Alara Kitan

Alara Kitan was born in the year 2396[1] on Xelaya to Drenala and Ildis Kitan, a university professor. She was the younger sister of Solana Kitan, a researcher on Jintann 9.[3]

When Alara was less than eight months old, a fire broke out in the family home while Drenala slept and Ildis attended a symposium. Alara's wailing woke Drenala, saving them both. Alara was subconsciously petrified of large fires ever since.[4]

Alara was below the average intelligence of Xelayans, a fact her father frequently reminded her of.[3] Alara joined the Union Fleet instead of pursuing an academic degree. Her parents believed her decision to join the Union's military was because she was less intelligent than her peers. They were unsupportive of her career, and often tried to persuade her to return to Xelaya.[4]

Because Xelayans so rarely joined the Union Fleet, Alara was quickly promoted. Some time before September 2419, Alara was stationed aboard the USS Orville under Captain George Griffith and fast-tracked to Chief of Security.[1]Alara met Captain Ed Mercer in September 2419 during introductions with the senior staff. She made it a point to tell Captain Mercer that even though she was the youngest department head on board, she took her job seriously and that he and the USS Orville could count on her.[1]

Her first test came several days later in the Battle of Epsilon 2. She accompanied Ed, First Officer Kelly Grayson, and Doctor Claire Finn to the Epsilon Science Station on Epsilon 2. When the Krill raided the station to steal a quantum accelerator, a device capable of accelerating the rate of time within a quantum bubble, Alara used her superior strength to break open a sealed door and then leapt an incredible distance with the accelerator to the shuttle.[1]

For most of her life, Alara had a strained and difficult relationship with her family, who believed that joining the Planetary Union was out of desperation. "If you hadn't been slower than the other children, you wouldn't have felt trapped into joining the Fleet," her father Ildis Kitan told her.[3]

While she served aboard the Orville, Alara sporadically kept in touch with her sister Solana, sharing stories of her travels. Alara became visibly jealous when her parents said they love to brag about Solana's PhD.[3]

When Alara returned to Xelaya, Ildis encouraged her to obtain an academic degree, even going to so far as to speak to fellow professors at his university on her behalf. After Alara protected her family from Cambis and Floratta Borrin in September 2420, her parents recognized the value of their daughter and her decision to join the military. "I don't know you," Ildis confessed. "I never did." Alara answered, "I wanted you to know me, Dad. All I ever wanted was for you to be proud of me."[3] Alara resigned from the Union and stayed with her family