View source for Lt. Major Amanda Nichols

{{Char_Basics
   | name = Amanda Taeber Nichols
   | gender = Female
   | age = 54
   | puppet type = Human
   | key characteristics = Matronly
}}
{{Char_Military
   | rank = Lt. Major
   | position = Chief Medical Officer
   | clearance = High
   | time in service = 24 years
   | previous postings = 
* Surgeon General, NASAU (two terms)
* Act. CMO, Lunar Base
* Asst. Chief Medical Officer, NAASA, Cape Canaveral
* Medical Officer, ISS
* Trauma Surgeon, NAASA, Cape Canaveral
   | military training = NASAUMC
   | awards = Joint Service Commendation Medal and NAASA Exceptional Bravery Medal following the terrorist attacks on Lunar Base
   | demerits = None
   | notable events = 
}}
{{Char_Relationships
   | father = Walter Taeber
   | mother = Sophie Taeber
   | siblings = 
   | mentors = 
   | current relationships = Married to Dean Nichols, Captain, IPV Bunraku
   | past relationships = Dean and Amanda were high school sweethearts
}}
{{Char_History
   | current home = San Francisco, CA (apartment)
   | previous homes = 
* Washington, DC (apartment)
* Sammish, Washington (family home)
   | previous employment = See above
   | education = 
* BS (premed), Princeton
* MD, Penn State Hershey
* Residency, Massachusetts General
}}
{{Char_Interests
   | prized possessions = Her NAASA Exceptional Bravery Medal, which was presented to her by her father, Major General Walter Taeber
   | hobbies = Likes to sing
}}

== Notes ==
Amanda was a rough and tumble child, and a military brat.  Her father, Walter, was sure that she would follow him into the military. He was sure, that is, until she fell out of a tree at age 12 and sustained a compound fracture of her left arm at a family picnic outside of Samamish.

She was so fascinated by the bone protruding from her arm and what the medical team was doing to it that she forgot about the pain and just incessantly asked questions.  From that point on, Amanda was a dedicated student of the medical arts.  Her cool demeanor and quick thinking lead her into Emergency and Trauma services, and catapulted her to the top of her class. 

The severity of the Mediterranean Independent Liberated Federation war of separation from the Asian Economic Syndicate drew her into military service, and finally, her father's dream of his only child following in his footsteps were realized.  Once the MILF/AES civil war ended, Amanda took a posting at Cape Canaveral where she reconnected with her high school sweetheart Dean Nichols, who was in the astronaut program.  The two quickly married, even though neither of their careers really allowed for them to spend much time together.

Both careers skyrocketed, with Dean becoming a star of the blossoming space program, and Amanda being thrust into the spotlight for just doing her job.  

She took on the position of Acting Chief Medical Officer of Lunar Base after terrorist attacks disabled/destroyed significant portions of the docking systems and operations control center during a visit by then Vice President Frank and NAASA officials (of which she was one). She remained in the position for three months with only a skeleton medical crew until travel was re-established with Earth. 

This earned her the nickname "Sensational Space Surgeon" by world wide press after her heroic efforts to save the Vice President's life.  When Frank was elected President, he made her his Surgeon General.  Nichols remains the only Puppet to have served in the position.

When Dean was offered the captains chair of the Bunraku, Amanda threatened divorce if he didn't take the job, as she was still stuck in Washington DC at the time.

But by the time her second term as Surgeon General was drawing to a close, she had heard so many amazing stories from her husband, that her immediate desire was to join him on the Bunraku.  However, for unknown reasons, she was convinced to take the assignment on the Intrepid instead.

Now she and her husband exchange communications every other night, and they plan on taking leave together for a month on some unhabited moon. 

== Personality Traits ==
* Independent
* Droll
* Motherly
* Outgoing
* Easygoing
* Committed to her job

== Name Origin ==
* Amanda: Tapping
* Nichols: Nichelle
* Taeber: Sophie Taeber Ars, Radical Puppeteer
* Walter: Koenig
* Dean: RDA

[[Category:Characters|Nichols]]