Natasha Yar

Lt. Natasha "Tasha" Yar was a character on the US Science Fiction show; Star Trek: The Next Generation. Lt. Yar was security chief aboard the USS Enterprise 1701-D for a less then a year (2364). While on a rescue mission on the planet Varga II, she was killed by an entity known as Armus, perhaps, due to showing no fear. She would hinse forth be remembered fondly by the crew.

Early life & Career
Natasha Yar was born on the failed, crime filled colony of Turkana IV. She lived her early days running from sexually violent gangs, and resorted to drug use as an escape. Her sister, Ishara remained on the planet to join the Coalition, a security force that had been granted emergency powers by the Turkanan government. Tasha however found away off the planet in the year 2252 at the age of fifteen, and enrolledi n starfleet academy to become a security officer. She was assigned to a starship after graduation, and took part in a rescue mission in 2363 where she would save a colonist from a minefield. Captain Picard was present, and impressed with her bravery, pulled a favor from her commanding officer, and got her transfered to his vessel.

Service aboard the Enterprise D
Yar was present with the Captain when he first boarded the Enterprise, having piloting the shuttlecraft that took him onboard.

Appearances
Natasha Yar appears in 28 episodes, with her death taking place after 23 of the first season.

Conception
Natasha Yar was originally invissioned as Macha Hernandez who was discribed in scripting as follows;

"LT. Macha Hernandez - 26 year old woman of unspecified Latin descent who serves as the starship's security chief. She is described as having a new quality of conditioned-body-beauty, a fire in her eyes and muscularly well developed and very female body, but keeping in mind that much of her strength comes from attitude. Macha has an almost obsessive devotion to protecting the ship and its crew and treats Capt. Picard and Number One as if they were saints." - Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion; December 10, 1986 casting calls.

Marina Sirtis would audition for this role, while Denise Crosby would audition for the role of Deanna Troi. However, Gene Roddenberry would insist they play the others role as he felt the actresses more suited to the other's character. By March 27, 1987 the character had gone through revissions. Her name being changed from Macha to Tanya, and finally to Natasha Yar.

"The starship security chief, Tasha, who performs that same function both aboard ship and on away missions. Born at a "failed" Earth colony of renegades and other violent undesirables, she escaped to Earth in her teens and discovered Starfleet, which she still "worships" today as the complete opposite of all the ugliness she once knew." - Writers Bible page 10