Atem Vehk

## Lt. Atem Vehk

"I feel I'm at my best when I am soaring among the stars at the helm of a ship."

### Aliases

* Atem Ehran (Current Host - 2372-present)
* Prof. Zurbin Brahm (First Host - 2185-2322)
* Dr. Remmi Adah (Second Host - 2322-2372)

## Biographical Information

### Marital Status

* Steady Relationship
	+ (2378-present) Counsellor Demi T'Merr
* Former Relationships:
	+ (2370) Cadet Rina Mayes (Bolian Female)
	+ (2377) Cdr. Webkee Daaé (Betazoid/Deltan Female) [Unofficially]

## Game Mechanics

### Values

* Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads
* Risk-Taking
* A Disciplined Mind is a Keen Mind
* Prior Host's Medical Knowledge

### Talents

* Joined
* Efficient Evasion
* Fly-By
* Multi-Tasking
* Technical Expertise

### Focuses

* Starship Piloting
* Interstellar Navigation
* Flight Control Systems
* Computers
* Composure
* Small Craft

### Traits

* Trill
* Federation
* Starfleet

### Equipment

* Phaser (Type 1)
* Uniform (Starfleet)
* Communicator
* Tricorder
* Custom Phaser Rifle
* Runabout (USS Rabe) [Destroyed]

## **BACKGROUND:**

Born on a small Trill colony world on the border of Klingon space, Atem Ehran was the second son of his parents, Warrick and Jasry Ehran. His older brother, Tobin, was already well into his teens when Atem was born, and so the two did not interact much growing up.

At age four, Atem was already expressing interest in space and space travel, his father would often take him to the shipyard on their colony to watch the ships come and go. By age six, Atem was taught how to fly a ship by his father, using small craft first, then progressively moving to larger, faster vessels over the years.

Atem did race ships with his friends in his youth before his application to Starfleet Academy, learning how to push ship engines past their normal limits to achieve even higher speeds.

By the time he had applied to Starfleet Academy, Atem Ehran also applied as an initiate to be considered for joining with a Trill Symbiont. His studies at Starfleet Academy took precedent, however, so he was delayed in the final tests to ascertain his compatibility with a symbiont or not by a year.

During his time in the Academy, he met fellow cadet Rina Mayes, a Bolian with a gift for astrophysics and engineering. Their friendship blossomed into a relationship over the course of the year, but due to a very violent argument between the two of them, they broke up and refused to speak to each other since.

On his final year in Starfleet Academy, Atem completed the *Koboyashi-Maru* exam as the helmsman, performing maneuvers that forced the Klingon vessels in the simulation to fire upon each other, but the ship was still outnumbered and ultimately overwhelmed, but his performance had impressed Stafleet enough to give him a commendation, as he could do what Atem called 'dance in the void' with the ship.

Upon graduation from the Academy, Atem completed his studies as Symbiont Host Initiate, and was approved to be the next host of the Vehk symbiont, after its previous host Remmi Vehk started to succumb to a terminal illness, in order to save the symbiont.

Once bonded, Atem Ehran was no more and Atem Vehk was born. Vehk was stationed aboard the *U.S.S. Byron (NCC-2729-F)*, nicknamed the "Byron-F" by its crew. The old *Miranda-*class vessel was a refit, but even so, still very much outmoded and on her way to being retired. Atem spent several years aboard the ship as its main helmsman, given his natural abilities at flying ships. The *Byron* fought hard during the Dominion War, being involved in many different engagements with the Jem'Hadar and Maquis..

On Stardate 53054.08 (January 20, 2376), an away mission on a planet orbiting a pulsar star near the Neutral Zone went fairly routine, involving transporting and disarming several Maquis bombs to the *Byron*, but one was sabotaged by the Jem'Hadar, causing a power surge in the *Byron*, while the away team was beaming back up, cascading into an explosion on the transporter pad. The result of which ended with one crewman dead, and the other four away team members, including Atem Vehk, severely wounded from the shrapnel and burns.

Rushed to Deep Space 9 for surgery and then Starfleet Medical for recovery, the crew members of the *Byron* spent many months in either constant pain and lapsing in and out of consciousness. There was also the physiotherapy involved afterwards to get them all back into shape to return to duty. For over a year this went on, but eventually Vehk was deemed medically sound enough to return to active duty.

