The Commander. Raised in a conservatory on Trident by two premier scientists, Dan Hyun studied all her life to qualify for the most advanced Alliance research program available to human kind. She couldn't have guessed the attack on Akuze would change her life by forcing her on a path that would have her become a saviour to all that she had ever known in the Milky Way Galaxy.
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The Pathfinder. The sweet seas of Earth were difficult to bid farwell to, and her Father Alec, even harder. Her family destabalized and the prospect of their survival slipping away, Cahya had to rise to responsibility in a way she had never expected to. The Initiative needed a leader and Cahya needed to be one. It was her against the galaxy, and she wasn't giving up without a fight.
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The Pathfinder. Born in Seattle Washington, Winnie came out of the womb rearing to prove herself. The Singaporean Institute of Technology was no match for Winnie's tenacity, and her excellence in chemistry brought her an offer from the Alliance. After a few years touring as a recon specialist, she joined her Uncle Alec's recon team, and followed him past disgrace into the arms of Andromeda.
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I will not fall, you will not fall, none of us will fall. Do you hear me?
They make me out like I'm the only thing standing between the Reapers and our annihilation. I should be scared, right? No. They don't see the rest of you. There is no Commander Shepard. There is only our army.
Born Amongst The Stars
In 2151, humanity was exploding with interest over space colonization—corporations and governments had begun to vye for power underneath the Systems Alliance, which offered plenty of high-paying positions to the cream of humanity’s workforce. One of these talented individuals was Dr. Hannah Lin Shepard. A ranked Alliance Scientist, she had been an Operational Overseer for Freedom Forward, an Alliance program promising to dedicate resources to support agricultural development in space. At the time, Mars was the closest planet available for experimental habitation in preparation for the demand of human colonies. Thus, Alliance funded programs worked tirelessly in collaboration with private entities to develop sustainable, yet, high quality produce.
Hannah was married to her work in the best way. Her husband, Do Yoon, actually worked in the genetic modification lab on Mars. They had enjoyed ten years of partnership when, to their surprise, Hannah fell pregnant with a baby girl.
While on board a trade vessel carrying rare flora, Hannah went unexpectedly into labor, three days before she had been estimated to be due.
On that day, on the floor of the S.S Prodigy’s cargo bay, Dan Hyun was born. As one of the special few members of the “Space Age Generation,” news of her birth spread quickly through the Alliance comms, with rumors that Dr. Hannah, a renowned scientist, would soon be on the hunt for a more secure, reliable position where she could raise her beloved daughter.
A Martian Childhood
It appeared rumors were just rumors, though. Hannah maintained her career as Operational Overseer, allowing Dan Hyun to live with Do Yoon on the tiny base on Mars.
For the next six years, Dan Hyun would experience facility life in harsh conditions. Storms were common, as were extreme temperatures and food limitations. Though the Mars facility was advanced, humanity’s technological renaissance was just getting underway. As such, Dan Hyun spent most of her days entertaining herself by shadowing the handful of scientists who called this research lab home.
With such weak extranet communication due to poor weather, Dan Hyun found greater pleasure in learning, her parents hiring a beloved tutor, Olivia Chadwick, to homeschool her while they attended to their own work.
Due to the nature of her surroundings, Dan Hyun showed a profound interest in biology based experiments, growing random sprouts and performing tests on their ability— much like the staff around her. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that she would one day become a scientist of her own renown.
Running from First Contact
Dan Hyun was six when the First Contact War broke. The fighting began at relay 314 and steadily encroached towards the Sol system, a fact of proximity that would cause Do Yoon to evacuate Mars with his child and attempt to reunite with Dr. Hannah, who had been touring Pluto at the time.
Their failure to reconnect and subsequent short time guarded by Alliance Peace Keepers prompted Dr. Hannah to consider what those rumors had suggested long ago. Her job had kept her away from her family, her quality time with Dan Hyun limited, and she worried she would miss her daughter’s life if she could not find a way to be present. On top of this, the First Contact War struck fear into her and her husband’s hearts. The galaxy was a growing, dangerous place. They would need to find a safe haven amongst the stars to raise their child.
