Nysra Tolmak

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A Cardassian diplomatic refugee who joined the United Federation of Planets and subsequently Starfleet. Given the identity of a Human female, Ngaire Sienna Guimaraes, she was given a background and joined within her field of expertise as a medical officer. She underwent genetic manipulation as well as reconstructive surgery in order to ensure she looked like a Human and could pass for a Human with surface scans, though deeper scans would show her Cardassian physiology. A bacteria from Mysteria II forced her body to revert back to it's original form in an accelerated manner that wasn't anticipated by Starfleet medical staff, and where it exacerbated Commander Larsens condition of a weak immune system, it brought about her Cardassian genes and the monthly genetic treatments she was forced to undergo previously became weekly treatments, then daily, in an effort to keep up and overcome the bacteria though it quickly became evident as time went on that it was a pointless endeavour and Nysra was forced to approach the then Captain of the ship, erei'Riov t'Aegis, to discuss the situation and ask for assistance in announcing it to the crew.

Commander Braun knew of her identity previous to this series of events as a result of her revealing herself to him so they could engage in a relationship that was honest. Previous to this Braun and Nysra had attempted a relationship but Nysra was unable to engage in any intimate act without feeling as if she were deceiving an incredibly good man. Despite him being Human, a species she was disgusted by, and is still disgusted by in some respects, his character of self won her over and so she took a chance in revealing herself to him. It panned out and they are currently engaged.

She is not close to many people on the ship, this having been due to necessity previously, and calls very few people friend. There are a few notable figures of individuals she does consider potential friends, such as erei'Riov t'Aegis, Nalah, and Parn.

Fact Sheet
Personal Information
Full name:	Nysra Faleen Tomak
Species:	Cardassian
Gender:	Female
Date of Birth:	September 12th, 2364
Homeworld:	Cardassia Prime
Affiliation:	United Federation of Planets
Family
Mother:
Father:
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse:	Stephen Braun
Career
Rank:	Major
Insignia:
Profession:	Medical Doctor
Posting:	Hellesport
Position:	Chief Medical Officer
Security Clearance:	Level 8

Arrest Records

None

Court Martial Records

None

Service Record Reprimands

None

Family Information

Mother	Siras Solis
Father	Leytn Solis
Siblings	Lisi Solis, Gamon Solis, Jaxsin Solis
Marital Status	Engaged

Medical Record

Injuries and Diseases

2384	Alcohol poisoning
February 2390	Severe concussion, broken wrist, cracked eye socket
April 2390	Severe burns, cracked ribs from Risa mission
February 2390	Severe concussion, broken wrist, cracked eye socket
November 2390	Reconstructive surgery to re-assert Cardassian physiology, as well as genetic treatments to re-establish Cardassian norms.

Psychological profile

Classified - Level 10 clearance required to access this information.

Biography

Ngaire Sienna Guimaraes was born to Ceinwein Guimaraes and Horatio Guimaraes on a simple merchant ship her parents ran. They specialized in textiles and her mother was a seamstress who also carried out special orders for clothing items on their various trade runs. When she was born her parents decided to give her firm roots on Terra Firma and sold their ship and moved to Earth to settle down in Los Angeles, California. They opened up a tailor shop in Calabasas, CA, raising their daughter and eventually having three more children, another daughter, Adrienne, and two sons, Myron and Jaxson. Their childhoods were fairly routine, full of parks, birthday parties, scraped knees, broken bones, sibling rivalries. Being the eldest child, Ngaire was expected to fulfill the role of overachiever and the one to follow her parents dreams for her. As she grew up she didn't feel as if she really had any choice regarding the direction her life would take, her father pushing her strongly to become a medical doctor, not caring what her specialty was, just wanting her to attain that special ranking in the world. As she progressed through high school she felt the pressure more than ever to attain the grades needed to enter into a medical program at the University of California, sacrificing her childhood essentially to become what her father wished of her. Her mother was as supportive as she could be through this time, though with three other children to look after who were all equally driven to succeed it was hard to lend any firm support to Ngaire beyond the occasional late night chat. Ngaire suffered from acid reflux as a result of the stress put on her as well as mild depression, well, mild by her parents estimation, it actually a deep throbbing pain in her chest, a constant reminder of her perceived loss of freedoms. When she finally graduated high school she took the summer off to get away from her family, intending to run away on a transport to begin a new life on a different planet, didn't matter which one, as long as it wasn't Earth. She made it as far as San Francisco before guilt and the build up of further stress of being away from home hit her, forcing her to find a local summer job working in a cafe as a barista as she contemplated her future. Dreams. So many dreams. All of her dreams. Were they always going to be figments of her imagination? She lived and worked in San Francisco for two months before deciding she would stay there full time, far enough away from her family to not have them as a constant presence about her, but close enough that she could go there when she got home sick on weekends to visit. This gave her the time she needed to decide where she would apply for University, having ignored her fathers pushing in her last year of high school to apply to as many universities as she could in hopes that she would get accepted to the best. No. If there was going to be one decision she could make on her own it would be when and where she would continue her education. Stress continued to plague her and she continued to suffer from gastronomical issues, pressure from her parents and extended family eventually forcing her to make a decision of where she would go, though not what she would do.

