Tahna Meru

USS Gorkon
Tahna Meru
Position	Science Officer
Rank	Lieutenant
Species	Bajoran
Gender	Female
DOB	237510.10
Age	26
Birthplace	Deep Space Nine
Academy Transcript • Medical Record Service Ribbons Starfleet Academy Graduate Ribbon Operation Safe Harbor Service Medal Intelligence Star Good Conduct Ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award Prisoner of War Ribbon Purple Heart Starfleet Investigation Ribbon Silver Lifesaving Ribbon Awards Genesis Award Nebula Bar Russ Bar 1-year Member Badges G239801TM4

		“Somewhere in space hangs my heart, shaking in the void.” Edith Södergran

Lieutenant Tahna Meru is currently serving as a Science Officer aboard the USS Gorkon.

	Personal Details

• Full Name: Tahna Meru
• Date of Birth (Age): 237510.10 (24 years)
• Species: Bajoran
• Gender: Female (she/her/hers)

	Appearance

• Height: 5'5" // 1.65m
• Weight: 132lbs // 60kg
• Hair Color: Dark brown, shoulder-length and wavy. Usually braided when she's working, loose when she's off-duty.
• Eyes: Dark brown
• Skin tone: Warm brown
• Build: Fit
• Voice: Gentle, soft-spoken. Her Bajoran is marked by a provincial Kendra accent.
• Scars: Small scar on her right middle finger from a mishap on her uncle’s farm when she was 10.
• Handedness: Right
• Taste in Clothing (when off duty): Comfortable, loose-fitting "rustic" clothes in muted colors. Still dresses like she's out in the Bajoran countryside, probably always will.

	Personality

• Habits/Mannerisms: Fidgets with things around her to stay focused.
• Religion/Spiritual Devotion: Follower of the Prophets. The Bajoran religious tradition means a lot to her, but she has less faith in the Prophets as deific beings than she used to.
• Mental problems (complexes and phobias): Dyscalculia.
• Personality: Generally optimistic, somewhat introverted.
• Hobbies and Pastimes:
  • Reading: She has a growing collection of physical books she studies and rereads regularly, however she typically reads on her PADD for convenience’s sake.
  • Botany: She has time spent on her uncle’s farm growing up to thank for her love of plant life. She cultivates several species of native Bajoran flowers and other plants in her quarters.
• Likes:
  • Flora and fauna: She grew up on a farm but was never allowed to have pets, so she's got a fondness for plants and animals that extends beyond her scientific interests.
  • Coffee: "Raktajino, extra sweet with kava." ...so maybe she doesn't actually like coffee, she just likes sugar.
  • Literature: Especially poetry, from all around the galaxy.
  • Bajoran folk music: In another life, she might have been a singer. In this one, her serenades are confined to the walls of her sonic shower.
  • Speed: Alieth took her racing once, and the experience was both terrifying and invigorating.
• Dislikes:
  • Crowds: She's never been fond of them, she finds them overwhelming.
  • Public transportation: She was caught in a bus bomb on Darime IV, instilling an extreme distrust of similar public transit systems.
  • Loud noises: Surely this has nothing to do with all those explosions she's been caught in.

	Background

Meru was born in 2375 and spent her early childhood on Deep Space Nine where her mother was posted with the Bajoran militia, though her family made frequent visits and eventually moved to her uncle’s farm in Bajor's Kendra Province to accommodate her father's progressing disability. Meru had no siblings so she cherished time spent with her two younger cousins on the farm. She spent her spare time reading about distant planets and pestering her mother into letting Meru shadow her on her visits to the space station, solidifying her desire to one day join Starfleet despite her parents' reservations.

Meru has dyscalculia and as a result, failed the math portion of the Starfleet Academy entrance exam the first time she took it. She retook it the next year after more intensive study and passed, entering the Academy at age 19.

