Name: Custle tr'Khellian Rank: Admiral reinstated 2380
Organization: Tal Shiar
Date of Birth: 2227
Sex: Male
Species: Romulan
Name: Custle tr'Khellian
Rank:
Admiral reinstated 2380
Organization:
Tal Shiar
Date of Birth: 2227
Sex: Male
Species: Romulan
Height: 5' 11"
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Build: Slim
Background:
2248-60
Little is known of Custle's early military career though he served
in several fleet assignments
2260-68
Promoted to commander and given command of second-generation Bird-of-Prey,
RES Zator. It is during this tenure, in 2266, that Custle was
first involved in the nasty business that was the Tal Shiar. The
Zator, denied the glory of checking Earth's resolve along the
Neutral Zone, was dispatched to Remus to deal with indignant farmers
protecting one of their own, a deserter. The situation escalated
and Custle had the deserter shot and the farm burned to the ground.
All males of age were subject to military conscription. (Sokket's
uncle was the deserter)
2268-71
The alliance with the Klingon Empire brought the D7 battlecruiser
into Romulan service. Custle was given command of such a ship,
recommissioned as the RES Ra'kholh. Engagements with Federation
forces rarely occurred due to the more stringent enforcement of
Treaty. However, an encounter with the USS Lexington under Commodore
Robert Wesley at Calder II, an historic Romulan world on the Federation
side of the Neutral Zone nearly escalated into a full blown war.
Wesley would later comment in his memoirs that he considered Custle
an honorable but dangerous individual.
2271
Custle leaves the Star Navy with a promotion to admiral and new
duties with the Tal Shiar.
2311-64
Custle was involved in the disasterous Tomed Incident that led
the Empire to self-exile for 53 years. He survived the purges
orchestrated by the Senate and with several of his rivals removed,
became a stronger force in Imperial politics.
In 2336, he was involved in the incarceration of the stranded crews of four damaged Royal Falcarian warships that arrived in the Beta Quadrant via the Secu wormhole. Among these Falcarians was Prince Sword Starheavens who would become his arch-nemesis. Treatment of the Falcarians bordered on absolute cruelty and there were few out of 1600 prisoners that would survive the ordeal. Starheavens escaped with inside support two years into his prisonment, eventually getting into the Federation where Ambassador Sarek would grant him Vulcan citizenship. The camps were disolved in 2350 with the belief that the remaining prisoners were executed or shipped to labor camps. The Federation in 2364-65, indicted Custle on charges of crimes against sentient life but without political will, was never enforced. He was not permited access to any Federation facility or member world initially.
His first venture into the Klingon sphere was during the 2340's. First by supporting Ja'rod, father of Duras, having one of the most connected double agents in the Klingon Empire. His involvement with Ja'rod eventually led to the massacre of Khitomer when it was believed Mogh suspected Ja'rod of duplicity, 2346. An attack on Narendra III two years earlier would net the destruction of the Federation flagship, USS Enterprise C, and the capture of Tasha Yar. Though Custle's involvement with the Narendra attack was small, he would get the most divident with Yar's grown half Romulan-half human daughter, Sela. Though he initially helped Sela, she was far too ambitious for the two to work together for long.
2364-73
The Empire reemerged into Galactic politics and so did Custle
who for the past twenty years had been mostly focused on the Klingons.
He had learned that Starheavens was now a Starfleet captain whose
specialty was Sector Z-1, the Neutral Zone. It did not take long
before he changed his focus on Starheavens primarily and the Federation.
A vast spy network, centered on Argelius II, operated for many
years before being found out by the SFI. Not all 'sleeper' and
double agents were found.
In 2366, Custle's son, Major Zinn, also of the Tal Shiar, attempting to capture Starheavens, took three of the USS Centurion's (Starheavens' first Starfleet command) crew hostage as bait. One of these was Ensign Reena Harras (who would later become captain of the USS Phantom). During a scuffle in the engine room of the Romulan scout, Harras, accidently killed Zinn. This action forever brought her the wraith of Zinn's powerful father. The 'Betazoid' had become his public enemy number 2. Zinn had been the only child of Custle to enter the Tal Shiar, who was best noted as being as ruthless as his father and whose star in the organization had been rapidly growing.
The death of his son had radically changed Custle's outlook. Though he still had an office in the Tal Shiar headquarters where his staff kept close eye on practically anyone of importance, including the Federation embassy, he was most likely found aboard the D'deridex class warbird, RES Baatine, commanded by his eldest daughter, Commander Romari. In this capacity, he was often in the field.
