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For other uses, see Yar.
This page details Natasha Yar in the primary universe; for the Natasha Yar in the mirror universe see Natasha Yar (mirror); for the Natasha Yar in all other alternate universes see Natasha Yar (alternates).

Natasha "Tasha" Yar was a Human woman from the failed Turkana IV colony, who became a Starfleet officer and chief of security aboard the USS Enterprise-D in the year 2364. She was killed in the line of duty by a creature known as Armus.

Biography[]

Early life[]

She was of Ukrainian/Lithuanian ancestry. (TNG novel: Ghost Ship)

Her name was only assumed to be "Natasha" in later records, but she only ever remembered being called "Tasha". (TNG novel: Survivors)

Natasha was born in Turkana City on Turkana IV in 2337, the same year that government and social cohesion broke down in that failed colony. (Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook; Decipher RPG module: Worlds)

Sadly, Tasha was born a drug addict due to her mother's joy dust addiction. Her mother continued to feed her own baby the drug to keep her quiet, until she couldn't afford enough for the both of them. Tasha's earliest memories were of withdrawal pains. (TNG novel: Survivors)

In 2341, Tasha's mother cut off her knee-length braid of hair in an attempt to disguise her femininity from the rape gangs plaguing Turkana IV (TNG novel: Ghost Ship); Tasha later kept it short so it could not be easily grabbed by an attacker. (TNG novel: Survivors)

Her sister, Ishara, was born in 2342. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)

They were abandoned soon after by their mother when Tasha was aged five. (TNG episode: "The Naked Now"; TNG novel: Survivors)

But aged six, Tasha saw her parents killed after being caught in crossfire between opposing cadre forces. She came to despise the cadres as a result. Some people cared for the two of them for a few months, but they also abandoned them. (TNG episode: "Legacy"; Decipher RPG module: Worlds)

The Naked Now and Legacy disagree over whether Tasha and Ishara were abandoned by their parents or whether their parents were killed in crossfire. Survivors, meanwhile, has Tasha not know her mother's fate and speculate that she died of her joy dust addiction no more than a year after abandoning her. Survivors was written prior to Legacy, which elaborated on Tasha's background with canonical details and gave her a sister. As such, there are number of contradictions and Ishara Yar is not present in this account of Tasha Yar's early life. In a merged account, it may be presumed that Ishara accompanied Tasha through most of these events and that the old woman Yar also cared for Ishara. Alternatively, as Ishara was a baby, she may have been cared for by another woman.

An old woman named Yar took Tasha under her wing for company and taught her the skills of a petty thief and how to read signs around the city and make her way around its dangerous ruins, and kept her away from joy dust. Seven years later, around 2349, Tasha found Yar dead one morning, and dutifully took her knife to defend herself as she set out on her own. But only two days later, at only twelve years old, she was caught and gang-raped by one of the gangs plaguing the city. The terrible experience drove Tasha to train to fight and defend herself, learning to throw her knife and kill rats. She survived by stealing food, and twice killed rapists before they could get her again. (TNG novel: Survivors)

Two years later, Tasha rescued a ginger cat from feral children trying to set fire to its tail. Though she never named it, it became her closest companion. It once attacked a man attempting to kill her and steal her food; Tasha killed him. (TNG novel: Survivors)

At some point, Ishara joined the Coalition cadre as soon as she was old enough and left Tasha alone. (TNG episode: "Legacy")

Finally, in 2352, Tasha decided to join the Hellcats, one of the all-woman gangs, for protection. She planned to offer her combat skills and her cat as a rat-hunter and mascot. But before she could contact them, she was again chased by a rape gang. They killed her cat after it attacked one of them, then captured her, intending to sell her to one of the powerful drug lords now that she was grown. (TNG episode: "Where No One Has Gone Before"; TNG novel: Survivors)

Fortunately, she was rescued by an away team from the USS Cochrane, led by Darryl Adin. She gave her name as Tasha Yar, adopting the old woman's name as her own, and was taken to the Cochrane and treated for her injuries and deprivation by Doctor Munson. (TNG novel: Survivors)

Meanwhile, Turkana IV's Colony Government had expelled the last of the Federation delegation. (TNG episode: "Legacy"; Decipher RPG module: Worlds)

Tasha, now aged 15, tried to get Ishara to come with her, but she chose to stay with the Coalition. Tasha left along with the departing diplomats. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)

