Va'Kel Shon

Captain Va'Kel Shon is a male Andorian Starfleet officer. In 2409, after commanding the USS Belfast, he takes command of the U.S.S. Enterprise-F, becoming the first Andorian captain of an "Enterprise".

History
Shon is from the Federation colony of Vega IX. He joined Starfleet in 2386 and worked as a liaison to the Romulans after the destruction of Romulus one year later. During his career, he would mostly serve as a tactical officer, however, teaching at the Academy and even facing the Borg Collective in battle.

When the Borg attacked Vega IX in early 2409, Shon's family is presumed to have been killed or assimilated. Shon starts to develop a serious case of survivor's guilt and would later become one of the most frequent patients of his counselor on the Enterprise.

Missions involved

 * : In an alternate timeline, Shon is a laborer working for the Tholian Assembly at a base in the Azure Nebula. He commands a freighter called the Belfast, making freight runs for the Tholians. He provides a distraction for Federation players to sneak past a Tholian guard.
 * & : Commanding the Defiant-class Belfast, Cpt. Shon welcomes Federation players to Battlegroup Phi, which forms at Virinat in order to subsequently proceed to New Romulus. Here it joins with a joint Starfleet/KDF fleet assisting the Romulan Republic in defending New Romulus against an Elachi invasion fleet.
 * : Shon brings the Belfast to the Iconia System to take custody of Taris after she is captured by the Federation player.
 * : Captain Shon is the representative of Starfleet at the Borg conference on DS9. He offers Federation players three Duty Officer assignments to help with the maintenance of the Belfast. During the conference Shon makes his opinion clear but is evacuated during the battle with "The 2,800" - old Jem'Hadar forces that suddenly emerged from the Bajoran wormhole. The Belfast then aids the player in engaging the incoming enemy fleet.
 * : When the rogue Jem'Hadar attack Facility 4028 in an attempt to capture the Female Changeling, Shon leads a small task force to defend the player's vessel. The Belfast is destroyed during the ensuing battle, but Shon and some of the crew escape.
 * : The Enterprise-F, commanded by Captain Shon, arrives to help defeat the Dominion fleet at Deep Space Nine.
 * : The player visits the bridge of the Enterprise at Utopia Planitia and meets with Va'Kel Shon and the rest of his crew.
 * Romulan Republic-space system patrols (FED): Captain Shon will occasionally show up in the Enterprise to assist Federation players in combat while patrolling the various systems in Romulan Republic space.
 * : Captain Shon is part of a Federation delegation sent to New Romulus to oversee the activation of a recently-restored Iconian gateway, but gets trapped on its farside along with others after a malfunction. Although he gets abducted by the Solanae, he survives their experiments and is quickly freed by Worf and the player. Shon later assists the player in commandeering and controlling a Solanae Obelisk Carrier by serving as acting tactical officer.
 * : The Enterprise under Captain Shon assists Romulan Republic and Klingon players in the Jenolan Dyson Sphere against the Undine. After the immediate threat is over, Captain Shon wants to claim the Jenolan Sphere for the Federation, provoking a verbal confrontation between the three powers.
 * : Rear Admiral Tuvok asks the player to assist in the organization of a conference of major Alpha and Beta Quadrant powers on the future of the Jenolan Dyson Sphere. Captain Shon accompanies the player to the talks, which are, however, cut short by an Undine surprise attack on the Sol and Qo'noS Systems. After joint Federation-Klingon-Romulan forces including the Enterprise prevail, Captain Shon participates in a subsequent gathering in the Great Hall of the Klingon High Council, agreeing to establish a cease-fire between the Klingon Empire and the Federation.
 * : Shon is present for the briefing prior to the Alliance's assault on the Herald Sphere.
 * : Cpt. Shon attends the Iconian Resistance briefing aboard the Kyana Research Station in advance of the last battle of the Iconian War. He subsequently commands the Enterprise during the battle in Earth orbit.
 * : Shon is present at the Alliance Summit on New Romulus.
 * : Shon and the Enterprise join Federation players in the defense of Bajor.
 * : Shon is present in Admiral Quinn's office on DS9.
 * Shon and the Enterprise arrive along with a fleet of Federation ships to aid the player, the L.S.S. Reskava and the U.S.S. Hofmann during the final battle against an Elachi fleet emerged from a mycelial rift.
 * : A simulacrum of Captain Shon commands the Enterprise-F leading an Excalbian fleet of several previous starships Enterprise, the USS Defiant, and USS Voyager against a rogue Excalbian Borg Queen simulacrum.
 * : Shon assists the player in the Seedea System and the Qu'Vat System.
 * : Shon assists the player in the Seedea System against House House Mo'Kai rebels attacking a Starbase.
 * : After J'mpok dishonorably accuses the player of betraying the Alliance, Shon will side with Federation-aligned player characters against the others, where as he will side with J'mpok against Klingon-aligned characters. Following the ensuing battle, Shon is impressed by their restraint of Federation-aligned players and informs that J'mpok would soon declare everyone an enemy of the Empire, advising them to leave Khitomer System, lie low and wait for his signal when it is safe to return.

Other involvement

 * "Season 5 Dev Blog #6": Shon, in command of the Belfast, records a log entry. His crew have discovered an abandoned Jem'Hadar Attack Ship in the Enocha System; the ship appears to be several decades out of date, and may in fact be a relic of the Dominion War. An away team sent to the vessel reports that it appears to be in excellent condition, and there is no indication of why it would have been abandoned. Musing that Tress would have appreciated this mission, Shon reports that his orders are to tow the vessel to Starbase 375.
 * "Unexpected Honor": Shon visits Data on Earth, seeking advice regarding whether to accept command of the Enterprise.
 * In Tales of the War #4, Captain Shon composes a letter of condolence to the parents of Ensign Joshua Madison, a recently-deceased engineering officer. He reflects on the lives endangered and lost in the war, and on the burden of command.
 * In Tales of the War #13, it is revealed that the senior staff of the Enterprise have been making an efforts to provide Captain Shon with opportunities to rest during the Iconian War. Shon had resisted at first, but Counselor Mathias forced the issue.
 * In Tales of the War #21, Commander Matthias visits Captain Shon in his ready room. Shon is studying the plans for the final defense of Earth, and Matthias observes that Shon does not agree with the battle plan. Shon states that his true concern is that the war against the Iconians has caused the Resistance to diverge too far from the ideals of the Federation; however, he cannot come up with an alternative plan. The Commander tells Shon she shares his concerns, and encourages him to raise them to the rest of the Resistance. This story serves as a prelude to “Midnight”.
 * "Na'kuhl": Captain Shon discusses the diplomatic situation regarding the Na'kuhl with Lieutenant Kyona, his Chief of Security.
 * "Jayce's Navy Interstellar: Through the Valley": As the Enterprise prepares to embark on her shakedown cruise following an extensive refit, Shon grants an interview. He reflects on the losses of the Iconian War, and discusses the improvements made to the vessel during its refit to a Yorktown-class frame. A tour of the ship is cut short when a distress signal is received from Deep Space 9, and Shon orders the crew to prepare to rush the ship into action.
 * "Commissioning the U.S.S. Somerville": Captain Shon speaks to the gathered crowd at the commissioning ceremony for the brand new U.S.S. Somerville.