Charlena Vanlith

USS Veritas
Charlena Vanlith
Position	Engineering Officer
Rank	Ensign
Species	Risian
Gender	Female
DOB	237309.29
Age	28
Birthplace	Suraya Bay, Risa

Ensign Charlena Vanlith is an engineering officer aboard the USS Veritas.

Stats

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• Full name: Charlena Vanlith
• Date of birth (Age): 237309.29 (28)
• Species: Risian
• Gender: Female

| Medical Record

Appearance

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• Height: 158 cm (5'2")
• Hair colour: Brunette, just beyond shoulder length in tight curls
• Eye colour: Brown
• Appearance: Athletic build
• Posture: Due to her home circumstances she has been the primary carer for her brother most of the time. This has resulted in a very strong stance and perfect posture that she refuses to compromise for anyone.
• Shoes: Charlena will always be found in trainer like attire when working. However, when off duty she'll be rocking heels in any and every form to try and make up for her lack of height. They Can typically be the brightest park of her outfit.

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• Clothes when off duty: Charlena has never been one to dress up its much more about movability and comfort so typically she will be found in fitted jeans (that aren't too tight) and a loose fitting shirt.

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Awards & Commendations

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Awards and Service Ribbons
Service Ribbon Name Date/Assignment Citation Starfleet Academy Graduate Ribbon 239604.16 Starfleet Academy Graduation from Starfleet Academy Explorer's Ribbon 239606.13 USS Veritas For assisting in the research of a newly discovered, unaccounted for Stasis Box. Joint Meritorious Unit Award 239606.13 USS Veritas For working alongside a Tholian crew in defeating the A.I. Sentinel.

Service Record

Starfleet Service Record Insignia Rank Dates Posting Assignment Ensign 239604.16 - Present USS Veritas Engineering Officer

Family

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• Parents
  • Father: Charlie Vanlith, a hotel owner
  • Mother: Skye Vanlith, an artist
• Siblings: Oliver Vanlith (younger, age 6)

Personal Relationships

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• Friendships before the academy:

Charlena doesn't have any friends from home. After the birth of her brother she lost touch with friends due to her more important family focus and as a result did not form friendships later in her life.

• Romantic Relationships:

The element of her life she finds most frustrating with relationships is she has no awareness of people's advances to her. Whether the advances be serious or not she has almost no understanding as she has never had a romantic or intimate relationship. She pins this to the fact that having had no friends and the only males in her life being her brother and father she is lacking in social skills of building and maintaining any kind of relationship let alone one that requires her to trust and completely open up to someone.

• Relationships since joining Starfleet:

• Nabihah El Sayid

Nabihah and Charlena met at the academy and became good friends. Every month, on the second weekend, they cracked out the popcorn to watch Tyranor the Thunderer. They were both elated to be posted the the USS Veritas together and when they discovered they were roommates they were both filled with excitement. Charlena found relationships tough and so even after the years of friendship they have there are still areas of Charlena's life that Nabihah doesn't know about even though Charlena is now starting to open up to her.

Whilst on their first shore leave together a Slaver Box arrived on the USS Veritas, this caused huge problems with Nabihah and Charlena after Charlena's actions lead to a huge rift in their relationship. Thankfully this has now been resolved although there were definitely some awkward moments leading up to that moment.

History

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Born and raised in Suraya Bay Charlena, named after her father, is used to the typical quiet serenity except for the one time a year where tourism spikes drastically for Lohlunat. It was during these celebrations and her upbringing around tourists that lead to her fascination as to what else was out there in the universe. Despite her intrigue she never truly wanted to leave home as she had fallen in love with the flowers, and had a particular soft spot for sea turtles that as a child her mother used to always point out as they were so difficult to spot with their impressive camouflage.

Charlena had always had a love of nature and animals. This came from the beautiful nature around her but also from watching her mother paint and seeing the colours and complexity to create it on canvas from what she could see. Charlena absolutely loved exploring the jungle near the beach she grew up on and finding new flowers and birds to tell her parents about every night.

When Charlena wasn't exploring nature she could be found practicing singing. As a child she would sing around the house none stop until her mother finally sent her to a teacher and at the age of 10 Charlena was a strong singer with a focus on historic musical theatre (20th/21st Century) and Opera (18th/19th Century).