She spent two months aboard the Cochrane learning new skills and receiving counseling, and came to hero-worship Adin. She was determined to join Starfleet and become a Chief of Security out of gratitude and respect toward Starfleet and Darryl Adin for rescuing her. (TNG novel: Survivors, TNG episodes: "Encounter at Farpoint", "Code of Honor")

After reaching Earth, Adin organized care and education for Tasha Yar. However, Federation Immigration remembered that Turkana IV had formally seceded from the Federation and wished to send her back; the effort failed when the most powerful drug-lord representing the planet didn't want her. Yar spent three years in intense catch-up education and study in preparation for entering Starfleet Academy, and maintained only sporadic communication with Adin. (TNG novel: Survivors)

Starfleet Academy[]

Yar entered the Academy circa 2354 on a probationary appointment. She struggled in the first year with her uncivilized ways and failed the Ethics and Moral Principles course, being unable to accept that life wasn't cheap. Around 2358, Yar passed the Priam IV test with an excellent grade, thus gaining admission to the graduating class. At this time, Adin returned to Starfleet Academy for a refresher course in Advanced Security Techniques, a course which Yar also took. The pair began a relationship while studying together, and fell in love. Yar graduated with honors. (TNG novel: Survivors)

Starfleet career[]

Early career[]

Following her graduation from the Academy in 2359 (ST video game: Starship Creator), Ensign Yar planned to marry Adin and for the two of them to be mutually assigned to a Galaxy-class starship and raise a family. However, she first had a training voyage on the USS Starbound, under the command of Adin as Chief of Security. Carrying out an inventory, Yar helped discover that a saboteur had damaged the ship's hand phasers. Shortly afterwards, Orion pirates attacked the ship and stole its secret cargo of dilithium. Every officer died in the incident except for Adin and Dr. Trent, so as the ship limped home, Yar served as its de facto first officer under Acting Captain Adin.

But when the Starbound arrived at Starbase 18, Adin was arrested, accused of the sabotage and of conspiring with the Orions. After being found guilty in a court martial, Adin turned his wrath on Yar, believing that she was responsible for framing him, while Yar felt betrayed by Adin. Adin escaped before he could be sent to a Federation Rehabilitation Facility and disappeared. (TNG novel: Survivors)

Afterwards, in 2359, Yar was assigned to the Nebula-class starship USS Bellerophon, as a junior security officer. (ST video game: Starship Creator)

From 2361 to 2363, security teams trained by Yar won all the seek-and-protect exercises in The Fleet Championships. (TNG novelization: Encounter at Farpoint)

By 2363, Yar was serving aboard the USS Victory as assistant chief of security. She was awarded a citation for bravery following a mission to Kirishia, where she entered a Carnellian minefield in order to rescue several colonists. During the mission, Captain Jean-Luc Picard observed her bravery and vowed to have Yar aboard his next command, the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG episode: "Legacy"; ST video game: Starship Creator; TNG novel: The Buried Age)

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)[]

Natasha Yar 2364

Natasha Yar in 2364.

Newly promoted, Lieutenant Yar was assigned to the USS Enterprise-D in early 2364, and one of her first assignments was to pilot the shuttlecraft Galileo and transfer Captain Picard to the Enterprise, which was docked at McKinley Station. Shortly after, the Enterprise set out for Farpoint Station to collect further crewmembers and to investigate the station. (TNG episodes: "All Good Things...", "Encounter at Farpoint")

On stardate 41187.5, Yar was part of the away team when the Enterprise made first contact with the Theluvians of Syntagus Theluv. She was able to stop the children from hurting the away team with the Tripolian hellblazer.(TNG - Beginnings comic: "... Where No One Has Gone Before!")

