Rufus Donnell
From Hidden Frontier
Rufus Donnell appears in the Season Seven Episode Hearts and Minds, portrayed by Dan Crout.
He was 3rd Mate and cook aboard the merchant transport ship SS Sheehan whilst travelling with a convoy in the Briar Patch. The convoy was being escorted by Starfleet, including the USS Independence, commanded by Jennifer Cole when it came under attack by Tholian forces and was all but destroyed.
The Captain of the SS Sheehan died during the attack leaving Donnell the ranking officer on board during the subsequent radiation and rescue crisis.
Very bitter about Starfleet, the remaining crew of the Sheehan believe he is probably a Starfleet Academy drop out. He was in fact a serving member of Starfleet, rank Lieutenant, and was at DS-9 when the USS Odyssey was destroyed by the Jem'Hadar and served on the USS Defiant with Sisko at Chin'toka against the Breen.
Donnell lost one arm and both legs in the battle.
These experiences have changed his opinion of Starfleet which he believes is an excuse to fly around in larger and larger Starships picking fights with other races.
He paid the ultimate price and lost his life whilst protecting Cole's body from the Warp Flare with his own. A selfless act that proved futile as Cole died of her wounds en route to Deep Space 12 aboard the USS Angelfire
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