Alastair Mckenzie
¶ Overview
- Full Name: Alastair James Mckenzie
- Aliases: The Designer, Al'sev'tir
- Codename: Odysseus
- Species: Human
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: League
- Height: 178cm (5'10")
- Born: December 11th, 2632
- Place of Birth: Calysto
- Gender: Male
- Sex: Male
- Sexual Identity: Heterosexual
- Faction: League / Heretics
Alastair Mckenzie is one of those rare, cursed individuals who always ends up in the middle of everything, even if he doesn't want to be. He started life as a decent officer and gifted ship designer; he is now, arguably, the most powerful man in the galaxy. He wears this power like a crown of thorns, however. He feels it's his burden to bear, regardless of weight.
Most importantly, he is a classic spymaster. He plans for every contingency, adapts on the fly with ease, and has an unreasonable number of contacts. Strand him on an uninhabited asteroid with nothing but an EVA suit, and he'll show back up in three days with an entire fleet, just to show off.
¶ Physical Description
Alastair Mckenzie has the appearance of a middle-aged man in his mid forties. He's generally considered good looking, with a well-trimmed beard, dark brown hair going grey at the temples, and blue eyes.
He's physically fit, and while not overly muscular he has the build of someone who works out often, but not obsessively.
¶ Personality
McKenzie has a genial personality and a great deal of charisma. He curates himself very well, not loosing his cool or letting things get under his skin in most situations. However, when something pushes him over the edge he can be very hot-headed an impulsive. It's a side of himself that has gotten him in a lot of trouble in the past so he keeps a tight leash on it, but when it does come out it comes out with a vengeance.
¶ Special Abilities
Most of McKenzie's abilities are purely mundane; he's a highly observant, technical man, with a penchant for reading people, spycraft and tactical analysis. While he's often called a puppet master, he would argue the point; he's only exceptional at a few things, but the main one is utilizing his resources (both himself and others) to great effect.
¶ Signature Weapon
McKenzie’s favored weapon is an antique League Corps of Engineers "plasma knife," a 200-year-old hybrid between a survival blade and a miniature plasma-torch. Its matte-steel body is squat and utilitarian—more tool than weapon—but a filament along the edge ignites into a lambent blue-white line of super-heated plasma whenever he channels power through the hilt, letting it weld, sever or cauterize with surgical finesse. The design was always beloved by shipwrights for its precision, though the units were so expensive (and less brute-force than a full torch) that few survived past initial trials; McKenzie’s [mentor][] gifted him one on the day he made Chief Engineer, and he credits the knife with “saving his life dozens of times.”
¶ History
¶ Early Life
McKenzie was considered an average child, with middle of the pack grades. His teachers suspected he was bored, and only putting in enough effort not to stand out one way or the other. The one thing thing of note that several teachers pointed out over the years was that he always knew the names of all of his classmates, along with their siblings and parents. He'd know when someone was sick, or anything major was going on in their lives. It was often faster to ask McKenzie why a student was absent than calling their parent.
¶ Family and Personal Life
McKenzie's parents were pretty typical for middle-class League parents living in the capital world. McKenzie's father was an independent engineer who contracted with the League Military from time to time. His mother was a botanist; she was often gone for months at a time studying native plants of various planets.
When he was sixteen, his mother was killed in a shuttle accident. He and his father supported each other and McKenzie doesn't talk much about it, even to people who've known him for decades.
¶ Religious Views
Religion always fascinated McKenzie, but he never considered himself a man of faith. Instead, he was drawn to understanding why humans felt the need to worship made up Gods and enforce rules on each other. He studied the major human religions, then branched out into some of the more obscure, followed by famous cults and cult leaders. He once wrote a paper about how organized religion itself was a cult, with a critical analysis of the current major religious leaders and how they follow the normal cult leader playbook; needless to say, his Christian teacher was not impressed.
¶ Military Career
¶ League Naval Academy (2650 - 2653)
McKenzie attended the Academy during a relatively peaceful period. His academic performance was solid but deliberately unremarkable, having learned that exceptional performance led to unwanted "leadership opportunities." He distinguished himself through practical problem-solving, spending free time in maintenance bays learning hands-on repair work while other cadets memorized regulations.
