With his special combat eyeglasses, and
his pretty wife's miniature inside the cover of his watch, he certainly is not the classic
image of the dashing Starfleet Officer. His family is what can only be called Starfleet
military nobility. They have been involved in the creation of Starfleet, fought in every
Federation War, from the Romulan-Terran War, Klingon boarder skimishes, Talarian Boarder
Conflicts, right up to the Dominion War. The family house on Earth is full of pride,
traditions, and old swords on the wall, that even date back to World War Three. Jim was
born in the family house on Montevideo, Earth.When he was eight, his father a Starfleet
Captain was mortally wounded in a boarder skirmish with the Cardassian's. His mother and
maternal grandmother saw to his education; the Gustavus library was the beginning of his
love of study. In 2367 Jim was admitted to Starfleet Academy, his sponsor was his uncle
who aswell was a Starfleet Captain until his ship was lost a year later during a
"misunderstanding" with two Romulan Warbirds. In 2371 he qualified for two years
advanced command instruction at Starfleet Academy. When he finally began his Starfleet
career he began as a Junior Lieutenant due to his advanced command training.
After six years at the Academy his passed onto the USS Champagne, like Starfleet in
general, the USS Champagne was beginning to ferment, as its officers divided into groups
"anti-Maquis" and "pro-Maquis". Jim stood with the latter and was
expelled from Starfleet after being caught supplying weapons to the Maquis, but soon
reappeared commanding a Maquis Vessel and served with increasing effectiveness through the
first fumbled battles against the Cardassian's.
When the Dominion annihilated the Maquis, Jim managed to escape only to enter right
into the hands of Federation authorities. But as the Dominion War began, Starfleet was in
need of experienced officers, Jim Gustavus was re-enrolled into Starfleet with his
previous rank of Lieutenant.
His services aboard the USS Shogun brought him promise of promotion to Lieutenant
Commander in 2375, but political extremists back at Federation and Starfleet HQ's were
demanding the dismissal of all ex-Maquis officers. He accordingly offered his resignation,
but his Captain stepped in and saved his career. He continued to serve aboard the USS
Shogun where he especially distinguished himself in some ranger-type operations in
Dominion controlled Space. Admiral Ross thought him a promising officer and persuaded him
to join a expedition to re-take Betazed. Soon the Dominion War ended and he married
Rebecca Sosabowski , who he had met aboard the USS Champagne three years earlier.
They spent five months together, until she transferred to Starbase 138, to stay near
her and continue serving aboard a Starfleet vessel he transferred to the USS Tomar as
Strategic Operations Officer.
