Lieutenant Malax

Character Information

Gender		Male
Species		Denobulan
Age		72

Physical Appearance

Height		5' 6"
Weight		80Kg
Hair Color		Brown
Eye Color		Blue
Physical Description		Short and wiry, Malax is far from a looming presence, but then he does not have to be to get what he wants. Carrying himself with the confidence that decades of training and prolonged service on behalf of Denobula and the former Coalition of Planets, he knows he has earned his place. Crow’s feet attest to a face more apt to smile than frown, and a shock of unruly Denobulan hair make him stand out from the usual dour Armoury personnel that stud the Federation Starfleet.

Family

Spouse		Drenala (wife) & others
Children		Metelax (and others)
Father		Draelax (birth father)
Mother		Ni’etsa (birth mother)
Brother(s)		Many
Sister(s)		Many
Other Family		Many

Personality & Traits

General Overview		A cheerful man, Malax bears his burdens with good grace, in general pleased to be where he is, and eager to serve. Once wedded to a career that would see him rise up Denobula’s Naval service ranks, once membership of the Federation was dangled in front of him he found a wanderlust that has been hard to shake off. Sociable and affable as most Denobulans are, Malax does have a will of steel and the self-confidence to stand up for himself borne from years of service.
Strengths & Weaknesses		+ Resilient – in the face of all that his life has thrown at him, Rinix believes, and understands, that he can cope with the majority of it. It gives him a confidence and a poise rare in younger people. +/- Analytical mind – Rinix prefers to take stock calmly and reflect before taking action in any given situation. Although this is fine in a laboratory setting, in the field it could be a problem. +/- Will put others before himself – Denobulans are mindful of others’ feelings and will often suppress their own natural reactions for the good of the many. +/- Denobulans are used to living cheek-by-jowl and in large extended families – a benefit to living aboard a starship as they are constantly surrounded by others, but also a source of stress as they’re required to live apart from their families for extended periods of time. - - Low Level PTSD – after years of serving on the frontline, Malax does carry some trauma, particularly relating to the Earth-Romulan War.
Ambitions		Malax’s ambition is to explore, though with a long life span it is hard to imagine this will stay the same for the rest of his life. Perhaps in five, ten years the ambition will change again, as it has before.
Hobbies & Interests		Malax is interested in games of strategy, books and glacier climbing.

