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Communications Officer Lieutenant Uhura
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In Star Trek TOS, Nichelle Nichols is known as
Lieutenant Uhura on the starship USS Enterprise NCC 1701. Crucial for making first contact with alien worlds by establishing incoming and outgoing communications, Uhura opened hailing frequencies with alien lifeforms right from the beginning, alerting the bridgecrew keeping them up-to speed with all the latest subspace news. Shes 83 in December God bless her.
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Dr Beverly Crusher
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In Star Trek TNG, Dr Beverly Howard Crusher (Gates McFadden) is the Chief Medical Officer of the Galaxy Class USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D. When Data discovers Crushers secret she nearly flips out.
"I don't ever want to be known as the Dancing Doctor again". Every trekker worth their latinium knows Mc Fadden is a real dancer, director, teacher, choreographer and a dynamic healing influence aboard Captain Picard's Federation Flagship.
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Captain Kathryn Janeway
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In Star Trek's 20th Anniversary Voyager Magazine, the Winter edition states
"Women were still rare as leading action characters and the the typical kickass female combined her toughness with youth and a subtext of sexual availability."
So along comes Star Trek Voyager in 1995 with Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) with her "abrasive authority" and squeaky nasal voice. Janeway is strong willed and sound provided she gets her high intake of coffee, black.
So was Janeway the first woman to kick butt in Star Trek?
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Seven of Nine
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Seven of Nine is the first female cyborg of note in Star Trek. Its fair to say she makes quite the impression and fainted four times until they got her uniform specs just right. Now that must have been a tough job! Lol - I've written loads about Jeri Ryan
here and
here.
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1987 Proof: Beverly Crusher was on the scene only feet away from Armus, one of the most evil lifeforms in the galaxy.
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So lets rewind to 1987- Star Trek The Next Generation warps onto our TV screens. In the
23rd episode "Skin of Evil" CMO Dr Beverly beams down with the Away Team - Data, Geordi, Riker and Chief of Security Tasha Yar to Vagra II in 2364. Here Beverly is on the front lines and meets a terrifying Armus. - I mean this dude was
BIG and
SLIMY and
it SPOKE! You can bet all your trekkie autographs, toys and memorabilia the landing party were totally freaked out! Well maybe not Data.
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"Data, somethings got me!" "Touch him and he dies!"
Crushers tricorder scans reveal a very powerful dark creature of limitless pure evil while Commander Riker is dragged screaming into the creatures pool of black goo.
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Ship's Counsellor Deanna Troi - "I felt her die".
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Meanwhile, the ships Betazoid, Counsellor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) is trapped/held prisoner in her crashed Shuttlecraft by Armus while Yar is instantly killed by a flick of the creatures power.
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Chief of Security Lieutenant Tash Yar
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In my book, it takes nerves of steel and expertise to cope with hostile lifeforms like Armus.
But did Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) cross the line? I remember how shell shocked trekkers were when Yar died. It looked pretty hopeless because lets face it, it was. Yar's death was tragic and meaningless. She even says so herself in Yesterdays Enterprise.
Our good Dr Crusher beams Yar's broken body back to Sickbay and desperately tries to microvolt her brain back to life. Sadly Yar's injuries were too great but what a grand exit. "That thing just sucked the life right out of her."
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Jadzia Dax
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Last but not least, Niners will recall Jadzia Dax is killed in "Tears of the Prophets", the finale of the sixth season of Deep Space Nine. When asked how she would like Jadzia Dax to be remembered, Terry Farrell said, "wisely mischievous."
Which of Star Trek's female trailblazers gets your vote?
Live long and Prosper, Trekkies, Trekkers, Bloggies and Niners.
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