Valentina Velasco
Private Valentina Velasco is the daughter of White Cell traitor Victor Velasco. A recent academy graduate, she got her first assignment aboard the Reinhardt in Carrionspace, and survived the crash that brought her ship to Avalon.
| Biological | |
| Full name: | Valentina Vehrnice Velasco |
|---|---|
| Born: | April 16, 30 WR (2314 AD) |
| Birthplace: | GSFV Uzu, Gatespace |
| Sex: | Female |
| Race: | Human |
| Hair: | Blonde |
| Eyes: | Green |
| Height: | 5'6" |
| Weight: | 108 lbs. |
| Personal | |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Family/Relationships: | {{{family}}} |
| Religion: | Fionan |
| Title: | Private in SAGA |
| Nicknames: | The Traitor's Daughter |
| Hobbies: | Chess, tennis, fencing, foreign languages |
| Known skills: | SAGA helmsman training, Astrogation |
| Favorite color: | Green |
| Inspiration: | formerly her father, Victor Velasco |
| Motto: | |
History
Valentina was born in space. Her mother, Virginia, discovered she was pregnant shortly before Victor received his first command assignment on the GSFV Uzu with the then-naiscent GSF, and so he received special dispensation to bring her aboard with him. Even back then, Victor was keen to be the "first" at something, and believed that they had the potential to bring about the first child born in space. Sadly, this turned out not to be: the Velascos were beaten out by a Medinan couple who birthed twins en route to the Gate IV colony just a week ahead of Valentina's birth.
Not long after Valentina was born, the Hivan War broke out, and Victor's wife and newborn daughter had to be evacuated from the Uzu as it was called into active service. It was just after the close of the Hivan War that Victor got another chance to be the first to do something.
Val grew up always feeling a kind of cold distance with her father. This crystallized for her in her junior year of high school, when she participated in a Porrean regional fencing championship and came in second place. Instead of congratulating her, Victor just shook his head silently, turned away and said: "Always second best with you, isn't it, Val?"
Val's mother was killed in a car accident not long after she graduated high school. Val knew her mother had always wanted her to stay grounded, settle down and live in the world instead of chasing through the heavens like Victor. But by then her mind had already been made up: she applied to SAGA academy, and graduated early at the top of her class after a grueling three years. Her instructors commented that she handled the challenges before her like she had something to prove, and they were never aware of how right they were.
Victor, already aware that the pieces were in play for his conspirators in White Cell, tried to make sure that his daughter would get an assignment somewhere on a ship that was friendly to his agenda. Unfortunately, Captain Kuorum put in an urgent request for a new helmsman at just the right time, and the younger Velasco got her assignment serving aboard the Reinhardt.
Personal Life
With her mother dead, and her father mostly estranged, Valentina hasn't had much of a personal life to speak of. She never made time for friends while at the academy, as she always put her studies above all other priorities, and the one relationship she's had was in high school (and he won't be calling anytime soon: Val nearly broke his wrist when he tried to move a little faster than she was prepared to). Both Val's mother and father were members of the Church of Fiona, though her mother was more actively practicing than her father was. Val says prayers every night to honor her mother, but beyond that has little time in her life for spirituality.
Special Skills/Abilities
Val is the daughter of a former GSF Captain and current Grand Army General, so she's had access to top-of-the-line self defense training since she was a small girl. Born on a space ship, she's been around the trappings of space travel for her entire life, and may be one of the best capital ship helmsmen to come out of SAGA academy since its founding. She was involved in competitive fencing in high school, and even though her father was unimpressed by her regional second place showing, it's nothing to scoff at.
