Lieutenant Rukil Vodaan
Name Rukil Vodaan
Position Division Officer, Counseling
Rank Lieutenant
Biographical Information
| Gender | Male | |
| Species | Jelna (Rigelian) | |
| Affiliation | Federation Starfleet | |
| Birth Date | 25 March 2363 | |
| Birth Location | Torrallia, Qualor II |
Physical Appearance
| Height | 185 cm (6'1") | |
| Weight | 66 kg (146 lbs.) | |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown | |
| Eye Color | Green/Hazel |
Family Data
| Parent(s) | Komol Vodaan Sruchal Vodaan |
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| Sibling(s) | Hekua Vodaan {{Character Birth Order}} Kranor Vodaan Tacael Vodaan Samot Vodaan |
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| Marital Status | Engaged | |
| Partner(s) | Arrek Duhrat | |
| Other Family | Xiiwal Vodaan Zhova Eital |
Personality Profile
| Strengths & Weaknesses | ||
| Ambitions & Goals | ||
| Hobbies & Interests | ||
| Languages | Jelna, Rigelian (Common), Federation Standard, {{Language TBD}} |
Personal Relationships
Personal History
| Personal History | Childhood & Early History (2363-2381) Rukil Vodaan was born 25 March 2363 at a medical center in the capital city of Torrallia on Qualor II. His mother, Komol, was an accomplished businesswoman and the quintessential Rigelian matriarch. She had a reputation for being a tough negotiator, one who was willing to press any advantage and do whatever it took to get the job done. This frequently carried over into home life where Komol maintained a rather strict control over the family in the traditional fashion. Her solid approach and formidable demeanor eventually earned her an appointment as an official representative of the Rigelian Trade Commission. However, the nature of her work frequently took her off-world when carrying out her duties, leaving the Vodaan children in the care of their father, Sruchal. Because of his mother’s position, Vodaan grew up enjoying a standard of living that was well above many others. The family inhabited a lavish, expansive apartment at the heart of the business district that gave Komol access to many of the contacts and resources she needed. It also served as a suitable venue for hosting various functions and social gatherings as was befitting a woman of her station. Most of Vodaan’s siblings tended to gravitate toward such events and totally immersed themselves in the experience. He was much less enthusiastic and often preferred to watch from the sidelines, assuming he was even allowed to join them in the first place. (His mother’s traditional attitudes dictated members of the endosexes were not to be given the same status or opportunities as those of the exosexes.) This suited Vodaan just fine, however, as he seemed far more interested in life outside the circles his mother typically moved in. Whenever he got the chance, he would slip away and venture out into the wider city to explore. As had been customary in generations past, Vodaan and his siblings were homeschooled during the early years of their childhood so they could be taught the traditions and expectations of their people (according to his mother’s beliefs). They were later enrolled in a private institution where their educational programs were closely monitored and influenced by their mother. This proved most challenging for Vodaan who, as with his family’s social obligations, often defied his mother’s expectations. He regularly spoke up in class, made friends with the other students, and outperformed his siblings. At one point, his grandmother Xiiwal was even brought in to try to temper what his mother saw as an unacceptable expression of ambition. These attempts to enforce adherence to his mother’s beliefs were largely unsuccessful. In fact, they often had the opposite effect. Vodaan learned to walk the line and do only what was absolutely necessary to in order keep his mother from completely disowning him. Beyond that, he continued to push boundaries by seeking and embracing cultures other than his own, including those with Rigelian society that did not hold to such strict divisions among the sexes. This created more friction between Vodaan and other members of his family, causing him to grow increasingly distant from them as he asserted his own identity. The whole situation finally came to a head when Vodaan decided to apply to Starfleet Academy. Although Rigelians (including members of the endosexes) had been serving Starfleet since nearly the founding of the Federation, his mother was dead set against it. She forbade him from applying and used her influence as a representative to attempt to block his admission. With the help of a few of his teachers, Vodaan was able to circumvent her efforts and submit his application, but the damage had been done. That same day, his mother kicked him out of the house. |
Career History
| Starfleet Training | Starfleet Academy (2381-2385) Vodaan failed to gain placement at Starfleet Academy’s flagship campus in San Francisco, no doubt the result of his mother’s interference. Luckily, he was admitted to the counseling and cultural anthropology program at the campus on Alpha Centauri, where he arrived during the late summer of 2381. Life at the Academy proved very different from what Vodaan had known growing up. It took him awhile to get used to having more freedom, even with the limitations of Starfleet regulations, but Vodaan eventually began warming up to the place. He made a concerted effort during those first months to reach out and get more involved beyond the classroom, just as he had as a student on Qualor II. Vodaan got to know a few of the other cadets and began to make friends. He participated in study groups and went on off-site trips when given the chance. The more Vodaan felt accepted, the more he opened up, and he quickly gained a reputation as someone reliable who would listen and stand by you when you needed it. His first field education experience was as a midshipman aboard the Wallenberg-class USS Rajsek which began in 2383. The Rajsek was one of numerous vessels assigned to the Romulan evacuation effort and immediately set out to assist with the relocation of refugees. In addition to his general duties, Vodaan was given responsibility for providing services to several passengers in his section while en route to their final destination. He took each task seriously, no matter how mundane or unreasonable it might have seemed, knowing the people he was serving had already suffered a great deal by having to leave their homes and everything they knew behind. When it came time for him to receive his next assignment, Vodaan specifically requested he be allowed to continue aboard the Rajsek another year. He had witnessed the trauma these people were enduring first-hand and wanted to keep helping them in whatever way he could. His request to remain was granted and he was ordered to report to the counseling