Petty Officer, 2nd Class River "Sparks" Chen

Character Information

Gender		Agendered/Non-Binary
Species		Human
Age		29

Physical Appearance

Height		5'6
Hair Color		Black
Physical Description		5'6", wiry and compact at 29 years old with the lean build of someone who spends half their time crawling through Jefferies tubes. Calloused hands with faint burn scars on fingers from years of working with plasma conduits. ngular features with high cheekbones and an ever-present slight grin. Short black hair kept in a practical buzz cut, often has a smudge of grease or carbon scoring somewhere on their face by mid-shift. Dark brown eyes that light up when discussing technical problems. Engineering red uniform always has at least one tool tucked into the belt - usually a plasma spanner. Moves with quick, efficient energy. Has a habit of talking with hands while explaining technical issues, gesturing like they're tracing conduit pathways in the air.

Family

Personality & Traits

General Overview

Sparks earned their nickname after a spectacular EPS conduit overload during their first week aboard the Proteus that lit up Engineering like a fireworks display—though they managed to prevent any actual damage and reroute power in under two minutes. Rather than being embarrassed, they turned it into a learning experience and now tell the story themselves with enthusiasm. Cheerfully irreverent toward authority without being disrespectful, Sparks treats everyone the same whether they're talking to an ensign or the Captain. They have an infectious enthusiasm for their work and genuinely love the EPS system like it's a giant puzzle that needs constant solving. "The grid is talking to you if you listen" is a frequent saying. Quick-witted with a talent for explaining complex engineering concepts in simple terms, often using food metaphors ("The EPS grid is like blood vessels - you need good flow or things get backed up"). Has zero patience for people who don't take safety protocols seriously, and will chew out anyone who shortcuts procedures regardless of rank.