Ensign Shira Lal   

Character Information
Name		Shira Lal
Rank		Ensign
Position		Assistant Chief Diplomatic Officer
Gender		Female
Species		Human
Age		26
Physical Appearance
Height		5’ 7”
Weight		120 lbs.
Eye Color		brown
Hair Color		dark brown
Physical Description		Shira is of East Indian descent, with the coloring and the build. She has long, dark brown straight hair that she always wears down, and wide eyes with long dark lashes. All her facial features are proportionate. Although she is slim by some standards, it is not to the point of looking gaunt. When she smiles, her teeth are sparkling white.

Personality & Traits
General Overview
Shira has a very out-going personality, can sometimes be found in the middle of a large crowd, and seems to naturally attract people to her. While she is very out-going, she exudes a calm demeanor, and very rarely will situations or people get the best of her. Lives her life in attune with her cultural heritage. Although quite friendly and enjoys being around people, she does like to spend time alone with a book, or perhaps doing a bit of research. Sometimes she needs to be told to keep quiet because her mouth often runs away before her brain has fully grasped what she is saying. As family is very important because of her culture, it is not unusual for Shira to make friends easily, and considers friends a part of her 'family'.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths: Out-going, talkative, caring, a social butterfly, Weaknesses: Too talkative sometimes, needs to think before she speaks, does not have personal space boundaries and will sometimes invade others without knowing
Ambitions
To someday be a news correspondent for the Federation in general, and specifically for the President.
Hobbies & Interests
Loves cooking and will often have company over for a taste of East Indian cuisine, enjoys the outdoors and physical activities such as rock climbing.
Languages		Federation Standard, Punjabi
Family
Father		Karter Lal(Sr.)
Mother		Taneesha Lal
Brother(s)		Karter Lal(Jr.)
Sister(s)
Spouse		none
Children		none
Other Family		some in R&D at Starfleet Headquarters, sister-in-law, 1 niece

Shira was born into a traditional East Indian family in the year 2361. The youngest of two by ten years, Shira would develop into an exuberant and high-energy child, almost complete opposite of her precocious brother who would give her his attention unconditionally. Despite the age gap, they were close even into adulthood when Shira would leave their small Punjabi town for San Fransisco.

She was taught from an early age to cook, whether it was East Indian cuisine or from another world altogether. She went to elementary, middle, and high school as any other child would though her high-energy often led into hot water but her adept tongue quickly got her out. As a result, Shira only had average marks throughout her school years, and she was never lacking in friends. She diffused heated arguments, usually between her father and her brother and sometimes between friends, known as the peacemaker as well as the popular one.

When she graduated high school, she informed her parents that she was leaving for San Fransisco. A stop-over in New Delhi resulted in an extended stay and a brief romance with a psychologist. Eight months later, having broken off her relationship, she finally arrived in San Fransisco. After working a variety of jobs, she somehow found herself applying to Starfleet. Her application was turned however, but was recommended for a minor position with public relations for the Federation.

After taking the suggestion she should "check it out", she found herself in a meeting with an Ambassador's aide who enjoyed her out-going personality. She traveled around the Alpha and Beta quadrants as part of an Ambassador's entourage. After four years of working for the Ambassador, during a diplomatic meeting on a planet who had just applied to be part of the Federation, terrorists opposed to the meeting bombed the building where it was taking place, killing several people in either party. While the Ambassador worked to resolve the dispute, Shira stepped in to the empty shoes of the aide, who was sadly killed in the resulting explosion, and became the representative that the Federation population saw, and placated everyone involved. She also didn't mind being the focus of attention.

When the Ambassador returned to Starfleet HQ, Shira stayed behind for several months, helping the people and showing the good-will of the Federation. When she felt her work was complete, she returned to San Fransisco and to work but this time, after encouragement from the Ambassador himself, she re-applied to Starfleet at the age of twenty-two, determined that this time she would focus on her studies in order to succeed. She was accepted almost immediately into the Diplomatic corps, due to her experience with the Ambassador. As a senior cadet, she served six months on board the USS Vanguard as part of the ship's diplomatic detachment. She graduated near the top of her class. Now fresh out of the Academy, she applied for a position on another ship, and now waits for a response.

 

Applied to Starfleet at 19, but application was denied.
Worked for Earth's Ambassador for five years as public relations officer
Federation News Correspondent for one year
2387-applied for a media relations position onboard a starship