From there, he was reassigned to the newly built *U.S.S. Blackwell* *(NCC-74705)* as its alpha-shift helmsman, a role he took to with gusto.

On Stardate 54476, Vehk got a message from his brother Tobin, who has asked for aid in smuggling contraband through the Neutral Zone. Atem remained professional, alerting his commanding officers and not offering any assistance to his brother as it would violate Federation law.

Eventually, the \*U.S.S. Blackwell\* was the first ship from the Milky Way galaxy to make its way to the Andromeda galaxy using a quantum slipstream drive, with Vehk making deft and expert piloting maneuvers during the process, as well as dodging fire from hostile alien lifeforms called the Thoth on their arrival in the galaxy.

## **PERSONALITY:**

Initially growing up with a Trill colony world, Atem was always fascinated by starships and first started learning how to fly at age six. He was also a keen student, and a disciplined mind, all traits that were desirable for Starfleet. Post-Joining, he has learned to take risks where necessary, but will usually abide by the rules first. Once he is flying a ship, he feels it as an extension of his body, and feels he is at his most free when he is at the controls.

Due to a horrible transporter accident in a previous ship assignment, the transporter pad that an away team Atem was on exploded, killing one of his fellow crewmates and scarring much of the left side of Vehk's body, but the visible damage that most people see is the large scar on the left side of his face, running from his chin to the bridge of his nose due to shrapnel. This incident left Vehk with a severe dislike of transporters, and his preferred method of travel on and off ship is via shuttlecraft now, but will do his duty and use a transporter when it is necessary or when ordered to.

He is not without humor, though. He does occasionally throw out a snarky line or two while on duty, but is much more willing to open up when off duty. He does not drink while working, and prefers to keep his work station immaculately tidy. After spending enough time with the crew of the Alpha Shift on the *Blackwell*, Vehk has begun to open up more and be less ashamed of his scars and his past on the *Byron*, even so, it is still slow going.

After several months, and his burgeoning courtship of Commander Daaé, Vehk has smiled, joked, and loosened up over all much more often, though still maintains his professional attitude while on duty. He feels the psychosomatic pain of his injuries less often now, as a result. His time aboard the *Blackwell* has caused him to view his fellow crewmates as friends and family.

He was ecstatic and frightened in equal measures to be the first pilot to test the quantum slipstream drive, and flying to an unknown galaxy. His phantom pain had started to manifest again after the death of Commander Li Fala before the trip, and he had since become withdrawn and moody. When Webkee Daaé started seeing Commander Aiden Drago after the loss of her empathy, she did not register how this began to affect Vehk until he told her outright that he had 'waited too long' for her to recover. They separated more or less amicably, but Vehk still feels like he missed his chance.

## **LIKES & HOBBIES:**

Atem Vehk has a curious variety of hobbies, some from Vehk's previous hosts. He enjoys reading old Human pulp novels, such as the John Carter of Mars books, finding them hilariously implausible and quaint. He also enjoys Klingon Opera despite not understanding the Klingon language at all. He is also a fan of the occasional indulgent drink of Romulan Ale. He also loves ships and is interested in the various cultures' designs of starships. He is also an avid racing fan, and regularly challenges Commander Li Fala to races.

The Vehk symbiont's second host was a cross-dresser, but given Starfleet uniform protocols, Atem does not participate in that embarrassing (to him) tidbit of his symbiont's past. The first host was a scholar, and so Vehk knows random bits of trivia he might say every now and then

He has a bit of a gambling streak to him that carried over from the Atem host pre-joining, though tempered by the Vehk symbiont's wisdom and experience. A common target of many of his bets he makes with the crew is the captain.

He has also taken up an interest in writing holonovels, and regularly seeks the assistance of Daaé and McDermitt in setting up the parameters of these holonovels. He will also usually show up for whatever Holodeck programs Daaé is running at the time, with appropriate attire for the setting (as he cannot completely get rid of Remmi Vehk's fashionista streak).

