Ezran Vodel

## Early Life

Born on Trill in 2302, Ezran Vodel's family was a complicated one. His mother was a surgeon with the Trill Symbiosis Commission, a highly-regarded expert in symbiont-host neurological conditions. His father was an administrative aide to a major legislator. Political disagreements between his parents widened over many years, but they resisted divorce. Ezran and his siblings grew up accustomed to exhaustive, sometimes scathing political and ideological debates as an every day fact of life. The constant arguing and growing resentment between the two parents left the children pressured to "take sides", with Ezran often attempting to take the role of mediator. When not refereeing the perpetual argument that constituted his home life, the young Ezran was an accomplished student and enthusiastic amateur astronomer. By the age of twelve he decided that he wanted to join Starfleet as soon as he was of age, and spent his teenage years trying to build the perfect application to Starfleet Academy. Ezran's mother hoped to convince her middle son to join the Initiate program in pursuit of being joined with a symbiont, but Trill practice at the time did not allow joined Trills to become members of Starfleet. Ultimately, Ezran's acceptance into Starfleet Academy and refusal of his mother's wishes created a rift between them that never fully closed.

## Early Starfleet Career

Vodel arrived in San Francisco in 2320 as a first year cadet at Starfleet Academy, initially intending to follow the sciences track in pursuit of a major in Astrophysics. After his first semester of classes, the young Trill shifted his course toward Operations, having quickly discovered that he preferred a broad range of duties and activities over a deep, singular focus. Cadet Vodel developed into a capable communications officer and an outstanding helmsman, and by the time he completed his Academy training he was certified to hold several bridge positions. His first assignment after graduating was junior comms officer aboard the *USS Europa,* an Excelsior-class cruiser under the command of Captain Brayg. Brayg, sometimes referred to as "a Tellarite's Tellarite" for his brusque, argumentative, and inquisitorial command style, found the young Trill on his bridge a surprisingly capable verbal sparring partner, and took a keen interest in the young man's career.

After two years aboard the *Europa* Captain Brayg recommended Vodel for a promotion and reassignment as head communications officer. The newly minted Lieutenant Vodel reported to the Miranda-class *USS ShiKahr* where he spent only nine months, but in that time served as communications officer, operations manager, and briefly as helmsman. Less than a year into Vodel's tenure aboard the *ShiKahr*, the ship's commanding officer Commander Klein was promoted to Captain and reassigned. She hand picked a few members of her crew, including Lieutenant Vodel, to join her on her new command, the Constellation-class *USS Valley Forge.*

In contrast to his brief time aboard the *ShiKahr*, Vodel spent nearly a decade aboard the *Valley Forge*, rising to the rank of Commander and serving as Captain Klein's right hand.
In 2337, Captain Klein brought the *Valley Forge* into Spacedock for an overhaul, and she and most of the crew were reassigned elsewhere. Commander Vodel applied for First Officer positions throughout the fleet, aware that reaching the rank of Commander while having only served under two captains might be limiting his career. This seems to have been the case, as he ended up spending another year and a half posted on Earth as Admiral th'Lorn's adjutant. While not the fulfilling shipboard duty he was hoping for, Vodel took the opportunity to make connections with high-ranking officers throughout the fleet, as well as spend time learning much more about the diplomatic role Starfleet plays in the Federation. This time spent networking paid off, and after 18 months Vodel was selected to join the crew of the USS Kumari as First Officer under Captain Sharys.