Nyota Uhura

For the mirror universe counterpart, see Nyota Uhura (mirror).

For the counterpart in the timeline created by Nero's incursion, see Nyota Uhura (alternate reality).

Nyota Uhura was a Federation Starfleet officer in both the 23rd century and the 24th century. Nearly thirty years of that service was under Captain James T. Kirk, aboard the USS Enterprise and the USS Enterprise-A.

Early Life

Uhura was born in 2239 on Earth, in Kitui Province, in the United States of Africa. (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident"; Star Trek II Biographies) Her mother was named M'Umbha, her father Damu Pua. (TOS: "The Man Trap", Star Trek II Biographies)

In the novelization of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Pavel Chekov said Uhura was from the Bantu Nation.

She would eventually be fluent in eleven Earth languages, including Swahili. (TOS: "The Man Trap", "The Changeling", "Spectre of the Gun", Absolute Horizon) In addition to her linguistic abilities, Uhura was also an athlete, running the 100-meter dash in record time. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")

Before she entered Starfleet Academy, Uhura spent a lot of time with family members who lived in Mombasa, Kenya. (The Lost Era novel: Catalyst of Sorrows)

About 2260, Uhura began studying music with Theodore "Theo" Papadopoulos, with whom she eventually fell in love. However, her long absences while in Starfleet resulted in his falling in love with someone else. (Absolute Horizon)

Prior to her assignment to Enterprise, Uhura was an ensign on the USS Potemkin. (Cloak and Dagger)

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

In 2266, Nyota Uhura was posted to this Constitution-class vessel as communications officer and held the rank of lieutenant. As well, she proved to be a capable technician and even took the helm on occasion. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver", "The Balance of Terror")

It is speculated that Uhura was on the command track during her early months on the Enterprise, as she wore a gold command-division uniform in "The Corbomite Maneuver" and "Mudd's Women".

She was a gregarious officer and shipmate, often singing for the crew in the rec room and while on bridge duty. (TOS: "The Conscience of the King", "The Changeling")

On stardate 3541.9, Uhura had her mind wiped by the Nomad probe. Christine Chapel was later able to restore her memories through a combination of educational and medical techniques. ("The Changeling")

Uhura in 2269. (Star Trek: Phase II)

Sometime prior to the Enterprise’s refit, in the early 2270’s, Nyota was promoted to lieutenant commander. She continued to function as the communications officer, under the command of Willard Decker. Admiral Kirk, once again, assumed command of the ship during the V'Ger incident. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

Once the Enterprise was assigned as a training vessel, Nyota was promoted to commander and was transferred to Starfleet Communications. Her duties also involved lecturing at Starfleet Academy. She was on the Enterprise when the scientists in charge of Project Genesis contacted Admiral Kirk. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

Later that year, Uhura aided Admiral Kirk, and other crew members, in stealing the Enterprise. The ship was later destroyed. She then, joined the survivors on Vulcan. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

She was forced to travel back in time, along with the rest of her crewmates, in an attempt to save Earth from the Whalesong probe. The mission was a success.

Upon returning to 23rd century Earth, the charges against her were dropped. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)

Uhura was assigned to the Enterprise-A. In 2287, the ship was hijacked by a group of zealots led by Sybok. Uhura refused to resist him after she had "shown him her pain." (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)

It was shortly before this incident that her affection for Montgomery Scott was made apparent. The reasons for this are explained differently in different continuities.

Six years later, Uhura and the crew were involved in exposing the Khitomer conspiracy. After the Enterprise’s decommissioning, she returned to teaching at the Academy. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

USS Intrepid II

In 2294, after the apparent death of James T. Kirk, and the disappearance of Montgomery Scott, Uhura became executive officer to Captain Spock on the Oberth-class USS Intrepid II. She succeeded him as captain two years later. (TOS novel: Vulcan's Forge)

Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

In 2306, the USS Gunterman ferried Captain Uhura to join USS Enterprise-B Captain John Harriman and Captain Pavel Chekov aboard the newly-commissioned museum USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-M). She admitted in her personal log she still hadn't recovered from the death of James Kirk in 2293.

With the Enterprise-M forced to race to the planet Gateway housing the Guardian of Forever, Uhura accompanied Harriman and Chekov to the planet's surface to investigate an unwelcomed visitor on the surface. Charlie Evans activated the Guardian, jumping back in time and preventing James Kirk from being born, creating an alternate reality.

In this alternate reality, Uhura lived on Vulcan and was married to Stonn. The pair had a married son, Sevar, and two grandchildren. Uhura was convinced that even if Vulcan ceded from the Galactic Order that the Order would not let it lie so easily. She, and her family, escaped the planet before the Omega weapon destroyed Vulcan. (Star Trek: Of Gods and Men)

United Trek fan fiction universe

Uhura became Head of Starfleet Intelligence in 2334, at the age of 95. She served in that role for nearly thirty years. An entire generation of SI operatives became very loyal to the elderly woman.

She became aware of Section 31 and began organizing a counter group with officers she could trust. Upon "retirement" in 2362, she continued her efforts against Section 31. Thirty-one now considers her one of their greatest internal problems. She began to live in hiding while still keeping contact with officers in the fleet.

In 2376, she was still alive at the age of 137.

Alternate continuities

TOS novel: Enterprise: The First Adventure

Nyota Uhura was already assigned to Enterprise before Kirk took command.

TOS novel: My Brother's Keeper trilogy

Nyota Uhura was assigned to Enterprise about a year after Kirk took command, shortly after the events at the galactic barrier. (TOS novel: My Brother's Keeper trilogy: Enterprise)

Orion Press

In 2295, Pavel Chekov asked Uhura to be his executive officer on the Enterprise-B. (Chekov's Enterprise)

External links

• Nyota Uhura article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
• Nyota Uhura article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.