In the original Star Trek TV series, the security guards
wore red shirts. This must have worried
them, as red is such an eye-catching color.
Indeed, most of the people who died on away-missions wore red. These security guards filled an important
function, yet they were rarely recognized, and none became memorable
crew-members of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
While the later movies would address this issue by making
Mr. Chekov head of Security, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” really made the
security guards stand out. Each wore
armor that covered his torso, as well as a helmet secured by a thick chinstrap. Unfortunately, the encounter with V’ger never
gives them anything to do. Even when the
burst of plasma energy invades the bridge, the security guard is ordered to
keep back, and not even fire his phaser, as Ilia, the beautiful Deltan
navigator, is killed.
Apparently Marv Wolfman, who adapted Harold Livingston’s
script for Marvel Comics, was dissatisfied with the inability of the security
guards to fulfill their proper role. So
he has the security officer on the bridge attempt to combat the V’ger’s
plasma-probe, in the hopes of defending his crewmates.
Needless to say, things don’t go well for him.
While Wolfman doesn’t name the fallen security guard, he
will have Kirk list the security guard among the Enterprise personnel “Missing”
following their encounter with V’ger. And so, finally,
a Star Trek security guard gets the respect he deserves.
Images from Marvel Comics' Star Trek Vol. 1, Issue No. 2.
Dragon Dave
and none became memorable crew-members of the U.S.S. Enterprise. First Security Services bodyguards
ReplyDeleteIt was actually filmed qith the guard being zapped and later edited from the film.
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