Michael Abbot has had somewhat of a distinguished career within the Military and has become somewhat of a 'poster child' for the Military when they want to show off just what type of Command Officers they have.
Born 45 years ago, Michael Abbot entered the world into what many would consider to be a pretty normal life. Both parents were of the working class and neither one of them served in the Military. His father was an electrician, while his mother was a minor political aide. Neither was a job that paid a lot of money, so Michael was raised that material possessions were not the only thing in life and what the family lacked in possessions, they made up in other areas.
Like other kids, Michael attended public schools since his family couldn't afford the private ones, even though they tried to save enough. In the end, he didn't care. Friends were made, things were learned and at the end of the day, the child was happy. All this was in part because of the way that his parents had begun to raise him. Soon enough, the core values of his upbringing began to show. As the child became a teenager, people began to notice that he had a way with words. Teachers would speak of his ability to inspire others and his ability to excel in all subjects. Friends would speak of his good nature and the fact that he never seemed to lose his temper. At the mere age of seventeen, he had already shown that he was destined to do something with his life.
And so, at the age of eighteen and upon graduating from high school, the man was forced to make a decision that would affect the rest of his life. With an affinity for words and speaking, his parents though a career in politics would be the more suitable choice for him. Yet, Michael disagreed. Being raised on Picon, there is a particular empahize put on the Military. Throughout the years, this had caught the young Abbot's eye and it was with apt anticipation that he'd applied, and been accepted, to the Colonial Pilot Academy. When he'd finally told his parents, there was no disappoint to be had. In fact, they supported his decision entirely. After all, who better to know what one would want to do with their life.
Four years later, at the age of twenty two, Michael graduated from the Academy with honors as a Raptor Pilot and was offered his choice of assignment. Rather then choosing to fly off of a Battlestar like the others, the young man opted for a posting aboard the Colonial Fleet Cruiser "Century". It was here that his call sign was earned, for on his landing after his first 'sortie' a malfunction in his craft's stabilizers forced him to initiate a crash landing, forever branding him as 'Crash'. This was the only 'mark' against his record and over the course of the next two years, Michael proved himself a valuable asset to the crew, earning the position of CAG after the last one transferred out. He didn't hold the posting for long before he received an offer to transfer to the Battlestar 'Benedict'. It would seem that when his current CO had heard the post had become available, he'd written a glowing recommendation for the man.
Not being one to turn an opportunity away, the man accepted the position with pride and served as the CAG of the 'Benedict' for the better part of six years. Then, during a routine patrol near the Armistice Line, the Battlestar encounter a horrific accident. Old and neglected electronics in CIC, the result of a lazy engineering trying to skim through his career, a fatal fire that claimed the life of the Executive Officer. The Commander was forced to make a careful decision, one that would have ramifications far into the future. Without an XO and with the ability to appoint one as a 'Field Promotion', the Commander looked over the available candidates and with little pause, made the announcement that Michael would be advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and assume the post. At the mere age of 30, the man had already entered into the senior ranks of command. Talk began to spread that positions had been paid for, people had been bribed and yet, not a single proof of evidence could ever be found. When the 'Benedict' returned to spaceport, an investigation was initiated at the request of Michael, no doubt to clear his name and ensure his record was clean. Of course, nothing was found and at the request of the current Commander, Colonial Fleet Command confirmed Michael as the permanent XO of the 'Benedict'.
For five years, Michael served as the Executive Officer of the 'Benedict' and for five years, the Commander took the man under his wing, guiding him through the thoroughs of Command and what would be required of the man. With a knack for speaking, Michael was almost a natural. Crew listened to him when he spoke and he soon became a sounding board for many a problem. The worse the problem, the easier he seemed to resolve it and because the man hardly ever raised his voice, regardless of the situation, people quickly began to respect the man. Politicians, diplomats, crew and civilians that came aboard the 'Benedict' were often Michael's responsibility and each and everyone was treated as a 'guest of honor'. So, it only became natural that when his Commander desired to retire, he petitioned to have Michael replace him. Unfortunately, not all things happen the way people want.
