Number One / Una Chin-Riley

Universe :	Prime Timeline
Name :	Number One / Una Chin-Riley [1]
Species :	Illyrian

Number One was second in command of the NCC 1701 Enterprise under Captain Pike. She projected the image of a cold, unemotional woman but secretly had romantic feelings towards Pike. [1] Una seemed human but was actually Illyrian, as such she was genetically enhanced before birth, which was a tradition on Illyria. [2] She was physically stronger that a normal human and her immune system would glow and heat to kill of infections without having to use antibodies. [3] Growing up she spent time on a Federation colony, in the Vaultera Nebula, with her parents and brother. They had to hide their heritage as genetic engineering was against Federation law. This was especially true if one of them was sick or injured as the glowing of their immune system would give away their true nature. [2]

At the age of five or six years old she encountered the crew of a Starfleet vessel. She noted to her self that "They were all so... different from one another. So many crew members from so many planets. It was beautiful. I thought if all those people from all those worlds can work together, side by side, maybe I could, too. Maybe I could be a part of something bigger than myself." [2]

Joining Starfleet became her goal in life, however, it forced her to hide her true nature. [3] Her application to Starfleet academy was sponsored by, then Captain, Robert April. She also first met Captain Pike at the academy when he gave an inspiration speech to the cadets. [2] She also met Pelia at the academy who was her tutor for Starship Maintenance 307, for which she earned a C grade for her final paper, which Pelia felt was sloppy be well deserved. She went on to serve with Pelia on the USS Enterprise. [4]

After graduating from the academy, she served on board the USS Martin Luther King Jr. where she was involved in the rescue of La'An Noonien-Singh. [5] She also served on the USS Antares, the USS Chatelet, and the USS Aryabhatta. Those ships that Christopher Pike had also served on. [2] Pike once said that she swapped from department to department, however, she claimed to have only done so once. [6]

In 2248, Captain Robert April recommended her for the Starfleet medal of Gallentry for her actions the Marcel disaster. In 2250 she was assigned as first officer of the USS Enterprise under Captain Pike. She spent two weeks shadowing the captain, which she believed gave her a better understanding of command, making her a better first officer. [2]

When the Enterprise was infected by a light virus, Una's unique genetics was used in order to to synthesise a cure for the rest of the crew. She then offered to tender her resignation to Captain Pike, but, he refused to accept it. [3] Several months later Staffleet command discovered her secret and officers from the USS Cayuga arrived to arrest her. [7]

A Short time later she underwent court-mashal on earth. Captain Batel from the USS Cayuga acted as prosecuting officer and Pike arranged for a follow Illyrian and former best friend Neera Ketoul as her defence counsel. Ketoul successfully argued that Una had sought asylum with Starlfeet when she explained the hardships she had faced as an Illyrian, and that Pike had exercised his judgement in granting it to her. [2]

Chin-Riley admitted to Spock that she had had a on again off again relationship with a Vulcan named Doug, who's family were fond of human names. Doug and Una had an unusual effect on each other, as neither could think straight in each others company. [8]

Colour key

Canon source

Backstage source

Novel source

DITL speculation

Associated with

Crew of the Enterprise 1701/1701-A

Played by

References

#	Series	Season	Source	Comment
1	TOS	1	The Cage
2	SNW	2	Ad Astra per Aspera
3	SNW	1	Ghosts of Illyria
4	SNW	2	Lost in Translation
5	SNW	1	Strange New Worlds
6	SNW	1	Children of the Comet
7	SNW	1	A Quality of Mercy
8	SNW	3	Four-and-a-Half Vulcans

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Last updated : 18 Oct 2025

Series	Season	Actor	Film / Episode Title
TOS	1	Majel Barrett	The Cage
TOS	1	Majel Barrett	The Menagerie, Part 1
TOS	1	Majel Barrett	The Menagerie, Part 2
STD	2	Rebecca Romijn	An Obol for Charon
STD	2	Rebecca Romijn	Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1
STD	2	Rebecca Romijn	Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2
SNW		Rebecca Romijn
SNW	2	Anna Claire Beitel	Ad Astra per Aspera

Series :	TOS Season 1
Episode :	The Cage

Series :	SNW Season 2
Episode :	Ad Astra per Aspera

Series :	SNW Season 1
Episode :	Ghosts of Illyria

Series :	SNW Season 2
Episode :	Lost in Translation