2360: Guard to Lord Sylaen Ervae

2365: Second-in-command of the Guilsa section of Lord Sylaen Ervae's Army

2368: Commander of the Guilsa section of Lord Sylaen Ervae's Army

2373: One of ten Generals of Lord Sylaen Ervae's Army

Airaul was born as the fifth child to a doctor and teacher in the capital city of Weovna , located in one of the larger Southern Islands of Aubis. He had a basic but comfortable upbringing, submerged into the artistic culture of the Islands rather than concentrating on the war that raged on between the two Empires neighbouring them... after all, the Southern Islands were neutral in the war that had been fought for over 150 years, why should they be dragged down by it too?

As the youngest child, he was given as a gift to the Weovna Temple when he was 10, where he would be trained for the service of the Temple and the gods, eventually to become one of many priests that served there in their honour. It was a tradition that had lasted centuries, and so he accepted it as easily as if he just had to go to school. The education and training was rigorous for a boy...it meant studying the ancient scriptures that told of the gods, learning about their history, as well as the other lessons of maths and the sciences and arts... along side prayers taken four times a day, rituals on special days of the year and once every four months, and learning to care for both the up keep of the temple and the sick, homeless and people in danger who sought shelter and food there.

At the age of 14, Airaul took the first initiation ritual on the way to becoming a priest. He did it proudly and eagerly, as not all of those offered up to be priests or priestesses made it through the training to the first initiation, and he was certain that serving the gods and the Weovna Temple was what he wanted to do with his life. However, it was only a year later that a young man the same age as him arrived to seek sanctuary at the Temple . He took him up to one of the rooms, brought him food and drink and a set of new clothes, but instead of being dismissed as was usual, the young man asked Airaul to stay with him to keep him company. Airaul agreed, and sat at his bedside the entire night, listening to his story and comforting when he started to cry...his name was Sylaen Ervae, and he told him how his younger brother had been killed by a man, and that he had fled his home in the north-west Empire of Malania to escape him.

It was only the next day when speaking to one of the priests did he find out that Sylaen Ervae was in fact the rightful heir to the Throne of the Malanian Empire, and the man who had tried to kill him was a powerful politician and Lord who had taken the throne for himself, against all laws dictating otherwise, and the general belief that the royal line that inherited the title of Revalis and the throne of the Empire were in fact partially divine themselves... believed to be almost demi-gods and so invested with the right to rule. Airaul was horrified at the prospect of any person betraying that sanctity of god given right to rule and quickly befriended Sylaen, lending him what comfort and support he could as a friend.

Sylaen and Airaul grew a close and firm bond and became almost inseparable. It was this loyalty and friendship between them that prompted Airaul's decision to leave his life in the service of the Temple on the eve of his second initiation and to train as a soldier to serve Sylaen instead. He was trained for several months in the use of energy weapons, and close combat blade choices and upon completion of his training, he served as a personal guard to him.

It was at the age of 20 that Sylaen who many still called the true Revalis, sufficiently grown and trained in the art of fighting and tactics himself, and with the support of many officers, nobles and soldiers who had left Malania to remain loyal to him, decided to raise his own army and reclaim his Empire. It was then, on the request of Sylaen, that Airaul took his officer's training, the young Revalis determined that his closest friend would serve as a good officer for him in the upcoming campaign, something that he would need a lot off. The first few months were spent securing and uniting the Southern Islands as a single state...as Sylaen's state. He was quickly known as the ‘Revalis' by the people of the Southern Islands, which were swiftly renamed the Sylaen Islands, and he had a large fortress built in the city of Weovna to serve as his own base. Without hesitation or dilemma, Sylaen launched into the civil war that had been raging between the Ilik and Malanian Empires for near on 160 years, bringing a third, newly united Empire into the fight for the power of Aubis.