As time went on, and she helped around the hotel her father ran more, she became more intrigued by the technology that existed on other planets due to what she saw of the tourists. She spent hours of her time reading and tinkering with objects to create something new.

At the age of 16 she was so heavily invested in technology she started to read into technology-driven species such as the Borg and especially found interest in understanding the system that allowed her to live on Risa with its complex weather modification. She felt disgusted by some of the things the Borg did and what they seemed proud of. After reading about this Charlena wasn't sure that she wanted to work in a field so open to abuse and misuse no matter how interesting she found it. She kept working on her singing and painting finding joy in the creations of music and the thought processes it created instead of being stuck in the negatives that can come from engineering.

At the age of 17 however, this all changed. Due to severe complications her younger brother was born without the ability to move or use his arms or legs. Seeing her mother motionless in hospital and the realisation of the basic abilities her brother lacked her drive for engineering returned. She was driven to create for her brother as normal a life as possible. A life where she was able to be there for him as much as possible. She wanted to engineer for the greater good and that was something she could no see as possible. Her first creation and as a result her favourite was a self-rattling rattle so he would stop crying as he was unable to grip and shake one for himself.

Whilst she had never massively excelled at school she knew she wanted to be a part of Starfleet once she had fallen in love with technology and managed to get into the academy where she hoped to develop her engineering into more than just tinkering with objects.

Despite her typical averageness at school she put so much work and focus into engineering she past one of the top of her class and she couldn't be happier about it. She left with an engineering major with an extra minor in xenobiology. She was finally going to start the job she had dreamed of. And she was going to start on USS Veritas as an engineering officer working for the greater good.

Personality and mannerisms

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• Quarters:

Charlena keeps her quarters bare. She worries about seeming too open or too closed off to her colleagues and so doesn't present a lot of information about her home life in her quarters but does have a couple of her own paintings hung up.

• Habits:

Charlena uses her hair as almost a barrier to people. It particularly becomes obvious when she is nervous or feeling insecure here she uses her mass of black curls to hide her face from those around her in the hope they can't understand exactly how she is feeling.

• Likes:

Charlena loves a good book. She feels she can get lost in its pages and often imagines herself within their pages and wishes she could play it out. Thankfully being on the Veritas has given her a chance for that as in her free time she can loose herself in the Holodeck with the thoughts of one of her books.

Charlena also loves a good 20th/21st Century Musical, particular favourites of hers are those by Stephan Sondheim. Her other music loves come from 18th/19th Century Opera, her favourite being The Ring Cycle by Wagner. Although most music of the Romantic and Neoclassic genres are ones she can loose herself in.

Her one tribute to home is her love of painting she had picked up from her mother and continues to this day. Although this is a rare hobby that she does typically keep to herself. Opening up about her painting is something that would be reserved to those she truly trusts.

More generally she loves cookie dough ice cream and nature.

• Dislikes:

Charlena cannot stand anything overly girly. Pink is a colour she couldn't hate more if she tried. Spicy food and overly bitter foods are also on her list for Room 101.

• Life aspirations:

Charlena hasn't taken much time to think too far into her future. She does one day want her own family but after the complications at the birth of her brother she is unsure as to whether she ever will have her own biological child as it has created a rather large fear of childbirth. Whilst her want for a family exists she has never been in a relationship and so honestly she is unsure if a family will ever happen for her.

She hopes to move up in her Starfleet career and whilst she isn't sure if she's ever want to be captain right now she hopes to one day be a chief engineer.

• Temperament:

Charlena is relatively relaxed however she can act quickly in response to her emotions without always thought of what her actions mean. Although she typically second guesses her reaction in their situations and will apologise even if it takes her a while to figure out just how to do that. Although on the other hand she does find talking to those superior to herself difficult as she becomes nervous that she will make a mistake. This typically calms down over time however once she gets to know people.

• Phobias:

Charlena has a huge fear of childbirth and this fear seems to extend to pregnancy however that isn't entirely clear as she has never really thought about the possibility of having children yet.

Her fear of childbirth, stemming from her mother's complications, has created an unhealthy relationship with doctors and counsellors of which it is unclear if it's true phobia of doctors or just a strong loathing.