Personal History

Born in 2109 on a ship plying the Bootis trade route that stretched from Denobula via Tellar to the Sol System with a return journey via the newly-established Vega colony. The freighter Klaestron was manned by Malax’s birth parents and extended polycule, and provided their main source of income. As with most of the trading fleets of the era, progress was slow, with the journey taking weeks at a time to make the hop from planet to planet – not to mention the time delays if Draelax his father opted to take up opportunities that raised their head on the journey. Equally slow was the communications time with the universe around them, so the family was often isolated. Maelax’s schooling consisted of pre-taped lessons that a family member would force him to watch and complete the workings for, and any lessons he happened to learn from whatever family member he would pester on the Bridge or in the bowels of the ship. It was haphazard, but it worked for the young Denobulan, fascinated by the ship around him. Malax grew in the love and comfort of his family, mostly cocooned from the wider galaxy save for planetfall. He vaguely understood that interstellar trade was a hazardous endeavour, frequently high-risk and low-reward, save for those that struck it unusually lucky, but this was never at the forefront of his mind until an Orion pirate raid on their vessel. With only a singly under-powered laser cannon to defend themselves, a distress signal was the only option as they attempted to evade the far more powerful ship. As luck would have it, two vessels were in relative proximity. A Vulcan starship, and a craft of the Denobulan Space Navy. Malax still remembers the impression the Denobulan Navy made as they stepped aboard his home – all bootshine and sharp angles, calm demeanours and purposeful tones. In the pit of his stomach the young Denobulan knew they had survived only by sheer luck as the two warships drove off the raiders. His family noticed that from that day on, he had a particular interest in the ship’s defensive capabilities – not that the teenager was allowed to touch those systems too often – and would often sit at the sensor station, monitoring the traffic around the stately Klaestron. For a while this caused consternation, his family being unsure whether or not he had been excessively traumatised by the Orion raid. Over time they came to accept that he had in fact found his passion as his continued interest in the arms and defensive systems of the ship attested. As Malax approached the age of his majority, the Klaestron made a beeline for Denobula. The family were headed home so their sizeable brood could take their examinations as required by law. Malax was excited, thrilled at the prospect of his next steps in life. He had grown into a short, stocky Denobulan male, and had set his heart on joining the Navy once he was able. Once accepted into the Navy, Malax decamped to one of Denobula’s moons where the Naval Academy was located. To be in such an open environment was initially disorientating for the young Denobulan. Wide open skies and variable atmospherics hit him hard, and it took several months for him to get into his stride. He was worked hard, drilled and trained to exhaustion. Malax thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the modules relating to starship tactical systems. The time passed quickly between his studies and socialising on the campuses of the Academy, and Malax soon found himself graduating after his two year qualification course. His first assignment was to a small border frigate, the Latraxi, running the limits of Denobula’s defined borders. As the lowest rung of officer aboard, Malax was worked hard by his supervisors, his apprenticeship being essential to his continuance in the Navy. Ship cleanliness, corrosion scrubbing – no task was too menial to school the young Denobulan in the discipline needed to thrive in the small, but high-performing naval force. Several times Malax was present while the Denobulans conducted raids on nearby pirate vessels and bases, ensuring that the Denobulan trading routes were kept open and free. One particularly memorable occasion had the Latraxi face down three Nausicaan raiders, with Malax the duty officer at the Tacitcal station. Though the ship was battered and bruised, left to limp to their home port, the Nausicaans were soundly beaten, and the incident served to cement Malax’s position aboard the ship, and in the Navy. On completion of his cadet cruise, it was decided that Malax would stay with the Latraxi and take the berth vacated by promotion of one of his comrades. The frigate was a fine ship, older and slower than some in the small Denobulan navy, but no less an honour for it. Shifts were hard, and arduous, but the work allowed Malax to see Denobulan space and beyond, something he treasured. Despite the rules and regulations, he felt a lightness and freedom to his existence. The Latraxi’s course and assignments became more monotonous the older the ship became. By Malax’s 26th solar cycle, the Latraxi was put in for decommissioning, a bittersweet moment for the young officer. Having begun his career at the bottommost of her ladder, he had advanced to Gunnery Officer, in charge of his own men and shift. He took some long-awaited leave, reacquainting himself with Denobula, and managing to catch his family as they passed close along to the Homeworld. Malax was soon re-assigned Gunnery Officer on one of the newer generations of Denobulan vessel. Fast, manouverable and sporting powerful next-generation weaponry, the Aetrilax was purpose built for the increasingly turbulent 2130s as long-simmering tensions were coming to the boil. Though Denobula had not participated in a war in several generations, the Orions and Nausicaans were growing in power, faster warp engines from beyond the Denobulans known frontier causing pirate and smugglers to be bolder, striking from bases deep in the voids of space. The Aetrilax was involved in a number of operations against pirate vessels in the vicinity of Tellar and Sol, deep within the disputed borderlands between Earth and the Tellarites, often working alongside both of those powers. It was during one celebration on a crude United Earth asteroid base that he learned about the Interspecies Exchange program. Once returned to the Aetrilax, the Denobulan transmitted an application for consideration. It was several long months before the Assistant Chief Gunnery Officer head how his application had fared – accepted, though delayed for another half-cycle for him to complete his current tour with the Aetrilax. Malax refused to let his success go to his head, a coveted spot amongst the emerging