Airaul served his first three years immediately as a second-in-command to the Guilsa Section of the army, a Section that was injected fairly quickly into the thickest ground fighting. They were a specialist section, all soldiers and officers trained to a high standard in the art of shooting from long distance with energy rifles, snipers of sorts, but more versatile in being able to serve in close combat as well, each soldier and officer choosing his own bladed weapon for the task. His promotion to Commander of the Guilsa Section wasn't long in coming, and coincided neatly with the invasion of one of the smaller islands belonging to the Malanian Empire...even if the majority of people welcomed the man who they considered to be the true Revalis with open arms.

Despite the small victory, there was little respite in the brutal and vicious three way war that consumed the planet of Aubis, but Airaul only grew more and more experienced, confident and skilled with each passing battle. It was at the age of 29 that Airaul was appointed as one of the youngest ever Generals by his best friend Sylaen who wanted him close to advise him. He still took part in battle, but had much more influence in the actual decisions made on both tactics and future plans. Airaul thrived in the lifestyle, finding he was natural to command, and the soldiers found him an easy man to follow.

And so it came as a shock to him after serving years as a General to his best friend that it was that very same man who asked him to leave and join Starfleet. Sylaen told Airaul how he was considering appealing to the Federation in the future for their aid with the promise of allying themselves with them should he gain control...and so in a gesture of sweetening them up, he wanted to be shown as having offered one of his most trusted Generals as an officer in the Academy, along with a small group of soldiers...when alone, Sylaen also made it clear that he wanted Airaul to suss Starfleet out and see what made them tick and how they worked. Airaul didn't want to leave his homeworld...he didn't want to leave his career...and he didn't want to leave his best friend and Revalis... however, it was that very loyalty to him that made him agree to his wishes. If his Revalis, and closest friend, asked it of him, he would do it. He would do anything.

Whilst having nothing against Starfleet itself, Airaul couldn't stand Starfleet Academy . He found the classes he was required to take not only painfully boring, but lessons he'd learnt long ago either in his own education, or his experience in his career. Yet, he endured the ‘torture' as he referred to it in a message home to Sylaen, covering it with a smile to the others, and spending a large majority of his time drinking in bars to relax and take his mind off things, telling stories and listening eagerly to other people's. With his experience and skills it was only natural that he became a Tactical officer, and after serving a smooth, successful and, compared to the Academy, a lot more content year on the Worthington, he was transferred to the USS Galaxy.

Confident, capable and experienced, Airaul is a person who's entirely comfortable with himself both personally and professionally. Raised in the midst of war, and later joining it, he's used to living and working in stressful and strenuous situations, and even thrives under pressure. He is an easy man to get along with, as he's quick to offer a warm smile and a seat at his table in a bar...yet he has no time for lazy people, or those who are arrogant or unpleasant. He is a man of simple pleasures, who likes the atmosphere of a bar, a strong drink, and, when able, a smoke (as is a traditional way to relax on Aubis)...in fact, he is so keen on his drink, music and bars that it can be difficult to believe that he was once training as a priest to his people's gods.

He has a keen tactical mind, as well as being a capable soldier on the battle field itself. His chosen close combat weapon in battle on Aubis was a pair of slender short swords, and his distance weapons an energy rifle and a hand held projectile weapon...he is comfortable with all three, and even now keeps up regular training with them, as well as long distance running to keep his high stamina levels. Battle energized him at home, as well as the cause he fought for... lacking both in Starfleet, he is finding it a difficult adjustment, (especially at going from a General on his own world to an Ensign in the Fleet), but presses on determinedly as he promised the Revalis he would make a good impression.

He was described by Revalis Sylaen Ervae as being a natural born General, and indeed, he is at perfect ease with being in a commanding role. However he knows when to bite down and just shut up or say yes sir no sir when he has to...for instance in his most recent role as Ensign. Many say he is a charismatic man, one of the reason that he was a natural leader, because the soldiers actually enjoyed looking up to him and following his orders. He's the kind of man that many people find they want to please, and so when he asks for something to be done, it usually is.

Despite being the technological equal to Earth, the planet of Aubis keeps firmly to itself. Due to its own ongoing problems, it has stayed out of other politics involving the Federation or any other powers.

