Life aboard a Starfleet vessel can also be monotonous or awkward, with as many as a thousand crew members, comprising several different species and attitudes, having to coexist and form one cohesive unit. As in every community, there are specialists team of doctors, to tend to medical problems, responsibility for the crew's emotional health falls to the ship's counsellor.

Commander Deanna Troi is ideally suited to her role as counsellor aboard two successive U.S.S. Enterprise starships. Deanna is half-human, but her maternal Betazoid heritage means that she can 'read' emotions and feelings. Her skills are best defined as empathic, allowing her to sense inner conflicts in a person. Deanna's natural talents, combined with her extensive psychological training at the University of Betazed and Starfleet Academy, amply equip her for the tasks she faces.

Troi's primary responsibility is to maintain the crew's mental health; to this end, she carries out interviews with the ship's personnel on a semi-regular basis, in order to update their psychological profiles. Just as the Enterprise's chief medical officer gives all members of the crew an annual physical exam to detect any health worries, regular sessions with the counsellor are used to identify mental problems before they gain significance.

In some instances, Troi's natural empathic abilities enable her to sense hidden problems, some of which her patients may not even be aware. She is often called upon to intervene, and offer advice, in volatile situations. She is also at ease with children, which is helpful in her role as guide to the many parents aboard the Enterprise. Perhaps her most challenging duty in this regard is helping Lt. Worf cope with the arrival and caring needs of his son, Alexander. Thanks to her good advice and ministrations, Worf comes to better understand his role as a father; as a single parent, he relies on the counsellor for support.

Troi has her own office, but she can often be found on the bridge, where she occupies a seat next to the captain. She enjoys virtually unrestricted access to his ready room, and is often present as an observer during meetings. As well as advising Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the emotional state of his crew, one of Deanna's key roles as counsellor is to provide insights during diplomatic dealings with alien races. She can sense broadly the disposition of other species toward Federation representatives. Troi deals easily and naturally with new races, and is often selected for away missions on which there is the potential for first contact.

Troi's recommendations to the captain carry significant weight, and they share a close working relationship. More than anyone else, it is Deanna who helps Captain Picard cope with the horror of being assimilated by the Borg in 2367; she is also able to pick up on his anguish at the death of his brother and nephew .She is able to help this very private man to articulate his feelings of loss and grief.

Deanna Troi shares one critical responsibility with the Enterprise's Dr. Beverly Crusher: either officer can relieve a commanding officer of his or her duties, should it become necessary to do so. The doctor decides if an individual is physically fit for duty, while the counsellor judges their mental fitness. It is a significant responsibility which Troi does not take lightly. Deanna's main duty - according to the manual is to safeguard the crew's emotional equilibrium. Basically, she is the captain of the ship's subconscious. Troi, however, is not a typical ship's counsellor. She brings an unusual skill to her occupation - the ability to sense the emotions of others. Troi's skills are limited because her father was human. She can communicate telepathically with another Betazoid, and with some humans, such as Commander Riker, to whom she is particularly close. She cannot read minds, but she can feel a strong impression of people's emotional states and can often sense their intentions. and when she is near them

Troi's Betazoid abilities can make some people feel uneasy. Even Captain Jean-Luc Picard is initially uncomfortable about her ability to 'read' him. But he adjusts quickly when he sees that she knows exactly when to push and when to back off, is discreet, and is loyal to him and his captaincy. He also learns that she is an extremely valuable officer, and that her abilities have helped her to excel in her job as a counsellor and have made her especially useful on the bridge of the Enterprise. Troi's empathic abilities have proved extremely valuable in dealing with the many species the Enterprise has encountered, and have helped to avoid unnecessary conflict on many occasions.

Troi's abilities also have a medical application. When necessary, she is called to sickbay to make contact with patients who cannot communicate normally because of mental confusion or illness. Troi can reach into a patient's mind and support or stimulate areas of the brain. She can also work with full telepaths who are comatose. In these cases she may experience brief episodes of their lives, The counsellor and chief security officer are responsible for investigating onboard crimes and deaths, though such incidents are very rare. Troi's ability to sense when people are lying makes her a great detective.

Riker and Troi

Troi and Piker's romantic relationship began several years earlier, before either of them had established a career in Starfleet. Troi’s first Imzadi the Betazoid word for beloved. It is a credit to the professionalism of both officers that they are able to put aside their feelings and carry out their Starfleet duties in a highly effective manner. Riker was posted to the peaceful planet of Betazed. Deanna, at the time a serious, beautiful psychology student at the University of Betazed, captivated Will and readily reciprocated his interest. The two often spent time together near a 100-year- old muktok plant whose musical chimes will, in the future, bring back memories of the good times they shared.

Deanna taught Riker the word "Imzadi," and even used her empathic abilities to show him how to sense her thoughts, so they could share their mutual affection on a deeper level. However. Riker placed his career above romance when he accepted promotion and a posting to the U.S.S. Potemkin. The young lovers spent their last day together on Betazed Jenaran Falls, and agreed to reunite on the pleasure planet Risa six weeks later. Fate, however, had different plans for them. While serving on the Potemkin, Riker quickly earned a second promotion, leaving him little time to pursue his relationship with Deanna.