She decided upon Starfleet Academy in San Francisco where she could still remain close to home but have enough freedoms later on in her career that would allow her to be posted in foreign places away from home. This small concession, being able to choose her own place of higher learning perhaps gave her the illusion that being a medical doctor was something /she/ wanted, rather than something she was pushed into. She entered into Starfleet Academy a year after graduating high school into the biochemistry program where she chose a medical speciality. At first she kept to herself, barely interacting with her fellow students, preferring to keep herself within the confines of her room, ignoring her roommate for the better part of two years as she struggled to keep her grades afloat amidst a deep depression. Those dreams she dreamt, of becoming a diplomat, of negotiating between great and small empires in the name of the UFP, crept up into her mind as she attended anatomy classes, ethics and theory, driving her further and further down. Being a medical doctor, it wasn't her dream, but the pride she saw on her mother and father face when she visited them on holidays nettled the guilt of her wanting something else deeper and deeper into her being. And that guilt continued to drive her to complete the program, though without great enthusiasm on SFA campus. It was in her third year that she would meet a man who would forever change her fate; Ishmae Retex, an Andorian who had taken notice of the sullen young woman in one of their classes. After a few initial encounters and sweet talking he was eventually able to get her to go out on a date with her. This would be her first boyfriend, and she fell hard. Thinking on it now she gags at the thought of how naive she was back then, how stupid and trusting, but this was love, new love, and she suddenly felt as if her life was taking a new direction. Her grades improved as she sat smitten with the Andorian male, studying diligently as an excuse to be with him always as he completed his own studies. People all around her saw a change in her, she became more vibrant, more lively, suddenly she was attending parties with Ishmae and making friends, putting herself out there. Along with this new change in lifestyle however came another darker behaviour; she began to drink heavily in her quest to please and align herself with Ish who favoured the drink and imbibed it on a regular basis. He was gregarious, outgoing, and the alcohol didn't seem to impair him much in the eyes of Ngaire who desperately wanted to be seen as good in his eyes, a bi-product of her obsession with pleasing her father and his own dreams. Through this gateway substance all of a sudden all of her worries seemed to be nothing, she could handle anything as long as she was drinking. It came to the point where she couldn't get up in the morning and go to class or her residency without drinking, though she came up with elaborate schemes in order to hide the effects of the alcohol as well as the smell.

She utilized stimulants to keep awake, creating a two fold addiction, as well as masked the scent of alcohol on her breath with various techniques, a few of them shown to her by Ish who also employed the same methods. This shared addiction led to a tighter bond between the two, deepening the addiction on both sides, both functioning alcoholics. One day would shatter this shared illusion at a third year party tossed by students during spring break. Ngaire drank as she usually did, dancing on the dance floor of the club when Ish introduced her to a new stimulant, a new drug on the market that he found out through one of his sources, promising her that this would deliver a punch like nothing else, she wouldn't even want sleep on this pill. What neither of them knew was that Ngaires already fragile stomach and liver, worsened by the years of drinking and pills, wouldn't respond particularly well. It also didn't help that Ishmae body would metabolize the pill differently than a Humans, leading both the physical issues and the biology of the Human race to bring Ngaires reality to a crushing halt. One moment she was dancing and conversing when everything seemed to melt together- images, sounds, until she found herself waking up in a hospital room surrounded by the very residents she worked with and spent time with, relief mixed with uncertainty as they looked down upon her.