galactic community’s elite exchange program was a feat, but he concentrated diligently on his work. After six interminable months, Malax was informed of his first destination within the Interspecies Exchange: Tellar. Excited, the Denobulan began to look forward to his next assignment. He knew of the Tellarites by reputation, of course, but had never had prolonged interaction with them. Shipping out in the Earth year of 2142, the now-33 year-old Denobulan was in for a rude shock. Though the humans he had encountered had proven to be similar to Denobulans, and Vulcans an understandably inscrutable species, the Tellarite culture was something he had never encountered. Argumentative to a fault, Malax truly struggled in the early weeks of his assignment, Denobulans not being known to have to defend their choices constantly. Assigned to shadow Artillerist, Second Class Dum glov Lonkiv, the Denobulan would spend long hours on shift being berated and corrected and debated until he was numb from exhaustion. It was only after a communique home to a supervising officer did he understand the honour that was being done to him – he was being treated as a Tellarite. From that communique on, Malax began to settle into his life amongst the Tellarites. Aboard the clipper ship Tovruum, he was exposed to the full range of the Tellarite Navy’s duties. Jealously guarding their trade routes and mining colonies, life in the Tellarite Navy was hard. United Earth was pushing out from its already-established colonies, and her long-distance cargo ships were constantly pushing into the Tellarites’ sphere of interests. Often there would be tense stand-offs with Earth Starfleet vessels. Less common, but no less dangerous were the actions of human privateers operating beyond the laws of both Earth and here colonies, raiders just as savage and unpredictable as the Nausicaans he had faced. Adapting to Tellarite tactics, Malax often found himself in the frontlines of any enforcement operation aboard starships, or colonies and settlements in distress alongside his now-comrade Lonkiv. After one particularly gallant action in the struggle against the ‘Pirate King’ Lemontov the First of Mu Herculis, Malax was awarded an award for bravery from the Tellarites, one of the first non-Tellarites to be accorded such an honour. His exchange with the Tellarites lasted the better part of four years, allowing him to immerse himself into the tactics and martial culture that informed Tellarite doctrine. Having served his tour, the Denobulans recalled him for a debriefing period. Now in his mid-30s in 2147, Malax found himself back on the homeworld with time to spare. Escaping the happy embrace of his family, Malax struck out on his own, intent on finding his own polycule. He dated hard, with an objective in mind. In truth, it was not hard to find a first wife who fit his needs – patient with his career away from the homeworld, and with a stronger-than-typical support network for when he was away. Drenala was also visually striking with uncommon long red hair and piercing green eyes, and was an accomplished astrophysicist working for the Denobulan Deep Space Commission. The first of his many children soon followed. His combined leave allowed him to spend the the majority of his child’s first year with his family, but his next assignment was soon transmitted to him. Having to leave Drenala and his young son Zelab was a wrench, but his duties to Denobula called. His next assignment via the Interspecies exchange would be an extended deployment with the Centaurians. A significant regional power in the Beta Quadrant, the exchange with them was fortuitous as the Denobulan government was attempting to grow their relationship with Beta Quadrant powers beyond the Andorians and Vulcans. Malax found his time amongst the Centaurians to be a much easier time than his assignment with the Tellarites. He found the Centaurians, much like humans, were closer in culture and outlook to Denobulans, despite their general hangups about polyamorous relationships, and he got along well with them. Once again, he was assigned to a border patrol vessel, though this was a more significant assignment within the Centaurian Navy. Alpha Centauri had been struggling for decades with Klingon incursions in the outer reaches of their claimed territory. This, combined with spillover from the Vulcan-Andorian Cold War had increased pressures on their borders. As a promoted Assistant Chief Assault Officer, Malax was thrown into the thick of the Centaurian struggles, the cruiser Eltrada often operating far from the Centauri homeworld as it patrolled their outer settlements and trade routes. A heavily armed and armoured starship, the Eltrada was designed to hold her own against hostile vessels, and frequently did. Often, beyond the frontiers of Centauri space, the Eltrada would have to chase down and eliminate Klingon raiders ranging far from home. The patrols were long and gruelling, with the spartan environs of the Centaurian vessel affording few distractions. On a return leg of the Centauri Circuit, the Eltrada patrolled the Centauri-Andorian frontier, shadowing an Andorian light cruiser for several weeks as it drifted close to the border, and several strategically important mining settlements. Tensions were high for the entire time, Malax struggling to cope with the constant high level of alert required to operate on the frontlines of a Cold War that threatened to go hot with the simplest mistake. For a while he was certain that this career was no longer for him, and he was ready to call time on it in his late thirties. As the Eltrada made its way home, and the patrol became less arduous, the Denobulan slowly accepted that he had merely been suffering stress. As the Eltrada neared Centauri once more, he sought out a mental health specialist to better handle the stresses of his increasingly important postings. Malax was grateful to learn more about himself, and the way the galaxy beyond Denobula worked. It was with sadness that his Centauir tour was cut fairly short, but it was to his advantage. United Earth had joined the Interstellar Exchange program, and was keen to invite as many representative of other powers to serve in their Starfleet as was possible. 