Character Information

Gender		Female
Species		Human
Age		30

Physical Appearance

Height		5'9"
Weight		135 Ibs
Hair Color		Tawny Brown
Eye Color		Hazel / Green
Physical Description		Alice has pale skin and long, tawny brown hair that falls in slight curls past her shoulders. Her eyes change between hazel and green and observe more than she lets on. Her smile tends to be small and subtle and is usually either warm or wry. She usually opts to wear her uniform when on duty but softens it with personal touches, like a delicate necklace or bracelet, or an old-fashioned hair slide. She prefers comfortable but elegant clothing when off duty, usually classic or vintage in style.

Family

Spouse		None
Children		None
Father		Unknown (Alice was raised solely by her mother)
Mother		Julia Penrose, Horticulturist
Brother(s)		None
Sister(s)		None
Other Family		Maternal Aunt: Eleanor Penrose-Vale Uncle: Charlie Vale-Penrose Cousins: Eliza Penrose-Vale, Jamie Vale-Penrose

Personality & Traits

General Overview		Alice is calm, perceptive and emotionally intelligent, although her calm surface masks a mind that’s constantly observing and processing. Sometimes, this calm can be mistaken for coldness, but her wry wit, gentle sarcasm and dry sense of humour often softens that impression. Although gentle by nature, she radiates a quiet strength and makes for a fiercely loyal friend and ally. She is known for making shrewd and insightful observations and has a keen instinct for when to voice them...and when to keep them to herself. Her neurodivergence gives her a distinct lens through which she interprets the word...and other people. A natural introvert, she builds trust through her sense of integrity, sincerity and compassion, connecting particularly well with other people who have felt overlooked, out of step or misunderstood. This has led to her becoming an advocate for inclusivity and mental health awareness within Starfleet. Alice avoids large social gatherings but thrives in one-on-one interactions, known for her dry wit and surprising candour when she chooses to speak freely.
Strengths & Weaknesses		Strengths: - Intelligent and highly analytical - Observant, perceptive and detail oriented - Calm, measured, patient and rational, even under pressure - Compassionate, excellent empathetic insight and skilled in deep listening - Independent with a strong moral compass and a willingness to advocate for others - Strong communicator, especially with those struggling or withdrawn - Specialises in neurodiversity and trauma counselling Weaknesses: - Can become overstimulated in chaotic environments with a threat of burnout - Can occasionally struggle with bureaucracy and group politics - Sometimes shies away from self-disclosure and can struggle in being ‘vulnerable’ with other people - Can struggle with Imposter Syndrome - Has difficulty asking for help or support for herself - Her introverted nature means she can struggle with ‘loud’ or social situations - Has very limited combat skills; barely passed basic training
Ambitions		To contribute to lasting cultural change within Starfleet around inclusivity, mental health, and identity. Her hope is to help shape a generation of officers who feel safe being themselves.
Hobbies & Interests		Classical music (plays the piano), writing a journal, walking/hiking in quiet countryside and rugged landscapes, reading old Earth literature, collecting vintage clothing, card games, studying human and alien psychology and mythology. During down time she can often be found tending to a small indoor garden she has cultivated in her quarters. She enjoys drinking different teas (real leaves where possible) and indulges in plum wine as an alcoholic treat. Shortbread biscuits offer a taste of home while crystalised candied stem ginger staves off her sweet tooth. Lavender and earl grey flavoured ice cream is a favourite she’d never admit to and chocolate covered espresso beans are her secret vice. Languages Spoken: Standard, Cardassian