	Relationships

Starfleet

Ico Ena Best Friend and Co-conspirator Meru’s best friend. The two met at the Academy after accidentally signing up for Intro Cardassian instead of Intro Cartography. They have a lot in common and were reunited when the Gorkon participated in a mission to rescue Ena and her classmates on Darime IV. They were perfect examples of scientists during Ena's cadet cruise on the Gorkon, getting into no trouble whatsoever. Megan "Meg" Bendyn Overly Enthusiastic Friend The two literally ran into each other on the Gorkon and found they shared an interest in botany. Meru appreciates Meg’s cheerful demeanor, even if she has more energy than a Pugabeast on steroids. Cory Stoyer Friend A friendship sparked over a shared love of reading, despite their differences in taste. He was one of the first people to make her feel truly welcome on the Gorkon, and he's never stopped. Bryce Tagren-Quinn Friendship Currently Undergoing Renovations They were on the same search and rescue team when deck eight exploded, and spent time camping and science-ing afterward. Having learned that he lost all of the personal artifacts because of the explosion on deck 8, she gave him a housewarming gift in anticipation of his newly rebuilt quarters: an aloe vera plant, which he named Vera Rubin. She appreciates his humor and cleverness, and considers him a friend. Alieth Final Boss, Science Chief Supreme, Head of Matchmaking Meru's boss/nemesis. She's definitely never stolen Alieth's dog, and she did receive a trophy from Alieth for breaking some speed regulations in the Sol System with the Vulcan. She finds the tiny Science Chief to be terrifying and confusing, and particularly fears her matchmaking efforts.

Family
Parents: Mother: Tahna Yavarel - Bajoran Militia (retired). Father: Tahna Rej - Artist, disabled by the Occupation. Siblings: None Uncle: Valis Aleni - Kava farmer. Cousins: Valis Tara - Plans to inherit the family farm. Valis Renas ("Ren") - Starfleet Cadet 3rd Class.

	Mission History

USS Gorkon

Upon graduation from Starfleet Academy, Ensign Tahna Meru was posted to the USS Gorkon as a science officer.

• Operation Q-Ball - Stardate 239801.20 to 239802.02

Her first mission on board the Gorkon, she was ordered to stay with the shuttle and keep an eye out. What could go wrong? Theeda. Theeda could go wrong. After being drugged and spending a brief stint as a prisoner of war, she was rescued (and further drugged) by Lieutenant Commander Jocelyn Marshall and Ensign Sarah Phillips. Their attempts to distract Theeda from the Latinum Beluga resulted in the first of many explosions that would haunt Tahna's career. Her capture and feeling of relative uselessness on this mission caused her to begin questioning her decision to join Starfleet.

• What Do Boys Dream - Stardate 239803.23 - 239806.18

Waking up in a Cardassian prison cell, Tahna "Greenhorn" Meru joined her maquis compatriots in finding a way out and back to the Skarbek. Her team retrieved manual actuators, attempted to remedy a problem with the power supply, had the floor cave in on them following an explosion, and eventually befriended a sentient slime they named Roomba (after an old folk character) before they were rescued. Upon waking to reality, and learning of the Gorkon's history of shared Skarbek delusions, she joined many of the crew in seeking mental health treatment on Deluvia IV. She struggled with guilt and post-traumatic stress, and considered resigning her commission after two terrible experiences in one year. Her therapist and superiors convinced her to give it another go before leaving.

• The Pelian Brief - Stardate 239808.28 to 239811.18

Ensign Tahna Meru, Commander Samira Neathler, and Lieutenant Cory Stoyer join Agent Lynas to investigate when Bisul, a Pelian religious leader, is found murdered in his study. They discover a hidden grotto, mysterious scrolls, a forbidden love triangle. During their investigation, they are caught in a bus bombing, before they uncover and put a stop to a massive conspiracy. Meanwhile (unbeknownst to her) Tahna's best friend, Cadet Ico Ena, was trapped in a cave under the very same planet. The successful completion of this mission convinced Tahna to retain her commission in Starfleet, as she realized that she was really in Starfleet to help others, not to help herself.

• Shadows of the Rift - Stardate 239901.27 to 239904.22

The USS Gorkon picked up garbled distress signals from the USS Triumphant with their last known location attached, located deep within a subspace bubble—possibly a Tyken's Rift. Lieutenant J.G. Tahna Meru helped investigate a drifting escape pod for clues, but she and her team were thrown around the cargo bay by a mysterious force that forced them to confront their fears. She was first reassigned to a team attempting to fix the power drain in engineering, and once more reassigned to a search and rescue mission when a hole is blown in the side of the Gorkon.

