Aya Vallem

Aya just after graduation from Prefsbelt IV

### Relationships

Tuathal (Friend), Kirsa (Best friend), Melog (Droid Companion) Skipper (Mentor) Riveria (Close friend), Hex (Friend)

### Favorite Weapon

DC-17S Commando

> "You always leave, that's who you are" - Cadet Vallem to Cadet Kirsa while at Prefsbelt IV
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Aya Vallem is a human pilot in the service of the Galactic Empire on board the ISD-Vindicator.

## Biography

### Early Life

#### Thokos

Born on the Ecumenopolis of Thokos in 35 BBY in the slum of Nothingtown, Aya lived her first years a street urchin and orphan. While she never knew her parents she suspected her father was a bureaucrat and her mother a prostitute. At the age of 12 Aya was picked up by the Zeaon District Boarding School. The Boarding School was known for its poor conditions and abuse from staff. At the age of 16 Aya escaped Zeaon and found her way to the Prefsbelt IV system.

#### Prefsbelt IV Academy

When Aya arrived at Prefsbelt IV she took up a job at a mechanic's shop near the Military Academy. Her boss, Jakco Poalg would help her get enrolled in the academy when he saw how much Aya enjoyed being behind the controls of a speeder or starship.

While at the academy, Aya found significant difficulty in adjusting to life in a military setting. Having spent the vast majority of her life with no authority above her, to suddenly be placed under strict discipline was difficult for the young cadet. While she was native to the core worlds, her "lower class" accent drew the ire of many of her fellow cadets and instructors. By the end of her first six months at Prefsbelt IV, Aya was on the verge of being discharged.

   It was at this point Aya met a cadet named Cerise Kirsa, an extremely talented pilot. Despite the abrasive demeanor Aya projected the two become close friends fast. With Kirsa's help, Aya was able to better adapt to life at the academy, and while she would never reach Kirsa's level of talent, Aya became one of the better flyers in her class. The two would become inseparable from one another, watching each other's backs. However as they continued their careers at the academy Cerise would break into a friend group of rich cadets that Aya herself was never able to find a place in. While Aya would struggle with most of her classes, her field trainings would always exceed her instructors expectations, whether it was flying, survival, or the subject she most enjoyed - personal combat.

> "It's just for my career, plus you'll be great on the frontier!" - Cadet Kirsa to Cadet Vallem, breaking the news of her choice of deployment.
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Before graduation, Aya and Cerise promised they'd take the same posting to stay together, the 72nd Starseekers in Condor Squadron. However after their graduation from the academy Aya learned Cerise had taken a more prestigious posting, leaving her alone.

### Military Service

#### Arrival to the 72nd Starseekers

Aya was deployed to the ISD-Phaedra to link up with the 72nd Starseekers a third of the way through 17BBY. During her first day on duty, she was deployed with fellow airman Tuathal Ui Neill to intercept two pirate Z-95s. While under orders to not fire on the crafts until fired upon by Lt. Jospeh Forstinger one of the pirate starcrafts slammed into Aya's V-Wing, damaging it and forcing her to make an ejection. Aya slammed into the Vindicator's hull, causing a compound fracture in her leg.

> "The future is bulletproof, the aftermath is secondary" - Slogan painted on Aya's V-wing
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Later that day, when she was cleared for duty from the medical staff Aya was once again ordered to deploy against enemy starfighters. Due to some miscommunication between the ISD-Vindicator and her escort, the IV-Invincible Aya was one of the few starfighters deployed against the torrent of enemy fighters. During her first "real" combat situation Aya managed to shoot down 7 R-41 Starfighters before the Invincible deployed her fighters.

#### Strike on Sareet

After a deployment to the outer rim planet of Sareet to investigate an old Republic distress signal Imperial listening posts had discovered. After discovering several Jedi had survived the execution of Order 66. After returning to the Imperial Star Destroyer Vindicator Aya was contacted by Inquisitor Kech Relic for a mission regarding those escaped Jedi. Aya would pilot a Gozanti Class back to Sareet so that a small team could eliminate the remaining Jedi. While Aya herself would spend little time on the ground herself, she did have a sense of pride at being selected for the mission.

