I need more Shrancher HCs from my fave Andorian whisperer. Also what do you HC for the rest of the commando squad from P’Jem (Tholos, Keval, and Thon)? I know Tholos is a bit mean but I like him and Keval is very shaped to my brain. Thon is just some guy I don’t know 🤣🤣😭 (to me).
-Horta-in-Charge
Hey you! I was asked a bit about the Andorian commandos in a previous ask ages ago, so I'll throw those tidbits in here as well!
SHRANCHER HEADACANONS:
(Emigre specific) Shran's daughter with Jhamel is the result of a rare birth outside of a quad marriage, which would be scandalous enough even without Jhamel being Aenar as well. It's made him something of an awkward almost-pariah amongst other Andorians. On the one hand, he has the rank and prestige of a General of the Imperial Guard... but he also married a pacifist Aenar, produced a child without a quad, and is a staunch supporter of alliances with aliens rather than his previously well-known stance that Andoria needed no one but Andoria to survive. The radical changes he has undergone since meeting with Archer have left some very perturbed indeed.
(Emigre specific) Archer and Shran parted on bad terms at the end of TATV, due to Trip's crippling injuries. Trip survived, which is the only reason Archer and Shran can be civil to one another at all, but our favourite engineer was forced to retire from active duty and move into a consulting position as a result of his wounds. Shran regrets this immensely, but he wouldn't trade anything for his daughter's safety and well-being.
(Emigre specific) Shran and Jhamel have, despite their somewhat dubious reputation, been approached by a number of interested parties to complete their quad. They have declined every time.
(General headcanon) It took Jonathan three weeks after the fact to realize he and Shran were bonded. They're not married (yet) but he'll still announce that they are at official functions, purely because it aggravates Shran. Bless that concussed duck of a man.
(General headcanon) Archer slipped their official marriage paperwork for Starfleet in amongst the forms for the formation of the coalition of planets, since there was at least one official there with the legal authority to recognize it. Soval was absolutely in on it.
(General headcanon) Shran and Archer are absolute terrors at diplomatic dinner parties - mostly because Archer won't stop making gooey calf-eyes at Shran and Shran won't stop threatening anyone who glances too long in Archer's direction. Ambassador Gral has started bringing his wife to these dinners in retaliation. Innocent bystanders are uncertain which couple is worse to be stuck at a table with - the murderous Andorian and his very friendly Human, or the aggressively flirtatious (read: loud and contentious) Tellarite spouses.
(General headcanon) Ambassador Soval periodically sends Archer Vulcan incense, a known allergen for many Andorians, which Archer generally regifts to Trip and T'Pol. Shran has fragrantly spiced meats sent to Soval's office, which are usually immediately regifted to either Archer or Ambassador Gral by a harried Vulcan aide in biohazard gear.
ANDORIAN COMMANDO HEADCANONS:
The Andorians in the Andorian Incident are Commander Thy'lek Shran, Thon, Keval, and Tholos. I don't have a huge amount of headcanons for the commandos, personally, but I'll share what I have.
Tholos
Regarding Tholos' behaviour at P'Jem, I've shared in a previous post why I think Tholos is an asshole but not that kind of asshole, so I'll just link that here rather than retread the same path.
So, Tholos headcanons:
Tholos as Shran's chief of security on the Kumari and holds the rank of lieutenant.
Tholos and Shran have served together for years and trust each other implicitly in the field. They don't necessarily like one another personally, but once the uniform is on and there's a job to be done, both know that they other is very solidly in their corner.
He's very definitely an asshole, and the first to throw hands in a fight.
Tholos is unfailingly loyal to his commander, even when he disagrees with some of Shran's decisions, and he takes his job very seriously.
His idea of flirting is to throw someone in a ring and spar until both parties are bloody. Consensually, of course. He's an asshole, not a monster.
The man doesn't believe in non-contact sports. Or no-contact playing, for that matter. Expect bruises and bites in either context.
He's not actually sure why he is the way he is, nor is he particularly interested in finding out why or changing it. He likes what he likes, and if that's not doing it for you then you can move along.
His personality is such that he has a small, tight-knit circle of friends rather than a broader social network, but that's the price he pays for running roughshod over other people at times.
Even his friends need a break from him at times, which Tholos tries not to take personally.
If you get into his good graces, Tholos is an absolute terror to your enemies and a valuable ally to have in your corner. If you fall into his bad books, you're better off transferring to another ship entirely.
Keval
We only see Keval operating scanners and helping to search the monastery during the Andorian Incident, which makes me think he might be an engineer.
Keval is on the quieter side, as Andorians go, with a thoughtful disposition. He's plenty social, but he's also less quick to leap into action than some of his fellows. He'd rather take a moment to assess first.
When he's not searching Vulcan monasteries for secret lairs, he enjoys tinkering with the systems under his care to improve their yield and efficiency in his spare time.
He's more interested in warp systems and phase canons than politics and alliances. He's rather be left to his own devices in engineering than run around wrangling aliens, but when duty calls he answers regardless.
Absolutely hates sparring with Tholos when it's time to refresh his CQC qualifications, and he wouldn't play with the man for any amount of latinum.
As a child, he was always getting in trouble for taking things apart to see how they worked and forgetting to put them back together again.
Keval is cousins with Thon, though his second mother.
He's pretty sure he could fold Malcolm Reed into all sorts of interesting contortions and be thanked for it by the end of the night, should the opportunity ever arise. Lack of relevant anatomical knowledge will not stop this Andorian from figuring out how to have a (very enthusiastic) good time with a new partner.
Thon
Thon is probably part of the Kumari's security complement under Tholos' command.
He's an easy-going sort of guy, though he's by no means a pushover. If push comes to shove, he can and will lay down the law.
At any given point in time, Thon would rather be hiking or checking out some hole-in-the-wall dive bar.
He joined the Imperial Guard after being pressured by his family.
He doesn't hate the Guard, but he doesn't love it the way Shran and the others seem to. It's just a job for him, rather than a calling.
He does enjoy seeing new planets and meeting new species, most of the time, but he could really take or leave the firefights and the political intrigue.
He can sleep anywhere, if needed. Anywhere.
Is very competent in hand-to-hand and the ushaan-tor, and preferentially fights in melee range when given the chance, but he's equally comfortable at range as well.
Thon doesn't really care about Tholos' attitude. He generally just ignores the lieutenant, outside of following orders and doing his job. He's not entirely sure why so many others can't do the same.
Thon and Tholos played once, after a particularly vicious sparing round ended in a tie. It was alright; a bit bloodier than Thon generally prefers, but to each their own.
He thinks Humans are alright, if nothing special to look at. He'll flirt back on reflex if one ever approaches him for a bit of play, but he's not actually likely to get really invested. He prefers his own species, usually.