SERVICE RECORD
2377-2377 - Lt.,  USS Terra Nova, Chief Counselor
2377-PRES - Lt.,  USS Colorado, Chief Counselor

Rather than become withdrawn as some might expect, Bree dealt with her loneliness by becoming outgoing in the extreme. She threw herself into every extra-curricular activity available, including ballet, drama, debate and several academic teams. She did well in school, though she was never quite motivated to live up to what her father thought to be her full potential. Her parents were never too concerned about it, however, and considered their daughter to be the model child.

Although she came from a loving family and lived what most would consider a sheltered, but privileged life, Bree’s relationship with her parents was never quite the open and honest connection she observed in other families. They rarely spoke of their feelings; most of the time relating to each other at times more like friends than family. Bree’s parents valued education and achievement over all else, and she found herself constantly driven by a desire to gain their approval, and by extension, their love. She adopted her parents’ interest in law, politics and literature, and their evening discussions on these topics were a favorite part of Brennyn’s childhood because it was on these rare occasions that her parents became truly passionate about something and connected with her. 

When she was ten, they left the Breedlove and retired to Betezed, where both her parents sought political office. Campaigning was a long and difficult process, and it didn’t take long for her to begin to resent being under public scrutiny. She had thought leaving the Breedlove would give them more time to spend as a family, but she soon learned the campaign was even more consuming than her parents’ diplomatic posts. By the time Brennyn was fifteen, both her parents had earned seats on the Betazed Ruling Council, and with this achievement came even more pressure to keep up appearances as the perfect family. With that, came additional pressure for Bree to choose just the right school to continue her education. 

EDUCATION:
In 2371, Bree was accepted a year early to Starfleet Academy, where at the urging of her parents, she decided to pursue a law degree with a minor in diplomacy. Her ultimate goal was to work with the JAG on Betazed. It was to be the best of both worlds; her parents would get the Starfleet Officer they always wanted, and Bree would never have to set foot aboard a starship. 

Two years later, the Dominion War changed everything. News of the war spread through the Academy daily like wildfire, and although Brennyn came close to hopping on a shuttle and coming home several times, it was her father who always convinced her to stay and focus on her studies. By the time word spread of the occupation of Betazed, it was already too late; her parents were among the first government officials to lose their lives. Now an orphan, Brennyn had reached a crossroads. Her anger over her parents’ deaths was all consuming and it was her desire to get revenge that fueled her to succeed. Nothing was more important to her than becoming an officer and rebuilding what had been taken from her. 

Unfortunately, her anger and grief eventually wore her down physically and emotionally, and as soon as she was able to return to Betezed, she took a brief leave of absence to grieve and regroup. Those survivors who had watched Brennyn grow up were comforted by the return of a familiar face, and soon Bree found herself offering comfort and strength to those who had gained hope from her father’s vision. The brief time she spent on Betezed turned out to be one of the most difficult and yet most influential points in her life. She came to realize the importance of living life to the fullest and of making her own decisions. No longer able to make choices with the benefit or influence of her father, Bree was forced for the first time to make real emotional connections with others, and to her surprise, it was a skill that came naturally to her. After much consideration, Brennyn Mackenzie had taken control of her destiny. She had decided to become a counselor. 

Several courses behind, but energized now that she had figured out what she wanted to do, Brennyn returned to the Academy to pursue a career in counseling, a decision that challenged the previous perception of her peers that Brennyn was a spoiled child of privilege. It was by no means an easy transition and for a time, Bree wondered if she would ever catch up. Brennyn spent the remaining two years at the Academy as the stereotypical outsider, not quite a participant in the comraderie that had already developed between the other counselor cadets. As before, Brennyn threw herself into as many extra-curricular activities as she could manage. 

In 2375, Bree graduated Starfleet Academy with honors and in the top twenty percent of her class. She entered Starfleet Medical that same year made up her mind to graduate a semester early so she could complete an internship back on her wounded Betazed as soon as possible. She chose to specialize in trauma counseling and minor in emergency medicine, two areas she knew would be essential for a counselor working during the aftermath of the Dominion War. Brennyn truly came into her own at Starfleet Medical, now for the first time on equal footing with her fellow officers and finally learning to grow into her newfound independence. 

STARFLEET SERVICE:
In 2377, Brennyn graduated from Starfleet Medical a semester early in the top ten percent of her class (a feat that almost killed her), and armed with a field promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade, Brennyn returned to Betazed and got to work. No longer a politician’s daughter forced to guard her words for fear of saying the wrong things, she used her experience in the public eye to her advantage, becoming quite the activist and proponent for Federation assistance for Betazed. 

Bree would have been perfectly happy to remain on Betazed, but the demand for qualified counselors did not leave her with a lot of choice. Her extensive work on Betazed earned her the opportunity to take a break from the emotionally taxing duties of a trauma specialist, and so she decided it was time to gain some experience under the peacetime Federation, now once again focused on exploring the unknown and the pursuit of building new alliances. 

When she received word the Defiant-class USS Terra Nova required a Chief Counselor, she applied immediately and was pleased to learn she had been chosen in addition to earning a promotion to Lieutenant Senior Grade.

Only a short time after serving on the USS Terra Nova, Starfleet Command determined there to be greater need of her skills onboard the Intrepid-Class USS Colorado. She currently serves onboard as Chief Councelor.
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She knows when it comes to being in Starfleet she has a lot to learn, but scoffs at being labeled a newbie, as she prides herself on learning as much as she can about the unknown even if she does not have the space experience of her peers. As someone who spent the majority of her life in the civilian political arena, she knows all about bureaucracy and doesn’t suffer it gladly, most of the time preferring to use common sense that is sometimes at odds with the expectations of what it means to be a Starfleet Officer. 

Bree likes to use quick wit and sarcasm to put people at ease, and although she believes in informality as much as possible because it leads to more open and honest communication, she is still a bit guarded when it comes to developing close emotional ties. Brennyn is cool under pressure and has come into her own after all she’s experienced, but she has not quite learned to appreciate the inner strength she possesses, taking each challenge as it comes and developing confidence as a consequence of refusing to back down from a challenge. 
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