Gaila (Orion)

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

Gaila
Gender:	Female
Species:	Orion
Affiliation:	United Federation of Planets
Occupation:	Starfleet
Status:	Unknown (2258)
Marital Status:	Single
Played by:	Rachel Nichols

Gaila was an Orion female and a cadet in Starfleet Academy in the alternate reality. While studying at Starfleet Academy in San Francisco in the mid-to-late 2250s, she shared accommodations with Nyota Uhura, who felt that she invited young men back to their dormitory too often.

In 2258, Cadet Gaila had a near-sexual encounter with Cadet James T. Kirk. She told Kirk that she thought that she loved him, to which Kirk replied, "That is so weird." Their moment was interrupted when Uhura returned early from her work in the long range sensor lab. Gaila, having promised Uhura she would stop bringing men back to the dorm, attempted to hide Kirk under her bed, but Uhura discovered him and kicked him out.

Shortly thereafter, Gaila was among the cadets gathered at Kirk's hearing for his supposed cheating on the Kobayashi Maru scenario. The process was interrupted by a distress call from Vulcan, which necessitated a fleet of Federation starships to be put together at the last minute. Many cadets, including Gaila, were called into service for what was believed to be a mission of analysis and assistance. Gaila was obviously excited about the starship to which she was assigned. (Star Trek)

[edit] Background

Gaila was played by Rachel Nichols. Unlike past Orion women, who had black hair, Gaila had red hair. She is never explicitly referenced on-screen as an Orion; that information comes from production materials.

According to writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, Gaila worked in the computer lab, which is one of the reasons Kirk was interested in her. Kirk became involved with Gaila to gain access to the computer for the Kobayashi Maru simulation. In a scene deleted from the final cut, Kirk sent Gaila an e-mail which launched a virus into the simulation computer containing his "cheat patch", allowing him to beat the scenario. [1]

Screenwriter Roberto Orci said Gaila could have escaped the life of an Orion slave girl because "there's an underground railroad and some of the Orion slave girls got out and they were sold to freedom." [2] This theory is unlikely, however, given that it doesn't line up in any way with the revelation in ENT: "Bound".

Gaila's fate is unknown as it is not clear what ship she was assigned to. If it was any ship other than the Enterprise, however, then she was very likely killed when those ships were destroyed by the Narada at the Battle of Vulcan. It should be noted that Gaila is nowhere to be seen among the group of cadets who witness Kirk's promotion to captain of the Enterprise. In a deleted scene, he tries to apologize, but mistakes an Enterprise science officer for Gaila.