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| rank = [[Lieutenant]]
 
| rank = [[Lieutenant]]
 
| occupation = [[First officer]]<br />[[Helmsman]]
 
| occupation = [[First officer]]<br />[[Helmsman]]
| status = Active
+
| status = Alive
 
| datestatus = 2254
 
| datestatus = 2254
 
| actor = [[Majel Barrett Roddenberry]]
 
| actor = [[Majel Barrett Roddenberry]]
 
}}__NOTOC__
 
}}__NOTOC__
 
{{disambiguation|the nickname|Number one}}
 
{{disambiguation|the nickname|Number one}}
"'''Number One'''" was the nickname given by [[Captain]] [[Christopher Pike]] to his [[first officer]] on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}. While Number One served in this role, she held the [[rank]] of [[lieutenant]]. She was noted for her exceptional intelligence and rationality, and Captain Pike regarded Number One as the most experienced officer on the ''Enterprise''. According to the [[Talosian]] [[magistrate]] known as [[The Keeper]], Number One's seeming lack of emotion was largely a pretense, however, and she often had fantasies that involved Captain Pike.
+
"'''Number One'''" was a female [[Human]] [[Starfleet]] [[officer]] in the [[23rd century]]. She was a [[lieutenant]] who served in the [[command division]] aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} in [[2254]] under the [[commanding officer|command]] of [[Captain]] [[Christopher Pike]]. As well as being one of the [[starship|ship]]'s [[helmsman]], she was its [[first officer]]. She was one of the most experienced officers on the ship. Her name was not Number One; this was the [[navy|naval]] [[slang]] term given by Pike to his first officer on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}.
   
  +
According to the [[Talosian]] [[magistrate]], known as [[The Keeper]], she had exceptional intelligence and rationality, and that her seeming lack of emotion was largely a pretense and she often had fantasies that involved Captain Pike.
In [[2254]], when Captain Pike was kidnapped by the [[Talosian]]s, Number One led the effort to rescue him, first by unsuccessfully attempting to use a [[laser cannon]] to blast open an entry to a Talosian underground lair where Pike was being held, and then by using the [[transporter]] in an attempt to infiltrate this layer. Number One was subsequently kidnapped, along with [[Yeoman]] [[J.M. Colt|Colt]], for the purpose of providing Pike with a mate with whom he could procreate. In response to this, Number One set her [[laser pistol]] to overload, telling the Talosian Keeper that it was wrong to keep a colony of Humans as slaves, and that they would rather die. This, combined with an examination of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s historical records, convinced the Talosians that Humans' unique hatred of captivity made them nonviable subjects, and they were subsequently allowed to return to the ''Enterprise''. ({{TOS|The Cage|The Menagerie, Part I|The Menagerie, Part II}})
 
  +
 
In [[2254]], when Pike was kidnapped by the [[Talosian]]s, Number One led the effort to rescue him, first by unsuccessfully attempting to use a [[laser cannon]] to blast open an entry to a Talosian underground lair where Pike was being held, and then by using the [[transporter]] in an attempt to infiltrate this layer. Number One was subsequently kidnapped, along with [[Yeoman]] [[J.M. Colt|Colt]], for the purpose of providing Pike with a mate with whom he could procreate. In response to this, Number One set her [[laser pistol]] to overload, telling the Talosian Keeper that it was wrong to keep a colony of Humans as slaves, and that they would rather die. This, combined with an examination of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s historical records, convinced the Talosians that Humans' unique hatred of captivity made them nonviable subjects, and they were subsequently allowed to return to the ''Enterprise''. ({{TOS|The Cage|The Menagerie, Part I|The Menagerie, Part II}})
   
 
{{navbox|{{EnterpriseFirstOfficers}}|{{EnterpriseHelmsmen}}}}
 
{{navbox|{{EnterpriseFirstOfficers}}|{{EnterpriseHelmsmen}}}}
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"''It's wrong to create a race of Humans to keep as slaves.''"
 
