Kevin Riley

Kevin Thomas Riley was a career Starfleet officer, who served aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) as a navigator in the late 2260s. He later became an attache to Admiral James T. Kirk, and later became an accomplished ambassador.

Early Life and Career
Kevin Thomas Riley was born on Tarsus IV in 2240. At the age of 7, the whole of Riley's family was killed on the order of Kodos the Executioner following a lengthy famine. Riley's life was saved by 14-year-old James T. Kirk, and the two boys became two of a few witnesses to Kodos' attrocities. (TOS novels: The Lost Years, Recovery, and Avenger).

Following Tarsus, Riley returned to Earth to live with distant relatives and entered Starfleet Academy in 2258, and graduated in 2262, where he was assigned to the USS Exeter (NCC-1706) as navigator. After serving with distinction aboard the Exeter for three years, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the USS Enterprise in 2265. (game: Star Trek: Starship Creator).

Aboard the Enterprise
Riley was well liked and respected aboard the Enterprise, and had many friends including Hikaru Sulu and Joe Tormolen. Tragedy struck in 2266, however, when the Enterprise visited Psi 2000, and Tormolen was infected with the Psi 2000 virus which led to depression, and a fight with Riley and Sulu in the recreation room, which resulted in his death.

Although he had to contend with the death of his friend, Riley was similarly afflicted with the virus, and took control of the Enterprise ' s engineering department and shut down the engines. Thankfully, Commander's Spock and Montgomery Scott were able to cold-restart the engines and get the starship to safety. (TOS episode: "The Naked Time" and novel: The Janus Gate, #1: Present Tense).

A later incident involving a Capellan choir which drew continual harrassment from his crewmates. This led Riley to request a transfer from Captain Kirk, but Kirk refused his request, and instead placed him in charge of one of the ship's contact teams. In 2267, he led a contact team aboard the generation ship, Wanderer, and redeemed himself in the eyes of the Enterprise crew. (TOS novel: The Galactic Whirlpool).

A few weeks later, Captain Kirk choose Riley to lead a landing party to survey an uncharted planet. While on the planet the party encountered trouble and crewmember, Lana Shembry, was killed. Riley blamed himself for her death and applied for a transfer off the Enterprise. Captain Kirk accepted and Riley accepted a teaching position at Starfleet Academy teaching navigational skills. (TOS novel: The Lost Years).

Later Life
When the Enterprise returned to Earth at the end of its five-year mission in 2270, Captain Kirk requested that Riley be promoted to lieutenant commander and that he served as his aide at Starfleet Headquarters. Despite some concern from Admiral Heihachiro Nogura, he relented and Riley accepted. (TOS novel: The Lost Years).

Riley had at least one son, Terrance Riley, who was born in 2310, and rose to command the USS Intrepid (NCC-74600) in the 2370s. (TNG novel: Crossover).