Starfleet History:
(24)22005.1 - Entered Starfleet Academy
(24)25332.1 - Graduated Starfleet Academy
(24)26022.1 - Entered Senior Officer Training
(24)26115.1 - Completed Senior Officer Training & promoted to Ensign
(24)26115.1 - Assigned to USS AVALON as aCSciO
(24)27187.1 - Promoted to the position of CSciO
(24)27187.1 - Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade
(24)27187.1 - Awarded Commendation Ribbon
(24)28300.1 - Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
(24)28074.1 - Awarded Science Ribbon for exemplary work in the field of Science
(24)29137.1 - Reassigned off USS AVALON
(24)29141.1 - Awarded the Starfleet Cross
(24)29146.1 - Assigned to the USS ANUBIS as Chief Science Officer
(24)29319.1 - Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander
(24)34295.1 - Awarded War of Shadows Ribbon
Personal History:
Maya was born on SHILLIA PRIME, a planet once teeming with life and vibrant civilizations. Her early years were filled with curiosity and wonder, encouraged by her father, Sonah, and her mother, Myla. As the only child of two devoted parents, Maya grew up surrounded by stories of her people’s unique abilities, particularly their gift of cellular transformation—an ancient skill that allowed them to take on the forms of animals. Little did she know that this gift would one day become both her lifeline and a painful reminder of all she had lost.
Tragedy struck when a natural cataclysm of unimaginable scale ravaged SHILLIA PRIME, dooming the planet and its people. Foreseeing the inevitable, Sonah took desperate measures to save his daughter. When a Federation starship arrived to investigate the planet’s growing instability, he insisted that Maya leave with the crew, concealing from her the full magnitude of the impending disaster. In his final days, Sonah taught Maya the fundamentals of cellular transformation, focusing on three native Shillian creatures—forms that he believed would help her survive in the wild. His hopes and plans were cut short, and Maya was whisked away to safety as her world crumbled behind her. She never saw her parents, her people, or her home again.
As the presumed last survivor of her race, Maya struggled with profound loneliness and grief. She spent the next two years on EARTH, immersing herself in study and embracing Starfleet’s ideals of exploration and discovery. Determined to honor her father’s sacrifice, she focused on mastering the abilities he had taught her, despite their limitations. The skill of cellular transformation allowed her to shift into specific animal forms, but it came with significant risks: she could only maintain the transformation for fifteen minutes, and failure to revert to her natural form in time would result in her death. Each transformation left her weak and disoriented, and she inherited the vulnerabilities of the creature she embodied. Still, she persevered, adding two EARTH animals to her limited repertoire—an eagle, for its unmatched vision and freedom of flight, and a cat, for its agility and stealth.
Driven by an unshakable curiosity and a desire to connect with life beyond herself, Maya enrolled in STARFLEET ACADEMY, where she majored in exobiology and xenobiology and minored in archaeology and anthropology. Her studies became her refuge, offering her a sense of purpose and the hope that she might one day uncover the fate of others like her who may have escaped SHILLIA PRIME'S destruction.
Sonah had concentrated his efforts on these creatures in the hopes that these forms would allow his only daughter to better survive in the wilderness, still very strongly believing that he would find a way to save her form the catastrophe that was about to destroy their world.
During her two years on EARTH and the following four years at Starfleet Academy, Maya took the time to study in depth local fauna in order to maybe add them to her short list of transformation possibilities. Because of the amount of time required for her to master a new form, Maya was only able to master the forms of two EARTH creatures.
* An eagle, a majestic creature able to soar amongst the clouds and possessing an acute visual perception.
* A cat, a relatively small, agile and rapid creature, this form has allowed Maya to pass unnoticed through corridors especially when she found herself late to return to her room before curfew.
Maya hopes to one day be able to add an aquatic creature to her list, but before this can be accomplished she would need to conquer one major obstacle that stands in her way. Her own personal terror of the clear liquid that particular creature would require to survive.
Played by: Jessica Solarik
Understanding Maya
Mindset and Personality
Maya is a deeply intellectual and passionate individual who thrives on curiosity and discovery. As the Chief Science Officer aboard the USS ANUBIS, her approach to life and work is rooted in a profound reverence for all branches of science. Maya sees the universe as an intricate tapestry of mysteries waiting to be unraveled, and she approaches each puzzle with meticulous dedication. Her enthusiasm often leads her to hyper-focus on her work, to the point where she may neglect basic needs such as eating or sleeping if a scientific enigma captures her attention. This unyielding devotion to science is both her greatest strength and a recurring challenge for those who care about her well-being.
Maya’s broad expertise spans exobiology, xenobiology, archaeology, and anthropology, but her love for science transcends these specialties. She is equally fascinated by the chemical composition of a nebula, the evolutionary history of an alien species, or the implications of ancient artifacts. Her approach to science is holistic, seeking connections across disciplines that others might overlook.
Quirks and Traits
Wordiness and Explanations:
Maya is known for her verbose nature. When explaining a concept, she provides not only the core idea but also its theoretical background, historical context, and potential implications. While this can be enlightening, it sometimes overwhelms her audience. Colleagues have jokingly referred to this tendency as "verbal diarrhea," a term that embarrasses her but rings true in moments of unchecked enthusiasm.
Focused to a Fault:
When engrossed in a problem, Maya can become oblivious to her surroundings. She might forget to attend a scheduled meeting, neglect to eat, or spend days working tirelessly in her lab. This obsessive focus makes her a brilliant scientist but can strain her relationships with others who struggle to pull her back into the present.
Love for Learning:
Maya genuinely adores learning and discovery. She lights up when discussing scientific theories, no matter how abstract or niche they might be. She’s the type of person who finds joy in explaining the mechanics of a complex process just to share its beauty with others.
Empathy and Connection:
Despite her intellectual nature, Maya is deeply empathetic. Her studies in anthropology and archaeology give her a unique appreciation for cultures and histories, which she respects with a quiet reverence. She’s keenly aware of the loss of her own species and channels that understanding into a profound respect for the diversity of life.
Shapeshifting Abilities
While Maya’s ability to shapeshift into specific animal forms is remarkable, it does not define her as a character. She rarely uses this skill, as she sees it as a tool for extreme situations rather than a feature of her identity. Often, it is her crewmates who remind her of this ability when it could be beneficial, as Maya’s default mode is to rely on her intellect and training. This restraint underscores her belief in solving problems through knowledge and teamwork rather than personal advantage.
The Weight of Being the Last Shillian
Maya is the last known survivor of the Shillian race, hailing from the now-destroyed SHILLIAN PRIME. This is a deeply painful and personal subject for her, one she avoids discussing even with those closest to her. The profound loss of her people is a wound she hides in the deepest regions of her being, burying the grief beneath layers of scientific research and professional responsibility. Her work serves as both a distraction and a coping mechanism, allowing her to focus on the broader universe rather than confront the void left by the destruction of her homeworld. This avoidance adds a poignant undercurrent to her character, showing a vulnerability she rarely allows to surface.