Giving Tuesday

Leonard Nimoy, 1931-2015

Today is "Giving Tuesday," a global day dedicated to giving back.  For those who can and would like to give to a charity on this Giving Tuesday, many worthy causes exist.  I would like to recommend the following:

The COPD Foundation
in memory of Leonard Nimoy

The National Partnership for Women and Families

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund

Autism Speaks

Planned Parenthood

Donations to any of the charities above are tax-deductible, to the extent permitted by law.

If you are able and willing to make a donation which is not  tax-deductible, but nevertheless for a good cause, please consider giving to NARAL Pro-Choice America.






Thanks for giving, you who are willing and able to do so.

If you are not able to give, that's alright, too.  I've been there myself, and I understand.

Leonard Nimoy, 1931-2015, He Lived Long And Prospered

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations -- Something not to be feared, but to be celebrated.

The Spock of the Mirror Universe with his sexy goatee.

I do not remember a time before Star Trek.  I was very young when the series made its debut.  I do not remember the debut.  But by the time of my earliest memories, Star Trek was here, and it never went away for some of us.  Watching "The Enterprise Incident" as a young girl, I wanted to do two things when I grew up:  be the Romulan Commander, and marry Spock.  As I grew up, I realized neither was likely (alas).  I always hoped to meet Leonard Nimoy, but that event never occurred.  Now it's too late.  My heart is doubly heavy today, with my father having passed very recently and Leonard Nimoy having joined him today.  I'm sure my dad will let Mister Nimoy know something of how much Star Trek, and Spock, meant to me.  Two of my heroes (Dad and Mister Spock) have left this life.

Leonard Nimoy has gone to the Final Frontier.  May he rest in peace.


See:
The New York Times - Leonard Nimoy, Spock of ‘Star Trek,’ Dies at 83

The BBC - Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek's Mr Spock, dies at 83

Huffington Post - Obama Mourns 'Star Trek' Icon Leonard Nimoy: 'I Loved Spock'

The White House on Twitter - "I loved Spock."  --  Me too, Mister President.  Me too.

Star Trek Online | Arc Games - Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015)

Leonard Nimoy with Geoff Boucher on Hero Complex: The Show - Part 1

Behind closed doors - Female Romulan commander

The Bangles - Going Down To Liverpool

The Tal'Diann

 

Romulan Star Empire ship logo as seen on the Memenda in TOS episode "The Enterprise Incident"

The Tal'Diann

From a previous post, at least a few of you will know of my fervent devotion to being a Trekker.

New Romulan Republic Tal'Diann logo

designed by Tal'Diann Fleet Admiral of the Fleet Gessatra ir'Virinat t'Prell

The symbolism is of alliance with Orion Syndicate and Klingon Defense Forces Intelligence,

and of hope for alliance with dissident Vulcans, with the New Romulan Republic at the center.

Yea, verily, forsooth, and in veritate.

I am that ultimate fangirl.

With that disclaimer out of the way, I shall now Trek out a bit.




The Tal'Diann is Romulan Military Intelligence.

The Tal'Shiar is, or was, the Imperial Romulan Secret Police.

The two have never been on the best of terms with one another.

The Tal'Shiar has always been under the control, supposedly, of the Empress or Emperor, but in reality, the Tal'Shiar has always served the Tal'Shiar, just as Sela has always served Sela.

The Tal'Diann is the Intelligence Branch of the Romulan Military.

Tal'Shiar vs. Tal'Diann ...  Spy vs. Spy.

Numerous examples from Romulan history might be provided, but in the end, the Tal'Shiar were led by a sociopathic fanatic, blinded by his devotion to the Iconians, as he ordered the destruction in Hobus, which led to the death of ch'Rihan ...

By this time, the Tal'Shiar were programmed -- conditioned, brainwashed.

Skip forward in time.  The madman at the helm of the Tal'Shiar has been executed, by the Tal'Diann Fleet Admiral of the Fleet, in the presence of Obisek, New Romulus Republic Fleet Admiral of the Fleet.  The Empress has been carried away by Iconians.  The former Praetor Taris has been taken from a maximum security Starfleet facility by Iconians.

In the ashes, from the far-flung embers, the smoldering coals came together under the Sword of the Raptor Star, and there arose a New Romulan Republic.

Old Alliances have been renewed.  New Alliances have been forged.

The Tal'Shiar remain in service to the Iconians.

The Tal'Diann remain in service to the New Romulan Republic's Military.

The Tal'Diann fleet is now working with the Orion Syndicate Intelligence Division, the Klingon Defense Forces Intelligence Branch, and disaffected Vulcans loyal to the KDF. 

The Tal'Diann have made use of "the Orion Method" in espionage.  A classic example is the case of none other than Riov (Commander) Di'on Charvon, the Captain of the Memenda, the lead Romulan D7 and Fleet Commander of the Romulan D7 fleet (in the TOS episode "The Enterprise Incident" -- the character was portrayed by Joanne Linville -- Joanne Linville at IMDB).  On this occasion, the Orion Method did not result in immediate desirable effects, but the seed was planted, and Spock went on to spend some time Under the Raptor's Wings and eventually established the Reunification movement.

Who is to say then, that Commander Charvon's mission was a failure?

For nigh a century, the identity of this early heroine of the Tal'Diann has been obscured by now-outdated interpretations of Mnhei'sahe, due to which she changed her name, but the time has come for her identity to be rescued from obscurity, in line with D'Tan's policy of greater transparency in the Republic.  She was born Di'on Charvon, the name known to history as the Riov of the D7 fleet which attempted to take the Federation flagship, a woman "disgraced" by failure and capture in this effort, a woman who nevertheless went on to perform many good works for the Tal'Diann and the Romulan people, whose "failed" mission may be better seen in hindsight than it was at the time.  In fact, Riov Di'on Charvon of the ChR Memenda was none other than Liviana Charvanek, niece of the Emperor Shiarkiek and the earlier Empress Ael t'Rllaillieu, and wife of Devoras Narviat, Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire.

Riov Liviana Charvanek:

The ChR Memenda, a Klingon-manufactured K't'inga D7, Riov Charvanek's flagship:

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