Thau'Shir Mrkath

Personnel File: Thau'Shir Shirauth Mrkath

First Name: Thau'Shir

Second Name: Shirauth

Clan/Family Name: Mrkath

Age: 30 (Terran Standard Years)

Gender: Male

Species: Caitian

Height: 1.63 meters (5 feet 4 inches)

Weight: 58 kilograms (128 pounds)

Coloring: Charcoal fur with black spots

Hair: Black mane, usually tied back in a tail

Eye Color: Silver

Position: Chief of the Aerospace Group (CAG)

Posting: USS Commanche Creek NCC-214

Rank: Lieutenant

Summary:

Thau'Shir is a very rare Cait, a member of the Mrkath Clan (that amongst Cait and all colonies only numbers in the hundreds). While most Caits are among one of two major physical types, analguous to panthers and lions on Earth, there are smaller groups: including some with tiger-like appearance (possibly due to Kzinti gene influence though that is speculative), others have spotted, leopard-like fur, and occasionally a cougar-like Cait will be encountered. The rarest group of all belong to the Mrkath, whose members are almost entirely black furred. The increasing rarity of this physical type however has forced the Mrkath to breed outside of these lines over the last century, causing more mixed-appearance members of the Clan.

Born of one of these shaon-mritt (translates to acceptably impure) matings, Thau'Shir is not a pure black furred Cait, however his fur is still quite dark. His name actually speaks to his, as Thau'Shir means "charcoal" in Caitian. With black spots, inherited from his leopard type mother, just noticeable amongst very dark gray fur inherited from his true black panther father, he is actually thought to be quite striking even amongst the more purist of the Mrkath.

His eye color is also a rarity amongst Caits, who usually sport the more standard green, gold or blue. A very light gray, adding in the reflective qualities inherent in the felinoid eye, his appear almost to be a metallic silver or platinum. Again his name describes this, as "Shirauth" is an archaic Caitian word for platinum.

Early on it was apparent to his parents and the clan leaders that Thau'Shir would be a very intelligent, able Cait. Groomed from an early age to take a position of authority within the clan, he received the finest education possible for a young Cait. However he always preferred to be behind the controls of something fast than sitting in a classroom, and he received more than one speeding ticket as he zoomed around the Mrkath lands.

Rather than proceed in his expected role he instead chose to join Starfleet, a decision based primarily on the free training and access to the best ships in the Federation. His feline reflexes and youthful experience with small craft were an asset to his training, though his general attitude (quite aloof at the best of times and acerbic at others) seldom won him any favors, or friends. His grades were only moderate, indeed in areas of History and the basic sciences he barely passed (not because he wasn't capable but only because he spent every available moment in flight training rather than studying). His flying ability was never questioned however, and he was eagerly snapped up by the CAG of the Odyssey.

His Starfleet training had worked one major change, he was no longer the "hot-shot" flier of his youth. When in the seat he was a consummate professional, and more than once when his fellow flyers did something unwise in formation he would beat the CAG or squad leader to them for a dressing down. This did not go unnoticed, though again the competitive nature of the flight groups occasionally caused friction due to concerns he was "overstepping his bounds." Eventually promoted to a squad leader position, the qualities imbued during his youth for clan leadership came to the fore and he excelled in his new role.

Tapped to be the CAG of the USS Comanche Creek, Thau'Shir has spent his available leave back at home on Cait before preparing to join the launch of the new Kelvin Class vessel.