division. There, he began working more closely with his new supervising officer. They met regularly with each other, held counseling sessions with various individuals, and assisted the countless refugees who were being transported to resettlement sites on worlds all along the neutral zone. Things changed almost completely overnight when the synthetic lifeforms attacked Mars and the Utopia Planetia Fleet Yards. Vodaan was as shocked as everyone else to see images of destruction streaming across subspace channels. He still had hope that, despite the attack, their efforts to save the Romulans would continue. Instead, they were ordered to deliver any refugees they were currently carrying and then stand down. This, on top of everything they’d already witnessed, came as a serious blow to morale. Many of the crew spent the next several days and weeks going about their duties as if on autopilot. For Vodaan, however, it was a call to action that influenced his decision to pursue further study. Starfleet Medical Academy (2385-2389) Vodaan graduated Starfleet Academy with honors in 2385 and immediately enrolled in Starfleet Medical Academy to study systems therapy and obtain his license as a counselor. His time in the field had shaped him profoundly and he wanted to put those experiences to good use. Although he did gain a placement at the primary campus on Earth this time, Vodaan chose to instead to attend the facility on Denobula where the program was said to be stronger. The effects of individual and communal trauma became a major focus for him, particularly where it arose out of systemic injustices. He spent several months looking closely at the Bajoran Occupation, the Maquis Insurrection, and the state of the Cardassian Union following the Dominion War to see what the common threads were that wove through each experience. This line of investigation eventually brought him back to the situation with the Romulans and he realized where he needed to go from there. His first year of clinical work was spent at one of the few remaining field units assigned to assist Romulan refugees with resettlement. They were severely understaffed and under-resourced, constantly faced with the threat of being ordered to withdraw. Vodaan did what he could and found an advocate in an officer of the Federation Diplomatic Corps who’d been assigned to liaison with the project. Together, they persisted in caring for the refugees and Vodaan gained a sincere appreciation for the work of the diplomatic corps. In 2387, the Romulan star finally went supernova. It vaporized the Romulan home system and sent wave after wave of destruction across a large swath of the empire’s core. Vodaan was soon transferred to field assignment aboard the Olympic-class USS Zahir where he joined the counseling division. Once again, he hoped they might be sent to offer relief now that the disaster was actually upon them, but it didn’t happen. Instead, they were ordered to a Federation world in response to an outbreak of {{Disease TBD}}. Though frustrated by this turn of events, Vodaan did his best to set those things aside and focus on the matter at hand, reminding himself there were many who were in need of help. |
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| Career History | Early Starfleet Career (2389-2394) Vodaan graduated Starfleet Medical Academy with honors in 2389. He was promoted to lieutenant junior grade and assigned to the Intrepid-class USS Willard as a counselor. The work itself appeared relatively tame compared to what Vodaan had been involved with during his training years, at least on the surface, but it proved fascinating to him in its own way. There were several aboard the Willard who had taken part in the Romulan evacuation mission and were trying to process what they’d experienced. A few had lost friends or loved ones when the synthetics attacked Mars. It was a stark reminder of how the things that happened on a grand scale left deep impressions on the individuals they affected. Shortly after arriving aboard the Willard, Vodaan got to know a science officer named Arrek Duhrat. They started hanging out together during their off duty hours, swapping stories, and becoming fast friends. Not long afterward, however, Vodaan received a message from home informing him of his mother’s ill health. He’d had no contact with her since leaving for the Academy eight years before and the sudden revelation left him feeling both surprised and upset. The anger and frustration that he’d felt against her came rushing back to the surface. It ended up being Duhrat who helped him navigate those feelings and figure out how best to respond to the message (for his own sake, if not for is mother’s). By 2391, Vodaan had been given a promotion and transferred to the Excelsior-class USS Spica where he continued to serve as a member of the counseling division. His experience aboard the Willard contributed to a revitalized sense of identity and purpose, including a renewed interest in diplomatic negotiation. This was encouraged by his new commanding officer aboard the Spica who gave him opportunities to further develop his skills by occasionally serving as a contact specialist. Vodaan’s ability to connect with people, to make them feel seen and heard, helped him greatly when it came to establishing a healthy dialogue in diplomatic situations. He took his bridge officer’s examination and began looking more closely at what he would need to do in order to become more involved in this new field. The next move for Vodaan’s career ended up being far more personally motivated than perhaps he would have imagined just a few years prior. During his time aboard the Willard, he and Duhrat had developed a strong relationship and had kept touch even after they were both reassigned. Through their regular chats, Vodaan knew Duhrat was finishing his tour aboard the Asger, which meant there was a possibility of them being reunited. He immediately put in a request for transfer, hoping to join Duhrat in his new assignment aboard the Ambassador-class USS Omaha. His request was eventually granted and he was ordered to report to the Omaha as the division officer for counseling. Aboard the USS Vesta (2394-Present) {{Content TBD}} |
Chronology
| Service Record | CDT | Counseling & Cultural Anthropology | Starfleet Academy, Alpha Centauri | 2381-2385 XXX | Cadet Field Experience | {{Location TBD}} | 2382 XXX | Cadet Field Experience | USS Rajsek (Wallenberg-class) | 2383-2385 CDT | Systems Therapy | Starfleet Medical Academy, Denobula | 2385-2389 XXX | Cadet Field Experience | {{Location TBD}} | 2386 XXX | Cadet Field Experience | USS Zahir (Olympic-class) | 2387-2389 LTJG | Counselor | USS Willard (Intrepid-class) | 2389-2391 LT | Counselor | USS Spica (Excelsior-class) | 2391-2394 LT | Counselor | USS Omaha (Ambassador-class) | 2394 LT | Counselor | USS Vesta (Vesta-class) | 2394-Present |