Troi was disappointed they could not make the rendezvous on Risa. Over time, she heard less and less from Riker, and although she knew his career was taking him away from her, she had trouble accepting their relationship was over. The two of them kept in touch, but did not meet again until they were both posted to the Enterprise in 2364. By this time, Troi feels she has resolved her feelings for Riker Will Biker becomes quite jealous when he learns that Deanna was betrothed to Wyatt Miller when she was seven years old. Riker is relieved when Wyatt Miller decides that Deanna is not the woman of his dreams, and calls off the wedding.

 During their first assignment, investigating Farpoint Station, Riker is greatly concerned that Deanna's empathic ability is causing her pain. Similarly, when Riker is willing to risk his life by entering an area under heavy phaser fire, Troi is concerned about his safety. Deanna decides that they should not try to resurrect their romantic relationship. Deanna is not above teasing Riker over his subsequent liaisons. For example, when the crew's memories are erased and Riker has an intimate encounter with Ensign Ro Laren, Troi graciously says that it is possible Riker and Laren were acting out what they always wanted to do. In fact, Deanna seems more amused than piqued at their behaviour.

During this period of memory loss it does become clear just how much Riker means to Troi. Despite her amnesia, she senses she is closer to Will than anyone else. In Riker's quarters they discover a copy of 'Ode to Psyche' by Keats that bears the inscription: "To Will, all my love, Deanna." Such affection is not confined to Troi's side. Will and Deanna take shore leave on: Betazed, he looks forward to it just as much as she does; Another indication of the commander's affection for Troi can be seen in how he deals with her mother, Lwaxana. Riker not only tolerates Mrs. Troi's meddling, but even humours her.

Worf is son of the famous Klingon Warrior Mogh. he was born on the Klingon home world in 2340. His grandfather was Colonel Worf. His adoptive parents are Sergey and Helena Rozchenko. He has a Biological brother Kurn and step brother Nikolia Rozchenko. He has a son called Alexander.

Worf moved with his parents to Khitomer Outpost in 2346. However his parents were killed along with 4000 who died at the hands of the Romulan Empire, in a battle that became known as the Khitomer massacre. He was a small boy surviving all of this. He was found wandering among the devastation by a chief petty officer Sergey Rozchenko on board the USS Intrepid . The USS Intrepid had gone to the aid of the Klingons on the outpost. Worf was adopted by Sergey and Helena.

Worf was first raised on the farm world of Gault, then later on Earth. He had many problems trying to come to terms with being a Klingon in a Human society, and was know as a hell -raiser. Later his brother Nikolia and himself joined Starfleet. he graduated in 2361. He is posted to the flag ship USS -Enterprise NCC -1701-D, as a Lieutenant junior grade. His first position is flight control officer. But after the tragic death of his friend Tasha Yar he is promoted to Lieutenant and is made chief of security.

Worfs internal struggle with his Klingon heritage goes with him into adulthood. He kills a Klingon in the tradition of his home-world and blood line, he is offered a posting on a Klingon ship, but he turns it down finally choosing his Starfleet career over his heritage, He is confronted with this choice many times. As Chief security officer Worf is often required to provide protection in potentially dangerous situation, such as when alien visitors are on board, and even in sick bay security is maintained.

Worf teaches several forms of martial arts, self defence and self discipline Klingon and Human. Worf is placed in danger many times on away missions, he enjoys his duties but is well aware of the danger that comes with the job, he takes it very seriously. and when on away missions if any one is hurt he cant help feeling personally responsible.

Emissary K’Ehleyr is the mother of his son Alexander. She is murdered on board by Duras. The boy witness the death of his mother and this brings him into the life of Worf .at first Alexander stayed with his grandparents on earth, but soon it is obvious he needs his father and a stronger hand to raise him. A new role for Worf begins, when the boy is now living on board the Enterprise. After seven years of exceptional devotion to duty, he is needed elsewhere.

Lt Commander Worf seeks Solace and spiritual guidance from the clerics of the Klingon Monastery on Boreth after the destruction of Enterprise D. He is reassigned to the Space station Deep Space Nine. Captain Sisko is worried about increasing friction between the Klingon Empire and the Cardassians. He requests Worf so he can act as adviser in all Klingon matters. Worf is not happy on board the Space station at first his quarters are not of his liking and he request’s that he can live on board the USS Defiant NX 74205. Here he can relax and he enjoys Klingon opera music.

Worf Finds it very hard to make friends in the close nit group on board the DS9. After a while however he becomes very good friends with The Trill Officer Jadzia Dax. Living on board the station is very difficult for him when the conflict between his own people the Klingons  and the Cardassians this will prove to be his biggest challenge yet .

COMING NEXT WILL BE WORF AND THE KLINGON EMPIRE