Taiya Keali

Taiya was born in 2220 on Betazed to Kaato & Saorise in a relatively small town. She has an older sister, Denai. From a young age she was fascinated by nature and biology and was often roaming the fields near their house studying creatures and insects in great deal. Her parents assumed that she would become a scientist but as she grew up, Taiya began to take more of an interest in anatomy. When she was 16, her father nearly died of a rare infection and although it hit all of the family hard, Taiya made the decision then that she would devote her life to medicine. Part of it was to escape thinking about how close her father had come to death but she had a determined and almost obsessive drive to help people. She became a neurologist and started practicing at a local hospital.

She enjoyed her work very much but whilst she was working one evening, she met a star-fleet Captain, Jonathan Armer who had been taken ill whilst visiting Betazed. He spoke with such passion and excitement about his life in star-fleet that Taiya’s long discarded dreams of travelling the stars were reawoken the more she talked to him. She decided that it was time for a new adventure. Over his stay in hospital, Captain Armer and Taiya became good friends and once he had recovered he suggested that she join star-fleet academy and put in a recommendation for her to be admitted in the next semester. It was not an easy decision to leave her parents and sister behind but Saorise could see a renewed passion and excitement in her daughter and convinced her to go.

Taiya initially found the academy harder than she thought. She was used to being around people who spoke their mind and it was a big culture shock to her that other races often said one thing and thought another. She became a bit reclusive and devoted herself to her work once again. As an older student she found it hard to make friends but this got easier as she settled in. Although she was a doctor already, she was fascinated to learn about the different species in the federation and soaked up as much information as she could.

Her first posting was on board the USS Arlington and she soon adjusted to life on board a starship. She developed some very close friends who she still keeps in contact with and it was there she met the love of her life, Alexander. After a short engagement they were married and in 2253 their daughter Laelia was born. It was always a struggle for Taiya to divide her time between her duties and her family but thankfully Alex has always been supportive of her career.

The move to the Shipton with a toddler was a hard decision, especially as they had to leave the rest of their family behind but they knew it was the right move for them to progress Taiya’s career. It was initially hard for Laelia to get used to life on board a starship but adapted well. Taiya soon impressed her superior officers and the Captain of the Shipton encouraged Taiya to pursue command as she had a natural talent for it. Her ability to remain calm under pressure and her empathic abilities proved valuable to the crew.

When Laelia was 6, the Shipton was sent on a mission to rescue a group of Antaran refugees. Whilst they were aboard the ship, Lia befriended a young Antaran boy named Jetak. When they were playing together, Lia inadvertently picked up a rare pathogen from the boy and became gravely ill. Taiya and her team worked around the clock to restore her little girl to health which thankfully they were able to but not without side effects. She still has to take daily medication to counteract the illness and as a result both Taiya and Alex became very protective of her.

Taiya initially turned down the XO position on the Chernov as the family had become so settled on the Shipton but again her Captain persuaded her that it would be a good move. Although a battleship, Taiya couldn’t bear to leave her family behind, especially after Lia’s illness, and put in a plea to her friend Jonathan, who was now Admiral Armer. He intervened on her behalf and she was granted special dispensation for Alex and Laelia to move with her.

Star-Fleet History:
2248: Joined star-fleet academy
2251: Graduated with honors in medicine & exobiology and assigned to the USS Arlington as a Medical Officer
2255: Promoted to Lt and transferred to the USS Shipton as Chief Medical Officer
2259: Promoted to Lt Cmdr and began bridge officer training
2260: Became second officer on the USS Shipton
2262: Promoted to Commander
2263: Assigned to the USS Chernov as Executive Officer