Joachim Kaspar Roist was born to Karl-Ludwig and Valerie Roist in the city of Bern, Switzerland. His first weeks through life were extremely testing and difficult, as his parents continually reminded him, having been born four weeks premature. However, with gritty determination he fought his way back to health to the joy of his parents. His victory over this early struggle would prove to be how he dealt with the future challenges he faced in life.

Despite the initial scare, Joachim grew to be a fit and active young boy. He was involved in many outdoor activities with his mother, who was an avid trekker and mountaineer. She ran an adventure company that offered weekend tours in the ranges of Switzerland to those seeking to be close to nature. In contrast, Karl-Ludwig was a bookworm and lectured in anthropology at the University of Bern. It was this difference in nature that eventually resulted in the couple growing apart.

At the age of five, Joachim's parents separated and a few months later divorced. It was not a particularly messy divorce as both recognised that there was apathy in their marriage for they had simply fallen out of love. Joachim was still too young to remember but for the most part life would remain the same for the next few years. He would live with his father but his mother would regularly see him when she was not occupied with her company.

However, Joachim would follow his father initially to New Berlin six years later after Karl-Ludwig gained a research grant to study the effect of colonisation on various human settlements. Valerie was initially reluctant but was eventually persuaded that it would yield more benefits to Joachim's education and social development than if he were to remain at school on Earth. And so began Joachim's first exploration to the stars, taking a little more than six adventurous years.

Before Joachim would return home, he would hear news of his mother's death, along with a few others, in an unfortunate accident during one of her tours. It was devastating for the young teen that missed his own mother's touch. The last he saw of his mother was an image on a communication's screen while he was months away from Earth. For months to come, Joachim would resent his father for taking him away from his home and his mother. Eventually, his relationship with his father would heal but not completely as they slowly grew apart.

After his secondary schooling, Joachim would receive a scholarship for degrees in biology and geology at the University of Paris. It finally allowed him the escape and independence that he felt he needed, a means of getting away from his father's control. He found what he was looking for and found that it also brought to light characteristics in him that he thought he never had.

Joachim was very competitive in his studies and most of his other activities where he faced a definite challenge from his peers. For example, he developed a lasting rivalry with Lars Ulsen in the pool as they raced for numerous short distance titles in regular meets. It was a tenacious spirit that would help him in many cases but often the aggressive fight for victory would help cloud his judgement.

News of his scholastic, and in part also his athletic, achievements would reach San Francisco and he would be offered an opportunity to complete his degrees at the newly developed Starfleet Academy. Although Joachim never imagined that he would join Starfleet, he realised it was his best opportunity to gain notable experience in geology and biology, but more excitingly the field of exobiology. The thrill of making his own discoveries was enough to persuade him.

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Joachim would relish his time at the Academy, as it was an environment where he could really display his skills and flourish. However, he was not particularly popular with the majority of his fellow students, but he never really tried to be. Many had found his cynicism a little off-putting and his numerous opinions even more disagreeable but those who could overlook them managed to find a loyal and trusted friend. Namely they were Cadet James Yang and Cadet Kiera Naidu, who would be Joachim's constant company through his entire cadet training, all the way to Jupiter Station. Inevitably they would split up with their assignments, Joachim finding a berth as Science Officer aboard the Meridian. However, they all promised to keep in contact as good friends are always hard to find.