Parents: Vurir Mirak (Romulan) and V'Liraa (Vulcan)
Siblings:
None
Aridal Mirak is the only child of the Romulan dissident Vurir and the Vulcan diplomat V'Liraa. Vurir had a relationship with V'Liraa who served as a Federation diplomat on Romulus at that time.
When V'Liraa became pregnant, she left her job and married Vurir. In the year 2330, Aridal was born on Romulus.
In the year 2366 his father joined a dissident movement that sought to change Romulan society, due to his idealistic ideas. The ultimate goals were rapprochement with the Federation and reunification with Vulcan.
In the year 2368, his parents moved to the remote Romulan colony of Vredek II for their own safety , as Vurir now considered Romulus too dangerous for his wife and himself. Eventually in 2378, his parents left the Romulan Star Empire altogether and fled to Vulcan shortly before Shinzon came into power.
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The Romulan Years 2330-2379
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Aridal Mirak was born on Romulus in the year 2330. As a half-Romulan, he did not have an easy childhood, as his parents' marriage was viewed with suspicion by many Romulans loyal to the government. Aridal also felt this from an early age. Therefore, his family moved several times on Romulus.
Much to his parents' regret, Aridal decided to join the Romulan Imperial Fleet at the age of 20. Aridal did not share his father's idealistic and, in his eyes, naïve ideas. Besides, he really wanted to fit in. So he left his family home and after his graduation became Sublieutenant on the Imperial Warbird Shanaara. Due to his personality traits of hard work and dedication, he earned himself a promotion to Lieutenant.
The rift in the family grew even wider when his father finally followed his beliefs and inner voice and eventually joined a dissident group in 2368. This did not end Aridal's career in the fleet, but it certainly stopped further promotions. From that moment on, Aridal felt as if being under constant observation - more than usual and customary in the Romulan Imperial Navy.
When his parents fled to Vulcan in 2378 and Shinzon came into power, the situation became even worse for him. His Commander, who had protected him up until then, could no longer help him and so Aridal was dishonourably discharged. He also managed to leave the Romulan Empire in 2379 and went to Vulcan where he finally re-united with his parents.
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The Vulcan Years 2379-2398
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So now, at 49, Aridal had to find his way on Vulcan. During this time on Vulcan, he also immersed himself in Vulcan philosophy and logic under the now stronger influence of his mother and her family. He studied in depth the writings of Surak, Kiri-kin-tha and T'Plana-Hath. Again, however, he did not feel he belonged, because while he found some elements of Surak's philosophy really helpful and beneficial, he rejected their absolutely strict implementation as practised by most Vulcans. In particular, he rejected the absolute suppression of feelings. Although he was attracted to the Vulcan way of life, he could not and did not want to transfer it completely to himself.
Moreover, while he had never been rejected on Romulus because of his appearance, on Vulcan, however, his partial Romulan origin was recognised because of the slight bulges on his forehead. He increasingly longed for his time in the Romulan Imperial Navy, which he regarded in retrospect as his happiest time.
After some time, Aridal made up his mind to try and join Starfleet, despite some adverse circumstances.
His career in the Imperial Fleet in particular stood in his way. He had to take some courses at Starfleet Academy, although he did not have to go through the entire training path. Due to his eventful past and him being reluctant to talk about his personal history, there were many rumours concerning his time on Romulus, his escape and why he wanted to join Starfleet. Instead of an officer's diploma, he was accepted into Starfleet as a Provisional Ensign after two years. Now he has yet to find his place in Starfleet.
Aridal is a responsible and analytical person. Because of his studies of Vulcan philosophy, he very much appreciates the values of logic.
You could easily mistake him for a Vulcan, were it not for his slightly Romulan appearance and the fact that he does not completely suppress his feelings.
Unlike other Vulcans, he has not adopted the very strict Vulcan teachings though he uses some techniques to suppress too intense emotions.
His attitude of hard work combined with practical judgement has helped him to proceed in his former career in the Romulan Fleet as well as in Starfleet Academy.
Aridal is a reserved person who does not talk openly about his private life or past. This is due to experiences of rejection he has made in his life and his Romulan heritage.
He is very rule-abiding and strict to himself and also towards others as he also expects them to follow the rules.
He may seem as a very tough person on the outside, but if you know him a bit better, you can see that he can be kind, decent and caring in spite of his rugged and rather emotionally cold facade that he built up to protect himself.
Deep inside he struggles to find his place as he does not really know where he belongs: he is no real Romulan, he is no real Vulcan and both sides do not really accept him as one of theirs.