McKenzie formed close friendships with Christia Freeland and roommate Stephen Harper. Their relationship began when Freeland challenged a professor during military history class, leading to a confrontation that McKenzie and Harper helped defuse. This resulted in a physical altercation outside but ultimately cemented their lifelong friendship.
Both McKenzie and Harper developed romantic feelings for Freeland, creating tension within their group. When Freeland's sister died in a shuttle accident, she turned to McKenzie for support, deepening their relationship though it remained undefined. The romantic rivalry culminated in a fight between McKenzie and Harper that left McKenzie with a broken jaw. While the men eventually reconciled, the underlying tension persisted throughout their careers.
By graduation, despite the complications, the three had established personal and professional bonds that would prove crucial to their later careers in military leadership.
¶ Diplomatic Attaché (2652 - 2654)
McKenzie's diplomatic assignment began during his senior Academy year and continued post-graduation. Initially assigned to Kashk, the NorAellian Chief Ambassador to the League, McKenzie gained exposure to inter-species diplomacy and Intergalactic Security Council operations.
Under Kashk's mentorship, McKenzie learned NorAellian diplomatic philosophy, including their emphasis on collective decision-making and ethical negotiation. Midway through his assignment, McKenzie was forcibly transferred to Jirael, the Lyndri Chief Diplomat, who wanted him for more challenging diplomatic work.
The transfer placed McKenzie at the center of the rivalry between Kashk and Jirael. This experience taught McKenzie valuable lessons in cultural competency, political intelligence, and cross-species relationship building that served him throughout his career.
¶ Naval Ship Engineer (2654 - 2660)
McKenzie advanced from Assistant Engineer on aging destroyers to Chief Engineer on frontline vessels. His practical approach and ability to maintain ships beyond their operational limits earned fleet-wide recognition. These assignments shaped his philosophy emphasizing redundancy, creative solutions, and designing systems for worst-case scenarios.
¶ Engineer's Assistant (2654 - 2656)
McKenzie's first posting was aboard the LSS Ra, a Helios-class destroyer assigned to routine patrol duties along the outer systems. It was unglamorous work on an aging ship, which suited McKenzie perfectly. He learned more about practical engineering in two years aboard the Ra than he had in four years at the Academy.
The ship's Chief Engineer, Commander Sarah Chen, took McKenzie under her wing after he successfully jury-rigged a solution to a chronic power coupling problem that had been plaguing the ship for months. His approach—bypassing the faulty coupling entirely and rerouting power through secondary systems—was unorthodox but effective.
By the time his assignment ended, McKenzie had earned a reputation among the crew as someone who could fix anything with spare parts and determination. More importantly, he'd learned that the difference between a working ship and a dead one often came down to creative engineering rather than proper procedure.
¶ Chief Engineer of the LSS Tonatiuh (2656 - 2658)
As Chief Engineer aboard another aging Helios-class destroyer, McKenzie turned the engineering section into an unofficial laboratory, testing modifications that improved efficiency and reliability. His innovations became so effective that other ships requested technical consultations for similar problems.
During this period, McKenzie developed his philosophy about redundancy and fail-safes, modifying every critical system aboard the Tonatiuh to have at least two backup operation methods.
¶ Chief Engineer of the LSS Themis (2658 - 2660)
McKenzie's final engineering posting was aboard the LSS Themis, an Aegis-class cruiser on deep reconnaissance missions. Extended deployments without resupply demanded unprecedented self-sufficiency.
The Themis became McKenzie's testing ground for concepts that would later influence his ship designs, including enhanced manufacturing capabilities, modular systems for mission reconfiguration, and maintenance protocols assuming no external support. When the ship returned from one particularly extended classified mission months overdue for maintenance but still fully operational, the success was noted at the highest levels.
¶ Ship Architect (2660 - 2665)
McKenzie's transfer to the League Bureau of Ships marked his entry into naval architecture's elite ranks. His initial projects focused on reliability improvements for existing designs, drawing on his practical experience with aging vessels.
His design philosophy emphasized ships surviving and functioning under worst-case circumstances through redundant systems, simplified maintenance, and modular components serviceable without returning to port. While conservative colleagues sometimes dismissed his ideas as "over-engineered," McKenzie's concepts appeared in new construction standards, particularly improved reliability requirements for all new frigate and destroyer classes.
During this period, McKenzie began developing the theoretical framework for what would become the Freya Class, though the project remained highly classified.
