Kate is a freelance writer who offers her advice on a wide range of subjects drawn from her own Trek life experiences. The views and opinions expressed by Kate are hers and hers alone... and trust us, she has opinions! Click here to send your question to Kate.

Hey Everyone!

So over the weekend, I was channel surfing and stumbled across a special on the Galaxy and how huge it really is, and that there are millions upon millions of planets and what-not. This got me thinking, just imagine how long it would take to visit each one! Then this made me think even more — if Captain Kirk's Enterprise was to stop on a planet, and then there was no more Starfleet contact with that planet until ... well, say, Captain Picard shows up, does that mean then that the command crew would be in danger? After all, the commanders are now wearing red. Hear me out! The people on that planet (and every other planet in the Original Series) somehow set their weapons to only shoot the "Red Shirts," right? So, that means when Cmdr. Riker and his team beam down, wouldn't that make Riker, or Capt. Picard, or anyone else now wearing the command uniform, a Red Shirt? Didn't any of those Starfleet officers look at the history tapes and say, "Hey wait a minute! Why don't we just paint a bull's-eye on ourselves?!"

Seriously, how could the entire galaxy now know that the "Red Shirts" are, well... no longer "Red Shirts"? Did the Federation send out a memo to all the planets telling them to change the images used for target practice? Saying something like: Due to the lack of cadets signing up to be security personnel, Starfleet is forced to reconsider uniform color schemes. Sorry, we're no longer putting our expendable crew in red — please take note and adjust your actions accordingly. Because otherwise, doesn't it seem like Starfleet is putting their commanding officers directly in harm's way? Don't get me wrong, I love the brave Red Shirts! Without them, just think of how many wounds Capt. Kirk or Mr. Spock would have had to endure. We should always honor their sacrifices! But I'm really curious how this interstellar change took place. The red TNG and Voyager uniforms look great and are certainly more fitting for the commanding officers, but ... they're Red Shirts! I just don't get it...

Okay, question time!

Dear Kate,
I am a recent graduate of Starfleet Academy and I am fortunate in that my best friend from the Academy and I have been assigned to the same vessel. However, I have a problem. My friend insists on carrying a portable comm unit with her at all times so that she won't miss any calls from her friends and relatives. I find it very rude of her to interrupt a face-to-face conversation with me to answer her comm and have a conversation with someone else, especially when we have made specific plans to do something together. I have asked her repeatedly to turn it off when she's hanging out with me or at least set it on silent, because she can always call people back later, but she refuses. Am I being unreasonable? And if not, how do you suggest I handle the situation?
Thanks,
Ensign Raven

Dear Ensign Raven,

First, congrats on graduating! That's really cool! Now, I completely understand your frustration. It's difficult, this new-found dependence we have on all these little gadgets. Even when we're not expecting a call we always have to keep it close by — it's a strange sickness. I have to be honest — not that I get that many calls ... okay, I get a fair amount of calls but always from the same people — even I hate to be without my cellphone. But do I answer it when I'm talking to someone else? Of course not! Do I leave the ringer up if I'm basically anywhere other than a movie? Yes, but I listen to the ring tone or look at the number and push the little button to turn it off. Although the key is, I don't feel the need to answer my phone. If it's important, the caller will leave a message. It's perfectly fine to let the call go into voicemail and call back when it is a better time for you — each person calling you is not going to expect you to drop everything to talk to them. Obviously, you have asked your fellow Cadet not to answer her phone when you're out together, so she knows how you feel about this and still she chooses to answer her Comm. As childish as it sounds, maybe the only thing left to do is the exact same thing she does, answer your phone every time it rings — but tell her that you're only doing this so she'll know how annoying it is for you. Plus, if you have your phone on silent or vibrate then she won't know when your phone is really ringing ... see where I'm going with this? However, if it is a call that she is expecting or something that she can tell from the number will be important, then to a certain extent she does have to take the call or at least check her voicemail right away... Wait a minute! Do the standard-issue Starfleet Comms even have voice mail? Maybe that's the problem!

Hi Kate,
Is that you, Kate Mulgrew, working incognito for Star Trek Columns? I saw your photo and was really puzzled because you do look like Miss Mulgrew. Will you disclose your secret??
Cheers,
Rudel

Hey Rudel,

As cool as that would be, I can honestly say I'm Kate Stevens — not Kate Mulgrew! Besides, I'm sure some of you guys have either seen the amazing Kate (Mulgrew) speak at a convention, or heard about her talks, and know that if I was Kate... which I am, but not Kate Mulgrew... then I would be talking far more politically. So there you have it. Yes, I'm Kate, but no, not Kate Mulgrew. Sorry if you're disappointed. But it's nice that you think we look alike! Soooo.... wait.... are you saying I look older... or that she looks younger?