Proconsul Neral and Custle's former protégé, Commander Sela, got him involved in an elaborate plot to invade Vulcan, using the legendary Spock of Vulcan, to legitimize the caper as talks toward reunification, 2368. The operation failed. Just prior to this, Sela had come to him because of his earlier dealings with Ja'rod. Duras was in a position to become chancellor of the Klingon Empire creating a puppet state. Gowron, a virtual unknown, contested and a civil war occurred. Initially it looked promising and Custle's long work in destabilizing the Klingons looked to be finally paying dividents with a huge victory. It also failed. Duras was killed and his House dishonored. All Custle's labors in fostering the House of Ja'rod/Duras had disappeared in early 2368.
Custle had several encounters with Starheavens' new command, the USS Amon-Re, in the pre-war years. The animosity between the two men had given Starfleet a legitimate concern about one of their captains when it was learned that Custle had employed mercenaries to track his enemy down.
Though he suffered numerous setbacks that could have plagued his career, events in 2371 finally cemented his power within the echelons of the Tal Shiar so that even the chairman of the secret police feared him. Enabain Tain, former head of Cardassia's Obsidian Order, had met with Tal Shiar officials about an attack on the founder homeworld. Custle was to go but remained because of a plot against the praetor. The attack was also a failure and weakened the Tal Shiar. Custle took the opportunity to secure his place with many of his rivals no longer around. He also got his youngest daughter, Ekkhae a seat in the Senate, in a long term scheme to eventually have her take the praetorship with him as the power behind the throne.
2374-75
The Dominion War brought about a radical change when the Romulan
Senate approved the Empire becoming part of the Federation-led
Alliance that also included the Klingons. Custle, by government
orders, was now forced to work with his opposites in Starfleet
Intelligence. The Federation Council how stayed the charges against
Custle because of his senior position in Romulus' security service.
The Baatine was involved in several battles that included the
Amon-Re as a 'friendly' serving beside them. Custle considered
this period to be the most humiliating time of his life. Neral,
the proconsul who was involved with the Vulcan invasion plot,
became praetor in 2375. Custle was quite loyal to Neral, who had
supported Ekkhae's senate run.
2376-78
Custle's situation changed in 2376. Initially it looked like a
very good year. His contact with the fascist Falcarian Allegiance
created a plot to have Starheavens brought back to his countrymen
where they would eliminate the exiled prince. Neral had also promised
Custle the chairmanship of the Tal Shiar once the admiral had
concluded his buisness with Starheavens.
It did not work out as planned and Custle and the RES Baatine
became marooned in the Delta Quadrant with his nemesis. He soon
created an alliance with the Falcarians and the Ssorans to better
his position here, 70,000 light years from Romulus.
When
Harras hijacked the RES Aehallh from the local Romulan base, Custle
came after her, destroying her ship, the USS Shadow, in the process,
2377. Though he had lost Harras in the pandemonium, he did acquire
Phaedrus Avon, her Chief Science Officer and suspected defector.
Custle supported the Falcarian Confederacy - a military alliance of Falcaria, Ssora Prime and some smaller allies - in its attacks on Federation territory, late 2377. It had been a bold operation but ended successfully. Starfleet's defending force, Delta Fleet, was reduced considerably in number, the colonies were occupied and ODS Delta II, the starbase, was destroyed.
Praetor Hiren, the new leader, had congratulated Custle on the victory, presenting him with the Eagle of the Empire. It was believed the Romulan humiliation in the Romulan War and the Tomed Incident was somewhat atoned.
2379
Custle recieved news that a coup on Romulus had claimed the life
of Ekkhae, ending his plans of dominating the Empire. His enemies
back home were bound to take advantage of his misfortune and isolate
him further from his once strong powerbase.
He continues to pursue Harras and Starheavens as if it has become
an all encompassing addiction.
On Stardate 90305.17 (A-R Stardate 56712), he staged a coup against the Falcarian government and appointed himself 'praetor'. He now leads the Confederacy's continuing war effort utilizing the Garos Party's political machine to control the populace and get his edicts done.
Counsellor's Notes:
Custle is the son of a Romulan War veteran and has experienced
nearly two centuries worth of anti-human (later anti-Federation)
prejudism. He is ruthless, vicious and without mercy; traits given
strenght from his Tal Shiar career.
Though he had three children, he was not involved in rearing them
for his career came first. Zinn, attempted to earn his father's
respect by becoming an agent of the Tal Shiar. In many ways, Custle
saw his children as extensions of his political/military goals
and was stiff and formal with them.
Though he resides on his surviving child's warbird, he does not treat Romari differently, even though she is the last of his seed.
He has a violent temper and many have fallen victim to it.
His wife died of an incurable degenerative disease. She was only person that occupied his heart; since her death, he seems devoid of love or compassion.
