Vulcans In Starfleet |
Everyone's favourite Non-Terran Federation race is the Vulcans right? In this article we explore the most prominent Vulcan officers in Starfleet and their role in Star Trek history.
NAME: Saavik
POSITION: Starship officer - Lieutenant
Saavik is a protege of Captain Spock who serves on board the U.5.5. Enterprise NCC-1701 as a cadet in 2285. She transfers to the U.5.5. Grissom later that same year. and is involved in the Genesis Device. Following this, she returns to Vulcan in 2285.
She first appeared in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) played by Kirstie Alley. Robin Curtis took on the role for the sequel, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), and in the next film, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986).
NAME: Savar
POSITION: Command officer - Admiral
Starfleet admiral stationed at Starfleet Headquarters. In 2354, Savar is briefly taken over by an alien intelligence bent on invading Starfleet Command.
Savar is one of a number of Vulcans who have risen through the ranks to hold top positions in Starfleet.
NAME: Sonak
POSITION: Starship science officer - Commander
Sonak is assigned to the newly refitted U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 in 2271 as science officer; the post was formerly filled by another Vulcan, Mr. Spock. Sonak is killed in a transporter accident as he is beaming up to the Enterprise to take up his post.
When Sonak dies, Kirk wants another Vulcan to fill the post, believing they make the best science officers, and who can argue with that?
NAME: Satlek
POSITION: Academy Official - Captain
Captain Satlek is one of the two command level officers at Starfleet Academy in 2368. He presides over the inquiry into the death at the Academy Flight Range of Cadet Joshua Albert. one of five cadets who carried out the banned Kolvoord Starburst maneuver.
The incident involved cadets Wesly Crusher and Nicholas Locarno who was played by Robert Duncan McNeill, McNeill later went on to star as Tom Paris in Voyager as a different but very similar character leading many to speculate why the same name wasn`t used, what do you think were the reasons for this mystery?
NAME: Selar
POSITION: Starship doctor - Lieutenant
'Dr. Selar is a valued colleague of the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE's Chief Medical Officer,' Dr. Beverly Crusher.
Selar serves on board the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. She is a member of the ship's dedicated medical staff.
NAME: Spock
POSITION: Federation ambassador - Various Ranks [when in Starleet]
Spock is the first Vulcan to join Starfleet and, although only half-Vulcan, he paves the way for many of his race to follow. His service begins on the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 under the command of Captain Pike. He later rises to first officer under Captain Kirk and eventually captains the ship as an instructor at Starfleet Academy.
Later in his career, Spock turns to diplomatic work, including playing a large part in the historic peace conference with the Klingons at Khitomer. In the 2360s, he turns his attentions away from Starfleet toward helping Romulan dissidents.
Spock helped bridge the gap between Vulcans and the mostly human Starfleet and is one of the most popular and most recognised charachters in SCi-Fi let alone Star Trek.
NAME: T'Lara
POSITION: Command Officer - Admiral
In 2372, Admiral T'Lara presides over Lieutenant Commander Worf's extradition hearing on Deep Space Nine, following accusations that the officer has fired on an unarmed Klingon transport craft.
It is widely thought that the logical and emotional attachment of Vulcans makes them particularly suitable to deal with legal matters and T'lara has shown particular skill in this area throughout her career.
NAME: T'Shanik
POSITION: Cadet Candidate - Starfleet Academy
Many Vulcans apply to join Starfleet during their long careers - T'Shanik, who hails from Vulcana Rega, is a candidate for Starfleet Academy in 2364.
She fails to pass the entrance exam, but her score places her as runner-up in the competition. We aren't told about her later career but feel free to speculate!
NAME: Taurik
POSITION: Starship Officer - Ensign
Taurik is a young ensign serving on board the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-Din 2370; he works in engineering control. Taurik mixes easily with his mostly non-Vulcan crewmates; he shares quarters with the human Sam Lavelle before the latter's promotion to lieutenant, and is also friendly with the Bajoran Ensign Sito Jaxa. He often plays card games with his colleagues.
NAME: Tuvok
POSITION: Starship Security Chief - Lt Commander
Security officer on board u.s.s. Voyager in 2371 under the command of Captain Kathryn Janeway. Tuvok comes from a Starfleet family - both his parents were Starfleet officers - and taught at Starfleet Academy for 16 years in between stints aboard starships. He initially had problems integrating with humans and once left Starfleet. returning after 51 years.
NAME: Valeris
POSITION: Starfleet Officer - Lieutenant
Valeris, another of Spock's proteges, is the first Vulcan to graduate from Starfleet Academy at the top of her class. She serves on board the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A under the command of Captain James T. Kirk. but is arrested following her involvement in the plot to assassinate Klingon Chancellor Gorkon, and thus prevent peace with the Klingons, in 2293.
NAME: Vorik
POSITION: Starship Officer - Ensign
Assistant engineer on the U.S.S. Voyager NCC- 74656 under the command of Captain Kathryn Janeway. Along with the ship and all hands, he is presumed lost in 2371 when Voyager is transported to the Delta Quadrant. Vorik continues to be a valuable member of Chief Engineer Torres's team. He undergoes Pon farr, the Vulcan mating ritual, on Stardate 50537 but runs into to trouble when he pursues half Klingon senior officer Lt Commander Torres for his mate.
NAME: T'Pol
POSITION: Starship Officer - Sub Commander
Commander T'Pol, born 2088 is portrayed by Jolene Blalock in Enterprise. She is a Vulcan who serves as the science officer aboard the starship Enterprise under it's first Captain Jonathan Archer.
After Earth accidentally made first contact with the Klingon courier Klaang in April 2151, T'Pol was reassigned to the Earth Starfleet vessel Enterprise, with the rank of sub-commander. She acted as "chaperone", in exchange for the Vulcan provision of star charts and the Klingon linguistic database, but was not immediately accepted by the crew. She did however form meaningful realtionships with many of the major character over the space of her time aboard Enterprise and elected to stay on and help rather than return home on multiple occasions.
Have we missed any you can think of? Who is your favourite Vulcan?
