D is for DeForest

D is for DeForest Kelly but who is he? DeForest is the lovable, cranky, argumentative Chief Medical Officer from Star Trek's classic series who hates using transporters! Sadly D is no longer with us but his spirit lives on as the emotional country doctor Dr Leonard H. McCoy also played by Karl Urban in Star Trek's 2009 movie.

We know from Starfleet's Medical that Dr McCoy donned the uniform in 1966 and cared about patients welfare between sips of saurian brandy, which he only used for medicinal purposes! You can't help but miss the ol' coot who had the heart of a poet and frailties which fans could identify with.

DeForest wrote a wonderful long poem called The Big Bird's Dream as a tribute to Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek delighting fans at Star Trek conventions.

C is for Chekov

C is for Chekov but who is he? In classic star trek Walter Koenig appears in the second season beginning with the episode 'Who Mourns for Adonais.' Hes the Navigator aboard the USS Enterprise NCC 1701. We know from Chekov's jokes that Russians invent all things great and small in Earth history which explains why hes so proud of his Russian heritage.

One of Star Trek's mysteries is how Khan Noonien Singh recognizes Chekov when the Russian is captured redhanded in Star Trek II (The Wrath of Khan.) We know the classic Enterprise crew encounter Khan aboard his sleeper ship, the SS Botany Bay in Star Trek's Space Seed episode but heres the kicker. Chekov doesn't get posted to Captain Kirk's USS Enterprise until nine episodes later in season 2!!! Khans famous gloat 'I never forget a face. Mister...Chekov. Isn't it? really begs the question. Where did Khan and Chekov first meet?

B is for Boothby

B is for Boothby but who is he? Boothby is Star Trek's grumpy Groundskeeper at Starfleet Academy played by Ray Walston. In 1963-66 Walston also starred in 107 episodes of My Favorite Martian as the sweet talking alien from Mars who lands on planet Earth.

Its neat seeing Uncle Martin in Star Trek TNG playing Boothby. Hes far more than just a groundskeeper offering simple advice. His special wisdom has mentored several Starfleet captains including Captain Jean Luc Picard, Captain Janeway and her sidekick Chakotay. Apparently, Picard seeks out Boothby's wise words of wisdom once again while investigating Starfleet's Nova Squadron cadets. Sadly all is not what it seems when Cadet Albert's flying tragedy is reported as an accident in TNG's 'First Duty.'

Only Boothby's intimate knowledge of Nova Squadron saves the day giving Picard the edge he needs. A real mystery surrounds Joshua Albert's training accident over Titan. Why are Starfleet's elite cadets acting so mysterious and elusive? False testimony about flight plans is definitely hiding something but what is it?

Who has the moral fiber to admit what really happened that day?