Apparently, love changes everything... and in the Accobar system, this has been no exception. Since Asteroid Base's conception in 2007, to the the upcoming fifth season of Asteroid Field in 2015, the heart has charted the course of several major players in the Tyrella sector and beyond. We're not strictly talking about romantic connections - of which the original series certainly had more of - but even just looking at the three COs since 2012 shine a light on the very (for lack of a better term in this multiracial universe) 'Human' element of the saga.
Amber Munro:
With an originally unwavering devotion to her father and brother, Amber began her Starfleet career to follow in their footsteps. However, it was her unconventional exit from the Academy and subsequent abandonment at the hands of the as-then-unknown Illuminati conspirators which led her to all but turn her back on her immediate family. However, the birth and then believed loss of her half-Romulan son during an undercover assignment put her on a course for vengeance directed towards Subcommander Sel'tar - the head of the Cult of Romulus organisation. This is what ultimately brought Munro, her crew and Starfleet to the Accobar System. It wasn't a diplomatic mission. It wasn't a mission of scientific discovery. The Asteroid Base story began with a mother trying to find out what happened to her son and prevent her daughter from meeting the same fate.
Members of Asteroid Base's second season may recall that when Munro was on the run from the Illuminati conspiracy, the only person who was capable of bringing her back was Matthew West - the father of Amber's daughter, Erin - and somebody who would also fall victim to the perpetrators of the time, simply because he dared to break cover in order to assist her. His ultimate fate was never detailed, though attendees to tomorrow's special will be provided with an answer.
Amber vowed to give up her command when her family were safe. More specifically, when her daughter was safe. She went off the grid, only to return when she had the chance to rid the Federation of President G'rath for good. Although very few people know what actually happened on the day she killed him - she confessed to Pioneer's Counsellor that every action she has taken for over a decade has been in the defence of those closest to her. She wasn't in the Accobar System to bring peace to the region. She wasn't aboard the Athena to explore strange new worlds. She didn't lie to her crew because she was ordered to do so. She has never shied away from sacrifice in order to protect the people she loves and trusts the most.
But now that her family is safe... her daughter is safe... she's still in command of a new ship and as far away from them as she has ever been - believing that she is facing off against her original nemesis, with the threat of imminent death hanging over her following a warning from Daniel Thrace. So why is she spending what could be her final hours on the hunt for a missing asteroid base? A planned final act of sacrifice... or something else?
Renee Hampton:
In the very first scene of Star Trek: Asteroid Field, we were introduced to both Renee Hampton and Mark Chaplain as he attempted to persuade her to set up base in the Accobar System and head up the diplomatic assignment on Starfleet's behalf. It was initially implied that Chaplain was the reason for her accepting, more than the prospect of bringing the Romulans to the negotiation table. This was soon overcome as Renee and the crew overcame a number of obstacles to meet their objective. Their history together started off as a mystery, prior to them sharing a very brief intimate moment following a few reveals about their past. Both starting at the Academy together, one dropped out early and the other did not - ultimately parting ways for many years.
Yet when her job was done, Renee fought to remain on Pioneer and became more involved in the ongoing science project. It became increasingly clear that she had grown fond of once again working with her closest friend. However this was a choice which would cost both Hampton and Chaplain, dearly... with a number of other crew members caught in the crossfire. Renee was kidnapped by G'rath and Pioneer was subsequently attacked from within by an old rival who had joined forces with the disgraced former President. Although Mark was able to rescue Renee, she was unable to stop him from sacrificing himself for the rest of the crew in the aftermath of the Sickbay bombing which had only cost the lives of two others.
If she had left Pioneer when originally intended, perhaps things would have played out differently. But the love that she had found but could not express for a man who saved her career and most importantly her life, asking for nothing in return, had ultimately cost Pioneer and the Accobar project. She knew that it was time to walk away and return to Earth. Enter Sophia Mason.
