Valesha Sienelis

USS Gorkon
Valesha Sienelis
Full Name	Valesha ir-Jhianhre e-Yanovna t'Sienelis
Species	Romulan
Gender	Female
Age	Late Twenties/Early thirties
Birthplace	Jhianhre Province, Romulus
T/E Rating	0+
Awards & Service Ribbons Captain's Commendation Prisoner of War Ribbon Purple Heart Explorer's Ribbon First Contact Ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award Maiden Voyage Ribbon Distinguished Service Ribbon Good Conduct Ribbon Legion of Merit Gold Lifesaving Ribbon Prometheus Ribbon War of Shadows Ribbon Warp XV Drive Pioneer Project Capstone Ribbon Orion Syndicate Service Medal

Valesha Sienelis, a refugee from Romulus in the wake of the Hobus disaster, currently serves in Starfleet as the Assistant Chief Science Officer aboard the USS Gorkon.

Appearance

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• Height: 1.78m (5' 10")
• Build: Slim, boyish
• Hair: Black, short
• Eyes: Green

Valesha is a tall young woman, with a slim, boyish figure. Her skin is pale, crying out for a touch of real sunlight, and tinted ever-so-slightly by her copper blood. A long-standing practice of martial arts is visible in the defined outlines of lean muscle, and a languid, precise grace of movement. Emerald eyes are keen with a sharp intellect, sometimes distant if she drifts off into her busy inner world. Her dark hair is worn short, though she avoids the traditional, severe crops of her people. She uses few cosmetics, though she does have an occasional fondness for statement lip colour, and her only perfume is that of soap.

Personality

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Valesha is independent, adaptable and creative, possessing a fiercely logical and analytical mind. She often brings a unique perspective on a situation, and has a sharp eye for patterns and discrepancies. This also translates into a good ability to read people, and she's often quick to spot a lie. "Traditional" goals such as popularity and stability mean little to her, and she can be restless and temperamental, particularly if she doesn't feel intellectually challenged. She has an appreciation for action and risk, exemplified by her choice of career and leisure activities.

Her constantly busy mind can have the effect of making her look pensive and detached, while she's actually conducting a full-fledged debate in her own head. With people she knows, or who share her interests, she can be relaxed and friendly, though she never quite loses that sarcastic edge. If she believes her conclusions or theories are being unduly criticised, her attitude can quickly turn combative and her sarcasm can become deliberately cutting.

She isn't easy to make friends with; relationships tend to form with those she shares a common interest or train of thought. In those cases, the connection sparks instantly and can surprise those who consider her distant. Those who have sharply differing tastes may only find a stony demeanour that borders on the rude.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Analytical, abstract thinker Imaginative and original Open-minded Objective Honest and straightforward	Very private, withdraws easily Insensitive Condescending Can struggle with rules and guidelines Insecure

Hobbies

Swimming and Underwater Diving: With the luxury of rivers and a lake near the family home, Valesha enjoyed swimming and often spent hours in the water with her brother. As she grew older, her love of the water expanded to include snorkelling and scuba diving. Since arriving in the Federation, she has taken full advantage of holodecks and holidays to visit a variety of diving spots.

Martial Arts: On the insistence of her father, Valesha is a long-term student of Ch'Vashrek. Her lessons were focused on a variation that involves rapid, hard and direct assaults intended to incapacitate as swiftly as possible. Since leaving the Empire, she practises in holodeck programs, rather than against real opponents.

Ballet: After resisting for years in an illusionary reality, and months thereafter in the real world, Valesha finally agreed to let Chris Johns teach her ballet when they were stationed aboard the USS Juneau. It didn't take her long to fall in love with the art and she is now a dedicated student, practising regularly under the instruction of her partner.

Dressmaking: Born into a house-clan of artisans and craftsmen, Valesha was encouraged to create by hand as much as possible, rather than replicate. Her brother was the cook and gardener in the household, while she turned her hand to clothes making and household maintenance.

Literature: With full access to the Federation's extensive libraries, she makes an effort to read seminal and classic works from across the known galaxy.

Quarters

Valesha shares quarters with her husband Chris, and the evidence of their shared and separate interests are on full display. Music, often cello, is a frequent hear in the background, and it's not unusual to encounter the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the air. A pair of framed pointe shoes, one with a decisively snapped shank, are displayed in a box frame bearing the date 239612.14, and dancewear sometimes litters furniture and floor after a late or exhausting practise session. Books, either physical or stored on a PADD are a common sight on side tables in the living room and bedroom. Shells, corals and underwater pictures from Valesha's dives are on display, dotted about on shelves and tables, including an image of Chris looking bewildered at a starfish crawling along his hand. There are often rolls of fabric, sewing threads, needles, pins and scissors piled on her desk, accompanying the most recent garment she's creating.