• Rogue World - Stardate 239908.15 to present

TBA

	Service History

Service History
Insignia	Rank	Dates	Posting	Assignment
	Cadet, Fourth Class	239409.01 - 239508.30	Starfleet Academy	Science Major
	Cadet, Third Class	239509.01 - 239608.30		Science Major Helm/Nav Minor
	Cadet, Second Class	239609.01 - 239708.30
	Cadet, First Class	239709.01 - 239801.12
		239801.13 - 239801.19	USS Centris-A NCC-72913
	Ensign	239801.20 - 239812.27	USS Gorkon NCC-82293	Science Officer
	Lieutenant JG	239812.28 - 239907.19
	Lieutenant	239907.20 - Current

	Awards and Ribbons

For award descriptions, see: Awards and Service Ribbons

Awards and Service Ribbons

Service Ribbon Name Date/Assignment Citation Starfleet Academy Graduate Ribbon 239801.20 Starfleet Academy Awarded for graduating from Starfleet Academy. Operation Safe Harbor Service Medal 239802.10 USS Gorkon Awarded for work in Ma no Umi against insurmountable odds, and a few pirates, while facing off against not only the Orion Syndicate, but members of several factions. Intelligence Star 239802.10 USS Gorkon Awarded for quick thinking, resourcefulness, and determination while maintaining cover. Good Conduct Ribbon 239802.10 USS Gorkon Awarded for the many acts of gallantry performed during the infiltration of Nassau. Joint Meritorious Unit Award 239802.10 USS Gorkon Awarded for working with an allied party to achieve their common goals. Prisoner of War Ribbon 239802.10 USS Gorkon Awarded for bravery in the face of danger, and reacting calmly under pressure following capture by Theeda Purple Heart 239812.28 USS Gorkon Awarded for the physical sacrifices we make while performing our duty, our willingness to risk our own wellbeing in the service of others. Starfleet Investigation Ribbon 239812.28 USS Gorkon Awarded for using their knowledge, skills and problem-solving abilities to conduct an investigation; in so doing, solve crime, defuse threats and resolve dangerous situations. The situation on Darime required those skills in abundance, and our officers tracked down murderers, saboteurs and butchers. Silver Lifesaving Ribbon 239907.20 USS Gorkon For exemplary bravery and quick-thinking in a tremendously dangerous predicament. Award Name Date/Assignment Citation Genesis Award 239806.26 USS Gorkon Awarded for showing conspicuous effort in improving their simming skills. Nebula Bar 239906.27 USS Gorkon Awarded for making "a particular effort to pump lifeblood into the locations we've visited, filling in the gaps where the travel guidebook descriptions leave off." Russ Bar 239906.27 USS Gorkon Awarded for broad and deep knowledge and understanding of Trek’s lore and mythology, particularly of Bajoran people and culture. 1-year Member 239906.29 USS Gorkon A length of service award given to those who have been members continuously for one year.

	Gallery

• 

  Ensign Tahna Meru

• 

  Ens. Tahna Meru at the 2398 Fleet Awards Ceremony

• 

  Tahna Meru as drawn by her friend, Ico Ena (credit to Alieth)

• 

  Lt. JG Tahna Meru at the 2399 Fleet Awards Ceremony

• 

  Lieutenant Tahna Meru

Halloween

• 

  Cyberpunk Tahna Meru for the 2398 Halloween Avatar Contest

• 

  Gorkonbumps Tahna Meru for the 2399 Halloween Avatar Contest

Funny Business

• 

  Plaque commemorating Tahna's extensive experience exploding (credit to Jocelyn Marshall)

• 

  239806 Quote of the Month

• 

  239907 Quote of the Month

• 

  239910 Quote of the Month

	SIM Archive

• Phone Home - A conversation with her parents at the conclusion of her first mission.
• Counseling Session, Stardate 239806.29 - Meru deals with the emotional fallout of her time in the Skarbek universe.
• Time to Explore! - Exploring Deluvia IV while on medical leave.
• (Backsim) Shezara: Part 1Part 2 Part 3 - Meru meets fellow Bajoran cadet Ico Ena when they accidentally register for the wrong class.

NPC Listing   ·   USS Gorkon Crew Manifest   ·   Crew History CO Quinn Reynolds 2O & Ops. Chief Jo Marshall HCO Officer Cory Stoyer 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