Vira

## Early Life

Vira Tral was born on Trill in 2327. Her parents were both engineers. She was raised in a modest home and was always interested in the sciences. She dreamt, like all Trill do, of one day being found worthy of receiving a symbiont. But beyond that, she longed to be in Starfleet. She heard stories from her friends about sailing through the stars and meeting new lifeforms. She knew one day she would be a part of it.

She grew up with two brothers named Bejal and Selin. Bejal went on to be a rather famous sculptor on Trill. He never joined. He lives there now with his wife and two daughters. Selin became a carpenter, he also never joined. He lives alone on a colony on Cestus III.

Vira joined Starfleet Academy the first chance she got and studied astrophysics. She dove deep into her studies but did make time to play in hoverball leagues every chance she got. She wasn’t very good, but she met a lot of people and enjoyed her time there. Upon graduating the academy, she applied to the Symbiosis Commission to begin the process of becoming joined and eventually was chosen.

## Joining

Vira received the Kol symbiont, moderately long lived at 5 previous hosts. She spent several months at home on Trill relearning who she was. She still wasn’t very good at hoverball, but she found a new sense of leadership and confidence that she didn’t have before.

## Starfleet Service

Kol began her service in Starfleet on the USS Concord, a Constellation class ship. She served as an ensign in their astrometric bay. She spent the beginning of her career studying astrometric phenomena and mapping solar systems on the far reaches of the Alpha and Beta quadrants. She served on several ships and learned from several well-seasoned officers. Her biggest mentor was introduced to her on the USS Adelphi. As a Lt. Junior Grade, she reported to the Chief Science Officer – T’Vel. She was a stern but brilliant Vulcan astrophysicist who took a particular interest in molding Kol. T’Vel saw something in Kol that she didn’t see in herself – even with her newfound confidence. She spent extra time after her shifts in the lab with Kol, teaching her how to read through sensor interference and get the perfect read – every time. T’Vel also spent time teaching Kol how to meditate and sort through the emotional burden of 5 previous lives, somehow even better than the Symbiosis Committee did. T’Vel was so impressed with Kol’s work that she recommended her as her Assistant Chief Science Officer when she transferred to the USS Endeavor. Kol happily agreed. They worked together until T’Vel took a leave of absence to return to Vulcan, when Kol took over as Chief Science Officer. T’Vel left rather abruptly, and Kol has always wondered what happened to her mentor.

The next several years moved very quickly for Kol. Once on the bridge, her leadership skills were apparent and she was wise beyond her years due to the imbedded knowledge from the symbiont. It was clear that while still young, she was ready to head into the command track. In 2360, she began serving on the USS Thunderchild under Captain Damian Edwards Juno.

In 2365, Kol was finally given her own command. The USS Firebrand. Kol always thought the Freedom Class was rather odd. Being that it was one of the few types of ships with only one nacelle. But when she got offered a command, she took it and never looked back. She fell in love with the ships design, and even more in love with her crew.

On the USS Firebrand, she grew especially close with her XO – A Caitian named P’Tala. They would often share dinner together after long shifts and discuss their respective home worlds.  Kol especially loved the way P’Tala’s tail would flick when he discussed his relationship with his “idiot brother”.

It was P’Tala who saved her life in 2367.

## Wolf 359

The USS Firebrand was called to defend Earth in the Battle of Wolf 359. The ship was under heavy fire. Sparks and fires raged across the bridge; structural integrity was collapsing. Kol adored this ship, but she adored the people in it even more. She gave the order to abandon ship. She watched as her devoted crew looked on in horror, turning to sheer discipline, evacuate the bridge. As she began to follow them out, the bridge began to collapse. Scaffolding fell onto her and pinned her to the bridge floor. Hearing the collapse, P’Tala turned back for his friend. He struggled to free her and found the Captain unconscious bleeding profusely from her head and eye. Her body mangled. P’Tala knew it looked bad, but he couldn’t leave her behind. P’Tala dragged Kol out of the bridge, and down the empty corridors. Through smoke and sparks, he was determined not to leave her behind.

P’Tala opened an escape pod and gently placed Kol in. Kol opened her eyes, just long enough to see the blurry furry face of her friend that she loved so much – and then the blackness of space. Debris. An explosion. The Firebrand was gone. And with it – P’Tala. He didn’t make it to an escape pod.

## Recovery

Kol made it back to Starfleet Medical and underwent several surgeries to stabilize her but some of her organs were failing. It was touch and go for a while so the Symbiosis Commission was notified. They sent representatives who pushed to have the symbiont returned to Trill due to its “failing” host. They had the best interests of the symbiont at heart, but Starfleet could not justify killing one of it’s Captains to preserve the life of the symbiont when there was a chance to save them both.

The Symbiosis Commission protested heavily, but several of Kol’s internal organs were replaced with synthetic. She had lost all her vision in her right eye, so an ocular implant was installed to restore her vision. She awoke a different person. Due to her Trill physiology, the ocular implant needs to be adjusted regularly and she has frequent headaches. But her vision was completely restored. She stayed at Starfleet Medical for a year, undergoing treatment and rehab.

## Recent Years

Her next command was a Nova Class Ship. The USS Tycho. While smaller than her previous vessels, Kol grew to really adore the Nova’s advanced sensors and homey feel. Anything was better than the plain white walls inside Starfleet Medical. She spent a year being poked and prodded and has developed a new aversion to seeing the doctor. Even for her ocular adjustments, which only prolongs the headaches. Her years on the Tycho were relatively uneventful, she spent them mostly just regaining her “space legs” and learning to move on without P’Tala.

She is known to enjoy a Raktajino on an occasion but is usually a plain earth coffee kinda gal. P’Tala turned her onto it. He spent his summers in the academy working as a barista.

## Notable Quotes

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> "Or What?!" - Vira Kol, to a Klingon Captain in 2371.
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> "I like a challenge." - Vira Kol, moments before the Ferasan's declared war on the Federation.
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> "And what then?!" - Vira Kol, to General Kargan after announcing the Klingon Empire's withdrawal from the Khitomer Accords.
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