Early Life

Calum's early life was much like many would expect of a civilian born of Rendili. He and his twin, Cam Neth, were born in the capital of Rendili, the sprawling metropolis of Edethor. His mother, Margrete, was an aspiring diplomat within the governing legislative house of the world, and his father, Jorr, an aspiring composer of classical music. Because of the position his mother occupied within the government, he and his brother were afforded what many would consider an upbringing of privilege, without need. The two received private educations and were never short of life's necessities. However, that did not mean the two were spoiled and drowned in luxury. With the help and mentorship of his parents, along with the countless staff that aided in the care of the two boys, Calum was forced to remain grounded and humble - being disciplined at the very sign of gallivanting about with how fortunes had been showered upon him and his position within the society. Unlike his twin, Calum was not so drawn to embedding himself with the common people of his home nor community outreach.


By the time he and his brother had become teenagers, the two had become inseparable from one another, doing nearly everything together. Cam had even coerced Calum into attending and participating in his community outreach functions. But, with time, interests would once more change and where his brother sought to follow in the footsteps of their mother, Calum looked for a path of his own. He'd long respected and admired the work of Galactic Alliance's military that protected him and his freedoms, so when he finally came of age, he commissioned into the Navy, while Cam buried himself in texts and diplomacy.


For the Alliance

Calum quickly learned as he entered the Galactic Alliance Navy, that not everything was as easy as he'd initially thought. It was grueling, both physically and emotionally, and he became tested in ways he'd not imagined he could be. If the stereotypical military knowledge wasn't stressful enough, he was pressed further in the fact that he'd chosen to commission instead of enlist. Throw himself ever deeper into responsibility and learn what leading actually entailed. It wasn't just screaming out orders and expecting those under you to honor them. No, it was much more than that. You had to inspire them, make them believe. Their lives were yours now and just as their success would fall upon his shoulders, so too would their failures. That was something he took time to really learn and because of that, early on he struggled.

Promoting from Ensign to Lieutenant took him longer than it did for the average troop, but it seemed that once he figured things out, he embraced it. And he did so with a sense of purpose. He became that officer that inspired and led his men in every facet. The leader who made himself an example to his men and a reflection of their success. And he carried their failures as his own. Their failures were on him. He learned this well and never again held himself above them. They were the reason he was where he was.

It didn't take him long to promote again. And again. Making it eventually to Commander, the rank prior to any form of an Admiral position. This put many under his wing and lay a heavy burden upon his shoulders, but one he embraced and one he took on well.


The Fall

Life can not always bless one with fortune and signs of fragility began to splinter throughout the Galactic Alliance and in turn the military that valiantly stood to protect her. Worry and panic had crept into the day-to-day lives of the crew aboard the Valiant, the cruiser Calum commanded and as the First Order lashed out to force the pillar of freedom to crumble, Calum was tested to ensure his men remained inspired and still believed in what they did.

But war was a fickle mistress and as it erupted, the Valiant found itself engulfed in its caress. Countless battles Calum commander, even flying his own fighter to ensure every able-bodied pilot was on board and allowed the time to recuperate after a mission. However, after a number of long battles, the Cruiser and the men that served her seemingly had fought its last fight. They'd engaged their last foe and ultimately accepted that they might soon be seeing their death. But, she endured. They endured, though the Valiant was heavily damaged, with several systems to include the hyperdrive and communications array rendered inert.


Adrift

The extensive damage left the Valiant to its own devices. They had no way to reach back to the Galactic Alliance for aid and no way to know that the Alliance had fallen. Instead they were forced to drift aimlessly through the void of open space. They were near no allied planet with no communications and no hyperdrive. They had less than a years rations which they might be able to extend to two, maybe slightly more, if they really stretched them. There was no time table. No comfort in their survival, but they had to believe they would. They had to believe in themselves and Calum had to inspire them to continue to drive forward. That they would return to a restored Alliance. One that had not given up on them.

After floating adrift in the vastness of open space for weeks, the ship finally made its way to the planet of Thyferra, where, without the ability to pilot or navigate any longer, crashed onto the planet's surface below. The "Valiant" was gone, shattered and broken - smoldering - and Calum faced the greatest test of his entire life. Alone and afraid, he awaited a hopeful rescue on Thyferra.


Another Life, Anew

After a daring rescue, from a Captain in the New Republic's Navy, Calum was broken by the news he received. The Alliance he once served was broken and gone. No more. In a sense, he died inside, but he knew he would have to move on. So now he found himself at an impasse. On one hand, Calum had the option to travel to where this "New Republic" was forming, and in the other he held the option to break his ties with it all. With the government he served no more, his oath to serving it no longer held true. His contract had finished. He could move on and forge a new life. Something new.

He set off and inevitably chose to sever his ties to what had once been. No longer sinking to dwell on the past and what once was. Instead, there was a future he could look forward to.

He left what had once been Alliance held ground and went to start a new life for himself. He found himself passing through several planets on the way before eventually settling on Makeb for a time. It wasn't pretty work. And it wasn't something he was terribly proud of or enjoyed, but it at least kept him fed for crews that run supplies for the Hutts were always in need of a talented pilot. But, like he figured as when he first arrived, this is simply something he could not find himself doing any longer and so he set off once more.