Vekora Kelmaran

Childhood 
Vekora was born in 2345, another daughter to Jorvak and Zerya Kelmaran, and another mouth to feed. From the window of the shared sleeping quarters, she could see the lights from the hills of Vornak City, where the more wealthy families resided. A dream her parents called unattainable, but one Vekora promised herself to follow.

But in those days, Cardassia’s social structure was built to keep people in their place, and despite her good grades and extracurricular activities – including a gift for music that was unprecedented in the Kelmaran family – rising above her station quickly proved impossible.

First Employment
In 2.362, at the age of 17 years, Vekora began her employment as a housemaid for one of the families she was constantly forced to look up to. It was an occupation she liked, but was not content with – she wanted more. Still, it paid her enough to keep her alive, and helped her build an almost familial connection to her employers.

When 2364s prolonged drought made water the most valuable good and going to bed thirsty was almost a ritual, Vekora’s two younger sisters fell ill. Vekora asked for a loan and some time off to tend to her siblings, but was denied both. The burial of both children was the first glimpse at the unfairness of Cardassian society, and the spark that ignited a fire within her that burns to this day.

In 2368, an opportunity arose. The family that employed her had fallen out of favour with the Obsidian Order – the claim was that they kept and sold copies of books that were deemed harmful to the Cardassian order and therefore forbidden – and Vekora was approached to confirm these claims. When her search revealed nothing, she took upon herself the risky endeavour of obtaining and planting such forbidden literature, succeeding by a hair. Or so she thought.

The Obsidian Order had, of course, send their own operatives, and discovered Vekora’s deceit. Still, it served as evidence to have her employer stripped of wealth and titles, and allowed Vekora entry into the most secretive of Cardassia’s organisations.

Obsidian Order
Vekora thrived in the new environment. To say that she was important was perhaps not quite true, but she was relevant and trustworthy enough to give her an objective with proximity to Central Command. It certainly  helped to ease her families financial burden, but the lights on the hill would remain unattainable for years.

Finally, in 2374, she had risen through the ranks sufficiently enough to move her family to a prestigious area in Lakat. A year later, the Dominion turned against Cardassia, and turned the city into ash.

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After Cardassia’s Destruction
Vekora had not been on Cardassia Prime during the attack, and couldn’t believe the news of the thousands that had died. She had doubted their alliance with the Dominion before, but never voiced it. Now that the few remaining ships were struggling to retake their home, she grew more confident in her complaints – which quickly  made her an outcast.

Now depending on and responsible for only herself, she fled the ongoing battle.

Switching Sides
To Vekora’s surprise, it was Starfleet who welcomed her. Not with open arms, but in a situation where every ounce of support was valuable, her insights in what remained of the structures of Cardassia’s once vast military quickly proved invaluable.

When the conflict with the Dominion ended, she was given a choice – return to what remained of Cardassia Prime, or stay with Starfleet and start over.

Disillusioned with the provisional government and their wish to rebuilt the very structures that had led to their destruction, Vekora remained with Starfleet.

Starfleet
Getting through Starfleet Academy proved both easy and at times unbearably difficult. Her fellow Cadets distrusted her, and she distrusted them. At first, Vekora planned to pursue her interest in planetary science, but quickly found that she was more comfortable in the role of the brooding Cardassian spy, and switched to Intelligence.

After graduating as one of the top students of her class in 2387, Vekora quickly made a name for herself by providing detailed reports about the weaknesses of hijacked vessel, and received her first promotion only a few months later.

Since then, Vekora has steadily climbed the ranks, and plans to continue doing so.