Lieutenant Junior Grade Dr. Tamsin Reza-Farouk
¶ Overview
- Full Name: Dr. Tamsin Reza-Farouk
- Species: Human
- Nationality: League
- Gender: Female
- Sex: Female
- Sexual Identity: Lesbian
- Faction: Heretics (formerly League)
A brilliant gravitics physicist and hyperspace communications expert who survived the Odysseus crash and became one of the key scientists supporting the Heretic cause. Dr. Reza-Farouk's expertise in exotic physics and hyperspace technology made her invaluable to both the original Archigos Experiment and the later efforts to keep the damaged [Archigos] operational.
¶ Physical Description
Dr. Reza-Farouk is an attractive woman of Egyptian descent with warm olive skin and striking dark brown eyes that reflect her intense intellectual focus. Her thick, straight black hair is typically pulled back in a practical style that keeps it out of her way during work. She has classic Mediterranean features with high cheekbones and expressive eyebrows that emphasize her analytical expressions.
Tamsin tends to be on the thin side, a result of her habit of becoming so absorbed in her research that she frequently forgets to eat. Her serious, academically-focused demeanor and intense concentration are evident in both her appearance and mannerisms, giving her an air of scholarly dedication.
¶ Personality
Tamsin is characterized by extreme intellectual precision and a somewhat abrasive personality that masks deeper emotional complexity. She approaches problems with scientific methodology and has little patience for what she considers inefficiency or illogical thinking. Her blunt manner of speaking often comes across as cold or dismissive, but this reflects her preference for direct communication over social pleasantries.
She harbors deep skepticism toward Sooni religious beliefs, viewing them from a purely scientific perspective as the actions of advanced aliens rather than divine beings. This "heathen" outlook puts her at odds with many of the Sooni Heretics, though her scientific contributions make her valuable enough to overlook these theological differences.
Despite her clinical exterior, Tamsin is capable of deep personal attachments, as demonstrated by her loving relationship with the Sooni engineer Fìona. Her loss of Fìona during the Temple of Banan-ache-iuil Incident left her devastated and increasingly isolated.
¶ Special Abilities
- Exotic Gravitics: Expert in advanced gravitational physics and hyperspace mechanics
- Hyperspace Communications: Pioneer in quantum-scale hyperspace signal transmission
- Scientific Analysis: Exceptional ability to understand and reverse-engineer alien technologies
- Equipment Fabrication: Skilled at creating specialized scientific instruments from available materials
- Theoretical Physics: Deep understanding of space-time mechanics and dimensional theory
¶ History
¶ The Archigos Experiment
Dr. Reza-Farouk was selected as Mission Specialist for the Odysseus test flight due to her groundbreaking work in hyperspace communications theory. Her experimental hyperspace radio represented humanity's first attempt at instantaneous communication across any distance, using quantum-scale holes punched through collapsed spatial dimensions.
¶ The Crash and Rescue
When the Odysseus crashed on the Sooni colony world, Tamsin was among the critically injured crew members sustained by Sooni Focus abilities until she could be healed. The trauma of the crash and subsequent rescue created a complex emotional relationship with her Sooni saviors - gratitude mixed with resentment at their circumstances.
¶ Life Among the Heretics
Following Alastair McKenzie and Nyana McKenzie's escape from Sooni space, Tamsin found herself living aboard the damaged [Archigos] with approximately 200 Sooni Heretics. Her scientific expertise made her invaluable for maintaining the ship's systems and developing new technologies, though she struggled with the religious aspects of Sooni culture.
¶ Relationship with Fìona
During their time aboard the Archigos, Tamsin developed a deep romantic relationship with Fìona, a Sooni engineer. Despite Tamsin's generally antisocial tendencies and skepticism toward Sooni beliefs, she found in Fìona a intellectual equal and emotional anchor. Their relationship bridged the gap between human and Sooni perspectives on the ship.
¶ Temporal Imprisonment
Dr. Reza-Farouk's hyperspace communication equipment was damaged during the Archigos crash, creating an exotic space-time anomaly that trapped her in a closed time-like curve. For what felt like years from her perspective, she experienced multiple temporal states simultaneously, including her own death and dismemberment, while remaining conscious throughout the ordeal.
This traumatic experience left her with fragmented memories of events that occurred in parallel timelines, giving her a unique but disturbing perspective on the malleable nature of causality. The psychological impact of experiencing multiple deaths while remaining aware shaped her already analytical worldview into something even more detached and clinical.
¶ The Temple Expedition
As part of the expedition to the Temple of Banan-ache-iuil, Tamsin provided scientific analysis of the ancient technology and helped establish communications with their orbital support. Her skeptical perspective on Sooni religious beliefs proved valuable in understanding the temple's true nature as a testing facility rather than a sacred site.
During the confrontation with Zaine, Tamsin created an improvised gravity weapon in an attempt to stop the Zealot leader. While the device successfully disrupted his position, it could not prevent the tragedy that followed.
¶ Loss and Isolation
The death of Fìona at Zaine's hands during the temple incident devastated Tamsin. Having already experienced psychological trauma from her temporal imprisonment, the loss of her partner pushed her further into isolation. She withdrew from most social interactions, speaking primarily to Rhaenvaeh Canel and Alastair McKenzie when necessary for her work.
¶ Major Associations
¶ Fìona
- Relation: Former Lover, Deceased
The Sooni engineer who became Tamsin's romantic partner and emotional anchor among the Heretics. Fìona's death at the hands of Zaine left Tamsin emotionally shattered and increasingly isolated from the rest of the community.
¶ Alastair McKenzie
- Relation: Captain, Colleague
Despite her generally difficult personality, Tamsin maintains a working relationship with the captain based on mutual respect for each other's technical expertise. McKenzie is one of the few people she tolerates extended conversation with after Fìona's death.
¶ Rhaenvaeh Canel
- Relation: Fellow Scientist, Friend
Tamsin's primary social connection following Fìona's death. Their shared scientific background and similar analytical approaches to problems create a foundation for friendship despite their different origins.
¶ Nyana McKenzie
- Relation: Complicated Relationship
Tamsin harbors complicated feelings toward Nyana, respecting her leadership capabilities while objecting to the religious elements of Heretic culture. She views the entire Sooni race as "a cosmic experiment that should have been terminated millennia ago," creating tension with their leader.