Zara Kestra

Zara was born to Caden and Raquel Kestra on Earth 26 years ago. She was an easygoing child not one to cry unless necessary. She was raised in a secluded mountain town near Glacier National Park, Montana. Her parents started early to instil a sense of adventure and appreciation of nature in Zara. The first 6 years of her life were spent with her parents in Blackfoot, Montana. She was raised as a nature lover, spending sometimes days and even weeks in Glacier National Park with her parents. On one particular trip to Swiftcurrant lake in late march, just after she turned 6 years old, her family was caught in a fire that was caused by a recent thunderstorm and lighting strike. She had been cleaning her mess kit near the trees when the fire reached her and burned her hands. Her and her parents moved as quickly as possible down the mountain. The fire continued to close in on the family and nearly overtook them as they reached a large river. Raquel took Zara in her arms and began to cross the strong currants. Caden was just behind them carrying what little food they saved before the fire had engulfed they’re camp. When Raquel reached the other side of the river she turned back and Caden was nowhere to be found. Without a word she took Zara's hand and followed the river to the nearest forest service road, this took nearly 3 days and they had to forge for food and suitable materials for Zara’s blackened skin. Along the way Zara asked questions about her father. Her mom explained to her that the river had taken him and that he would want them to continue on to safety. They kept they’re eye’s out for Caden along the way, but when they reached the falls near the road they knew he could not be found.

The next year was extremely stressful on young Zara. She hand to deal with the scars on her hands, and the occasional teasing from other children, but also her mother had become ill not long after her fathers death. The loss of her husband drove her to insanity. She could no longer care for Zara and so Zara was placed into the custody of her Godparents, James and Melody, onboard the USS Sunfire. That was where she had her first taste of what it was like to travel in space and help others. After all she had seen and done on that ship she was determined to become a Starfleet officer

Once a year, on the anniversary of her father’s death, she visits her mother to see if she is getting better.

When she first arrived on the sunfire she felt extremely out of place. Her primary education was like that of any other starship child. She attended classes with other children who stayed with they’re parents on the Sunfire. She would attend classes all morning, enjoy a lunch with her godparents, and then spend the afternoon playing games in her quarters or hanging out in sickbay to talk to anyone who was sick.

When she was 12 Melody, whom she now called mom, decided that she needed to get a formal education, in a high school with other children her age. She was sent to live with Melody’s parents on Mars where she attended Trojan High. She hated being stuck on the surface of the planet for so long. She worked extra hard at school, taking advanced classes, since the standard academic bored her. Her teachers saw a lot in Zara, and helped her to excel in every subject and let her move ahead at her own pace. She made an attempt at dating when she turned 16 but found that it took from her study time, and she was determined to graduate as soon as possible. Near the end of her Junior year Zara had already completed 4 years of schoolwork and was recommended for early graduation. Zara was so excited. She was just about to turn 17 and would already be out of high school.

Since she graduated high school early she took the next year of school to decide exactly what she wanted to do with her life. She studied the art of sword fighting as a hobby and took part in a form of Zen Teachings, which helped her to focus herself when she felt stressed. Her master, a great monk teacher, saw a lot in the young girl. He trained her as an apprentice for the year and hoped that she would one day teach, but soon she felt the need to fly and applied to star fleet academy.

When she was 18 she entered Starfleet academy. The academy was a lot different that high school. The standards were higher, free time was little, and you lived at the school. She took it on with an aura of courage and soon found herself engulfed in General studies. Most was interesting. She got to learn about the species of the quadrants, physics, warp theory, planetary languages (though she remembers none of it now), basic starship design, and the ranks and regulations of being a Starfleet officer. She worked hard through the year, though sometimes she barely passed her exams.

During a short break between years she made the decision to become a security officer. Her next 3 years were full of security procedures, chain of command, positions in the Security Department, and emergency protocols. There were simulations to participate in, and Drills to participate in on the Base. Soon she found herself on her Cadet Cruise, working with all the other departments to make a ship a fully functioning unit. She knew then that she had made the right choice to join Starfleet. Upon the end of her Cadet Cruise she headed back to the Sunfire for a 2-week cruise with her family.

She was welcomed home to the Sunfire with a celebration of her achievements. She took up working as a low-level security officer in the security department. Life was great on-board the ship, but she already knew everyone, and experience so much with them, that she wanted to branch out and experience more with other vessels and put in a request to transpher to the USS Edison. When her approval came through she was excited but saddened at the same time. The crew of the sunfire was her family, and she hated to leave them, but before her stood a new adventure, one that she would surely enjoy.

Over the last few years aboard the USS Athena, formally the Edison, Zara met Ander Ordonis. She became instantly drawn to him, and found herself falling in love for the first time in many years. The odd couple had a rough start, constantly visting sick-bay from the brutal beating they gave eachother on the holodeck in one of her favorite fighting programs.

The couple inadvertantly became handfasted, the night before the formal CO and XO got married. It was a whirlwind romance, and neither of them had ever felt that way before. They thought it would last forever. But a year and a day passed and the couple never made it official, as Ander was on a mission. So Zara turned to her friend, and confidant, Jason Anderson, who, contraty to popular belief, was one of the monk aprentices, at the Mountain of Mystikos Sanctuary that reached to the heavens from the Lake of Ripples, sent to Star Fleet to recieve training in the heavens, and watch over Zara during the transition from Student to True Apprentice.