"''It's wrong to create a race of Humans to keep as slaves.''"
 
: - '''Number One''', just before preparing to kill the Humans and the Keeper. ({{TOS|The Cage}})
 
: - '''Number One''', just before preparing to kill the Humans and the Keeper. ({{TOS|The Cage}})
 
   
 
"''Who would have been Eve?''"<br />
 
"''Who would have been Eve?''"<br />
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== Appendices ==
 
== Appendices ==
 
=== Background information ===
 
=== Background information ===
It is rare that an officer with the rank of lieutenant serves as the first officer of a [[starship]]. The likely reason for this is that, when [[Gene Roddenberry]] first created ''[[Star Trek]]'', the first rank structure he employed was based on the system used in the 18th and 19th century British navy, in which a ship's second in command was generally a [[First Lieutenant]] in the sense of the most senior lieutenant, rather than 20th century [[US Navy|naval]] ranks we have come to associate with [[Starfleet]].
+
It was rare that an officer with the rank of lieutenant served as the first officer of a [[starship]]. The likely reason for this was that, when [[Gene Roddenberry]] first created ''[[Star Trek]]'', the first rank structure he employed was based on the system used in the 18th and 19th century British navy, in which a ship's second in command was generally a [[First Lieutenant]] in the sense of the most senior lieutenant, rather than 20th century [[US Navy|naval]] ranks we have come to associate with [[Starfleet]].
   
In the original version of the series outline ''[[Star Trek is...]]'' (as reprinted in ''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', pp. 22-30), Number One is initially described as "a glacierlike, efficient female who serves as ship's Executive Officer." (''The Making of Star Trek'', p. 24) A more detailed description of the character from the exact same document reads as follows;
+
In the original version of the series outline ''[[Star Trek is...]]'' (as reprinted in ''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', pp. 22-30), Number One was initially described as "a glacierlike, efficient female who serves as ship's Executive Officer." (''The Making of Star Trek'', p. 24) A more detailed description of the character from exactly the same document reads as follows;
   
 
:''<u>The Executive Officer</u><br>
 
:''<u>The Executive Officer</u><br>
 
:''Never referred to as anything but "Number One", this officer is female. Almost mysteriously female, in fact -- slim and dark in a Nile Valley way, age uncertain, one of those women who will always look the same between years twenty and fifty. An extraordinarily efficient officer, "Number One" enjoys playing it expressionless, cool -- is probably [[Robert April]]'s superior in detailed knowledge of the equipment, departments, and personnel aboard the vessel. When Captain April leaves the craft, "Number One" moves up to Acting Captain.'' (''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', p. 29)
 
:''Never referred to as anything but "Number One", this officer is female. Almost mysteriously female, in fact -- slim and dark in a Nile Valley way, age uncertain, one of those women who will always look the same between years twenty and fifty. An extraordinarily efficient officer, "Number One" enjoys playing it expressionless, cool -- is probably [[Robert April]]'s superior in detailed knowledge of the equipment, departments, and personnel aboard the vessel. When Captain April leaves the craft, "Number One" moves up to Acting Captain.'' (''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', p. 29)
   
In the script of "The Cage", Number One is described as "''Female, slim and dark in a Nile Valley way, age uncertain, one of those women who will always look the same between the ages of twenty and fifty [....] Almost glacier-like in her imperturbability and precision. From time to time we'll wonder just how much female exists under that icy facade.''"
+
In the script of "The Cage", Number One was described as "''Female, slim and dark in a Nile Valley way, age uncertain, one of those women who will always look the same between the ages of twenty and fifty [....] Almost glacier-like in her imperturbability and precision. From time to time we'll wonder just how much female exists under that icy facade.''"
   
 
The character was portrayed by [[Majel Barrett-Roddenberry]].
 
The character was portrayed by [[Majel Barrett-Roddenberry]].
   