Relationships

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Family

Name	Relationship	Description
Chris Sienelis (née Johns)	Husband	Fast friends for many years in the dreamscape of the Maquis Raider Skarbek, they awoke to find that that had barely exchanged names in reality, their closeness there a simple result of physical proximity when they were sent to sleep. Unable to shake off the sense of loss that came with the absence of one another's company, they decided to see how a friendship would work for real. And work it did, the pair easily falling into the same rhythms they shared on the Skarbek, including keeping silent about the true nature of their feelings for one another. It was after a close brush with death that Valesha finally confessed her love, and was both delighted and relieved that it was reciprocated. The couple became engaged on 239612.14 and married on 239808.07.
Taeval ir-Jhianhre tr'Sienelis	Brother (twin)	Younger than Valesha by a matter of minutes, the pair were inseparable as children and still close as adults. When nearby, the twins were able to share their thoughts in a vestigial form of telepathy and even when apart, could often sense the other's mood. They were separated in the rush to board the refugee ships as the wavefront of the Hobus supernova approached Romulus. She has not seen him since, and after several years of searching, came to accept that he died on Romulus with so many others. This was until a chance conversation with Geoff Teller aboard the USS Juneau, who revealed he had seen her brother on Ketar V.
Mirra ir-Jhianhre e-Llhranak t'Sienelis	Niece (Adopted)
Llaiira ir-Jhianhre t'Sienelis	Mother Deceased	Valesha's mother was a no-nonsense woman; discreet, sometimes stubborn, firm but fair, and devoted to her family. She raised her two children to be independent and self-sufficient, eschewing many modern conveniences such as a household replicator. Llaiira was dedicated to her house-clan's craft of smithing, and Sienelis blades were prized among the upper echelons of Romulan society. She died on one of the refugee ships fleeing the Hobus disaster, when life support failed in one of the cargo bays.
Withheld	Father Estranged	The identity of Valesha's father is a secret she keeps closely guarded, allowing most people to believe that he perished along with the rest of her family in the Hobus disaster. She is caught in a love-hate relationship with him, resenting his heavy-handed attempts to interfere with her life, but misses him far more than she's willing to admit.

Friends and Associates

Name	Relationship	Description
Caedan Nkai	Best Friend	It seems to Valesha that Caedan simply decided that one day they were friends, and that's how it's been ever since. His telepathic abilities are a frequent source of frustration and annoyance for her, but his easy-going and affectionate manner compensates, and she appreciates his care, company and advice. He has recently begun attempts to encourage her to socialise with his wider circle of friends, which she finds awkward and pleasing in equal amounts.
Orson Marshall	Partner in "Crime"	A friendship born out of forced association rather than choice, Valesha began with an intense dislike of the elder Marshall during their time as "fugitives", not least because of his actions in selling their exit from the Gorkon. Over time, she reluctantly grew fond of the man whose sarcasm equals her own, and while she's not sure if they're actually friends, she would go out of her way to help him. While complaining. Constantly.
Geoff Teller	Friend	Valesha and Geoff Teller first met aboard the USS Juneau, when she walked into a vacant science lab to discover it had become an impromptu coffee house. One conversation later and he had revealed that her twin was likely still alive, earning her lifelong gratitude. Over the course of their tour on the Juneau, which involved a fair few games of poker, she grew fond of the enthusiastic engineer and considers him a friend.
Walter Brunsig	Partner in Crime	An odd friendship born out of a shared criminal act — that of stealing the USS Yarahla — Valesha and Walter Brunsig have kept in touch since. As neither is particularly given to calling the other up over subspace, this mostly occurs when he is visiting the Gorkon and usually over some kind of alcoholic beverage.
Quinn Reynolds	Academy Sponsor	Quinn Reynolds was one of the first Starfleet officers that Valesha encountered, and the one that left a significant impression upon her. The pair first met during the USS Drake's mission to escort a refugee caravan after the destruction of Romulus. After being convinced of Valesha's genuine desire to serve in Starfleet, Reynolds sponsored her entry to the academy, and they kept in touch during her student years and afterwards. When the Gorkon was declared lost, it was her connection to Quinn that spurred Valesha's determination to see the ship rescued, whatever it took. It was a sentiment repaid years later, when Reynolds extricated her from false charges of treason, espionage and murder.
Aron Kells	Friend and Mentor	Valesha and Aron first met when the Starfleet vessel he served on escorted a caravan of Romulan refugee ships into Federation territory. The then science officer encouraged Valesha to follow her dream of a scientific career, vouching for her when she made her application. The pair kept in contact throughout her time at Starfleet Academy, and were briefly reunited during her time serving on the USS Invicta. Though they now serve in different regions of the galaxy, they still keep in loose touch.