It turned out that the connection she had with Jason would come between the love she had with Ander, in a grand missunderstaning, causing an unexpected break-up. Zara, after being in Sick-bay with a large bruise on her leg, was moved to her quarters, via transport, only to awake to find that they were not hers and Anders, but rather a new room. Zara, having read a letter from Ander, collapsed onto a large chair, where Jason found her, unable to speak. He thought it was because of whatever she had read, but, as it turned out, was actually caused by a blood clot that had formed just below her heart, not only threatening her life, but causing to much pain to speak.

Zara spent the next few days in Sick-bay, doing everything in her power to be released, but found that flirting was the easiest way out, although the doctor had planned on releasing her in the first place.

After the discovery of a toxin in the food system, and the treatment that followed, the crew learned that the behaviors they had were caused by that toxin. It took time, but many of the burned bridges of relationships were rebuilt. Zara and Ander reconnected they're relationship, realizing more than ever how much they loved one another. Zara's relationship with Lisa was diffrent. She had come to have strong feelings for the woman, even though it was caused by the toxin, those feelings remained once the treatment was over.

[edit] STARFLEET SERVICE RECORD

2376 – 2377	General Studies Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2377 – 2378	Security/Tactical Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2378 – 2379	Security/Tactical Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2379 – 2380	Security/Tactical Cadet	Starfleet Academy
2381 – 2382	Cadet Cruise	USS Paradox NCC-91603
2382	Security Officer	USS Sunfire–A
2382-2383	Chief of Security	USS Edison (NCC-75159)
2383	Chief of Security	USS Athena (NCC-80353)

[edit] PERSONAL RECORDS

KNOWN LANGUAGES

Federation Standard

EDUCATION

Primary Education: Primary school on the USS Sunfire
Secondary Education: Trojan High, Mars
Tertiary Education: Starfleet Academy Major Security/Tactical Minor Ancient Species

FAMILY

Father:Caden Renold Kestra
Mother: Raquel Tasha Kestra
Adopted Father: Admiral James West
Adopted Mother: Lt. Commander Melody West

Marital status: Hand Fasted

Child(ren): None

Husband: Ander Ordonis

PERSONALITY Strength(s)

Easy going
Slenderness allows for work in tight spaces

Limitation(s)

To much time in solitary can lead to aggressive behaviour

Special Ability(s)

Proficient in Sword fighting

Quirk(s)

Spends evenings in her slippers and secretly wishes she could wear them all day, has been known to try.
Always wears black gloves with the fingers cut off in public, deemed to be allowed in uniform by Starfleet.

Hobbies(s)/Interest(s)

Meditation
Sword Fighting
Reading
Swimming
Writing
Camping
Rock Climbing

Ambition(s)

To be the best officer she can be.

Motto(s)

Even the weak can conquer the strong

[edit] MEDICAL RECORDS

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Height: 5’ 8”
Weight: 135 lbs
Eye Colour: Brown
Hair Colour: Black
Skin Tone: Tan

Physical Description

Fit yet slender body. Long black hair. Deep brown eyes

Distinguishing Marks

Burns on her left hand and arm stemming from just above the knuckles on the back and palm of her left hand to just below the elbow and burns on the back and palm of her right hand, just below her finger tips, to just past the wrist.

MEDICAL DATABASE EXTRACT

PHYSICAL Extract “Zara was scared on her right hand and wrist, and her left hand and forearm, in a Fire at a young age. Regenerative therapy was attempted shortly after the fire, but the flesh proved resistant. This was tried again as new technology came fourth, but still minor to no changes. Medical professionals believe it to be due to the fact that the metal mess kit had fused to her skin during the fire, possibly changing its general healing capabilities. Tests were performed by myself to check the skins current ability to heal. The skin seems to heal to the extent of the scars she already had, no further. Physically she is ready to be placed on a ship.”

Recommendation Fit For Duty Report by: Dr Michael Toniet Starfleet Medical

PSYCHOLOGICAL Extract “Zara has an extreme fear of fires. She has been working with Psychologists since she and her mother were found; she has come far in being able to deal with emergencies that may consist of a fire. She has participated in many simulations, and has come to tolerate working in cases where fire may be a factor. She still has the occasional nightmares of the day she was burned. Mostly they are harmless, but occasionally can cause extreme stress. Recommendations for handling extreme nightmares are mild sedatives and counselling.

The loss of her father still affects her today. She has been depressed in the past, usually around the time of his death each year. Course of treatment is counselling and visiting the place he was lost to release her anger and sadness.

The scars on her hands have made her fairly self-conscious. Children in her past were the hardest to deal with, leaving her to hide her hands from sight. Many attempts to disguise them have been made. Black gloves that do not inhibit working have had the best results. They have been custom designed to fit her hands and lower arms, and to compliment the material used in Star Fleet uniforms. She does not show her scars to just anyone, usually doctors and other medical professionals who are attempting to heal them or help her heal.”

[edit] COMMENDATIONS AND RIBBONS

McCoy Cluster x 2. (2383), (2384)

[edit] APPENDICES

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