Rhiana ir-Thieurrull t'Fveirrolh

Rhiana is tall and of slender, athletic build. Her jet-black hair is short and often looks as if she combed through it with her hand. She has regular facial features with the distinct raised eyebrows and pointy ears of her people.

Rhiana is an officer. She has grown up with drill and strict rules and this has shaped how she sees everything. After having been betrayal by someone she trusted, she is now looking for who she truly is.

- Stubborn
- Lack of social skills
- Soldier who has never truly experienced normal, civilian life
- Mono-linguistic: she only speaks Romulan. In the past few months, she has tried to learn Federation Standard, but has not advanced much. She can do some small-talk and understands some orders, but she heavily relies on her universal translator.

Rhiana has become disillusioned with her life and is currently looking for a good way to spend her remaining 100+ years. Unless the Empire catches up with her, then her life expectancy will be considerably shorter.

Llaekh-ae'rl - Translated as 'laughing murder', this is a common Romulan martial art with (near-) deadly moves executed in a fluid, elegant style. Rhiana has been trained in this art from her early childhood and has become an expert in it.

Long-distance running - An avid runner, Rhiana is able to cover long distances rather easily.

Swimming - Rhiana may not be the fastest swimmer, but she can swim for hours and has perfect swim strokes.

Rhiana ir-Thieurrull t'Fveirrolh was born in the Terran year of 2337 on Thieurrull, the colony her father was from. This was on purpose. For while her parents lived a nomadic life, they had chosen for their daughter to be born on a world with at least mostly reliable medical care and on which the Empire's control was weak. For Raffak e-Llhoell tr'Fveirrolh and Ekkhae i-Mhiessan t'Fveirrolh, staying for longer periods of time in any one place was dangerous: while they called themselves dissidents, they were labelled as traitors for their unificationist tendencies and on the Tal Shiar's Most Wanted list.

They spent several weeks on the estate of Raffak's House, s'Llhoell. It was not a rich one by far, certainly not compared to the wealth of the powerful central Houses of the Twinworlds, but they were comfortable enough to afford to feed two additional mouths. And loyal enough to hide them, despite knowing that they all risked not only apprehension by the Tal Shiar, but certain death, should the couple of dissidents be found here. Given that Thieurrull was almost a forgotten colony, the risk was feeble, but it was never non-existent.

Raffak and Ekkhae knew their responsibilities and the risk they put on the House and so they stayed only as long as was necessary for Ekkhae to recover from child birth and for Rhiana to be strong enough to join her parents in their nomadic lifestyle.

Of course, it was not truly a lifestyle. Rather, a necessity to always be on the run, to never call any place home. To rely on a secret but surprisingly extensive network of independents but also Romulans to offer them transport or accommodations for short periods of time. Ekkhae was a medical doctor and repaid the kindness with medical care. They had meetings with others who believed that Unification with Vulcan was the only way forward for both peoples. They worked on plans to get there. Expanded the network. Kept being steps ahead of the Tal Shiar.

It was hard work and a harsh life as a young family. They did their best to provide some kind of stability to the little girl, but eventually, Rhiana was old enough to ask questions. She had noticed that other children not only did not have to travel as much as she had to do. But that they actually spent all of their lives in one spot. They had their own rooms. Huge amounts of toys. They could go to school or had teachers who came to their homes. They had siblings. Cousins. Aunts. Uncles. Grand-parents. Great-grand-parents. Friends. That was the one thing that stood out most to Rhiana: that she had no friends. Yes, she sometimes met children to play with, but her parents never stayed in one spot long enough for the girl to form long-lasting friendships with other children. And while her parents made sure that she received as much of the same education as other children her age as possible, Rhiana wanted to actually go to a proper school. With a teacher and, most importantly, other children.

The resentment over the unfairness of her situation grew over time. Her parents knew that the girl was not entirely happy and they did what they could to make up for it. But Rhiana was 8 and 9 and only saw what she was missing out on and knew she did not want to live like this any longer. In secret, she worked on a plan and then had to wait for the opportune moment. It took weeks until that moment arrived, but eventually, the cargo ship the small family was travelling on docked at a space station to take on new cargo. The stop-over was supposed to be short and Raffk and Ekkhae told the girl to stay aboard while they ran some errands. That was Rhiana's chance. She grabbed her backpack and left the ship. Noone bothered her. When her parents eventually noticed that she wasn't on board, the ship had already underway to its new destination. The captain was willing to turn around, but his price was too steep. So Rhiana's parents left the ship at the first opportunity to travel back to the space station in the faint hope to find their daughter there.

It took them several days.