Just six months after the end of the war, Hannah was approached for an experimental Head of Operations role by Alliance officials. High paying, with numerous benefits, and the opportunity to move her family to a brand new facility developed with alien technology to be the first of its kind. It was an undeniable chance to achieve everything she could have wanted.
Grown in a Conservatory
The Sentinel Agricultural Research Facility (founded 2157) stood as a shining symbol for humanity’s advancement as a recognized Council Race. As the first-ever galactic hub for the endless flora and fauna varieties that would support their colonies, S.A.R.F made waves with its location in Asari space. It was only the beginnings of what would be humanity’s migration into the Hoplos System.
The move was nerve-wracking for a young Dan Hyun. First Contact had seen the loss of her concept of home, only to be followed by the prospect of moving to a completely different world.
It turned out she had nothing to be worried about.
As a research base, S.A.R.F shared many qualities with her original home on Mars. Its rapid growth, in addition, was quickly leading up to a heavenly garden like world within a sparkling glass dome.
The family settled in quickly, Dr. Hannah and Do Yoon appreciating the challenge of the project while enjoying their newfound time as a family.
Dan Hyun’s lessons resumed under a variety of well-respected tutors, and there, at that facility, she bloomed.
Book Smarts, Not Street Smarts
As it was on Mars, her playground was the laboratory, and she frequently conducted tests and attended lectures alongside the 132 present scientists. In general, they were fond of her; reports submitted to Dr. Hannah Lin Shepard mentioned Dan and her ‘helpfulness in the laboratory.’ Cross referencing with S.A.R.F security footage shows Dan filling in equations and aiding lab work, as well as performing minor experiments for her own self-interest. A promising start to her eventual career as a scientist.
Dan Hyun’s spark for research spurred her parents to hire a host of qualified tutors and experts to educate her in xenobiology, allowing her to attain the equivalent of an Earth undergraduate degree in bioengineering by 18 and a P.h.d in the aforementioned field by the age of 23. She had additionally managed to tuck shared credit for two published articles under her belt, most notably her experiments on soil fermentation that resulted in potential terraforming methods for hostile planets, alongside a minor publication about the energy potential of hardy vegetables such as yams.
It was at the age of 23 that she decided to officially join the ranks of the Alliance. After years of seeing aliens passing through S.A.R.F and being unable to leave into the open world for herself (by her parent’s orders), Dan Hyun secretly attended the Alliance recruitment exams located in Seoul, Korea, under the guise of visiting her grandparents. She wiped the floor with her exam scores, so much so that she received a formal, and personal, visit from Captain Anderson.
Her parents were none too pleased that Dan Hyun had gone against their demands, but there was little that could be done. By Earth and Intergalactic standards, Dan Hyun was an adult, and service called. With the aid of Captain Anderson, Dan Hyun Shepard departed S.A.R.F for what would be several years of intensive schooling under the mentorship of the System’s Alliance Research Division (S.A.R.D). Till the age of 25, she resided on the Citadel in order to complete her official training before being assigned to a newly formed human colony with a mission to begin laying the foundation for a research base, now termed ‘Akuze’ in 2177.
Psychological Profile
The attack on Akuze took place the morning of January 17th, 2177. Tremors inside the facility began at 05:00. Email correspondence shows that many, Dan Hyun included, believed the source to be earthquakes caused by the natural shift of tectonic plates, and thus they attempted to return to sleep, despite the shakes continuing in odd intervals. Administration sent out a follow up email at 5:32 as their strength grew with instructions for possible evacuation of the site, dashing hopes that this was more than a simple product of the earth.
Growls began not 7 minutes later, and by then, the thresher maws had emerged, their screeches piercing fear into the souls of every colony member on Akuze. They worked quickly, crumbling the base of the facility and pulling the resulting rubble down into a swirling vortex of death. It functioned as a shrapnel filled sand trap, capturing innocent scientists to be fed on.
The soldiers gave their all to keep the thresher maws back, but they were simply unequipped to take them down. Realizing the futility of the situation, a friend was able to seal Dan Hyun in a soundproof lab, barricading the door against her wishes as he ran off to call the attention of the thresher maws. It was possible he hoped that keeping them apart would increase her chances of survival, which he reportedly deemed more important than his own due to her “brilliant mind.”
