Father: Jisti FortaALIVE
Mother: Rika FortaALIVE

Tess Forta was born on Betazed in the Earth year, 2357 to middle-class parents. Though not as strong telepathically as the higher ranked Betazoids, her family was a respected group of scientists and explorers. Jisti Forta, Tess’ father, was a Starfleet science officer for many years, in fact. Tess, however, lacked the interest in physics and chemistry to consider a career in science. She was far more interested with flying her family’s shuttle about the system and performing stunts for her childhood friends.

Joining Starfleet like her father, Forta made up her mind to fly. The Dominion War had recently ended, and the fleet was in desperate need of officers. She was rushed through the academy, encouraged to take more than the standard load of courses. Tess was even denied a cadet tour before being sent to the fleet. Though her family thought this incredibly disturbing, the young woman was thrilled with completing the academy in three years.

Assigned to the USS Orion under Captain Floten, Forta was given a unique opportunity. She was able to navigate areas of space not even the newest and most advanced ships of the fleet had heard of. Helping map out new territories, Tess developed into a fine officer. Her captain also became a new father figure to her, shielding the young woman from many of the male crewmembers whom he often disapproved of then they made advances on Forta. She became an adopted daughter to him.

When Floten left the Orion, Tess had become a lieutenant JG. She continued on with the ship for two years, under its former First Officer Commander Gibbs. He made Forta his chief helmsman, and began to place a great deal of responsibility on her. Though at first awkward, the new work loads became the norm for the young pilot. Her duties included qualifying crewmembers with shuttle craft and taking over Astrometrics. She was the most familiar with the stellar maps used on the Orion and seemed a natural choice for the position.

Captain Floten eventually asked that Tess be assigned to his new project, the USS Serenity, about a year after he took command of it. Though the vessel was not yet completed, he wanted the young pilot to begin getting used to the systems and equipment she would be dealing with, as well as to learn about the revolutionary “fold space” drive it used travel to distant galaxies. Being the first to operate such a device remains one of the highest honors Lieutenant Forta has been given in her relatively short career.