Omar Maalsuwda

Captain **Omar Maalsuwda** is an officer in the Frontier Union Militia and the current commanding officer of the Unioner contingent of the Avalon Exploratory Initiative.

## Biography

### Early Life

Maalsuwda joined the Frontier Union's independence movement early in its existence, perhaps even before the Frontier War began. He was radicalised by Kaito Hakim, a leader of many rallies in the early days of the Union. As such, Maalsuwda likely joined the Militia at a young age.

### Frontier War service

After joining the Militia, Maalsuwda took part in the Tandil Rush at the start of the Frontier War. He was present on Seravis Major after the planet and the system had capitulated to the Union advance, and took part in "mopping up" remaining Centran Defence Force and Centran Marine Corps resistance. Under the command of then-Sergaent Tamika Jinn, their squad got into a firefight with a group of CMC marines, attracting stringwolves from the local wilderness. In order to survive the coming onslaught, Jinn offered a ceasefire to the CMC marines, understanding that only together could the two units survive; Maalsuwda heavily disputed this, however, pulling his gun on Sgt. Jinn at the mere notion. He was restrained by his comrades before he was able to fire.

Although thinking his commander to be a traitor, Maalsuwda was eventually released to help with the defence. There, he was lined up with a Centran Marine around his age called Hawthorne. The two grew a respect for each other, even competing to see who could kill the most stringwolves, which Maalsuwda won. Having gotten home alive, Jinn was demoted by her commanders for "fraternising with the enemy", a move Maalsuwda would eventually come to disagree with.

### Avalon Exploratory Initiative

#### Lost in CDC-41-Gamma

Like all ships that went through Edric's Gate, Maalsuwda's flotilla was dispersed throughout CDC-41-Gamma upon arrival within the nebula. Sometime after arriving in CDC-41-Gamma, Maalsuwda regrouped with many other Frontier Union vessels. For several months the group traversed the nebula, likely encountering the Advari for the first time during this period. They also managed to recover one the Drift Gate components during this time, hauling it with them.

#### Finding the last gate component

Sometime before the 100th of Equinox, 0305 PCU, Maalsuwda's group came across another Gate component being hauled beyond the Aegis of Invia by members of the Holy Advari Empire. Realising how vital it was to reclaim this component if the expedition was to succeed, Maalsuwda ordered the ships in his fleet to form around their already found component in order to create a silent-running Holdfast station, where they would observe the Advari from afar and prepare a daring rescue mission to recover the component.

#### Return to the *Avalon*

However, before Maalsuwda's mission could be sent underway, his flotilla regained contact with the *Avalon*. Shortly afterwards, the *Avalon* sent resupply ships and their Gatehauler to pick up Maalsuwda's component. This dramatic increase in activity, however, promptly alerted the Advari to the location of the Holdfast, forcing the Union forces to hastily disassemble the station. Aboard the *Rodrigo*, Maalsuwda, alongside the *Tserekai* and *Guinevere*, both aided in the final evacuation from the system, escorting the limping *Winchell Chung* to the local Lauralyn Conduit. Whilst Maalsuwda lost three ships during the battle, he managed to save three others in the process, before finally joining up with the rest of the surviving Avalon Expedition Fleet after so many months alone.

## Personality

Omar is a charming, affable, and kind-hearted person. He speaks highly of the achievements of others when he finds them deserving, such as the credit he gives to Jinn for breaking his radical mindset and allowing him to approach situations with a more nuanced outlook. He has a propensity for Komusār brandy, though he rarely gets to drink it, as his husbands hate the stuff.

However, his jovial personality disguises a strong-willed and steadfast leader. He is open to negotiation with others, but holds his ground firmly when pushed on issues he fundamentally disagrees with.

## Behind the Scenes

Omar is portrayed by Martin Roach, most notable in the sci-fi community for his role as Admiral Souther in *The Expanse*. Maalsuwda is also the first confirmed mlm and polyamorous character in the show.