The threshers feasted for nearly an hour, Alliance Command holding back troops until the creatures’ disappearances had been confirmed. Scouts searched the wreckage for any possible survivors, though the expectations were grim.
Eventually, a young private came across a room that appeared to be teaming with dark matter. Requesting backup, a team assembled that worked to dislodge the concrete and metal obscuring the source. As the layers peeled back, purple light poured through the cracks, revealing a biotic barrier, with a woman at the center.
Dan Hyun was exposed that day as a biotic, her talents self-concealed to ensure placement into the Alliance’s Research Division, as well as the only survivor on Akuze.
Relationships
Inner Circle: Kasumi Goto, Formerly: Kai Leng, James Vega, Tali'zorah Vas Normandy, Mordin Solus, Thane Krios
Playlists
If you want me to scale this cliff I expect hot coffee at the peak.
I was born January 2nd. I was the first loser in the grand scheme of time.
Nothing beats the adrenaline of combat. The moment your opponents pupils prick and shrivel in their sockets... that's how you know you won. After, you stay up late at night wondering how you live with yourself for loving it.
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Relationships
Inner Circle: Nakmor Drack, Liam Kosta,
Playlists
When life screams in your face, you have to scream louder.
If it's my Dad, tell him I died. If it's Scott, tell him nothing. Let him wonder.
Come sit! I just sliced up some Durian. We can share!
Sea How I Flourish
While the Western World set their sights on space, the nation of Indonesia had one objective in mind: Earth. Cahya was born into the wave of technological and ecologogical prservation sweeping SEA countries that were ravaged by the ongoing battle with climate change. As an infant, she was ferried home on dark matter powered boats. Her first soccer game against her twin brother was played on a buoyed turf field, synthesized from former landfills. She grew used to counting the waves that tilted her floating home, unconcerned with ideas of sheeps on dirt pastures. Cahya loved the sea that had sunken the capital of her world, spending most of her days cliff diving and swimming in the city beneath its waves.
Twin Trouble
Being a part of a twin set meant that Cahya always had a second shadow at her back. You could break Cahya's toes before she'd admit that Satya was anywhere near her better half, but growing up she reveled in the shenanigans she could accomplish with her brother at her side. Being born two seconds first had its perks, and Satya had always been obedient to the chain of command. The twins made themselves reputable for good grades and stunning athletic prowess, with Alec's status as an engineer for the Government of Indonesia greasing any necessary squeaks Cahya might have caused. Between her and Satya, she'd maintained an unrelenting rebellious streak against her stuffy internationally acclaimed professors. This was nothing to the resistance war she fought at home.
You Can't Tell Me What To Do
Alec was a man of order. By that, his family lived by his wants and that would be that. Except for Cahya. When Alec received an offer for research on the Citadel, he knew he couldn't refuse. This was an opportunity to push his scientific achievements to new heights by defining the future of the frontier. He approached his family over dinner one night with the news that they would be moving to the Citadel-- and not to fret, because he'd secured work for them as part of his Contract Negotiations. In just one month's time, Cahya would no longer be a Coast Guard for the Java shoreline. She was to join up with the Alliance Peace Keepers.
Over steaming shu mai, Cahya and Alec entered battle. She argued that the work was stealing him away from their home and family, pointing out his control issues aren't a good reason for her to conform to his expectations. Cahya had spent years rejecting her father's attempts to mentor her in his footsteps as a military scientist, a source of great tension in their relationship. Meanwhile, Satya sided with their father, berating her for her ungratefulness. In the end, Cahya left. She was 18 years old and nothing could stop her from striking out on her own.
Alec had no choice. He moved himself and Satya to the Citadel, Ellen compromising and remaining in Surabaya for Cahya's sake.
Family First
It took a year before Cahya relinquished her side of the war. Family oriented to the core, the separation from her dad and brother cut her deep. In 2177, Ellen and Cahya moved to the Citadel where Cahya enlisted, like her brother, in the Alliance Peacekeepers. Though she was undeniably frustrated about giving up Surabaya, seeing her family reunited was worth it. Even her relationship with Alec seemed to be improving, bit by bit.
Then, a familiar face began to appear, with cool hair and a condescending glare.
Cousin Winnie
In the time that Cahya had
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Act 2
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Act 3
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