By that time, Rhiana was already en route to ch'Rihan, the Romulan homeworld. She had been apprehended by a security guard on the station. When she refused to tell them her name or that of her parents - they had prepared her for that kind of eventuality, telling the girl to cooperate as little as possible - station security handed her over to the resident Romulan diplomat. Again, she refused to divulge who she was and it was quickly decided that the best course of action was for her to be sent to an imperial boarding school where she would be safe until her parents - whoever and wherever they might be - came looking for her.

Life at the boarding school was very, very different from what Rhiana had known until now. But she got what she had wanted: a stable environment. What she had not counted on was how structured and harsh that environment was. The long days were planned meticulously. Tardiness was punished. School was not pleasure but hard work and being in constant competition with her peers. Discipline and near-military drill were omnipresent. It was not a nurturing environment, but one aimed at producing good soldiers and loyal citizens for the Empire.

Rhiana took to it like a fish to water. She thrived in the daily drill, the structure and regularity that the school offered. After a short period of adaptation and catching up in some subjects, she excelled there, too. She even made friends. Everything was splendid and the girl barely had time to miss her parents.

Until someone found out who she was. Who her parents were. She had not been able to refuse to give her name for long. She was young and the teachers had experience. Not that Rhiana truly knew what her parents’ occupation was. But the teachers knew. Soon enough, the entire school knew. She was labelled “daughter of traitors” or even “traitor”. Her friends ignored her. She was scorned and bullied.

It broke the girl’s heart. For a while, she tried to apologise for her parents’ crime without truly understanding what they were. After all, there was nothing wrong with Vulcans and Romulans improving their relationship. They used to be one people, after all. Right?

Nothing she said could convince the other children to treat her like before. The teachers did not interfere. But Rhiana was put into citizenship remedial classes to understand the error of her and her parents’ way of thinking.

Isolated and with nowhere else to go, Rhiana withdrew into herself and did the only thing she could think of: study and exercise. If she could not win the friendship of the others by being herself, maybe she could at least win their respect by working hard. So she did. Soon enough, she outperformed almost all of her peers, not only academically, but also in the martial arts classes and drill. Her uniform was impeccable, her behaviour without reproach. But it did not help. Her parents’ heritage weighed too heavy.

According to the aptitude tests that all children had to undergo, she was streamed into the security and tactical division, which proved to be the right choice. Alongside her peers, Rhiana entered the second part of Romulan schooling, then the third. Her grades remained near the top of the class. She became a formidable fighter. Not only hand-to-hand combat, but also with dagger, staff and sword. But while she remained lonely, she still had not given up hope that one day, she would be able to prove to everybody that she was not her parents but a true and loyal subject of the Empire.

Her next chance came when her entire age group began their mandatory five-year military service at age 20. A new place. New people. New superiors. Within days, everybody aboard the scoutship she was assigned to knew about her parents. Once more, she was scorned and isolated.

It was the same story on the following assignments, a new one every year: as soon as her origins became known, the promising young crewman became persona non grata. Nevertheless, Rhiana continued to do her best. Spent days and weeks maintaining disruptors, polishing daggers and swords. Charging power cells. Cleaned the various gyms and equipment. Did brig duty. Did guard duty. While conscripts were regarded as little more than cannon fodder, they could still turn out to become productive citizens and should therefore receive more than just the most basic training and instruction. So her duties and assignments gradually become more interesting and culminated, in her fifth year, with being allowed to occasionally man the tactical console during the night shift.

The end of the military service approached and Rhiana did not know what to do after that. She would be a full citizen then, will all rights and responsibilities. She could enlist to stay with the Galae, the Romulan Navy, or she could choose civilian life. Though with the training she had received, civilian life was not truly an option. It was too heavily geared towards service aboard a warbird. In the end, the decision was taken out of her hands: she received the rare and very coveted opportunity to attend Phi’lasasam: the Imperial Officers’ Academy. The invitation came entirely unexpected. After years of her efforts being dismissed, she had not dared to hope that the Academy would ever be an option for her.

Refusal was obviously not an option and so, after completing her military service, Rhiana became an Eredh, a cadet, at Phi’lasasam. Since the Imperial schooling system was geared towards creating soldiers almost from the beginning and streaming children into divisions from age ten on, the Naval Academy was the culmination of the educational process. It was a two-year-programme that built upon the theoretical foundations from school, but also the practical experience that the cadets had gained during their military service. They were now not regarded as cannon fodder anymore, but as future leaders and potential commanders of warbirds. And while the cadets were not coddled, they were not abused on purpose either.

