When Challenger returned to Earth, Martha spent her time off away from the rest of her crew mates. At first she considered resigning her commission, however feeling that she needed to prove herself once more she changed her mind. On her return to the ship, Captain Burton made her acting chief science officer after Commander Levesque had become the Deputy Director of Starfleet Science. Later on he decided to give her the promotion to lieutenant junior grade. She understood that he could not give her the post of chief science officer, due to it being a command level position, but was grateful for the opportunity to look after the department for a short amount of time.

Furthermore around this time, she volunteered to join a mission that would see Challenger working with the crew of Discovery NX-04 in using a captured Romulan drone ship to take out one of their key bases. Her courage and effort played a big part in the mission’s success; however the mission came with a price as she was the only volunteer from Challenger to return alive. Commander Stanton, Major Yu and Lieutenant Conrad all died. Martha started to exhibit some survivor’s guilt shortly thereafter, especially over Conrad as the two had reconciled after her promotion. She was devastated that she did not have the opportunity to make it truly up to him and to see if they had the chance in rebuilding their past relationship.