Personal History

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Valesha was born and raised in the Jhianhre province, in a small, quiet settlement some distance from the city of Tal K'shir. She shared the family home with her mother and her twin brother, Taeval. It is a time she remembers very fondly, growing up happy and healthy, with very few troubles. As the twins grew older and matured into adolescence, their father began to pressure both his children to take a career in the military, so that they might follow in his footsteps one day. Neither had much interest -- Valesha wanted to study science, while Taeval dreamed of travel and becoming an author.

The tug of war between father and children was never resolved. The Hobus star went supernova, the explosion propagating through subspace. At the last minute, their father secured a space on the refugee ships for his children and mistress. Taeval was separated from his mother and sister as they boarded, and the ship lifted off without him. Valesha has not seen him since, and officials consider him deceased along with the majority of Romulus' population.

Conditions in the refugee caravan were poor. Cramped and overcrowded, it was not unusual for vital systems to fail with little warning due. Valesha lost her mother when one of the cargo bays that served as sleeping quarters lost its inertial dampening, with catastrophic consequences for those inside.

Eventually, the Federation agreed to assist the refugees, allowing them inside Federation borders and rehoming them in temporary camps on Vulcan. It was during this journey that she met Quinn Reynolds and Aron Kells, two Starfleet officers who would change her entire future. Kells was a fellow scientist, and the pair bonded over their shared interests. It was he who encouraged her entry into Starfleet, Reynolds who sponsored her entry into the academy, and the three kept in contact throughout her training.

Frequently transferred around the fleet at the start of her career, Valesha found it hard to settle, and ran up against anti-Romulan sentiment more than once. When the USS Gorkon went missing, she took a leave of absence and was able to discover what had happened to the ship, but ignored by senior officers. This resulted in her bringing her findings to then Commander Walter Brunsig and becoming a member of the Yarahla Nine, a group of Starfleet officers and civilians who stole the USS Yarahla and used it to rescue the missing ship. Strong public opinion and private sympathies saw the Nine avoid any legal consequences, though her participation stalled Valesha's career and she remained an ensign for some time. After a brief time in limbo, she was posted to the Gorkon.

She served aboard the Sovereign-class vessel until spring 2396, when she was arrested on charges of espionage, treason and murder. With the aid of Orson "Bear" Marshall, she broke out of the brig and escaped from Federation borders, adding further charges of theft and escaping from custody. On their return to the Gorkon, it was revealed that their "escape" had been part of an undercover Starfleet Intelligence operation intended to retrieve information stolen from the Gorkon some months prior. It was an escapade that nearly cost Valesha her life, receiving a lethal dose of the Romulan poison melanth and saved only by the last-minute intervention of the Gorkon's medical staff.

Service Record

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Service History

Starfleet Service Record Insignia Rank Dates Posting Assignment Cadet 2388 - 2392 Starfleet Academy Science Major Security Minor Ensign 239207.16 - 239211.15 USS Invicta Science Officer 239211.15 - 239303.04 USS Darwin-A Leave of Absence Ensign 239312.10 - 239503.31 USS Gorkon Science Officer Lieutenant JG 239503.31 - 239607.25 Lieutenant 239607.25 - 239802.10 239802.10 - 239806.29 Acting Chief Science Officer 239802.10 - Present Assistant Chief Science Officer

