V'lana

Personnel File
Name:	V’lana
Rank:	Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position:	Nurse Practitioner
Species:	Elsarian
Age:	37
Gender:	Female
Orientation:	Heterosexual
Birthplace:	Elsaria
Height:	5ft 5in / 1.65m
Weight:	125lbs / 57kg
Hair:	Black
Eye color:	Gold
Played by:	Arden Cho
Writer:	EnigmaTales
Interests
Music, Literature, Xenobiology
Education
2364 - 2367: Nurse in training, Cinavon Adolescent Hospital 2367 - 2370: Nurse, Cinavon Adolescent Hospital 2370 - 2373: Medical School - Advanced Nursing Practise 2373 - 2377: Starfleet Academy
Service Record
2377 - 2378: Ensign, Nurse Practitioner, USS Saint Raphael 2378 - 2381: Ensign, Nurse Practitioner, USS Theurgy 2381 - present: Lt JG, Nurse Practitioner, USS Theurgy
Decorations
N/A

Lt. JG V’lana was a nurse practitioner aboard the USS Theurgy. After sustaining severe injuries during the Theurgy’s flight from earth, she was kept in a stasis unit until the needed medical attention could be provided.

Biography

V’lana was the younger of two children born to Ra’Thal and L’Yen, both career focused individuals who successfully spearheaded historical research on the origin of their species. Much to her mother and father’s dismay, V’lana preferred to spend her time with music and drawing, while her sister Lu’Vas was eager to step in their parent’s footsteps. That, however, was not meant to be. When V’lana was fourteen years old, her sister began manifesting symptoms of a mental illness, which eventually led to hospitalisation. Lu’Vas took her own life after begging her parents to let her return home fell on deaf ears, and V’lana, heavily affected by her sister’s death, began taking her education more seriously and developed an interest in medical care.

V’lana never saw herself as an actual physician. She opted for a more hands-on approach and began training as a nurse in Cinavon’s Young Adolescent Hospital. She easily made new friends but struggled to maintain a balance between work, her additional courses and interests, her hobbies and socialising, having a tendency to do too much of the one, and too little of the other. That she was known to be very engaged and caring towards her patients made up for the fact she only finished her education in the lower third of the class, and V’lana was offered a position there.

When attending Medical School for a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, V’lana attended a lecture held by Lt. Cmdr Akiko Jurev, a Human-Vulcan hybrid and Starfleet Officer. The two became friends, and V’lana was first introduced to new cultures. When Akiko’s time on Elsaria was coming to a close, she encouraged the younger woman to travel with her and join Starfleet.

V’lana was eager to learn more about other species and experience the different things Akiko had told her about. In addition, the relationship between her and her parents had never truly recovered after Lu’Vas’ death, and the idea of “starting over” appealed to V’lana.

Starfleet Academy not only provided V’lana with a solid foundation in medical sciences, but also the opportunity to specialise in wound and pain management. In addition, it instilled in her a deep appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures that make up the United Federation of Planets. It was transformative period marked by both challenges and personal growth in which she was exposed to a diverse range of cultures, species, and perspectives, broadening her understanding of the galaxy. The academy's emphasis on multiculturalism provided V’lana with a unique opportunity to explore her passion for learning about different societies. She found herself fascinated by the physiological differences among species and the diverse medical practices employed throughout the galaxy. V’lana's willingness to engage with others made her a popular figure among her peers. She formed friendships with students from various backgrounds, even when she occasionally struggled to grasp certain cultural nuances and protocols.

While she occasionally struggled to understand certain cultural aspects, she once more quickly made friends -something Akiko, who enjoyed being V’lana’s closest confidant and had a tendency to be somewhat introverted herself- did not always like. It is, perhaps, not surprising that Akiko disapproved vehemently of a relationship between V’lana and one of the USS Saint Raphael’s medical officers, which V’lana committed to regardless. The rift this caused between them only grew wider when the relationship fell apart, which eventually led V’lana to request a transfer to the USS Theurgy.

While Akiko was eager to rekindle their friendship, V’lana requested time to think. It is one of her biggest regrets that she never had the opportunity to make peace with her friend.

As the Theurgy fled through the Alpha Quadrant, V’lana found herself becoming increasingly anxious. She grappled with the notion that the Federation might be compromised and struggled to accept the idea of being permanently separated from her family and Akiko. Her mind was filled with uncertainties about whether she would ever get the chance to clarify her situation to them or if they perceived her as a traitor. In the midst of these concerns, V’lana, despite her reservations, remained loyalty to the crew. She actively sought support and gradually began to gain control over her emotions.

During a particularly intense moment when the ship came under attack, she played a vital role as part of a team dispatched to a Cargo Bay where containers had dislodged, resulting in injuries to several crew members. In the course of this mission, V’lana herself sustained minor injuries, promptly treated with a standard analgesic to ensure she could continue providing assistance. What went unnoticed by the administering medical officer was that V’lana's unique Elsarian physiology couldn't metabolize the administered substance. The analgesic administered inhibited the release of several crucial neurotransmitters, in a similar fashion as a neurodegenerative disease. The absence of neurotransmitters led to the loss of signals to muscles, resulting in paralysis. Sensory information relying on neurotransmitter-mediated signals, such as touch, pain, and temperature, were lost. Neurotransmitters regulate autonomic functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion began deteriorating, resulting in cardiovascular collapse and respiratory failure. As the doctors were unable to provide the medical attention necessary, V’lana was placed in stasis until a cure could be synthized, initially intended to be a short-term measure. However, the medical team underestimated the complexities of Elsarian biology, and were not able to synthize a cure until the Savi android V-Nine came on board.

Personality Profile

V’lana was very soft-spoken but opinionated at the same time. While she was polite in how she addressed others, she could get overly passionate about certain topics, leading to conflict. The Elsarian cared deeply for others and often poured her time and energy into the welfare of those in her care, rather than herself. That led to a potential for empathy fatigue, and taking care of herself is something V’lana often had to remind herself of.

After a youth of frequently changing partners, relationships were not in the foreground for her. She was thoughtful and affectionate towards those she considers her friends and often sought out opportunities to connect with others.

Physical Profile

V’lana did not vary much from the usual Elsarian standards in her appearance with white skin, black hair and gold-reflective eyes. She had an athletic figure and average height, her footsteps light nearly silent.