T'Ral

T'Ral was a Vulcan Starfleet officer.

Starfleet Academy
T'Ral entered Starfleet Academy in 2370 as a prospective science officer. A very driven student, even among her high-achieving Academy classmates, she devoted herself to her classes and related activities and set her sights on valedictorian early on. In addition to her academic studies, T'Ral participated in the annual Academy marathon on two occasions, practiced various alien martial arts, and played occasional games of football (soccer) with a group of fellow cadets. Though mindful that her classmates were her future colleagues, T'Ral felt inept at interacting socially, and only partially due to the differences of her species. She also struggled with a rather unseemly competitive streak; it remained mostly in check until her senior year.

At the beginning of her fourth year in 2373, the race of the top of the class of 2374 began to intensify. The most likely prospects, T'Ral among them, were emerging and many were tense as they struggled to better their chances. As the term wore on, the candidates became even clearer and still T'Ral found herself with favorable chances. Another frontrunner was a nineteen-year-old Bajoran cadet named Lijaro. Somewhat of a prodigy, he had entered the Academy at age fifteen alongside T'Ral. As they had different professional interests, they had shared few classes, but occasionally they crossed paths. T'Ral and Lijaro were closely matched, and with each successive encounter hostilities increased. The feud continued on until the end of the academic year when Lijaro narrowly bested her and became valedictorian. T'Ral earned the position of salutatorian, which might have been satisfactory to a younger self, but was not enough any longer.

The two were no longer on speaking terms by commencement, and neither could bring themselves to congratulate the other. They parted ways following the ceremony and would not see each other again for two years.

Before and During the Dominion War
Following graduation, Ensign T'Ral was assigned to the Intrepid-class USS Franklin as Assistant Chief Science Officer. However, it wasn't long before the tensions between the Federation and figures in the Gamma Quadrant intensified and full-blown hostilities began.

Nearly as quickly as their mission had begun, T'Ral and the Franklin were forced to abandon their previously almost purely scientific activities and join with the rest of Starfleet to work to defend the Federation. The Franklin served on the front lines in several battles and managed to survive the war, although not without casualties and significant damage.

After the War
Like many ships that underwent repairs and refits following the end of the war, there were significant personnel changes aboard the Franklin. Several crewmembers, including T'Ral, were reassigned. In early 2376, she received orders to join the USS Pioneer as their new Chief Science Officer. The Pioneer had recently faced their own round of crew shake-ups, and another new assignment, arriving shortly before T'Ral, was a Bajoran ensign called Lijaro Nabam.