The request for Michael to take over the 'Benedict' was denied, with a more 'able' Commander being selected. After all, at only 35, the man was far too young in the eyes of many, to command a Battlestar. But even Fleet Command realized there was a particular potential in the man and he was a given a choice: Remain the XO of the Benedict or take Command of the Missile Frigate 'Victorian'. Realizing that this might well be another turning point in his career, careful thought was given and after thinking things through, he accepted command of the 'Victorian'. Given the rank of the Commander, the Missile Frigate's task was simple. Meet up with the Battlestar 'Destiny' and it's support ships and follow orders. Simple enough. So simple, in fact, that there was nothing of note for the better part of eight years. Much like his time aboard the 'Benedict', the man had earned the complete respect of his crew, going out of his way to ensure that he got to know each and everyone of them. Showing them that they could trust him and that if they followed the rules as laid out, he'd go out of his way for each of them.
Then, during his ninth year as Commander of the 'Victorian', the battle group he was assigned to was tasked to Canceron to deal with a severe situation that had developed. A group of radicals, one that had been monitored by Fleet Intelligence and then overlooked, had seized control of key tylium mines. Their reasons were unknown. People were sent to talk and yet, nothing was ever resolved. So, the Military decided to answer with a show of force, to ensure that their supplies of tylium went undisturbed. Again, the CO of the Battle group attempted communication and again, things went unresolved. But this time, the radicals answered with destruction. Destruction that resulted in death. A mistake, they said, for they only meant to destroy a secondary facility, but the unstable tylium ignited and several dozen workers were killed in the subsequent chain of explosions. With little patience left and against the advice of his senior commanders, the Battlestar CO ordered a full Marine strike against the facility.
It was this very decision that forced another choice upon Michael. Realizing that the lives of the workers, Marines and even the radicals hinged on what was to come, he made his way over to the Battlestar 'Destiny' to meet with the CO. It was here that people speak of the man losing his temper and it's here that he proved just how effective he was at speaking. For when he was finished and when he returned to his ship, it was his marines that were authorized to lead the strike and he had chosen to accompany them. Once a position had been secured on the ground, he did what many considered to be utterly foolish. With only two escorts, he made his way to one of the facilities and was immediately seized by the radicals. A Military Commander was viewed as a very effective bargaining chip and people wouldn't be so quick as to try to eliminate the group. But this was simply part of what Michael thought they would do and it allowed him to meet with the leaders of the group,face to face. Something that had not yet been accomplished.
For eight days, no communication was received. For eight days, people began to worry. Marines began to prepare and soon, the order came down that Michael was to be a causality of war. Fleet Command wanted the facilities back and the Battlestar CO was quick to please. But as the Marines prepared to advanced to the facility, communication was received from radicals. And to the disbelief of everyone, they surrendered without a shot. The mission was deemed successful and the records of the events were sealed and deemed classified. Rumors began to surface from the various prisons that the radicals had been sent to, that Michael offered everything from cubits to ships to their own colony on a desert portion of Leonis. Yet, no details were ever confirmed. The one detail that people did take notice to was that Michael took to visiting the supposed 'leader' of the group. Not only that, but he kept in communication with the man, tracking his progress through the prison system and keeping tabs on him. For those that knew the man, they simply chalked it up to his ability to speak to people. To show them what their actions would do and to present them with a better alternative in a fashion that was seldom presented by others.
Returning back to his command, Michael served another two years before a communication was received from Fleet Command. One that ordered his vessel detached from the Battle group and to return to Picon. It was here, in a public ceremony, that the man was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and given command of what would be the last Mercury Class Battlestar. Realizing that Michael would do well in dealing with those pesky politicians who now wished to cut the Military's budget, they even went so far as to hold a public press conference, offering the chance for just over two hundred civilians to be aboard the 'Cerberus' when it launched under his command.
And so, with a new era of Michael's life beginning, the man's things were packed off and shipped to the Cerberus and once Fleet Command was done parading him around like the poster child for Fleet Command, he boarded the first shuttle that he found and made his way over to Leonis to get a look at the ship that was now his.