Personal History		Born in the serene countryside of the Chiltern Hills, Alice Penrose grew up in a quiet household surrounded by books, nature and plants. She was brought up by her mother, Eleanor, a horticulturist with a passion for all things natural, and never had a father figure in her life. As a child, Alice was often described as bright but ‘different’...introspective and highly intelligent but often misunderstood. She was prone to quietness, easily overwhelmed by loud or busy environments and remained entirely involved in her own interests. Social cues were elusive to Alice, but she masked it well, even if she frequently felt like an outsider among friends and family. Unaware of the root cause, she grew up thinking her difficulties were personal failings, believing she simply needed to try harder to fit in. So while adopting a mask when around other people, she found comfort in patterns, order, and her own gentle intellectual interests when alone. She found solace in the mastery of classical music, the nurturing nature of tending to plants, and the academic stimulation of literature and psychology. By the time she was a teenager, she had grown both confused and frustrated as to why she was often able to achieve academic brilliance, but simple things like shifting routines, too much noise and fitting in were so difficult. It was that feeling of being out of place that led her to seek an alternative path, and the challenge of Starfleet appealed to the young woman. Even in this new environment though, old struggles persisted. While she achieved well in the academic side of Academy life, she found the social and chaotic physical aspects draining, the competing demands overwhelming and the bureaucratic side of the fleet exhausting. She didn’t want to admit defeat, but the Academy experience was becoming increasingly stressful, leading to bouts of hidden anxiety. It was during her second year that a psychology instructor, Maria Wilson, took her aside, sharing her concern for Alice’s wellbeing and persuading her to undergo a full evaluation. The results showed that Alice was autistic. The discovery was life-changing for Alice, clarifying so much about herself that she hadn’t been able to understand. For the first time, she didn’t see her mind as something flawed, just different. All the things she had struggled with weren’t failures, they were just a result of a neurodiverse mind trying to cope with a world built for the neurotypical. Still, it brought emotional upheaval and a need for better understanding, so she decided to take a year long leave of absence from the Academy to adjust to the diagnosis. Rather than going back home, which would have felt like retreat, she found a small cottage in the Lake District, a favoured childhood holiday spot. She took a year to reflect, reframe and rebuild her identity. She spent time reading, playing and listening to music, writing a journal, walking through the lush landscapes...quiet, soothing activities that gave her the space she needed to process. She eventually started to volunteer at a local clinic, learning the value of listening without judgement. When she returned to the Academy, it was the resolve not to become what Starfleet and other people expected, but to create a space to be herself. She accelerated through her training and earned a reputation for her insight, discretion, and ability to connect deeply with others, even when she struggled with small talk or social conventions. She chose to spend an extra year at the Academy, to take specialist modules in neurodiversity and trauma therapy. She began quietly mentoring fellow cadets who also felt out of step with the culture, advocating for accessibility and neurodiversity accommodations. These themes continued into her career. Serving on the USS T’Vora, Alice developed a reputation for being someone crewmembers could trust to really listen. Rather than trying to ‘fix’ people, she focussed on understanding them, to help them exist as themselves under challenging circumstances. She continued to advocate for inclusivity on the ship rather than allowing the expectation of conformity to remain unchallenged. A few years later, she was transferred to the USS Thunderchild to serve as Assistant Chief Counsellor. Her approach to counselling was deeply empathetic, often informed by her own lived experience of feeling ‘other’ and navigating identity in a structured environment. She was further promoted and moved to the USS Horizon to serve as Chief Counsellor. She favours a quiet, reflective but direct approach to therapy and avoids pathologizing uniqueness. Though reserved in manner, her quiet confidence and perceptiveness helps her gain the trust of patients and colleagues alike.
Service Record		2388-2390 - Starfleet Academy, Counselling Cadet 2390-2391 - 1 year medical leave 2391-2393 - Starfleet Academy, Counselling Cadet 2393-2394 - Starfleet Academy, Specialisation Courses 2394-2396 - USS T’Vora, Ensign, Counsellor 2396-2398 - Starfleet Medical, Lieutenant JG, Counsellor 2398-2400 - USS Thunderchild, Lieutenant JG-Lieutenant, Assistant Chief Counsellor 2400-Present - USS Missouri, Lieutenant, Chief Counsellor Medical History: Age 20 - Diagnosed as autistic Ongoing – Occasional sensory sensitivities and processing challenges managed with environmental adaptations, accommodations, routine and therapeutic practices Current Status – cleared for all standard Starfleet duties, with recommended regular mental health breaks to avoid overwhelm and burnout