## **MEDICAL HISTORY:**

Has successfully completed joining with the Vehk symbiont, attaining the memories of the two prior hosts.

Injuries sustained during the explosion on the *U.S.S. Byron-F* were extensive, shrapnel damaging much of his body. Surgery and dermal regeneration has healed most of the damage, but many scars still remain. Suffers from chronic pain as a result of these injuries, diagnosed as psychosomatic, and therefore not a true hindrance to his physical performance, being discharged from Starfleet Medical.

Furthermore, has an aversion to transporters due to the accident.

In recent months, his chronic pain has lessened in frequency, though not in intensity. Perhaps it is the positive atmosphere of the *Blackwell* compared to life planetside or on the *Byron-F*.

## **CAREER:**

(**2368) Age 16 -** Applied successfully to Starfleet Academy.

**(2368-2371) Age 16-19 -** Excelled through his piloting training due to his aptitude for flying ships. Made friends, and had a relationship with fellow student Rina Mayes, a Bolian Ops cadet. It did not last long, but the two parted on frosty terms.

**(2372) Age 20 -** Attempted the *Koboyashi-Maru* test and failed (naturally), but performed his duties well enough to graduate from the Academy, his out of the box thinking for maneuvering the ship in the simulation winning him points with the instructors.

**(2372-2376) Age 20-24 -** Underwent the Trill Joining, bonding with the Vehk symbiont. Served aboard the *U.S.S.* *Byron-F* under Captain William Kostolitz. During an away mission, a transporter accident occurred in the transporter room of the *Byron*, the transporter pad exploded when the away team beamed back aboard, killing one crew member and severely injuring the others, including Vehk.

**(2377) Age 24-25 -** Vehk after recovering from the accident, finished his tour aboard the *Byron* and transferred over to the *U.S.S. Blackwell* commanded by Captain Andal Brevia at the recommendation of Commander Li Fala, who was impressed by his service record as a pilot.

On his 25th birthday, Commander Li Fala gifted Vehk with a Runabout named the U.S.S. Rabe as well as a custom phaser rifle. He also won the First Blackwell Grand Prix among the senior officers on the holodeck in a program made by Commander Li and himself, though that was because he did not cheat, and was able to drive a damaged vehicle skillfully.

He has recently started courting Commander Webkee Daaé, though her past traumatic relationship with the person she is mentally bonded with has caused things to be a bit rocky, Vehk has been patient and understanding with her, and continues to be supportive. The symbiont's memories help him offer her advice and words of comfort.

Upon a recent mission to a place called "The Vault", Lt. Vehk flew the *Blackwell* into battle against three Tholian ships that were attacking a pair of Starfleet vessels. With the combined efforts of the three ships, the Tholians were scared off.

Vehk, along with the others aboard the *Blackwell* were the first to cross over from the Milky Way galaxy to the Andromeda galaxy by using a Quantum Slipstream Drive. Vehk's piloting skills were pushed to the limit, but he was still able to make the little ship 'dance' in space both through the warp, and the subsequent battle with the Thoth they had encountered on entering the Andromeda galaxy.

The Andromeda Galaxy proved to be too dangerous, and the *Blackwell* attempted to make their way back. Webkee Daaé was killed in the Runabout *Rabe,*which shocked him to his core, leaving him in a deep depression after losing his best friend.

**(2378) Age 25-26:**After a year of therapy on Deep Space 9 and surgery to remove his scars with subdermal regeneration, Vehk returned to active duty on the Blackwell, once again demonstrating his superior piloting skills, while also being more banal in personality when off-duty, as if Webkee's death drew him out of a good dream and into a harsh reality. He spent many months completely sober, ordering alcoholic drinks but never drinking them; only staring at them.

The return of Webkee Daaé and Cue caused him to come out of his funk more or less. This was also added on to the fact he started courting and eventually dating Counsellor Demi T'Merr, causing him to come out of his shell more. On multiple occasions, he had been praised by Starfleet personnel as one of the best pilots in the fleet, and his abilities have improved after his recovery.

## **RELATED ARTICLES:**

* U.S.S. *Blackwell*
* Cdr. Li Fala
* Cdr. Webkee Daaé
* Lt. Cdr. Kairi