For the record this is one of Æn'kae's friends/the second in command basically of the team he was on while working for the Republic and like asdf. I knew some things. I knew D'kæh had been Tal Shiar and I knew he and Lhihath (the Tal Shiar leader that arrested Skisan) already were like arch enemies.

It clicked into place that while he did just befriend Æn'kae because he liked him, he dragged him onto his team specifically because of Skisan's arrest. Like basically it was manipulation of his whole team. And I just. .... -glare- because going to rescue this kid who the whole team liked's 'dad' got hearty support that a personal grudge wouldn't have.

But on the plus side I learned he defected from the Tal Shiar while still in training and Lhihath was his trainer and that's where their feud started. But like at least he wasn't a full fledged agent with all the crimes that would involve. Still though. D'kæh, why you like this.

Now I also know he's eaten up with guilt about the manipulation. I'm not even entirely sure it was a conscious one but it was at least subconscious. But given that outside of him one other member of the team was seriously injured, and the leader was killed. He def has thought hard about it and feels so much regret. Tempered by the fact they did rescue people

But like, the Republic still was gonna send a team in once they learned where the prisoners were held, probably multiple, and better prepared. But uh. D'kæh learned the location, told the team, and without any of them thinking, they just... immediately jumped in to what absolutely was a trap.

Me when one of the Romulans in my head acts Romulan

Help. I can't stop thinking about D'kæh and Lhihath. Why?

I don't know the specific circumstances of D'kæh's desertion from the Tal Shiar, I'm guessing his training/testing task was something he refused to do and Lhihath just did it and whatever punishment woulda been allotted woulda been pretty Awful.

But I do know he stole and used Lhihath's codes to get ahold of every shred of intell he could on the way out. And then he passed it onto the underground resistance. (Like this happened no less than 40 years prior to the set time I use for my chars, the Star Empire was still at full power and they didn't yet have a clue their star system was gonna go boom.)

I mean, I will say this for D'kæh, he certainly knows how to take things to an extreme XD

He coulda done the typical Romulan thing back then of continuing on in the Tal Shiar and framing/undermining Lhihath, using that to advance his own position. But instead he just kinda... noped out entirely. And then set all the bridges behind him on fire.

Æn'kae be like "Please, let me live in the middle of nowhere and help animals" the D'ælh family be like "Hey. Yo. Pay attention to us!!" Between Atorie and D'Kæh, I swear on the elements. That house is Trouble. XD

I was too tired to work on how I picture Lhihath, but I think I worked out D'kæh in STO yesterday. The tattoo may vary or not exist at all, but like, basically.

Me yesterday after spending hours on this image: Yes, this fits what I see in my head.

Me this morning: ... ... did I just make him Vin Diesel???