Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 12:17am

RICHARD EDGERTON (2371-2431)

Fleet Admiral RICHARD EDGERTON was the former head of the Federation government and the leader of the Neo-Essentialist movement.

Edgerton was born on Earth in 2371, and graduated from Starfleet Academy in 2399, performing so well at the Academy that he received his officer's commission as a Lieutenant JG rather than an Ensign. A highly-regarded Tactical officer, Edgerton quickly rose through the ranks, and earned his first command 13 years after graduating, when he was assigned as CO of the Olympus-class USS Valhalla.

It is not known when Richard Edgerton became a committed Neo-Essentialist. Most members of the movement are exposed to it either in the Academy or while working in the fleet, and Edgerton is likely to have been no different. What is different is how he became the leader of the organisation.

In 2420, the Neo-Essentialist movement was a shambles. Its leader, a Starfleet Admiral named Edmund Dupree, had seen his plans thwarted and had been outed as the movement's leader. In desperation, he stole the USS Century and fled into the wilds of the Beta Quadrant. Several months later, then-Captain Edgerton took the Valhalla into the system K-60 for a clandestine meeting with Dupree. At that meeting, Edgerton murdered Dupree and his whole crew by venting the Century's atmosphere into space. Edgerton took quick control of the Neo-Essentialists.

Edgerton's plan was markedly different from his predecessor. Instead of attempting to gain followers by sowing terror, he began placing his followers in positions of authority in Starfleet. In turn, those followers recruited new members, and soon the Neo-Essentialists had infiltrated Starfleet at every level. Edgerton's rise to power coincided with his rise through the ranks, being promoted to the Admiralty in 2423.

In 2429, Starfleet's listening posts detected a Federation subspace signal emanating from the Beta Quadrant. Knowing that it was likely the rebooted main computer of the USS Century, and anxious to cover up his murderous meeting with Admiral Dupree there nine years earlier, Edgerton arranged for the USS Discovery to be brought out of retirement. Filling the crew up with veterans and enough Neo-Essentialists to take over the ship in the event of the truth being found out, the veteran crew of the Discovery nevertheless managed to learn about the secret meeting and escape Edgerton's trap.

Although they had no direct proof of his treachery, Edgerton realised he needed to move quickly. He triggered conflict with the Romulan Star Empire by attacking their Neutral Zone outposts and then, using a combination of blackmail and diplomacy, caused the Federation Council to suspend the Federation Charter and declare martial law, promoting Edgerton to Chief of Staff. Finally, the Neo-Essentialists were in control, and Edgerton immediately began changing the structure of the Federation by placing Neo-Essentialist governors in command of all member worlds. His power was at its zenith.

Learning that the remnants of the loyalist Starfleet were massing in the distant Elandipole system, Edgerton enlisted the aid of Dexter Marxx, a retired Starfleet hero, and gave command of a Neo-Essentialist fleet to him, charging the hero with destroying the rebels. However, after a tense stand-off, civil war was averted when Edgerton's plans were exposed.

As Starfleet moved on Earth to force a final confrontation, and with public knowledge of his real loyalties spreading, Edgerton launched the Aegis Defence Network around Earth - a planetary screen of satellites that were his doomsday weapon. Each satellite was a thaleron generator capable of obliterating five thousand square kilometres of ground.

To further his insane cause, Edgerton use a thaleron satellite to destroy the city of Paris, killing twenty-eight million people in the worst single holocaust in Human history.

Richard Edgerton was killed on stardate 2.1611 when a Starfleet strike team penetrated his underwater base in San Francisco Bay. It was the final defeat of both Richard Edgerton and the Neo-Essentialist movement he led.