.......

"At this point I knew I was in deep shit. I mean, deep, deep shit. I was informed that my residency had been terminated and that I was done with Starfleet. I mean done. One of my best friends, Lacy, told me that I had nearly died and that given the state of my body it was a wonder I hadn't. And you know the disgusting thing? I wanted one two things in that moment; Ish to be there and a drink. That's what usually made everything better. Made everything bad go away. But I later found out that Ishmae decided that I was no longer the girl for him and ended up abandoning me for some Andorian woman that had been after him for a while, it just hit me like a bulkhead toppling off a ship. I didn't know what to do without him, I didn't even really know who I was without him. All I had was this addiction to alcohol and stimulants and I couldn't even fall back on that. My body had been rotting from the inside out and my parents were absolutely embarrassed and it was only due to my mother than they didn't completely disown me. I was an embarrassment to my family." Ngaire looks up at the Starfleet counselor who nods his head slowly, gesturing for her to continue, "That's it, I don't know what you guys want me to tell you. I made mistakes, I've been fixing them for the last year and a half. I've ...I've fucking gone into rehab for fuck sakes- I've--" Her slender hands gesture as her handsome face contorts into a deep frown, "--I've done everything you've asked me to. I haven't touched a drink in a year now, a whole year, I've attended meetings, my family has come- well. Not my father but he's busy with work-" It's evident as she shifts in her seat that there's discomfort in her form, arms crossing against her chest defensively as she squares a defiant gaze on the counselor who tongues the inside of his cheek a moment before leaning forwards, knees supporting his elbows as he meets her gaze calmly, "Ngaire, Starfleet has rules and regulations that everyone has to follow, do you understand? You violated these rules and not only put yourself in danger but the patients you were working with." Ngaire scoffs, turning her head away sharply, "You don't think I know that, sir? I know that, I fucking know that. It- I know it." Fingers clench into the flesh of her bare arm, the woman wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. Gently then the man continues, "I know you know it but you're going to have to prove to Starfleet you know it. I've discussed it with the board and we've come to a compromise. You have a year left of your degree before you can enter into Starfleet Medical Academy. You will be required to complete this year on Beta Aquilae II where you will be under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Hanoi who will continue to ensure that you remain clean. She has offered to be your mentor during this time, after you complete the year, dependent upon your progress and grades, you will be allowed to apply to Starfleet Medical Academy. However you will be routinely tested for substance abuse and you have -one- slip, Cadet---" At this point the counselor sits up, his hands sweeping back onto his thighs as he shakes his head, "--That's it, you will be barred from re-applying to Starfleet Academy. We value you as a member of Starfleet, but our first concern is to keep you, and your patients, safe. And if that means denying you the ability to practice with us, then so be it." Ngaire swallowed, and she swallowed hard, venturing a look back towards the man as she considered these terms.

........

They were generous, she knew it. They should have denied her outright, she had been drinking while treating patients, had taken stupid risks. Little did she know that this very psychologist provided the saving grace; it was in Lieutenant Desmonds opinion that she could recover from this and excel in her studies and her career if given a second chance. Due to childhood pressures that continued into adult hood he felt that if adequate supports could be found for her, mentors and otherwise, that she would thrive. She just needed people to be there for her in a healthy environment that could model for her and keep her on the right track. Under the guidance and eventual friendship of Lieutenant Jeysica Hanoi, Ngaire found herself back on the right track, and for the first time ever enjoying her job in the medical profession. She successfully finished her last year at SFA and applied for and was accepted into SFMA. She kept her friendship with Jeysica and kept herself from engaging in relationships that would delve further than a simple friendship, intent on keeping herself clean and sober. Three and a half years after beginning at SFMA she was nearing the end of her time with them before she'd become an official medical doctor. Having done her residencies on a few ships it would be time for her final assignment before entering the officer ranks and being assigned to a ship full time.

........

