Corenios Meran

Early Years

Meran grew up as the youngest of three siblings – a late addition to an already complete family unit, and to parents who had already picked up their careers again. No one had time for him, and Meran quickly found out that he could force them to make it regardless by being as much trouble as possible.

It was certainly a surprise he finished school at all, but no surprise at all that he followed that up by bouncing from one  short-lived job to another.

He was the black sheep, a stark contrast to his by now successful siblings, even once he became an adult himself. In a particularly emotional argument, his father said what he had been thinking for a while now – that Meran would never amount to anything.

It was cruel, but honest – and it stuck. Two weeks later, he left home to enlist with Starfleet.

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Basic Training and Security Apprenticeship

After passing the physical exam, and finding himself relieved that he had never done more than cause a little trouble, Meran began his training at Starbase 153.
Coming into the new and much more structured environment that was Starfleet training, Meran started out wanting to quit on a weekly basis, and eventually a daily one. But the snide remarks of his relatives  never quite left his mind, and if it wasn’t idealism, motivation or discipline, it would be spite that carried him forward.

And it worked. After a year, Meran completed his training and received his first assignment.

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USS Callisto

Meran started out working as brig specialist on the USS Callisto, where his delinquent past gave him a clear advantage over colleagues raised in a more nurturing environment. The only problem was that his superiors didn’t quite agree on his approach to the people he regarded as (suspected) criminals and often-stated disagreement with Starfleet protocols.

He would likely have been promoted much earlier if he had kept his mouth shut about things that annoyed him, or simply questioned why things were handled the things they were.

But in this new, strictly regulated setting, there was much he had to learn. When he eventually did and received his first promotion ever, he moved from the brig to Investigations, quickly finding his calling there – he was good at reading people, and excellent at unmasking deception.

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USS Sirona

After his transfer to the USS Sirona in 2393, Meran quickly managed to distinguish himself and prove his worth. As by now experienced investigations specialist, he perhaps didn’t exactly make friends amongst his colleagues, but quickly gained a reputation for being fair and efficient.

Often selected as part of away teams, Meran gained the First Officer’s trust and attention when a diplomatic encounter went sideways, and a team member – the medical officer of all people – was critically injured. Meran was commended for not only treating the injuries, but carrying the injured officer back to their shuttle, saving their life.

Impressed by this, the Captain promoted him to Petty Officer 1st class – but the celebratory mood was short lived. It was a comment made in passing, and coming from an Ensign who likely simply tried to mask his own insecurities. “It’s a shame you will never make it to Chief Security Officer”

It was the first time in is career that he felt unappreciated and regarded as lesser than a commissioned officer, and shamed him deeply. Deeply enough to prove that he wasn’t less intelligent, and certainly not less capable. With his First Officer’s help and Captain’s blessing, he eventually left the Sirona to enter Starfleet Academy.

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Starfleet Academy

Studying. It was something Meran had never enjoyed, and always believed secondary to real life experience, of which he had plenty. Of course, most other Cadets were decades younger than he was, which quickly earned him the nickname ‘Grandpa’ –  though no one ever dared saying it to his face.

Over the years, his initial disdain towards his fellow cadets and the curriculum changed. He began understanding why facts and theory behind why something worked was important, rather than just that it did. While his grades were never amazing, he attained passing grades in all his courses, and thanks to his practical expertise, graduated in the upper half of his class.

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Return to the Sirona

After successfully completing his Starfleet Academy training, Meran was pleased to be offered the opportunity to return to the USS Sirona – this time under a new Captain – Asgren Valdes. It was a change he hadn’t anticipated and greeted with obvious apprehension, but quickly realized that Captain Valdes with her no-nonsense attitude was the type of individual he had come to appreciate.

One battle won, countless others to go. A lot had happened over the years he was gone, and most of the newly assigned officers and fellow Ensigns knew little of his stellar reputation, and vast experience, making it clear that he had to earn their respect rather than expect it.