Once more, Rhiana’s past followed her. But she barely noticed it anymore. She was among the future elite of the Empire. Her hard work was finally paying off. Maybe, just maybe, she would one day be called upon to command her own ship. It would not be easy, but it was also not entirely out of the question. The young woman worked harder than before to prove that she was in the right place at Phi’lasasam. Times and times again, she distinguished herself with her course work. She graduated near the top of the class and was assigned as junior security and tactical officer to the ChR Arreinye'Aidoann, the First Fleet’s flagship: one of the most prestigious assignments one could possibly get.

Rhiana was happy and proud. Sad that there was no one she could share her joy with. She had not had any contact with her parents since the day when she ran away, though she was reasonably certain that they were still alive. There was no way that the death of two of the most prominent members of the Unificationist movement would not be broadcast all over the Empire to discourage further dissent.

The pride disappeared quickly when she realised that she always got the worst assignments. Sometimes even assignments that should normally have been handled by crewmen or even conscripts. Other junior officers got the chance to show what they were capable of, were challenged and prepared to take on leadership positions while Rhiana was mostly ignored. Or assigned duties no one else wanted.

She did not complain. Just figured that since it was a huge ship with more than seven hundred crew members, junior officers were more likely to have to do menial work for which they were overqualified than on smaller ships. So she waited. Did her tasks diligently and perfectly. Always with the thought in her mind that if she performed well, she would get her chance after all.

A year went by. Then another. Not much changed. She was gradually assigned more interesting duties, but still not to the same extent as her peers. There were even some fresh graduates who got more interesting tasks than she got. Eventually, she brought it up to her superior officer who told her to stop complaining, she would get her chance eventually. She had no choice but to believe him.

At the same time, her solitary life continued. She had acquaintances and colleagues, but no true friends. No one she could confide in. While the crew was less hostile towards her despite her background, it was not enough for them to truly welcome her among them. But after more than fifteen years of solitude, she barely minded anymore.

Another couple of years went by. Those who had been assigned to the Arreinye’Aidoann with her were starting to receive promotions. Some were reassigned to other vessels. Rhiana had yet to set foot onto the bridge. She was kept in the security department, though she still received tactical training along with the others.

Two more years passed and Rhiana was still an Erein. Intrinsic motivation can only get you that far and she felt that motivation to drain away. Over the years, she had requested several transfers, hoping to find a posting that would allow her to have something of a career instead of being stuck on the flagship, no matter how prestigious that assignment was. But all requests had been denied without explanation.

She spent a lot of her time in physical training as well. Not only with the rest of the department, but also in her off time. The gym facilities aboard were excellent and there were several holodecks available for exercise as well. Next to becoming an expert at llaekh-ae'rl, a Romulan martial art, she continued with long-distance running as well as swimming. Eventually, armed combat with daggers and swords was added to the routine. Mastering the different techniques became a reward in itself.

One day, Entallan Aerv'saihlan i-Ra'tleihfi tr'Llhaenn, the ship’s political officer, entered her life. As a senior agent of the Tal Shiar, it was his task to ensure that the crew remained loyal. He told her that he knew that she was discontented with the situation and that she had more potential than she was allowed to show. Even though Rhiana had always been weary of him, of the Tal Shiar in general - as any sane Romulan would be - his words felt good. For the first time in years, she felt seen. After that first true contact with the senior agent, they kept running into each other. Sometimes just in passing in a hallway, sometimes in briefings. Occasionally, Rhiana now also saw him in the junior officers’ mess. Gradually, they went from saluting and merely acknowledging each other to brief small-talk. One day, Aerv’saihlan invited himself to sit at her table during second-meal. He was a charming man and he never brought up Rhiana’s parents. As starved as she was for contact beyond duty, she soon began to drop her guard. Opened up to him. Found that he was easy to talk to. Never appeared to judge her. While he obviously did not treat her as an equal - Romulan society made that almost impossible - he did treat her with respect and courtesy. Soon enough, Rhiana was looking forward to seeing him. When he suggested that they spar together once a week, she readily agreed.

For the first time in her life, Rhiana had a friend. And not even just any friend. As political officer aboard the ship, Aerv’saihlan had considerable power. One word from him could dethrone the commanding officer. It was also a lonely role: one Tal Shiar agent among hundreds of Galae officers and crew. And so it was maybe not that much of a surprise that the two outcasts found each other.

When he told her that he had an idea how she could gain the respect of the crew and prove, once and for all, that she was loyal to the Empire, Rhiana did not hesitate. She wanted nothing more than to prove her worth and to finally be able to live a normal life. She was ready to do anything.

Aerv’saihlan wanted her to deliver her parents to the Tal Shiar.