Hi Kate,
Are u ever worried that Carl might try too get rid of your cat one day?
Austin

Hi Austin,

Nahh, Carl is very attached to Snuggles! Or maybe should that be, Snuggles is very attached to Carl ... heehee... And, Snuggles can find his way home. Every now and then he likes to go off on away missions and he always comes back. So I'm not worried... Besides, Carl knows that Snuggles would make the Klingon Rite of Passage look like a walk in the park. Don't ya Carl?

Dear Kate,
I heard today about some rumors of Star Trek XI. There are Romulans which are going back in time to kill Captain James T. Kirk. Spock is also going back to save his friend. That is okay, but I have read that the producer now can build an alternate timeline with a "new Enterprise" and new voyages. Events or people in the future do not exist. Or only in an alternate version. All we know from "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" perhaps never happened. Can you imagine that? My friends and me hope that is not so. Kate, can you say something to calm us down?
Thank you
Wesley
PS: I am Austrian (not Australian with the kangaroos; Austria with Mozart and the mountains) and I hope you understand my not perfect englisch.

Hey Wesley,

I honestly haven't heard that rumor, but as you said it's a rumor. But you know what this sounds like to me? The Klingon Ride at the Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas. There the Klingons want to go back in time to kill one of Picard's ancestors so Picard is never born. I have no idea what the new movie is going to be about. But if that really is it, then I'm sure there'll be an uproar amongst the fans saying that they ripped off our beloved (albeit cheesy) Vegas ride. So the next time you hear a rumor ... just remember that rumors are bad, bad things!

Hey, this is pretty neat! Another new Ensign reporting for duty...

Dear Kate,
I have recently graduated from Starfleet Academy, and am excited to say that my first assignment is to a Galaxy Class starship. While I am honored to get this posting in my first year out of the Academy, I have quickly discovered in my first few weeks on board that I'm having more trouble adjusting to the change than I thought I would. I'm not homesick for Earth, but I'm finding that I'm having trouble making new friends on the starship. I've met a few of the other Ensigns and even a couple of higher ranking officers, but these new relationships don't really go beyond our duty shifts. The trouble is that many of the other officers have been aboard this ship much longer than I have, and they already have established groups of friends that I don't quite fit into. Do you have any advice for one lonely Ensign on how to make friends with her new crewmates? If so, it would be much appreciated!
Signed,
Ensign Addison

Hey Ensign Addison,

Congrats to you too for graduating from the Academy! Wow, an assignment on a Galaxy Class — nice! Well, no matter where life takes you there is always that dreaded first day— ick! But you know what, soon people will start to open up. Remember while this may be a new place for you, you're also new to them. One of the most important things is to always, first and foremost, be yourself! You have to let your new crewmates see that you are a nice, happy and fun person to be around. As I'm sure you've noticed, real life is nothing like the Academy, but you're off to a good start by making friends with your shift team. Everyone knows that you are new on board and that's okay! Use that to your advantage to start a conversation about the happenings in Ten Forward or on the Holodeck or even just asking one of the other girls who did her nails. Just be your friendly self and people will start to open up to you. I'm sure that soon you will make one really great friend who has a few other friends and things will be fine from there. Keep in mind that while you're trying to befriend your crewmates, it's key that your commanding officers know that your assignment is also of importance. Plus, you can use this time to people-watch (one of my favorite pastimes) and see what people are really like ... you'd be surprise how often people pick their nose when they think no one is watching.

All right gang, I think that about does it for this one. I'm off to the m... Ha! You thought I was gonna say mall didn't you? Actually, I'm gonna go see a movie ... at the mall. (But not before I put my combadge on vibrate!) Okay, everyone have fun, enjoy life and I'll chat with you soon. Later!

If you wish to ask Kate a question or need some advice on your own Trek life, you can write to her at columns@startrek.com with the subject "ASK KATE." (Letters are subject to editing at Kate's discretion.)

Letters to Kate become Kate's sole property. Submitting to Kate relinquishes all ownership rights to, or any claims for financial or other consideration in connection with the submitted material, including any ideas, suggestions, script ideas, anything. This goes for you too, Carl!