Tak

Authored by Riley W

Character Biography

Gender: Agender, uses They/Them

Appearance:
Tak is a small individual with body and facial features that resemble some sort of mix between otter and lemur. They stand four and a half feet tall and possess a long tail with flippers on the end of it. Like all those of their world, they have only four fingers instead of the typical five. Tak has greyish-brown fur, all a solid shade except for a little white on their cheeks, nose, and under their chin. Their fur is thick, with a layer of soft fur hiding under thicker, almost oily fur that is water-proof. Their stance is digitigrade, meaning that they walk on their toes instead of on their heels like humans.
Image of a Pipini

History:
Tak was born in the summer of 2370, in the same way most individuals of their species are born - as part of a pod, a grouping of several individuals who swim the wild seas and live freely amongst themselves. Tak was born in the south Caloric Sea, hundreds of miles from the nearest landmass. They have four mothers and three fathers. They enjoyed their childhood, and at the age of 10 they left their parental pod to move onto the islands, where the real learning began. They were trained in science, history, mathematics, and all the other important things a child is supposed to learn. Tak excelled in science and was soon placed on a fast-track to the GOK Alliance’s version of Starfleet Academy (The Interstellar Alliance Academy for Astronauts, often shortened to the I3A), specializing in biology and biochemistry related fields. They love studying the behaviour and biology of alien animals, and they do their very best to do so ethically. They also spent a lot of time piloting and were nearly assigned as a Pilot to a Living Ship due to their high skill-level, but decided not to pursue that route.
Soon after their graduation from the Academy, They were saddled with a difficult decision. The pod of one of a relative had encountered an accident and most of the members had died, leaving a 2 yr old child without a family. They were the only available foster for the child, so they were asked to take care of it. Tak took on the responsibility with honour despite being much younger than a young Pipini parent usually is, and two years later when a different circumstance left another child without parents, they took on parenthood for them as well. Kota and Paku are beloved members of their family unit now and they wouldn’t change anything.
After several years aboard the IASS (Interstellar Alliance Space Ship) Karpas, Tak was transferred outside of the Interstellar Alliance Fleet and assigned to the Memorial as the first Pipini Starfleet Officer, given a position as Fighter Pilot and Science Officer. Alterations would have to be made to their quarters and their Fighter Vessel to account for their unique anatomy and needs, but they were done in advance of the arrival of Tak and their children.
Tak served aboard the Memorial for 3 years as a combination fighter pilot/science officer. After a close call during a mission served as a wake-up call, Tak requested a transfer to a slightly less risky position. They were given a month of leave to visit home with their children for Kota’s First Hunt Ceremony, after which they were assigned to the Ark Angel as a Science Officer.

Family:
Mothers: Essi, Nuus, Kup, Saan
Fathers: Ku, San, Ko
Siblings: Esan, Nika, Pok
Adopted Offspring: Kota (8, She/Her), Paku (6, He/Him)
Pipini age slightly faster than Humans, so Kota is the equivalent of a 12/13 yo, and Paku is the equivalent of a 9/10 yo.
The children refer to Tak as their Ig’ta, a word which means “parent of unspecified gender,” although Paku often uses “Tata”

Duty Record:
2387 - Enrolled at Interstellar Alliance Academy for Astronauts
2391 - Graduated Space Academy, assigned to IASS Karpas
2394 - Played a key role in saving the Karpas from a solar storm, awarded a Metal of Bravery
2397 - Transferred to from IASS Karpas to USS Memorial
2400 - Transferred from USS Memorial to USS Ark Angel

Medical File and Environmental requirements:
Tak is a semi-aquatic being and requires some environmental adjustments to be made to their quarters. Tak is able to hold their breath for up to 4 hours. Their nostrils close up when they swim, a subconscious process that activates automatically when they dive underwater, and can even activate when they are unconscious.

Tak and their offspring eat a diet mainly consisting of fish, kelp, and shellfish.

The adjusted quarters are partitioned into two sections connected via a simple airlock. One section is the former living/work area and includes a replicator, a work console, a dining table that can be converted into a couch, a simple entertainment system, dressers for a few clothing items, and a fold-away refresher. All aspects of their quarters have been adjusted to be water-resistant or just work underwater. There is a small air-lock near the rear wall that leads into a very different environment. Salt water - run through a filter provided by the Galdori government that keeps it aerated and clean - fills the room halfway to the ceiling. The heat is turned up to a toasty Mediterranean temperature, making the room very humid. There is a sloped floor that provides an area free of the water but still in the humid and warm environment. Several piles of synthetic fur provide a sleeping area for Tak and their children, should they wish to sleep on a solid surface instead of floating on the water.