#### Simulation Disaster

A few weeks into her deployment with the 72nd Starseekers, the ISD-Vindicator would be selected for a holographic training simulation. During the combat simulation Aya would engage several squads of vulture droids and Advanced CIS bombers. Aya struggled at first but would come to terms with the situation.

During the operation a holographic CIS Advanced Bomber would collide with Aya's left stabilizer causing her to begin to spin intensely which would sheer off 1/3 of her wing and caused her to crash in the SHB. The crash would destroy her starfighter, Scorpio.

## Personal Life

### Relationships

#### Cerise Kirsa

Aya's best friend from the Prefsbelt IV academy, and Aya's first real friend. Cerise is incredibly important to Aya, even in spite of Cerise abandoning her to join her higher class friends in the Coruscant Home Fleet. Aya desperately wants to prove herself to Cerise that she's worth being her friend.

Since coming aboard the ISD-Vindicator Aya has felt more empowered to move past Kirsa, however the process has been difficult and she often still thinks of her.

#### Tuathal Ui Neill

While Aya thinks Tuathal has an abrasive side when dealing with some people she generally deeply enjoys his company. Since he was the first person she met on board the Vindicator, Tuathal gives Aya much needed reassurance of her place in the 72nd Starseekers.

#### Brigadier General Skipper

While Aya's commanding officer has been nothing but friendly and understanding towards her, she still is a bit uncomfortable around him. Aya's deep seeded fear of authority prevents her from reciprocating much of the casual demeanors Skipper uses. However as far as direct superiors go, Aya is glad to have Skipper above her.

As Aya has gotten to know Skipper she has grown far more comfortable with her clone commander. While he is far from a father figure for Aya, he is certainly a mentor and someone Aya wants to be proud of her.

#### Kelli Chambers

While Aya has only had one conversation with the ship's Yeoman she finds her presence enjoyable. She is worried about the clashes between Kelli and Tuathal.

#### Horatio Vane

One of the bridge crew, Aya and Horatio have a friendship due to their mutual knowledge of the Rylothian language. Aya often goes to get advice on how to deal with many of the things she encounters on the Vindicator that she simply has no frame of reference for.

#### Rebekkah Rivira

One of the medical officers aboard the Vindicator that Aya has become familiar with due to her somewhat frequent visits the medical bay. Aya thinks that Rivira is a nice person and often finds herself somewhat impressed with her medical knowledge. Aya also thinks the medical officer is incredibly sweet and enjoys spending time with her.

She has admitted to Rivira her romantic interest in her and has tentatively agreed to a rather unique "sharing" program with Petty Officer Hex. While she recognizes it's important that Hex have love in her life, Aya is still deeply uncomfortable whenever she sees Hex and Riveria together romantically.

#### Arcandal Hex

While Aya thinks Arcandal is fine, if reserved person, she has very mixed feelings regarding the Petty Officer. While she holds no personal grudge towards Hex, she does want to be liked by her superiors- who all dislike Hex. Regardless of Hex's past, Aya doesn't approve of the harassments Hex has to endure and tries to make an effort to be a friend to her.

## Personality

When she was younger Aya had severe anger issues which combined with her aggression, host of other issues, and street urchin background made for a rather unruly person. When she was forced to attend Zeoan Boarding School she graded hard against the discipline the teachers and headmaster tried to instill in her. It wasn't until meeting Cerise Kirsa at the academy was Aya able to better work through her issues. With Cerise abandoning her, Aya tries desperately hard to not slip back into her old habits which often forces her to act more meek and unsure of herself than she really is. She takes out most of her anger during combat.

## Appearance

Aya stands at 5'10" with a somewhat muscular build. Her short hair is cut messily considering she does it herself. She has one facial scar from an adolescents knife fight. While not on duty Aya usually wears black makeup. She often decorates her armour and other equipment, she's written the phrase "I'm not afraid to walk alone" on the back of pilot helmet.

## Trivia

* Aya can speak Rytholian, however her accent has made pronunciation extremely hard for her
* During her early years on Thokos Aya adopted a street cat she named Melog
* While not on duty, Aya enjoys sitting in USHB with her headphones and watching LSHB and MHB
* Aya has a terrible alcohol tolerance, and does her best to avoid drinking