The problems started over 200 Earth years ago, (just over 175 in Auban years). The planet is split into three Empires: The Ilik Empire that rule the western continent, the Malania Empire that rule the eastern continent, and a group of large and small islands that were simply known as the Southern Islands, each with their own capital city. At that time, each Empire was ruled by one ruler, believed to be touched by the gods, divine in their own rights and so having absolute authority. The trouble started when the Emperor of the Ilik Empire died early in life from an unknown illness. The heir to the throne was in fact the current Revalis (King) of the Malanian Empire, the second cousin of the deceased Emperor... however, the council and politicians of the Ilik Empire were not willing to accept a Malanian ruler, especially one already on the throne of Malania as it would mean the merging of the two Empires. A more distant relative of the late Emperor that lived in Ilik declared the throne as his own...and so two Empires that had survived living side by side for centuries went to war, with the Southern Islands remaining neutral.

War raged on for generations, both sides as formidable as each other, and so as soon as one army made any gains, the other would retaliate and take it back. Both bombing raids and all out open field battles were used, and yet neither tactic gained either side any clear advantage. Close on 160 years later, the current Revalis of the Malanian Empire died by an assassin's hand. His heir was his 15 year old son, Sylaen Ervae. It was assumed that he would inherit the throne as expected, however the politicians had other ideas.

The Malanian Council is made up of 29 people, a representative of each noble family that founded the Empire millennia ago. Each of these noble ‘Houses' is led by a Lord or Lady of the House, usually having inherited the title from parents or close relatives on their death, or having proven the most powerful or worthy of the family. It is most usual that it is this Lord or Lady that stands as the representative of the House on the Council. As each House has its own fortune, land and even army and guards, the power struggles and political play between them can be very tense. It was the Lord Pasral of the House Ianis, the most powerful of all the Houses, that decided to take this chance to gain even more. Claiming that a 15 year old boy wasn't fit to rule in a time of war, he claimed the throne for himself. The majority of the other Houses saw it in their best financial and political interest to align with Lord Pasral rather than the rightful Revalis, especially as the army of the House Ianis was the largest of them all, even matching the numbers of the Revalis' own.

To make sure of his claim, Lord Pasral had assassins try and kill Sylaen and his younger brother. Whilst they succeeded in killing the brother, Sylaen managed to escape, friends remaining loyal to him seeing him safely out of Malania and into exile in the neutral Southern Islands . However, the majority of the people of Aubis believe strongly in their gods, and as the belief is that the Revalis and royal family are divine themselves, in many respects seen as demi gods, many Malanian officers and nobility from the minor ranks of the Houses voluntarily followed Sylaen into exile, to remain loyal to the boy who they strongly believed to be the true, god chosen Revalis of Malania.

Five years later, the boy had grown into a young man and was as adamant as the people who had joined him in their loyalty that he was not only the rightful heir to Malania by law, but also as appointed by the gods. He built up an army of his own, using both those that had left Malania with him, and many from the Southern Islands who were committed to his cause. After uniting and claiming all of the Southern Islands as his new base of command, Sylaen Ervae, whom many still called Revalis despite his exile, launched war against both the Malanian Empire to reclaim his throne, and the Ilikan Empire, as technically it should be under his rule too, or so the very first dispute that started the war off some 165 years previous convinced him. And so the civil war of two Empires on Aubis became a three way war between the Malanian Empire, the Ilikan Empire, and what had been renamed the Sylaen Islands ...and 22 years on, in the Earth year of 2381, none of the three powers are noticeably winning the war.

Despite this state of war, the culture of the people has remained rather stable. Aubians have a strong belief in their religion, believing in 4 gods in total; Laelor, the god of life and festivity...Vienla, the goddess of love and fertility...Heclor, the god of battle and fortune...and Saelia, the goddess of death and the lands of the dead. Each family usually offers their youngest son or daughter to service the Temples and gods, leaving them to live at the closest Temple for training from the age of ten in the scriptures and their future duties. At 14, they are initiated into the first stages of devotion to the gods, at 16 the second initiation takes place, and then at 20 their training is complete and they are endorsed as priests or priestesses of their Temple , (each temple is inhabited by either priests or priestesses, never both).