Number One was dropped from the series, however, as [[NBC]] executives did not respond well to her character. Reactions to her in the screen test of "The Cage" were also poor (the women more negatively than the men, according to Roddenberry). Her highly-logical, steel-trap mind was given to the character of [[Spock]] in {{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before}} and maintained there onward.
+
Number One was dropped from the series, however, as [[NBC]] executives did not respond well to her character. Reactions to her in the screen test of "The Cage" were also poor (by the women more negatively than the men, according to Roddenberry). Her highly-logical, steel-trap mind was given to the character of [[Spock]] in {{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before}} and maintained there onward.
   
 
Although Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was credited as Majel Barrett in "The Cage", she was credited as "M. Leigh Hudec" in {{e|The Menagerie, Part I}} and {{e|The Menagerie, Part II}} (probably because the production team were endeavoring to hide from NBC the fact that the actress whose departure from the series had been demanded by the network was actually still in the series, recurring as Nurse [[Christine Chapel]]).
 
Although Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was credited as Majel Barrett in "The Cage", she was credited as "M. Leigh Hudec" in {{e|The Menagerie, Part I}} and {{e|The Menagerie, Part II}} (probably because the production team were endeavoring to hide from NBC the fact that the actress whose departure from the series had been demanded by the network was actually still in the series, recurring as Nurse [[Christine Chapel]]).
   
 
=== Apocrypha ===
 
=== Apocrypha ===
In the Marvel ''[[Star Trek: Early Voyages]]'' comic book series, this character is named Lieutenant Commander Robbins. Her first name is interrupted by other dialogue, but starts with "Eure-."
+
In the Marvel ''[[Star Trek: Early Voyages]]'' comic book series, this character was named Lieutenant Commander Robbins. Her first name was interrupted by other dialogue, but starts with "Eure-."
   
 
The [[novels|novel]] ''[[Vulcan's Glory]]'', by [[TOS]] writer [[D.C. Fontana]], suggested this character's moniker was not simply a nickname or title &ndash; she was an [[Illyrian]] who was named "Number One," as the best intellect among her generation.
 
The [[novels|novel]] ''[[Vulcan's Glory]]'', by [[TOS]] writer [[D.C. Fontana]], suggested this character's moniker was not simply a nickname or title &ndash; she was an [[Illyrian]] who was named "Number One," as the best intellect among her generation.
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[[Peter David]]'s ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier|New Frontier]]'' series of novels suggested that her name (at least in the [[24th century]]) may have been "Morgan Primus," and that she was an immortal like [[Flint]] (from {{TOS|Requiem for Methuselah}}). She was the mother of Robin Lefler.
 
[[Peter David]]'s ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier|New Frontier]]'' series of novels suggested that her name (at least in the [[24th century]]) may have been "Morgan Primus," and that she was an immortal like [[Flint]] (from {{TOS|Requiem for Methuselah}}). She was the mother of Robin Lefler.
   
The early days of Number One are chronicled in the [[IDW Publishing]] miniseries ''[[Star Trek: Crew]]''.
+
The early days of Number One were chronicled in the [[IDW Publishing]] miniseries ''[[Star Trek: Crew]]''.
   
 
=== External links ===
 
=== External links ===

Revision as of 13:52, 25 March 2015

For the nickname, please see Number one.

"Number One" was a female Human Starfleet officer in the 23rd century. She was a lieutenant who served in the command division aboard the USS Enterprise in 2254 under the command of Captain Christopher Pike. As well as being one of the ship's helmsman, she was its first officer. She was one of the most experienced officers on the ship. Her name was not Number One; this was the naval slang term given by Pike to his first officer on the USS Enterprise.

According to the Talosian magistrate, known as The Keeper, she had exceptional intelligence and rationality, and that her seeming lack of emotion was largely a pretense and she often had fantasies that involved Captain Pike.