"So how do you feel?" Lieutenant Hanoi sat across from Ngaire, wry smile touching her lips as she cocked her head, studying the woman before her. Ngaire let a soft breath of air escape her lips in a soft sigh, head shaking slowly as her eyes cast down to the mug of tea in front of her, a fingernail dragging around the outer rim lightly as she replied, "Is it against regulation to say I'm a bit apprehensive?" She grinned despite an attempt to do otherwise, shaking her head as she watched Jesyica lean back and allow her head to fall back as she laughed, "Oh come on, you won't be around to catch me if I fall, Jesy, it's scary, I'm almost afraid all of my successes have only been because of you-" Her voice ended that sentence in an almost wistful way, lips pulling to the side defensively as she watched Jesy sit up properly now, face full of laughter soon melting away into seriousness. And silence. Wretched silence that caused Ngaire to squirm in her seat uncomfortably, ankles crossing beneath her, left foot tapping against the right as her eyes dropped right back down to her tea. "Listen. Airy. And look at me. Come on. I'm serious, look at me." Those entreating words came out with authority, telling Ngaire she really didn't have a choice, dark eyes venturing upwards to settle on the features of her friend. Really, her gatekeeper, "You did this. I didn't make you do anything. You made a choice. I was simply there to support you. Guide you. And be that person you could talk to when you felt yourself slipping. And you haven't. You've one final chapter of your time with Starfleet Medical Academy, don't use this as an excuse to throw it all away." Was Ngaire trying to use this as an excuse to fail? Was she afraid to succeed? "I- yeesh. I know. I know. I'm not, I'm not." An errant hand waved at Jesyica, Ngaire shaking her head as she mustered an impish smile, head tossed back to send dark locks flying as if she had never considered the possibility to fail, "I'm just saying. It's a fear. I'm allowed to have fears, right? You told me that was healthy, as long as I didn't allow my fears to conquer me. And I haven't, right? Right. It's okay. Maybe I'm just worried about where my final residency will be." The smile that Jesyica parted made Ngaires' neck hairs perk up and shiver along her spine, a wickedly lilted sort of smile offered towards the cadet, "Oh, we've found just the ship for you, Airy. It's where I'm hoping you'll eventually be posted should you wish it." That well manicured nail lofted and pointed at Ngaire made her smile uncomfortably, "Oh yeah?" "Oh yes."

........

Ngaire found herself back on Earth, and engaging in a surprisingly good reunion with her family. She had kept in contact with her family to let them know of her progress though she hadn't seen them in eight years, nervous knots having eaten away at her stomach, bringing back familiar issues that she was thankfully able to medicate before arriving at her parents house. They expressed joy at seeing her and she was in awe at how nothing had changed at all. Her siblings were in various stages of their own careers and only Jaxson was there, a handsome teenager with his mothers eyes and fathers strong jaw. It was awkward at first this meeting, though eventually they fell into comfortable conversation as dinner was served and the night went on. It was almost like she had never left home, save for the constant nagging and pressure that was oddly absent-- it made her feel good. She could tell her parents were proud of her, and they didn't feel the need to drill it into her head that she had to do anything. Even though she was following an old dream of her family it was her dream now, her life, and she had set the terms for it. And they seemed proud of that. She left in the early hours for San Francisco to ready herself for her next post, terror and excitement broiling in her belly. This was it. The final chapter.

........ The real story. ........

Doesn't this all seem a little too good to be true? Starfleet accepting her even after she defied some very basic rules, and very important ones at that. People working together to get this very average cadet through the hoops and ensure she was successful in the rest of her time in the Academy? Ngaire Sienna Guimaraes. Formerly known as Nysra Tolmak. Dalin Tolmak to be more precise. Medical expert who specialized in reconstructive surgery and who's husband was Legate Tolmak, daughter Ily Tolmak. Husband an alcoholic womanizing diplomat, and their daughter just a baby, new and fresh to the world.

Everything Nysra knew about the Humans was in her husbands dealings with them and in her Empires dealings. Nysra hates Humans. Hates them with a passion. Or she did. Now they are her saviours, the ones enabling her to live life despite her husband sending people after her to kill her. One of her best friends is a Human, though he wasn't the only one who played a part in the cover up of her identity all through Starfleet. Many people, including her purported family, played within the coverup. Her psychologists, Jesyica, Paul Rudd, other ranking members.