That did make her hesitate after all. But she had not seen them in more than twenty years. She barely remembered them at this point. They were criminals and if it meant that she could have the life she had always wanted… Rhiana agreed.

It was almost too easy. A message posted in the right channels with the right tone: a daughter regretting her choices, wanting to reunite with her parents. Begged for a sign of life from them.

It came. From an untraceable source, routed through various relay stations.

A first meeting was agreed upon. Not in person, for Raffak and Ekkhae were too prudent for that, but via a secure communication channel. Rhiana cried genuine tears when she saw her parents again. The conversation was brief and they agreed to meet again when Rhiana was on shore leave.

That happened several weeks later. Once again, it was a brief meeting, almost in passing, where the three exchanged a few words in a crowded market street on colony world. The Tal Shiar was watching, but did not interfere. They wanted more than just Rhiana’s parents.

Weeks became months and the contact between Rhiana and her parents became more frequent, though the next physical meeting took longer to set up. But the increased contact helped familiarise both parties with each other and Raffak’s and Ekkhae’s prudent attitude gradually made way for genuine warmth and affection.

Eventually, they invited her to spend more time with them. To see their work and, hopefully, decide to join them. After all, she was unhappy in her current situation. Maybe Rhiana would find her true calling on the other side.

Under Aerv’saihlan’s guidance, the trap was set. It took Rhiana several days to reach her destination, following a carefully prepared itinerary to make it if not impossible so at least extremely difficult to follow her. This was, of course, the concern of her parents. Aerv’saihlan, on the other hand, wanted to be able to not only follow her but be there when it was time to act.

The itinerary sent Rhiana to her birth planet, Thieurrull. There, in a cave system in a remote part of the world, was her parents’ headquarters. She spent several days there, marveling at what her parents had achieved. Meeting co-conspirators. Seeing her baby sister for the first time.

The attack by the Tal Shiar was sudden and swift. The camp’s sentinels barely had time to raise the alert that they were already killed or wounded and arrested. It occurred during the night hours and most of the dissidents were apprehended while they were barely awake. The bloodshed was minimal. Rhiana was arrested along with everyone else, but this was quickly rectified when Aerv’saihlan identified her. He removed her cuffs himself and, in front of her parents, praised her for her collaboration and dedication. Instead of being proud with this praise, Rhiana felt empty and numb. She had seen the look in her parents’ eyes.

A few days later, after her debriefing, she returned to the ChR Arreinye’Aidoann. To her surprise, she was swiftly promoted to erei’Arrain, Lieutenant JG, and given more advanced duties. Even the occasional shift on the bridge. When news of what she had done made their rounds on the ship, the crew looked at her with respect. She had dreamed of this moment for years, but now that it was here, she could not savour it. She felt terrible. Worse, she was alone again: not only could she now not speak with her parents anymore. But Aerv’saihlan was gone as well. Her messages to him remained unanswered. She heard the ship’s commander mention that the political officer had been promoted and received a new assignment.

The months that followed were spent in a kind of stupor. Rhiana performed her duty with just enough effort not to be reprimanded. She could not forget the betrayal: neither hers, nor Aerv’saihlan’s. All the familiar places aboard reminded her of him and she could barely turn corners without expecting to see him. Eventually, she could not bear it any longer and requested a transfer. No matter where. Just away from here.
It was denied.

Two years went by. The new political officer was not interested in her and she was glad about that. But she also could not make any other friendships and she was almost as isolated as she had been before. The glory for having delivered her parents to the Tal Shiar had not held up for long and while her peers were not openly hostile towards her, they barely seemed to notice her. Life became miserable. In a performance review, Rhiana learned that her prospects for further advancement were slim.

She began to look for alternatives.

Several weeks later, she went on a scheduled shore leave, but never returned.

Rhiana had taken her few belongings and begun travelling. Hiring on any cargo transport or other independent ship to work for fare. Initially, she let the ships’ destinations decide her itinerary. But the longer she travelled, the more she listened and learned. Months later, she arrived at New Ferenginar, certain that she was now fairly out of the reach of the Empire. She paid the fee that would allow her to do business and became a price fighter. She was good, very good. Her earnings rose and she made sure to keep expenses low and savings high. Just in case that she would need to flee at a moment’s notice.

2362 - Mandatory Military Service
2367 - Phi'lasasam, Tactical & Security track
2369 - Graduated with rank of Erein (Ensign) and assigned to ChR Arreinye'Aidoann as junior security & tactical officer
2376 - Promoted to erei'Arrain (Lieutenant JG)
2379 - Desertion
2380 - Joins the Dutchman