• Religion:

Charlena isn't religious at all.

• Mental Problems:

Charlena has always second guessed herself and her actions. She isn't the most confident in herself despite what others around her say. She dwells on her mistakes and becomes frustrated as she cannot see past them easily or clearly.

• Family Problems:

Charlena has always had a difficult relationship with her parents. They have always pushed her into being the best and as someone who never really was the top in anything she found this incredibly difficult to cope with.

After the complications at the birth of her brother her mother slipped into a coma and when she woke 4 months later she couldn't remember her daughter at all. This caused huge issues for Charlena as the already difficult relationship started again from scratch. However, her mother was unwilling to accept Charlena as her daughter due to Charlenas failings and shortcomings and as a result she has been dropped by her mother.

Her father hasn't changed his attitude towards her however, in wanting to keep the peace with her mother, he astranged himself. This caused even more tension between her and him as she knew he made the active decision to stop being her father.

Her brother and her are incredibly close as her mother also sees him as a failing. It is unclear as to whether the failing is about her brother or how her mother sees herself due to the issues at birth.

Charlena and her brother are so close that it made Charlena question joining the academy as she didn't want to leave him when she was the one who maintained the gadgets she had made for him. She also didn't want to leave him as she was not ready for the separation from him when he was the only completely steady family she had. She had become his career once her parents had disowned them both and only felt comfortable to leave him once he had established a strong bond with a friend that allowed her to know he'd be cared for.

• Hair:

Although it may seem obscene to say Charlenas hair was the best way to read her character it couldn't be more right. Changes in her mood and focus are clearly represented in how she has placed her hair or how she is playing with her hair.

Some of the more common situations are:

Over face = incredibly nervous/insecure

Off face = comfortable and relaxed

Half-covered face = slightly uncomfortable, and/or embarrassed. At times can be accompanied by blushing but a desire to still see the other person's face; this could be due to a positive or negative reaction such as a response to flirting or a correction of action/behaviour. However, the unease could come from not completely understanding an exact situation she is involved in.

Tied up = Her hair is only tied up for one of 2 reasons. Safety or she is so comfortable around someone she doesn't feel she will ever be nervous at all. (Version of tied up hair can change the exact meaning)

Pushing her hair off her face (forehead backwards) = she wants to see those around her. She feels at ease and completely relaxed.

Pushing her hair off her face and tucking behind her ear (typically to the right) = a small level of embarrassment that can be accompanied by blushing. This is typically positive and playful with her hand lingering on her cheek and down her face as it almost acts as her hair would but she wants to clearly see the person's face.

Turning her curls with her right hand on the right side of her face = She feels playful and light-hearted. She is self assured and is ready to promote herself. This could show an understanding and reciprocation to flirting or her attempts to flirt.

Pulling her curls with her left hand on the left side of her face = She is confused about a social situation and isn't entirely sure how to proceed.

Using her right hand to ruffle the back of her hair = This means she could be hot or it means she is frustrated. She is at a loss of what the next course of action should be and wishes she knew how to proceed. (Work related)

Flips hair to the right = skip or change the current song/behaviour as it's frustrating, annoying or boring.

Flips hair to left = repeat song or behaviour as it is entertaining. (This can be done at jokes just to show repeat being funny.)

Key Sims

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• Family:

Ordered oldest to newest:

| Thinking of Home | Birth of Brother

| Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover | Brother

• Friendships:

Ordered oldest to newest:

| Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover | Ensign El Sayid

| Destructive Actions | Ensign El Sayid

| Buried the Hatchet pt 1 | Ensign El Sayid

| Buried the Hatchet pt 2 | Ensign El Sayid

NPC Listing   ·   USS Veritas Crew Manifest   ·   Crew History Commanding Ofc. Roshanara Rahman First Officer Sky Blake Physician Assistant Ikaia Wong Ship's Counselor Katy Toliver Science Officer Zhanyt Lafizatar Science Officer Kivik 2O/Chief Engineer Wil Ukinix Engineering Officer Scotty Reade Operations Officer Hannibal Parker Chief of Security Kelrod Security Officer Lilith Thorne Dipolmatic Corps Jansen Orrey Edit This Nav