All sympathizers with the new CU rebellion that continues to grow, and hoping to set up alliances with key figures within Starfleet and the UFP government. To strengthen their case against their nearly dissolved government, and other times just to provide safe haven for refugees that have no where else to go. Nysra had to leave the CU once it became evident that the direction the government was going in their alliance with the Klingons did not align with her vision and her hopes for the CU. When her husband took up with a Klingon woman as a mistress that was pretty much the end of it for Nysra who also found it distasteful that her husband no longer petitioned for the interests of Cardassia, instead he pandered to the Klingons. Got fat. Lost his way. Lost his vision. Lost his very soul as far as she was concerned. Her plan was to leave her husband, a thing unheard of within Cardassia, and align herself with another household that was sympathetic to her plight, as disgusted as she was with her husbands taking up with a Klingon woman and the lost ways of Cardassia.

Unfortunately loose lips sink ships and her husband was onto Nysra before she had even realized she was planning anything. Nemoris was crafty and not an idiot, for all his ways now. He knew the Klingons provided a strong ally, especially with the latest events that had started across the universe, and was hungry for the power they would provide him within their government. He had truly lost his way, but he was not interested in losing his family. When Nysra was preparing to leave she went to Ilys' room to pack up the child and prepare her for transport with her to the household and found the child with Nemoris who slowly and gently rocked the child in the chair near her bed, man looking up from beneath hooded brow to stare with unbridled hatred towards his wife. Yes he knew.

She left alone that night. Without child. Without husband. And started off on a perilous journey outward from Cardassian Union, traveling from house hold to house hold. She wondered why her husband had let her off so easily- allowed her to leave. Well. That's because he enjoyed a good hunt. And the hunt took her everywhere until finally she had to leave on a traders ship after months of treatment to genetically alter her. Become a Bajoran she was told, they had done many of those changes and they were easy, and the Cardassians knew of their history and ways.

But no. Her husband and the rest of the Cardassians hunting her would know if she altered to become a Bajoran. They'd be expecting it. So she underwent procedures to change everything, including the structure of her face to something unassuming. She didn't want to be overly attractive by Human standards. She wanted to blend in. Be ordinary. In everything, so nothing would stand out- no one would inquire into her past and try to fix things or try to place her.

A pain staking process that took more than half a year to fulfill and required extensive tutoring on human culture, and human ways. She eventually decided that it would be easier not to form many close relationships and remain as private as possible, which required a background that would back that up. With the help of sympathizers to the movement she was a part of, Nysra eventually adopted the name Ngaire Sienna Guimaraes and became a Kiwi-Latino, though her speech by no means matched her ethnic background, too formal at times, delivered too quickly as tongue wrapped about the language and her worry of being found out overrode any common sense to slow down.

Eventually it worked in her favor and on that trading ship the now Ngaire was on her way to Earth and managed to get papers to enter her into her last year of SFMA where she was entered in as a transfer from the Academy on Earth to Beta Aquilae II where no questions would be asked, especially given the background they crafted, and the hours of 'sessions' they holodecked with the psychologists and friends, as well as personal logs. Everything set in place to be as tight as possible.

With all her quirks she eventually came to her assignment with the USS Dauntless where her jabbery and introverted ways quickly won her fellow crew mates over, cementing her within their ranks and ensuring she became one of the 'go to' people. Despite her intentions on having ordinary medical skills she could not stop herself from practicing her ordinary standards, finding a new standard for herself within neurobiology and focusing on that as her speciality instead of reconstructive surgery. Both required a steady hand and quick mind and so when Paul Rudd, yet another sympathizer and contact within Starfleet, offered to take her under his wing on the crew she readily accepted. Though they did not get along at first she has found him to be her strongest ally, and the one person who always treats her for every injury, every checkup. When she bleeds it's no issue, but invasive surgery would show her anatomy to be different, and though the missing molar isn't too much of an issue. But a smart surgeon, smart doctor regardless, would see through that in a minute, which is also why Paul is the only doctor who treats her.

It's exhausting this facade, though she strives each day to come to grips with it. It's been a few years now since she's been playing as Human and she's got most of it down pat. But she's growing weary of having only a few close friends, and all of those being out of necessity. Friendships with people like Valow, Braun, all have to be kept at bay as much as is possible without becoming suspicious, and having people like Larsen questioning her with such ferocity about why she doesn't do more with the crew in off-time is exhausting.