Sophia Mason:
Sophia's arrival on Pioneer was preceded by a visit from her no-nonsense mother, Commodore Leona Mason. Her relationship with her family was unclear - as was who that family consisted of, for that matter. Early in the third season, Sophia revealed to Jemma Etis (under the influence of the airborne drug released aboard the Alethia) that her Telosian father held a position in the Royal household but that her Mother was forced to take her away from Telos when she was young. Sure enough, when Sophia and Leona came to blows aboard Pioneer, it seemed that she held some resentment for being pulled away from her home and presumably the rest of her family. It still has not been made clear what her place was in the family, or the details of her leaving Telos, but that's something that is going to be blown wide open in quite an unexpected way (I even took myself by surprise with the idea) in Season Five.
Despite being an initially reclusive figure, in over her head when the Hobus star erupted on her first day in command, Sophia soon grew very attached very quickly to her staff - particularly McClintock, Costello and Etis - with Barnes kept at arms length after she was effectively dropped in to his job without warning. During her investigation in to Red Dawn's actions, she kept a close eye on Alicia Costello, who had previously been involved with both the Klingon faction and her mother on Qo'noS. When Costello took a leave of absence from Pioneer and went off the grid, Mason became increasingly concerned over her whereabouts and actions - having heavily relied on her Chief of Security's presence aboard the station. She launched her own investigation, meeting with Klingon contacts and prying Gaila for what information he could acquire.. but upon learning about Costello's assignment came at a cost and drew the wrong kind of attention.
Costello had returned to Pioneer, but it wasn't long before she was called away. En-route, Costello's transport was attacked and she was taken to be held at a Red Dawn outpost. Leona made it clear to her daughter that she shared the responsibility for Alicia's fate and Starfleet wouldn't be able to intervene. Unable to give up on Costello, Mason rallied the crew aboard Gaila's ship and set off to rescue her missing officer - leading them not only to Walter Peirce, but also a few revelations about Ambassador Taval and the Etis family... but that's for another time.
Sophia's personal attachments to her new family didn't just put Costello at risk. During the fourth season, she ran in to a collapsing shuttle bay in order to rescue who she believed to be Jemma Etis, unaware that it was in fact a disguised (and deceased) Halkonian officer designed to throw the crew off-balance. It worked, and Jemma's apparent death lead to Mason throwing out Starfleet's plan of action and putting Pioneer on the offensive against Denara Clarke - leading to the first exchange of fire in the Accobar System. By the day's end, Michael Barnes, Tim Rogan & Jemma Etis were all whisked away aboard an Halkonian ship. Starfleet's quick and rash response was expected to throw away the lives of all three hostages. Once again, Sophia turned away from her orders and formulated her own plan to recover them - one which wouldn't make the best first impression on new First Officer, James Menden.
Her plan resulted in the death of Michael Barnes, which haunted her for the remainder of the season and beyond. The last we saw of Sophia, she departed to face the consequences of her actions - though was ultimately justified in managing to save the lives of Rogan and Etis, whereas they would otherwise have lost them. In conversation with Amber Munro, Commander Menden mentioned that Mason would be returning to Pioneer shortly, though the details of her return will be kept for the Fifth Season.
Amber, Renee and Sophia have all fallen victim to their love of those around them under extremely different circumstances. But in each, the collateral damage has been extreme and almost always avoidable. The defensive, compassionate and impulsive nature of these characters have driven them to make the hard calls during their time in the Accobar System - and they haven't been alone in letting their heart control them. Two of the most prominent villains of the piece, Sel'tar and G'rath, both started out fighting for fallen family members - even if they ultimately lost their way. Even Walter Peirce has sought revenge for the execution of his wife following Munro and Rush's intervention in his plans. Most recently, we have followed the plight of Denara Clarke, spiralling out of control fighting a war which had already been lost for a planet which could no longer be saved, on behalf of millions already killed.
Over the years, there have been others amongst the crew forced to make difficult decisions for the ones that they love. Tim Rogan, Daniel Thrace and Nicole Williams, to but name a few. Entering the Fifth Season, I can assure you that this trend will continue as Jemma Etis finds herself at the heart of a family crisis which we teased at the end of the latest minisode... just as Sophia comes face to face with... well, you'll see. This is a series that was built to serve it's characters. Taking a season out to tie up loose ends in perhaps the bleakest run of episodes I've ever had to pen, we're going back to our roots in the new year. I hope that you will all be willing to continue building on your existing characters and continue forging bonds and relationships with those around you. Without that, this would just be a series without heart - and that wouldn't be a series worth making.