¶ The Archigos Experiment (2664 - 2665)
McKenzie led the League's most ambitious and dangerous hyperspace travel experiment. The project used an artificial black hole to generate energy for punching ships through hyperspace. McKenzie commanded the experimental vessel Odysseus (later Archigos) on its maiden hyperspace jump, which succeeded beyond expectations but also went catastrophically wrong.
The ship materialized in the Triangulum Galaxy, over 2.7 million lightyears from its intended destination, crashing on a Sooni colony world. Most crew died on impact, but McKenzie and four others survived through colonist intervention using advanced healing techniques. During recovery, McKenzie was trained in combat and espionage by colonists—experiences that remained highly classified upon his return.
The official record states McKenzie and survivors spent a year with friendly locals before returning to League space. The true details, including contact with advanced alien civilization, remained among the League's most closely guarded secrets.
¶ Captain of the LXS Archigos (2665 - 2675)
Following the Archigos Experiment, McKenzie commanded the fleet's most unusual vessel. The circumstances of how he came to command the LXS Archigos remained classified, but the results spoke for themselves.
McKenzie spent a decade transforming the Archigos from experimental testbed into a purpose-built war instrument. Every system was redesigned with multiple redundancies, and every defensive measure tested against scenarios that couldn't be discussed outside classified briefings.
The ship became McKenzie's laboratory for testing concepts later influencing an entire generation of designs. Modular construction techniques, advanced damage control systems, and integrated manufacturing capabilities pioneered aboard the Archigos eventually found their way into mainstream fleet designs.
This period marked McKenzie's evolution from engineer to strategist. Preparing for threats that officially didn't exist forced him to think beyond individual ships to entire defense networks, industrial capacity, and galactic-scale strategic planning.
¶ Admiralty (2680 - 2695)
McKenzie's senior naval leadership period marked his transition from ship designer to strategic planner and intelligence expert. Serving simultaneously as Head of Naval Intelligence and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he reshaped how the League assessed threats and prepared for conflicts involving superior technology.
¶ Nyana's Death (2680)
...
¶ Head of Naval Intelligence (2682 - 2695)
McKenzie's appointment surprised those who knew him primarily as an engineer, but his unique background combining technical expertise with classified project experience made him ideal for the position.
Under McKenzie's leadership, Naval Intelligence underwent significant reorganization. Traditional intelligence gathering was supplemented with technical assessment capabilities, threat analysis protocols assuming technological asymmetry, and contingency planning for scenarios that couldn't be openly discussed.
McKenzie established the informally named "Technical Threats Division" (official designation classified), responsible for analyzing potential technological developments and their strategic implications. His tenure saw development of new assessment frameworks and strategic doctrines emphasizing adaptability and asymmetric responses to superior technology.
¶ Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (2690 - 2695)
McKenzie's promotion to Vice Chairman represented both his military career's culmination and his transition to political leadership. He coordinated military planning across all League armed forces branches.
His five years as Vice Chairman were characterized by careful preparation and strategic positioning. McKenzie used his influence to place key personnel in critical positions, ensure defensive installations incorporated lessons from classified projects, and quietly expand industrial capacity to support rapid military expansion if required.
This period saw McKenzie develop the network of contacts and allies crucial to his later political career. His reputation for competence, discretion, and strategic thinking made him a natural choice for higher office when circumstances demanded it.
¶ Political Career
¶ President of the League (2695 - 269X)
[Section to be expanded]
¶ President of [ Insert Name for Unified Galactic Union ] (269X - 27XX)
[Section to be expanded]
¶ Legacy
[Section to be expanded]
¶ Ships
- LXS Archigos - McKenzie's design and first command. He'll keep her flying till the stars burn out.
- LSS Rokkr - The Erebus-class assigned as McKenzie's flagship upon reaching Flag Rank. If you think he was content to have a stock ship as his flagship, you don't know McKenzie very well.
- LSS Tisiphone - An Ares-class McKenzie requisitioned as part of the Rokkr upgrades. Sometimes you need a tough little ship, and if it's reliable, sneaky, and purpose-built for espionage tasks, well, all the better for a Spy Master.
¶ Major Associations
¶ Nyana McKenzie
- Relation: Spouse
The love of his life, mother of his children, and the only person he ever looked up to. When she was murdered, he found it hard to keep seeing the good in the universe. Still, being with her was always bittersweet; he knew he would probably out live her, and even when they were together, he felt like she was never fully there, never entirely his. He knows she loved him, but she loved her people more. He made peace with that early on in their relationship and never once doubted it. He sees his relationship with her as one of his personal monuments to happier times and will defend that memory fiercely.