2148 was a minor turning point for United Earth, with the establishment of the Theta VII colony the year before, it was recognised that Starfleet’s resources were being stretched thin, particularly when eyeing the Warp Five Project which would push their influence further out into the quadrant advancing at a respectable clip. Malax was appointed to a Ganges-class ship, the Brabantia. Neither fast nor glamorous, Starfleet’s workhorse was fast being eclipsed by the rumoured next generation of ships being built back home at Earth. For Malax however, used to small, cramped vessels with little space for luxuries, he found himself perfectly at home. As he had previously supposed, he got along with the humans aboard. The cultural similarities were significant, though their medical technology was somewhat lagging behind his own people’s. Malax didn’t mind too much. The scars would be something to share with his wives back home. With their Vulcan supervisor aboard, he supposed it was the most diverse crew he had served with. Malax found Selen, the Communications Officer, to be a bit of an enigma. Clearly viewing the posting as beneath a Vulcan, he kept himself to himself, and Malax could not crack him. In later years he would find that Selen had joined a sect of Vulcan extremists that rejected ties with the outside galaxy. The work was routine for Malax by now. Most of Brabantia’s work was protecting colonies from depredations. Nausicaans, Orions, and rogue humans who fancied themselves the masters of all they observed. When not despatched to deal with distress calls from United Earth’s increasingly far-flung colonies, the Brabantia flew the Alpha Centauri to Earth trade route, protecting the increasing merchant connections between both polities. For Malax, this was a dream assignment, combining both of his favourite locations beyond the Homeworld. As his first tour with the Brabantia was nearing it’s end in 2152, Malax’s superiors applied for his exchange with Earth Starfleet continued. Though neutral in the affairs of the galaxy, the Denobulans had seen the evidence of United Earth’s effect on the political balance of their near-neighbours. Though humans were reckless, their efforts had been beneficial in the main. With the new NX-class ships pushing out further into the galaxy, Denobula wanted to make sure of friendly relations with the humans. Malax arranged for his extended family to move to Earth in order to see them at the end of every patrol with the Brabantia. Increasingly the ship was being used as a catch all, plugging in the gaps caused by the amount of time and resources an NX class ship consumed. Determined to pacify their near-abroad, the Brabantia was dispatched on an increasingly variable missions, often outmatched by their opponents. It necessitated creative tactical thinking for the Denobulan, which brought a pressure he increasingly began to enjoy. By 2156 tensions were once again rising in the Beta Quadrant, fuelled by first contact with the Romulan Star Empire. Increasingly acting against the destabilising forces arrayed against them the Alpha and Beta Quadrant powers came together to form the Coalitions of Planets. Denobula was not a part of this new alliance, staying scrupulously neutral, though allowing their personnel to continue to serve alongside Coalition Forces. As the Cold War with the Romulans became hot, Malax was transferred to a re-activated Daedalus-class vessel. Obsolete, they had been brought back up to spec to support the rest of United Earth Starfleet. The Hudson was yet again not a glorious assignment, but she had important work to do. During the course of the war she ran medical convoys to Coalition planets, ensuring that the populace were well looked after, particularly after ruthless Romulan attacks that struck from nowhere. The war was hard-fought, and eventually came to a frustrating stalemate before negotiations began via subspace radio with a foe that refused to reveal its face. Malax became fascinated by the Romulans, grabbing everything he could find on them and consuming it with a surprising zeal. He was recalled to Denobula at the end of the war, his long-extended soujourn with United Earth was brought to an end. The Denobulan government was uncertain how to proceed with the Coalition of Planets and the United Federation that was being proposed in the aftermath of the War. They were, however, eager to learn as much as they could about the first large-scale war in generations and subjected their Denobulan personnel to tedious debriefings. Within a month, Malax was given a new assignment, Chief of the Armoury for the cruiser Rheinax, one of the most modern of Denobula’s fleet. Based on lessons learned during the last decade, the Rheinax was more of a generalist ship, pushing the boundaries of known Denobulan space now that the Federation of Planets was a friendly neighbour. Though not a member of the Federation, the Denobulans worked closely with its new Starfleet. Malax was an easy choice as a liaison officer in addition to his Armoury duties aboard the Rheinax as the ship operated in tandem with Starfleet on short exploration jaunts into the western reaches of the Alpha Quadrant. He found the job much more enjoyable than his long assignments away from home, and enjoyed the melting pot nature of the Federation’s new Starfleet, despite the teething problems caused by so many cultures learning to co-exist side by side. The 2170s proved to be a quiet decade in intergalactic affairs, and most of Denobula’s efforts were involved in clearing her near-abroad of the few remaining pirate threats. After 2173 the impetus to join the Federation grew after long years of torturous negotiations shifted the dial on Denobula’s use of gene thereapies. Though a member of the military, and politically neutral, Malax supported the push. In truth, he was hoping to serve in the Federation’s Starfleet, the Denobulan Space Navy’s reach and resources no longer slaking his wanderlust. With his children now grown and flying the nest, Malax was looking for the next great challenge of his long life. As the political will grew, and the official date of membership was set for 2181, Starfleet, now long-experienced in integrating new members, began to draw the Denobulans in to her systems. Malax won a transfer to one of the many Daedalus class vessels that were pushing out into the unknown, assigned a five-year mission in 2174 to explore the southern reaches of the Beta Quadrant, and to probe the growing Klingon menace. The voyage went successfully, the Kentucky, though not a glamourous ship, proving her worth. Upon his return, Malax, now commissioned a full Lieutenant in Starfleet, was assigned to a study group to assess a new class of vessel being designed with all the scientific and engineering knowledge of the Federation’s member states: the Bonaventure. An arms-length security committee was established, and Malax assisted in its efforts as part of the Denobulan delegation to perfect the offensive and defensive weapons it would require to thrive in space. He quickly fell in love with the class of starship, and was determined to serve aboard one when the time came.