On stardate 41590.8, Tasha was part of an away team to the planet Tigan. After uncovering a global conspiracy, the team were attacked by Tigan security forces and Yar and Commander Riker were taken into captivity. By reprogramming her combadge to emit a high-pitched whine, the two were able to escape using the noise to confuse and induce pain in the guards, giving the pair sufficient advantage to fight their way out. (TNG - The Space Between comic: "History Lesson")

On stardate 42120.3, during the Enterprise-D's Christmas celebration, Yar helped Captain Picard and the Creeg chase down an energy being. Five days later, she started to train Wesley Crusher in hiding much to Picard's annoyance. She then went with Commander Riker and a security team to investigate a deserted ship. However, onboard the ship, Yar, Riker and the team were put into shock by tormenting images and brought back to the Enterprise in a traumatized state. (TNG - Beginnings comics: "Spirit in the Sky!", "Q Factor")

On a mission to the planet Treva, Yar was kidnapped by followers of Darryl Adin, who was now a mercenary and freelance freedom fighter aiding the rebels on that world. He'd ordered her capture to explain the truth of what was going on Treva and attempted to enlist her aid. Though conflicted by her duty to the Prime Directive, Yar participated in planning for the liberation of Treva, and in the defense of the rebel stronghold of Warrior's Rest. However, after working with Adin again, and learning how he'd changed as a result of his court martial, she struggled to decide whether to let him go or turn him in. Eventually she was forced to arrest her former lover, taking him into custody aboard the Enterprise. Fortunately, Lieutenant Commander Data discovered that Orions had framed Adin in 2359. The revelation exonerated Adin, but he declined Starfleet's offer to return to duty. Instead, he invited Yar to join him, but she chose to complete her Starfleet career. He and Yar parted on good terms. (TNG novel: Survivors)

In late 2364, the Enterprise traveled to Vagra II in order to rescue two crewmembers who had crashed there. They encountered an entity known as Armus, which slew Yar (caused head trauma) when she attempted to assist her crewmates. (TNG episode: "Skin of Evil", ST website : StarTrek.com)

Legacy[]

After Worf was paralyzed in an accident and contemplated suicide, William Riker brought up Yar's name in a list of examples of comrades killed in action who fought for life to the end. (TNG episode: "Ethics")

In 2370, Miles O'Brien thought to himself that Moru, a member of the Bajoran Militia, looked harder than Kira Nerys and tougher than Tasha Yar. (DS9 novel: Fallen Heroes)

When Captain Riker and Deanna Troi had a child in 2381 aboard the USS Titan, they named her after their deceased friend Tasha Yar. (TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea)

Starfleet service record[]

location assignment dates rank or rate assignment insignia rank insignia
Starfleet Academy student officer 2355-2359 cadet Assignment badge. Uniform collar.
USS Starbound junior security officer 2359 ensign Uniform collar.
USS Bellerophon junior security officer 2359-2363 ensign Uniform collar.
USS Victory assistant chief of security 2363-2364 lieutenant junior grade Uniform collar.
USS Enterprise-D chief of security 2364 lieutenant Uniform collar.

Appendices[]

Background[]

Connections[]

USS Starbound personnel
Emblem of the United Federation of Planets.

Darryl AdinGeorge BosinneyDonalBrian HayakawaJack HendersonEnid JarvisNicholsKarin OrlovSestokSethanT'IrnyaT'SeyaTrentTasha YarZkun

Seal of the Federation Starfleet.
Victory personnel
United Kingdom of Great Britain HMS Victory Horatio Nelson UK flag image icon image.
Federation, Starfleet USS Victory (NCC-9754) A. BrevelleT. CadwalladerP. HickmanG. La ForgeS. LiejtenE. MendezN. YarM. Zimbata Federation icon image. Starfleet emblem icon image.
USS Victory (NCC-170147) Four of TenKarbo
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) security & tactical personnel
Emblem of the United Federation of Planets. AddisonC. AndersonAndersonArthurBadnajianBaileyBarnabyBelixBeneschBernsteinBoyajianBrindleBurkeBodoncharBuchanonCaledonCavayClarkeConnerD'AngeloDetaithDetekDe GroodtDe LuzDreodD'SoraFrazerFongGomezGreenblattHanHansonHarcourtHasellHassettHolzrichterHorowitzHouarnerKeenanKellogKesslerKranerLoyoshaMannMartinezMendezMeyerMirishMontezNewmanPalazzoPaskallPorfirioPotterResnickRodriguezRyderSalingerSchultzScullyShikibuSinghStarrosSternTimoshenkoTinkerTrentVanderbeekWallaceWhiffWongWorfWrennYar Starfleet insignia.
see also: engineering personnelmedical personnelpilots & flight control personneloperations personnelsciences personnelsenior staffunnamed

Appearances[]

2363
2364
2366
2409

External links[]

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