First Officers in Focus – Ayiana Sevo, Gorkon

Each month we interview a First Officer or Commanding Officer of the fleet as part of our “First Officer in Focus” and “Captain’s Corner” columns to get to know them better, and learn more about what their positions entail.
This month, we’re interviewing the First Officer of the USS Gorkon, Lieutenant Commander Ayiana Sevo, a Joined Trill female.
Let’s get started!
TRAENOR: Tell us a little about the writer behind Ayiana. Where do you hail from, and what are you up to when you’re not simming?
SEVO: Hello, and thank you for interviewing me! My name is Aaron and I live in the Golden State of California, just outside of Yosemite National Park. I have various jobs, working at a restaurant and doing accounting for a business I co-own with my boss.
Outside of work or simming, I’m usually found on my computer playing video games like World of Warcraft, watching Netflix or Amazon, or doing 3D artwork.
Ayiana is Joined with the Sevo symbiont, a situation that you’ve explored in a bit of depth. What do you find are the challenges and benefits to playing a Joined Trill?
I love Trills. I think they can be incredibly complex. With multiple lives, it’s like having several characters in one! But at the same time, you have to remember those people are dead and you are trying to integrate their personalities and skills into the current host, but not let them overshine it. I think I’ve done that pretty well with Ayiana, while at the same time keeping her complex.
I believe it’s been almost two years since we’ve interviewed you, for a series of Science post interviews here and here. How have you found the transition from Science Officer to First Officer?
It’s mostly just the OOC work that’s different. Being a Department Chief doesn’t entail anything like forms or mission summaries. The First Officer position is pretty much training for those looking to go into Command, so a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. I have a new appreciation for Emma (the writer of Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds). She spends as much time doing OOC work in the group as she does writing sims!
Also, its interesting to move into the position from an IC perspective. Ayiana has always been a scientist, and never much liked being in command. She was begrudgingly placed in such situations in the past, and they didn’t always turn out alright. She has a bit of an anger problem.
Tell us more about your writing style. What’s your process for putting together a sim?
I write and keep all my sims in Google Documents. First I make a copy of my last sim, so I have a basis to start from. Then I cut out older portions of the story. Next, I go through my email and copy/paste all the sims that involve my character after my last submission into Notepad. This clears any formatting issues that may arise between programs. I then start with the first sim and add that person’s responses and story progression, changing it to fit my character’s viewpoint. I do this for all the sims after my last submission. It takes more time, but it makes sure I don’t miss anyone. After that, I just copy/paste into Gmail.
Is there a particular aspect of your role of First Officer that motivates you in your position?
I think the opportunity to sim Ayiana out of her comfort zone. She likes science, and would much prefer to be in a lab staring at a microscope rather than in an office running the ship. She is also not diplomat material, but her first mission right now is a diplomatic mission to the Romulan Republic. Ayiana has not had good experiences with Romulans.
She punched one in the face once.
Looking back on your experience so far, what would be one piece of advice you’d give to anyone who’s just joined?
“Joined?” I’m assuming you mean joining the fleet and not Joined with a symbiont!
Just kidding! I think practice makes perfect. Looking back on my earlier sims, I can’t understand how I wrote so bad (at least in my eyes). Take a look at the veteran simmers around you and borrow techniques from them. Don’t be afraid to ask your mentor or captain for help or advice. Above all, it just takes practice.
Thanks so much for your time!
You can read more about LtCmdr Sevo on the wiki.