In 2254, when Pike was kidnapped by the Talosians, Number One led the effort to rescue him, first by unsuccessfully attempting to use a laser cannon to blast open an entry to a Talosian underground lair where Pike was being held, and then by using the transporter in an attempt to infiltrate this layer. Number One was subsequently kidnapped, along with Yeoman Colt, for the purpose of providing Pike with a mate with whom he could procreate. In response to this, Number One set her laser pistol to overload, telling the Talosian Keeper that it was wrong to keep a colony of Humans as slaves, and that they would rather die. This, combined with an examination of the Enterprise's historical records, convinced the Talosians that Humans' unique hatred of captivity made them nonviable subjects, and they were subsequently allowed to return to the Enterprise. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II")

Template:EnterpriseFirstOfficers Template:EnterpriseHelmsmen

Memorable Quotes

"It's wrong to create a race of Humans to keep as slaves."

- Number One, just before preparing to kill the Humans and the Keeper. (TOS: "The Cage")

"Who would have been Eve?"
"Yeoman!"

- Colt and Number One referring to whom Pike would have chosen. (TOS: "The Cage")

Appendices

Background information

It was rare that an officer with the rank of lieutenant served as the first officer of a starship. The likely reason for this was that, when Gene Roddenberry first created Star Trek, the first rank structure he employed was based on the system used in the 18th and 19th century British navy, in which a ship's second in command was generally a First Lieutenant in the sense of the most senior lieutenant, rather than 20th century naval ranks we have come to associate with Starfleet.

In the original version of the series outline Star Trek is... (as reprinted in The Making of Star Trek, pp. 22-30), Number One was initially described as "a glacierlike, efficient female who serves as ship's Executive Officer." (The Making of Star Trek, p. 24) A more detailed description of the character from exactly the same document reads as follows;

The Executive Officer
Never referred to as anything but "Number One", this officer is female. Almost mysteriously female, in fact -- slim and dark in a Nile Valley way, age uncertain, one of those women who will always look the same between years twenty and fifty. An extraordinarily efficient officer, "Number One" enjoys playing it expressionless, cool -- is probably Robert April's superior in detailed knowledge of the equipment, departments, and personnel aboard the vessel. When Captain April leaves the craft, "Number One" moves up to Acting Captain. (The Making of Star Trek, p. 29)

In the script of "The Cage", Number One was described as "Female, slim and dark in a Nile Valley way, age uncertain, one of those women who will always look the same between the ages of twenty and fifty [....] Almost glacier-like in her imperturbability and precision. From time to time we'll wonder just how much female exists under that icy facade."

The character was portrayed by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry.

Number One was dropped from the series, however, as NBC executives did not respond well to her character. Reactions to her in the screen test of "The Cage" were also poor (by the women more negatively than the men, according to Roddenberry). Her highly-logical, steel-trap mind was given to the character of Spock in TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and maintained there onward.

Although Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was credited as Majel Barrett in "The Cage", she was credited as "M. Leigh Hudec" in "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II" (probably because the production team were endeavoring to hide from NBC the fact that the actress whose departure from the series had been demanded by the network was actually still in the series, recurring as Nurse Christine Chapel).

Apocrypha

In the Marvel Star Trek: Early Voyages comic book series, this character was named Lieutenant Commander Robbins. Her first name was interrupted by other dialogue, but starts with "Eure-."

The novel Vulcan's Glory, by TOS writer D.C. Fontana, suggested this character's moniker was not simply a nickname or title – she was an Illyrian who was named "Number One," as the best intellect among her generation.

In the Captain's Table novel Where Sea Meets Sky, Number One was given the last name Lefler (an allusion to Robin Lefler).

Peter David's New Frontier series of novels suggested that her name (at least in the 24th century) may have been "Morgan Primus," and that she was an immortal like Flint (from TOS: "Requiem for Methuselah"). She was the mother of Robin Lefler.

The early days of Number One were chronicled in the IDW Publishing miniseries Star Trek: Crew.

External links