The other most popular institution with the war raging as severely as ever is the army, (either the Ilikan, the Malanian, or the Sylaen Islands '...or if noble, or with the endorsement of a sponsor, it is possible to join a House's personal army). The structure is a simple but effective one. The army is divided into Sections, each with their own name, soldiers and officers...this can then be further divided on request of the commanding officer of the Section. The majority of men and women will join at the first level, which is a simple, large tier of soldiers, (equivalent of enlisted), within which there is only one higher rank of Sarn, (the equivalent of a Sergeant), appointed to act as the go between for the officers and soldiers, and also to command small groups sent on scouting or skirmishing duty, or if the officers are killed or incapacitated. There is then a tier of officers...each Section will have seven Larts who most often see that orders are carried out appropriately and may be charged with the responsibility of commanding a small group of soldiers for a particular mission. A Section will also have one second-in-command, with the rank of Marque, (but most often referred to as ‘Second', eg. “...and this is my Second.”), and a commanding officer known simply as Commander. Above the Sections of the army there are 10 Generals who act as advisors to the Emperor/Revalis of the Empire, and will sometimes be put in command of missions that require more than one Section.

Battle itself is a savage and brutal business. Each army owns a fleet of fighters that can be sent on bombing raids on the enemy, however there is an unwritten code of conduct that is always respected in that only military targets are ambushed, never civilian or residential areas as they aren't used as an act of terror, but for the strategic damage of key enemy military bases or supplies. Of course, a number of defensive weapons have been developed and installed in such bases to ward off such attacks. In actual battle, there are two main forms of fighting...the first is at a distance, a number of energy weapons are used depending upon Section and individual soldier's training. When in close combat, blades are used instead...each soldier and officer has their own personal weapon choice which can range from a basic sword to a pair of Vrails, (semicircular in shape, the straight line forming the handle of which to grip, and the curve being a strong, wide blade that fits around the knuckles, and so can either be used for slashing, or as a fatal blade extension of a fist so that one punch can cause death if the blade is aimed for the throat).

Whilst the Aubans are warp capable, and technologically advanced as Earth, the Ilik and Malanian empires only have a small fleet of warp capable ships each, as the war has made space exploration an unnecessary luxury... instead they are used mainly for supply runs from other planets, experimentation or surveillance.

The Aubans themselves are close to humans in appearance and physiology. They stand at around 5'11-6'4 for men, and 5'8-6'2 for women. The people from the Ilik Empire tend to have brown or black eyes and fair hair that's worn in shorter fashions for practicality...they are naturally strong and built solidly in such a way, but suitably to their height rather than being over muscular. The people of the Malanian Empire tend to have blue or grey eyes with light brown to dark brown hair worn in longer fashions, but tied back...they can be a little taller than the Ilikans, but athletically built rather than being built for strength. The people of the Southern (or Sylaen) Islands tend to have green or auburn coloured eyes, with a sandy tone to hair that is most often grown into longish styles...like the Malanians, they are athletically built rather than muscular, but powerful none the less. The line of the Emperor and Revalis however are different, with distinctive markings of their own, (one of the indications that the people took for their being divine centuries ago at their establishment), with near black hair worn long and loose, violet eyes and a tall, slender body, it makes for a more delicate and regal look than the Ilikans, Malanians and Islanders, yet they are capable of leading soldiers into battle when they must.

Whilst Aubans have more stamina than humans, they are not stronger or faster, just simply able to carry on in strenuous conditions longer, and have slightly higher durability and recovery rate. However, they don't do well in cold conditions as the climate on Aubis is one of high temperatures. They are also prone to fevers, an aspect of their physiology that not even they have been able to work out.