¶ David McKenzie
- Relation: Son
McKenzie and his son have a very strange relationship. They either are enough on the same page there's little that needs to be said, or they're so diametrically opposed that neither even knows where to begin to relate to the other. Instead, they turn to Glyse to be the bridge between them, now that Nyana is no longer there to do it.
Despite the communication issues, he is very proud of his son.
¶ Glyse McKenzie
- Relation: Step-daughter
McKenzie has always felt awkward about his place in Glyse's life, but she has mad it clear in no uncertain terms that she considers him her father. He's always wondered if she even had memories of her biological father, but she refuses to take the bate. Which, he supposes, is enough of an answer.
Glyse is the person he relies on to ground him and make sure he isn't taking things too far. She's also the one who can explain David's point of view when McKenzie feels like he's been banging his head against the wall with his son.
His one concern about Glyse is that she will forever stick to the shadows cast by her father and brother, and never realize she casts a rather long one herself.
¶ Christia Freeland
- Relation: Ex-Lover, Coworker
If he's honest with himself, he's always been in love with Christa. When they first met and got involved, neither of the were in a place to settle down. Things were new and exciting and they had all the time in the world. Then, the Archigos Experiment happened, and he came back a year later, with a wife, step-daughter and a son on the way. Christia never seemed to forgive him for that, and it was easier to just avoid each other than have a discussion.
That was, until they both ended up as Joint Chiefs and had to work together. Since then, they've managed to figure out how to work together and even picked up some of the old easiness they once had with each other. Since Nyana was murdered, they've gotten much closer, and at times McKenzie wonders if, even after all this time, maybe...?
¶ Lizbeth Locke
- Relation: Confidant, Sometimes Employer, Often Friend
If it wasn't for the fact that he'd learned to use [Focus][] himself, he never would have put two and two together and worked out Lizbeth's secret. After the events of the Archigos Experiment, he reached out to her with a very cryptic, "I know your secret." After almost getting killed by her more than once, the two finally sat down and had a drink. After an excessive amount of alcohol the seeds of their friendship had been planted, and they've been close ever since.
McKenzie is all too painfully aware of her hang-ups, but he still values her perspective and trusts her to be honest with him. Over the years, they've built a mutual trust that borders on a sibling relationship, though if she ever realized that, he suspects she would pull way back. She doesn't want another Simon, after all.
¶ Kashk
- Relation: Lifetime Friend
McKenzie and Kashk view each other as brothers. The difference in species doesn't even occur to them half the time. Kashk is one of the few people McKenzie trusts implicitly, and Kashk has entrusted his life to McKenzie more than once. Their history and how they met is considered too personal a tale to Kashk, and that's perfectly fine with McKenzie.
The only source of contention between the two is Jirael. Kashk insists that NorAellians do not get jealous, and McKenzie just politely ignores any evidence to the contrary. Kashk has insisted that whatever may or may not be between Jirael and McKenzie, that is her business, and he doesn't need to know. McKenzie knows his friend is lying, but does his best to keep things respectful, regardless. (Jirael, for her part, loves torturing her two favorite boys, and thinks they should stop being so prudish.)
¶ Jirael
- Relation: Lifetime Friend / It's Complicated
McKenzie is the primary reason Jirael and Kashk met. Both credit him with their decades long partnership, though at the time McKenzie was trying to focus Jirael's energies in any other direction. Now, so many years later, the two have a very easy relationship filled with copious amounts of Jirael flirting with McKenzie, the later sometimes returning it, other times distancing himself quite quickly from the Lyndri woman. (She finds those moments adorable.)
Whether or not anything's ever transpired between Jirael and McKenzie, the two have obvious affection for each other and both are fiercely loyal. Jirael is unblinkingly protective of McKenzie, both verbally and physically. For his part, she was targeted by a very well connected bigot once, who (after harassing her for a week solid) disappeared suddenly, all while McKenzie was very publicly (and conspicuously) busy. She has no doubt it was him who removed the unwanted person, and never needs to know the details of what that bastard must have suffered before finally being allowed to die.
Even Kashk known not to come between the two of them.