In 2368, Brandon Arbarra was a humble cadet at Starfleet Academy in San Francisco. He shared quarters with a man called Paul Whiteside. Paul was good at everything he did. Command, science, botany, computer technology, biology, chemistry, shuttle pilot, vacc suit, but mostly, Paul was good at Parese Squares. Brandon was terrible at the game, and loved to hear about how the Reds had gone on. Paul Whiteside later went on to great things and is now a Commander on board the USS Courageous in the Beta Quadrant.
Brandon decided to make engineering subjects his speciality. He seemed to have a natural ability to understand physics at a molecular level, and he decided to specialise in transporter and replicator technology. Deciding on his specialisation at an early time in his education paid dividends, as Brandon left the Academy with Top Score in both subjects.
One subject he did not enjoy was in the use of a vacc suit. Using the suits in zero gravity made him sick. He dreaded the class, and dropped the subject as soon as he was able to. Instead, he decided he would use the time to learn to fly shuttles. He became very adept at this, and even while still at the Academy, he flew supply missions all from Earth to Starbase 11 and return, just to get flight hours and experience.
On one such trip, Brandon arrived at Starbase 11 to find the place in a shambles. Although he had been allowed to dock, he was quickly captured by a group of pirates who were trying to rob the Starbase. They had already taken two of the docks by force, and were engaged in a battle with Starfleet security personnel. Unfortunately, the pirates were able to use the young cadet as a hostage. They took what they wanted and returned to their ship, with Brandon tied up and gagged. As the pirate ship left the dock, Brandon was transported out of the ship, just before a Starship destroyed it. No survivors, but Brandon learned how dangerous space could be on that day.
Another time, Brandon and Paul Whiteside were relaxing in a cadet bar on the campus, when a young lady came over and asked him his name. After a very happy evening, Brandon and the young girl, Carla, returned to her quarters and he spent the night there. Brandon began to date the girl and she was a regular part of his social life for just over a year. Unfortunately, Carla fell in love with another man at the Academy, and left him for the man. From that day on, Brandon became wary of romantic situations.
He passed his final year with flying colours, and received his first posting within two months, on board the Galaxy Class starship, the NCC - 1716 USS Venturer.
