Editing Vladimir Goldmark (section)

==Background==
Vladimir, named after his adoptive mother’s father, was born to Pavel and Myri in 2372. He had a happy childhood, but he found the mines restrictive. Ever a curious youth, he spent many hours following his parents and grandparents around, and did may odd jobs for them, thus learning much about the practical aspects of their respective trades. He was not as sensitive to light as his father, and could function on the surface with little assistance aside from eye protection… simple UV resistant tinted glasses such as had been used for the purpose for hundreds of years were enough. 

He also found it easier to move among a broader cross section of the interstellar public that came to do business on the busy mining planet, as his Reman features, while still evident, were less prominent. He was especially fascinated with the representatives of Starfleet that he encountered. Through the use of his limited telepathy and the numerous translation devices available on Janus VI, he spent countless boyhood hours talking with his favorite playmate, the [[Maraht the Horta]], about how wonderful it would be to journey among the stars. 

When his time came and his basic education on Janus VI was complete, he made arrangements to join Starfleet through the local recruiting office, shook his father’s scaly hand, carefully kissed his tearful mother goodbye, and found his way to Earth, to the Academy in San Francisco. There he studied Forensic Biology, thus combining his interests in science, medicine and police investigation. He has had training in general pathology, medical examination, and criminal investigation as adjuncts to his primary training as a coroner. 

While at the Academy, Vlad discovered that the Federation was in some turmoil… and that those of mixed race, especially combinations like his, were not as welcomed in the mainstream as they had once been. It seemed to him that the Admiral and self-proclaimed President Doenitz was little better than the Romulans that had so long enslaved his Reman ancestors. So, through the subtle machinations of sympathetic instructors, he was assigned to the 52nd Fleet, where he has been serving ever since.