It's as if she's lost a sense of who she is, or was, and she's this empty vessel floating about. She had hope when they came up against the Klingons and the Cardassian that freed them was part of the group that would rise up against the Klingons and claim Cardassia back for her peoples. But no. He was merely there to set them free but the look he gave her, it was so intense. So intentional. He had to have known who she was. Sensed at the very least who she was. Or it was her very imagination hoping for it to be so. To hear over the years of Cardassian being completely taken over- to hear through various channels that her husband was still out looking for her, suspecting as she thought that she may be under guise as a Bajoran makes her even more on edge. She's nearing a point now of breakdown. Trying to use her training, years, from childhood, of being able to withstand any stressful situation is the only thing keeping her going- and her cold bouts of emotion to the other crew seems at times to be a snap-back to the past, keeping her sane when she's able to slip into normal behaviour in official moments and being able to say it's due to stress, or 'that time of the month' for Human women.

There are so many reminders of who she used to be in various environments. Avrak and Nalah's child that she couldn't bear to hold because it reminded her of her own child she was forced to leave behind. The womanizing Larsen with his alcoholic tendencies that has Nysra so on edge around him and fostering an almost hateful attitude towards him- though she has tempered that down so as not to arouse suspicion nor have him toss her into the brig. In the botanical gardens, the heat so humid and suffocating that she avoids the place because she'd likely never leave there if given the choice, place reminding her of her garden back home on Cardassia on the Tolmak estate. Reminders of her rank and prestige that she used to hold on Cardassia, in particular with her feuding with the Romulans, one ...Admiral was it ...she can't be bothered to recall, but the idiot had enough gall to try her patience and she rose up. She would have had his finger, too, if he had given her the chance, worn it about her neck in a taunting gesture for him. All dried and painted in paisley pink. Of course she tried to make it seem as if she was meek but that facade could only go on for so long before patience was literally lost and she got into all fire and brimstone. A potentially deadly mistake that she could have miscalculated as the Romulan saw her as a Human. Not a Cardassian. Apparently it's more embarrassing to be seen with a Human than she would have guessed before. A definite boon to her whole coverup.

What was the point of this elaborate ruse? To not die before her time. To keep her alive for a possible uprising so that she too could take part in it. To not be useless and hide away in caves in cold climes that would leave her feeling weak and a waste of flesh. But why Starfleet? The place her husband wouldn't dare look. Wouldn't think of her joining as she hates Humans so much. Hated. And so blindly, for no real reason other than they were an object of annoyance. And their smell ...unsavory. But it was the safest place for her to be, with the masses of Starfleet officers all around to protect her and blend her in. Plus, unlike other Cardassians who chose to undergo genetic alteration, she opted for a completely different look, different bone structure- different everything, so as to become an entirely different person in the eyes of everyone around her.

Was it worth it now? She doesn't know. Likely she'd be dead if she stayed back in the Cardassian Union- well. With the KE now as it were. Could she live her life forever as a Human? Perhaps. But then things would happen that would give her away. If she dared to allow herself to fall in love, date- things would happen. If she chose to have a child again she'd have to alter it considerably and work with the medical staff she could trust to cover it up. It wasn't worth all the hassle. All of these lies made up about who she was that she couldn't be bothered to follow half the time. She wasn't an alcoholic, in fact she could handle her orassa current back in the day quite fine. How she misses it in fact.

Her hatred for Andorians because of a previous love in the academy- fabrication beyond belief. She doesn't' care for the antennae blue sacks but they were interesting to spar with when the opportunity arose. Everything else about her traits however fits her. She is two personalities living in one body, constantly in flux with each other. She can be strong headed and wise, and other times having to force herself to be meek and naive. She never wanted to be a diplomat but thought it would be a fun twist to toss in, and other tidbits that made no real sense to her but she was told would broaden the depth of this new persona she was taken over. The story about Jerry was real however, aside from the bit about it being on a visit to her parents. She simply went to earth to indulge in some study with the culture of Humans and found her in her luggage on her way back. At least she was the same age of the character she was purporting to be.

New chapter? Yes. Would it be her last? Perhaps. Being a refugee without outright claiming that status makes things unpredictable for her. Where will she go? Will she ever return home? Who knows. It's unlikely. For now this is her life. And she's making as good of a try out of it as she can in the hope it leads somewhere good.