"A kiss? I do not know how to give one..."


Part II of III: "Starcrossed"

Diffident, spirited, and enthusiastic, Alpha Centauri-native Terran Ensign Ling Mei (played by Mei-Lien) is the Flight Control Officer aboard the USS Titus. Born aboard a cargo starship halfway between a run from Draylax and Teneebia, she was primarily raised on her family's twin long-range cargo frigates, the Emperor and the Empress, where she visited many worlds, studied versatile cultures and languages, and was scarcely ever in one place for any lengthy period. Much of her early education was either home-schooled or self-taught; she became a talented, savvy pilot, able to fly nearly any make or model, from shuttles to starships. However, her family remained an authoritarian shadow that reigned over her every action — of where to go, what to do, what to eat, what to listen to, how to dress, how to act, what to feel, what to think, without an opinion to her own. And under the strain of verbal, psychological abuse, she was compelled to downplay her true self out of respect (and fear).

A nomadic life granted her perpetual loneliness, no friends, and little freedom; Ling Mei was drawn to "high flying" life in Starfleet, but her parents enrolled, autocratically, her in Memory Alpha's prestigious, but sequestered, Tarcher College. After years of repression, Ling rebelliously left the mundane life of Tarcher for Starfleet Academy at Epsilon Indi, causing a bitter rift between her and her family that kept them from speaking to one another thereafter. Showing an impressive aptitude for command, tactics, and (of course) conn, she caught the attention of Nova Squad, a newly formed, elite, by-invitation-only group of cadets, and subsequently joined. At the end of her third year, Ling and five other cadets were sent to Vulcan to obverse tests of an ablative armour prototype and were thrust into Romulan espionage to steal the device, yet through quick action on their parts, the cadets were able to foil the plot; they were awarded citations for their bravery and initiative by childhood hero, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of the Galaxy-class USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D).

Graduated salutatorian of her class, as she missed one question on the final examination, Ling was offered the choice of any job in the fleet. As a cadet cruise, she joined the Nebula-class USS Endeavour (NCC-71805), during their exploration of the Delta Columbia regions, whose anomalies were a proving ground for her piloting skills. Rising to the rank of ensign first-class, Ling received a request for a prolonged assignment at the Beta Antares Shipyards and, to her surprise, she was chosen to be trained as flight controller of the experimental Multi-Vector-class USS Titus (NX-74910).

Her quiet, unassuming, and soft-spoken exterior hides a bright, adventurous, gregarious personality, with a pleasant, insouciant manner and a quirky, impish sense of humour. Unusually self-conscious and suspicious when people compliment her, Ensign Ling is habitually imprisoned by low esteem, believing herself to be unremarkable, unbeautiful, awkward, and laughable. But it was the meeting with the blue-skinned First Officer/Tactical Officer of the Andorian Imperial Guard, Subcommander Tholon, of the warship Hravishran, whom tells her that she is more extraordinary than she cares to admit. Their flirtations grew stronger and drew them closer. However, the path of true love does not always run smoothly, as Tholon mournfully confesses to her that he must return to Andoria to undergo the sheltherth, his arranged marriage of four individuals required in procreation. Andorians mating bondgroups were arranged at a young age in preparation for the shelthreth and the conception of a child; the species is divided into four distinct genders — chans, thaans, zhens, and shens — chans and thaans are roughly comparable in reproductive function and appearance to male, while the latter two are roughly comparable to female. Due to their uniquely composed quadisexuality, for along time this was the source of a population crisis for the Andorian as they struggled to maintain replacement rates for the species. It is the duty of every Andorian to fulfil the shelthreth! The two share their first (and perhaps last) kiss.

(Ooooh, I'm a sucker for unrequited love! I'm terrible, I know! Note, an Andorian "kiss" involves the touching and caressing of the antennae, but since she lacks those, they'll have to make do with this, lip to lip, awww! This is a little 3-part roller-coaster of the romance between Ensign Ling and Subcommander Tholon. The prequel can be found in "Confession".

Yes, I changed Tholon's haircut to something more "badass," so my Andorians don't all look the same. )

Models - Zhou Xun | Costume - Starfleet Duty | Models - David McCallum, Steven Dennis | Alien Models - Andorian | Costume - Andorian Military

Medium - B graphite.

Ensign Ling Mei/Mei-Lien © Diane N. Tran.
Subcommander Tholon © Diane N. Tran.
Based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry.