Background Information: Tanja Voelkel was born on Planet Hamburg, as the second child to Sven and Maria Voelkel. Tanja never got to know her father, a Rheinwehr Feldwebel who lost his life freezing to death in the cockpit of his Wraith when she was a mere nine years old. She never knew her mother very well either, due to the fact that she was forced to work after the death of her husband to keep a stable environment for her children.
At the time, Tanja was too young to full grasp the situation. As far as she knew their father didnt come home anymore, their mother was at home less, and Alec was there in the mornings when she woke before school. Tanja could easily remember coming home and remember Alec sitting in the living room, studying from one of his school books, already waiting to look after her.
As Alec was the only family member Tanja got to interact with on a regular basis, she became very attached, often badgering him about when their father would be returning, to which he would usually reply with plain silence. However, two months after what Tanja believed to be their fathers disappearance, Tanja proceeded with the usual questioning... with her elder brother defaulting to his usual response. After continued badgering, Alec finally lost his temper hotly telling Tanja that their father died in the line of duty and would never come home.
The combined shock of Alec yelling and the death of her father were a bit too much for someone of her age. Naturally she broke down and cried for hours, Alec immediately scrambling to comfort his crestfallen sibling. Tanja became substantially less communicative after the incident, but never held a grudge against her brother for the ordeal, still not fully understanding the situation.
Besides her unstable home life Tanjas growing up was without many complications. She made above average grades in school, and due to the quiet and generally anti-social nature she developed she was without distractions. Throughout the years, Tanja began to notice Alec was home less frequently, and was very quiet about his pastimes outside the home. Shortly after his activities outside the house began, Alec disappeared for three months.
With Alec gone, Tanjas mother was forced to oversee her care on her own, causing them to struggle having to live off their meager savings. Tanja barely noticed the change in her lifestyle, only 12 years of age, crying herself to sleep at the thought her brother mayve suffered an incident similar to their father. Her mother reacted similarly to the way Alec had, when she asked about what had happened to Feldwebel Voelkel, only making her fears grow.
Alec seemed to reappear out of the blue one day. He never told Tanja where he had been, but he seemed changed in ways she could not explain. Shortly after his return, Alec left Tanja and his mother and joined the Rheinwehr. Although she felt lonely, now old enough to take care of herself after school, with her mother returning to work, and Alec sending money; her home life improved.
Throughout the years life remained mostly static. Occasionally Alec would come to visit Tanja and his mother and tell her about his ventures as an enlisted member of the Rheinwehr. Tanja was usually fascinated by the stories of Alec being outgunned and outnumbered as he managed to cheat death time and again, facing off against wings of Hessians and Unioners.
Years had long since passed since Tanja was finishing up high school, and Alec advancing through the ranks. Tanjas mother now relaxed at home with Alec taking care of them financially. Soon after completing school, Tanja contemplated joining the Kriegsmarine alongside her brother, but knew all too well her mother would never approve.
At age 19 Tanja attended the University of Planet Neu Berlin. She studied economics for five years, trying to contribute to the young and old minds searching for ways to end Rheinlands economic woes. As Tanjas courses concluded, Rheinland was already getting back on its feet, but something else was around the corner. Tensions between Liberty and Rheinland were rising, and didnt seem to be dying off anytime soon.
In a panic, Tanja enlisted into the Rheinwehrs reserve forces. Everything seemed quiet for a little over a year, as her basic training ended. Soon after Liberty and Rheinland launched into full scale war, leaving Tanja with a hard decision, ultimately she chose to sign up into main fleet of the Kriegsmarine to fight alongside her elder brother and follow in his footsteps.
Basic Personality Traits: Despite years without consistent contact with the man who raised her, Tanja is still very attached to Alec. Tanja has also become somewhat playful, having overcome her social stigmas; however she is generally quieter around Alec for fear of embarrassing him. Tanja fits in well with the lower ranks, being naturally obedient, but is too quick to put others before herself.