Character Notes: Much of the characterization is also taken from Star Trek: The Original Series, and I use the Star Trek novels as inspiration, but do not treat them as cannon.
History: Nyota was born to Alhamaisi and M'Umbha Mhaia Uhura in Nairobi, formerly the capitol of Kenya, in the African Confederacy. Her father Alhamaisi named her Nyota, which means star, and her mother always blamed him for it, saying that from that moment on she was destined to chase her namesake. Alhamaisi is a somewhat controversial politician, due in part to his relation with the African villages who maintain a more traditional way of life. M'Umbha Mhaia was a professor of political science before she was killed in a political disturbance. Nyota is the oldest of 6 children, and has always felt that she needed to look after her younger siblings - probably why she has a bit of a motherly streak. She is still very close to her family, both immediate and extended.
Her mother taught her Standard and French as a child, and she knew early on that she loved languages and wanted to learn as many as possible. She also went on political trips with her father a lot. She was initially interested in politics but realized that she would rather be exploring the universe and interacting with as many new cultures as she possibly could. When she was 10, she learned sign language from her deaf cousin Epala while visiting her in Koyo. That same year she was accepted to and attended the Institute for Advanced Mathematics. Even though she was attending school, she still managed to travel with her family. When she was 14, she was on a political trip with her father when threats of violence resulted in her being locked in a small room for her own protection. Her father wasn't able to return to release her until several weeks later, and she spent those weeks not knowing when or if she'd get out. As a result, she suffers from claustrophobia, though she's able to control it when she's focused on her duty.
Throughout her youth, traditional African customs were an important part of her life. Just after her 16th birthday, she killed an automated lion with a spear in East Africa. This was also the time she left home to go to college at NYU. However, at 17 her mother was killed and she transferred to a university in Nairobi so that she could support her family. After her death, Alhamaisi retreated into himself, barely speaking or eating, and Nyota cared for her younger siblings while he recovered.
At 20 she entered Starfleet Academy, where she studied at the Starfleet College of Communications. There she learned spatial navigation, Duotronics, and cryptography skills under Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney. She was also the Academy aide for Advanced Phonology and Advanced Acoustical Engineering, and Vice President of the Chorale Ensemble. She dated Dr. Reed Shilling during her first year, but they separated when he was transferred to a research station on Altair IV. During her second year she became enamored with her professor, Spock, whom she started dating in her final year and was involved with throughout the Narada Incident, when the Enterprise battled the time-traveling Romulan Nero. Originally she was to be assigned to the USS Farragut, but this was only because Spock wanted to “avoid the appearance of favoritism." After she insisted that she deserved to be assigned to the Enterprise, he changed her assignment. Nyota's knowledge of the Romulan language earned her a temporary post as the Enterprise's Communications Officer, which was made official after the Narada incident.
Nyota Uhura // Star Trek XI // 2/?
History: Nyota was born to Alhamaisi and M'Umbha Mhaia Uhura in Nairobi, formerly the capitol of Kenya, in the African Confederacy. Her father Alhamaisi named her Nyota, which means star, and her mother always blamed him for it, saying that from that moment on she was destined to chase her namesake. Alhamaisi is a somewhat controversial politician, due in part to his relation with the African villages who maintain a more traditional way of life. M'Umbha Mhaia was a professor of political science before she was killed in a political disturbance. Nyota is the oldest of 6 children, and has always felt that she needed to look after her younger siblings - probably why she has a bit of a motherly streak. She is still very close to her family, both immediate and extended.
Her mother taught her Standard and French as a child, and she knew early on that she loved languages and wanted to learn as many as possible. She also went on political trips with her father a lot. She was initially interested in politics but realized that she would rather be exploring the universe and interacting with as many new cultures as she possibly could. When she was 10, she learned sign language from her deaf cousin Epala while visiting her in Koyo. That same year she was accepted to and attended the Institute for Advanced Mathematics. Even though she was attending school, she still managed to travel with her family. When she was 14, she was on a political trip with her father when threats of violence resulted in her being locked in a small room for her own protection. Her father wasn't able to return to release her until several weeks later, and she spent those weeks not knowing when or if she'd get out. As a result, she suffers from claustrophobia, though she's able to control it when she's focused on her duty.
Throughout her youth, traditional African customs were an important part of her life. Just after her 16th birthday, she killed an automated lion with a spear in East Africa. This was also the time she left home to go to college at NYU. However, at 17 her mother was killed and she transferred to a university in Nairobi so that she could support her family. After her death, Alhamaisi retreated into himself, barely speaking or eating, and Nyota cared for her younger siblings while he recovered.
At 20 she entered Starfleet Academy, where she studied at the Starfleet College of Communications. There she learned spatial navigation, Duotronics, and cryptography skills under Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney. She was also the Academy aide for Advanced Phonology and Advanced Acoustical Engineering, and Vice President of the Chorale Ensemble. She dated Dr. Reed Shilling during her first year, but they separated when he was transferred to a research station on Altair IV. During her second year she became enamored with her professor, Spock, whom she started dating in her final year and was involved with throughout the Narada Incident, when the Enterprise battled the time-traveling Romulan Nero. Originally she was to be assigned to the USS Farragut, but this was only because Spock wanted to “avoid the appearance of favoritism." After she insisted that she deserved to be assigned to the Enterprise, he changed her assignment. Nyota's knowledge of the Romulan language earned her a temporary post as the Enterprise's Communications Officer, which was made official after the Narada incident.