Lieutenant Keahi "Kai" Mahoe
¶ Overview
- Full Name: Keahi Mahoe
- Aliases: Kai (preferred name)
- Species: Human
- Nationality: League
- Gender: Male
- Sex: Male
- Sexual Identity: Heterosexual
- Faction: Heretics (formerly League)
A League Marine turned security specialist who survived the Odysseus crash and became the primary military advisor and combat instructor for the Heretic community. Kai represents the practical, no-nonsense approach of professional military service adapted to the extraordinary circumstances of living among rebel Sooni.
¶ Physical Description
Kai is a well-built, powerfully muscled man of Hawaiian descent with bronze-toned skin that speaks to his Pacific Islander heritage. He has thick, dark brown hair that he keeps in a regulation military cut, and warm brown eyes that constantly scan his surroundings with the alertness of a trained soldier. His broad shoulders and solid frame reflect both his natural build and years of military conditioning.
He carries himself with the disciplined bearing of a career military professional, moving with controlled precision and economy of motion. His experience and training are evident in his alert posture and tactical awareness of his surroundings, giving him a presence that commands respect without being intimidating to those under his protection.
¶ Personality
Kai embodies the professional Marine ethos of "getting the job done" regardless of personal feelings or circumstances. He approaches problems with practical military thinking, focusing on achievable objectives and realistic assessments of capabilities and threats. Unlike some of his more idealistic companions, Kai maintains a clear-eyed view of their situation and the dangers they face.
He demonstrates strong protective instincts toward civilians and non-combatants, particularly the Sooni who lack military training. His experience has taught him to value preparation, discipline, and teamwork over individual heroics. Kai has a particular talent for transforming civilian Sooni into effective defensive fighters through practical training and tactical coordination.
Despite his serious professional demeanor, Kai shows dry humor and genuine care for those under his protection. He has adapted remarkably well to working alongside Sooni warriors, learning to coordinate human military tactics with Sooni Focus abilities.
His experiences fighting alongside Sooni warriors fundamentally shaped his worldview, instilling the belief that "no one can stop you if you give it everything you've got." While not naive about limitations, Kai maintains an unshakeable confidence that any impossible situation can be overcome through total commitment and refusing to hold anything back. That this philosophy has consistently proven successful speaks to both his determination and the extraordinary combat training he received from his Sooni allies.
¶ Special Abilities
- Military Tactics: Expert in small-unit tactics and defensive strategies
- Combat Training: Highly skilled with conventional weapons and hand-to-hand combat
- Leadership: Natural ability to organize and coordinate mixed human-Sooni combat units
- Threat Assessment: Excellent situational awareness and danger recognition
- Weapons Expertise: Proficient with a wide variety of human and captured alien weaponry
- Training Instruction: Capable of teaching combat skills to civilian volunteers
¶ History
¶ The Archigos Experiment
Lieutenant Mahoe served as Security Officer aboard the Odysseus during the experimental hyperspace jump. His primary responsibilities included crew safety and security protocols during the dangerous test flight, though nothing in his training could have prepared him for what followed.
¶ The Crash and Survival
When the Odysseus crash-landed on the Sooni colony world, Kai was among the crew members critically injured in the impact. Like the other survivors, he owed his life to the Focus healing abilities of the Sooni colonists who found them. The experience of being saved by aliens gave him a unique perspective on human-Sooni relations that would prove valuable later.
¶ Adaptation to Sooni Culture
During their time on the colony world, Kai observed Sooni combat techniques and began to understand the integration of Focus abilities with traditional warfare. Unlike some of his crewmates, he approached Sooni culture from a tactical perspective, analyzing their capabilities as potential allies or opponents rather than focusing on the theological implications.
¶ Military Integration with the Heretics
After joining the Heretics community aboard the Archigos, Kai found himself in the unique position of being the only trained military professional among 200+ Sooni civilians and rebels. Many Sooni Heretics had theoretical combat training but lacked practical battlefield experience, creating a dangerous vulnerability.
Kai addressed this by establishing training programs that combined human military doctrine with Sooni Focus abilities. He taught concepts like coordinated fire, tactical positioning, and unit cohesion - principles that were foreign to traditional Sooni combat culture, which emphasized individual warrior prowess over team tactics.
¶ Combat Leadership
During their conflicts with Zealot forces, Kai's tactical expertise proved invaluable. He demonstrated an ability to coordinate mixed units of humans and Sooni, turning groups of academic civilians into effective defensive fighters. His approach emphasized preparation, mutual support, and realistic assessment of capabilities rather than relying on individual heroism.
Kai's combat philosophy focused on making everyone contribute according to their abilities, whether that was direct combat, support roles, or simply staying out of the way when necessary. This pragmatic approach earned him respect from both human and Sooni members of the community.
¶ The Temple Expedition
As part of the expedition to the Temple of Banan-ache-iuil, Kai served as the military specialist responsible for security and tactical assessment. His combat experience and threat recognition skills made him invaluable for evaluating unknown situations and protecting the scientific team.
During the confrontation with Zaine, Kai engaged the Zealot leader directly despite being vastly outclassed in terms of individual power. His willingness to stand and fight alongside Sooni warriors, even when facing supernatural opponents, demonstrated the courage and professionalism that defined his service.
¶ Post-Temple Operations
Following the tragic losses at the temple, Kai's role as military advisor became even more critical. With several experienced Sooni warriors dead, the community relied heavily on his tactical expertise and training programs to maintain their defensive capabilities while grieving their losses.
¶ Later Military Career
After the [Archigos]' eventual return to League space, Kai's unique experience fighting alongside Sooni warriors and his proven leadership abilities caught the attention of General Fernando Gabeira, Commandant of the Marine Corps. As Gabeira rose through the ranks, he made efforts to advance Kai's career, recognizing the value of his extraordinary combat experience.
By 2692, Kai found himself serving as Gabeira's Executive Officer, a position that represented both recognition of his capabilities and a source of subtle frustration. While grateful for Gabeira's mentorship and the career advancement, Kai occasionally chafed under the more bureaucratic aspects of high-level staff work, preferring the direct action and tactical challenges that had defined his earlier service. Gabeira, known for his affable personality and dry humor, found Kai's quiet discomfort with administrative duties amusing, though he never let it interfere with their professional relationship.
¶ Major Associations
¶ Alastair McKenzie
- Relation: Captain, Commanding Officer
Kai maintains the professional military relationship with McKenzie that began during their service aboard the Odysseus. He serves as McKenzie's primary military advisor and handles security concerns that fall outside the captain's engineering expertise.
¶ Nyana McKenzie
- Relation: Allied Commander, Mutual Respect
Despite initial skepticism about Sooni combat doctrine, Kai developed deep professional respect for Nyana's tactical abilities and leadership. Their partnership represents the successful integration of human military thinking with Sooni warrior culture.
¶ Glyse McKenzie
- Relation: Protective Figure, Surrogate Uncle
Kai has taken a protective interest in Glyse, recognizing both her extraordinary potential and her vulnerability as a child in dangerous situations. His military experience makes him particularly aware of the need to shield her from the psychological trauma of combat when possible.
¶ The Heretic Community
- Relation: Military Instructor, Protector
Kai has established himself as the primary combat instructor for Sooni Heretics lacking warrior training. His programs have transformed academic civilians into capable defensive fighters, earning him respect and gratitude throughout the community.