Commendations and Decorations

Awards and Service Ribbons

Service Ribbon Name Date/Assignment Citation Starfleet Academy Graduate Ribbon 2392 Starfleet Academy Awarded to those who have graduated from Starfleet Academy. Joint Meritorious Unit Award 239211.13 USS Invicta Awarded to a person who participates in a joint action with an allied or neutral force toward a common goal. Prometheus Ribbon 239211.13 USS Invicta Awarded to a person who helped in handling the Prometheus Incident and ensuing chaos during 2392. Explorer's Ribbon 239301.05 USS Darwin-A Awarded to a person who participates in the discovery of a new planet, region, or species. War of Shadows Ribbon 239401.21 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual who participates in a conflict against the Orion Syndicate. Orion Syndicate Service Medal 239401.21 USS Gorkon Awarded to those who have graduated from Starfleet Academy. Explorer's Ribbon 239409.09 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual who participates in the discovery of a new planet, region, or species. First Contact Ribbon 239409.09 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual who participates in a successful first contact event. Explorer's Ribbon 239412.13 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual who participates in the discovery of a new planet, region, or species. Orion Syndicate Service Medal 239503.31 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual who participates in a conflict against the Orion Syndicate. Captain's Commendation 239503.31 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual for exemplary service and/or honourable actions performed in the course of his/her duties, when that service is deemed worthy of formal recognition by his/her commanding officer Purple Heart 239503.31 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual who sustains an injury in the line of duty. Prisoner of War Ribbon 239601.27 USS Gorkon Awarded to an individual who has been taken prisoner. Purple Heart 239404.27 USS Gorkon Presented in acknowledgement of the injuries received aboard the USS Njörðr. Explorer's Ribbon 239404.27 USS Gorkon Awarded for the discovery of a semi-sentient subspace "nebula" during the Njörðr incident. Good Conduct Ribbon 239404.27 USS Gorkon Awarded for risking her life to save a wounded Bajoran crewperson, Kroho Kiyel, during the Njörðr incident. Gold Lifesaving Ribbon 239404.27 USS Gorkon Awarded for saving the life of Crewman First Class Kroho Kiyel, during the Njörðr incident. Orion Syndicate Service Medal 239407.25 USS Gorkon Presented in acknowledgement of her participation in Operation Sea Devil. Purple Heart 239407.25 USS Gorkon Presented in acknowledgement of the injuries received during Operation Sea Devil. Distinguished Service Ribbon 239407.25 USS Gorkon Presented in acknowledgement of her actions during Operation Sea Devil. Warp XV Drive Pioneer 239701.22 USS Juneau Presented for participating in the test voyage of the USS Juneau. Project Capstone Ribbon 239701.22 USS Juneau Presented for participating in the test voyage of the USS Juneau. Maiden Voyage Ribbon 239701.22 USS Juneau Presented for participating in the test voyage of the USS Juneau. Legion of Merit 239701.22 USS Juneau Presented for participating in the test voyage of the USS Juneau. Orion Syndicate Service Medal 239701.22 USS Juneau Presented for participating in the test voyage of the USS Juneau. Purple Heart 239701.22 USS Juneau Presented for being injured during the test voyage of the USS Juneau.

For award descriptions, see: Awards and Service Ribbons

Mission History and Sim Archive

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Mission History

USS Invicta

• "The Q Collection"
• "The Road Not Taken"

USS Darwin-A

• "Silent Night"
• "Outpost Unity"

USS Gorkon

• "Annus Horribilis: Part One and Part Two"
• "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
• "Old Hatreds"
• "The Silver Function"
• "The Devil's Expanse"
• "Telutho'kai"
• "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This"
• "The Njörðr Incident"
• "Operation Sea Devil"
• "Together in Electric Dreams"
• "Serpent Heart, Flowering Face"

Sim Archive

Operation Sea Devil

• Start as You Mean to Go On: While on an undercover mission for Starfleet Intelligence, Valesha and Orson "Bear" Marshall meet an ally in the pirate haven of Hai Tac.
  • (Part I), (Part II), (Part III), (Part IV) - Written by Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds and Lt.Cmdr Jocelyn Marshall.
• In Stillness, Regret; A Legacy is Denied: Together, They Run: Running into some unanticipated complications during their time on Hai Tac, Valesha, Bear and Lena Josett make a hasty and dramatic exit from the outpost.
  • (Part I), (Part II), (Part III), (Part IV), (Part V), (Part VI), (Part VII) - Written by Rear Admiral Quinn Reynolds and Lt.Cmdr Jocelyn Marshall.

Gallery

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  Ensign Sienelis on duty.

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  Dressed for the Darwin's masquerade ball.

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  On the run

NPC Listing   ·   USS Gorkon Crew Manifest   ·   Crew History CO Quinn Reynolds 2O & Ops. Chief Jo Marshall Chief Engineer Vylaa zh'Tisav Chief of Science Tahna Meru Science Officer Taelon Science Officer Vesela Pace First Officer Samira Neathler Mission Specialist Ayiana Sevo Asst. Chief Engineer Doz Finch Engineer Gnaxac Medical Officer Nera Ay Medical Officer Russell Standish Medical Officer Pinelopy Athanasiou Edit This Nav