The son of two career State Department officers (Foreign Service branch of State, therefore spies), Michael was groomed for intelligence work from the time he was a baby. A keen observer with a great memory he has always enjoyed the strategic and the tactical

games required of an intel officer.  He chose the Marines over either State or Fleet because it was the more difficult path, and it required more of him.

His teen years were spent on ch’Rihan when his parents were stationed there.  While attending university as a freshman he befriended Rhiana t’Khllrenz, the daughter of a Rihannsu senator.  They fell in love and became engaged to be married (or bonded as the Rihannsu would say),

performing the human ritual of exchanging rings and the Rihannsu ritual of clasping hands over a dagger, which was then withdrawn, cutting both palms, leaving them with matching, mirroring scars (his on the left hand, hers on the right).  They had to keep their relationship secret at first, but eventually “came out” to both sets of parents.  While both had misgivings, they eventually came to accept the future in-laws without reservation.

The night before their wedding, the two were attacked, in what appeared to be a hate crime.  Michael was badly injured, Rhiana was killed.  Still recovering, his parents sent him back to Earth to Starfleet Academy while they worked to patch up the diplomatic issues.

 He chose the Marine path and entered into Intel, doing advanced recon work, scouting, sniping, and the occasional up close and personal assassination.  A few years ago he stumbled across some classified documents and learned that the attack on him and Rhiana had not been a hate crime but had, instead, been orchestrated by SF intel.  

Shortly thereafter, while on an undercover assignment, his cover was blown (likely by someone inside SF Intel). He was rescued by the DFA Cromwell, and joined the DFA, and the Cromwell's crew.