The January debut of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" brought the introduction of the most assertive woman in "Star Trek" history.
Major Kira (Nana Visitor), a Bajoran woman, is second-in-command at the space station - and she's not afraid to take charge."That was one reason I was so excited when I received the script and read a woman who was a powerful woman," Visitor said. "She was first officer, so she was in command, but she wasn't politically correct because she's not perfect."
The character of Kira is the highest-ranking female since the original, failed pilot for the 1960s "Star Trek," in which a woman (Majel Barrett) was the first officer of the starship Enterprise.
And, according to one of the show's creators, there was no tokenism involved when the character was developed.
"I don't think we did it to be politically correct," said Rick Berman. "I don't think we did it to mimic the original `Star Trek.' We did it because it felt right as we were creating the characters."
As a matter of fact, Berman said he and co-creator Michael Piller seriously considered making the commander of DS9 a woman.
"Yes we did," he said. "We also finally decided not to, but . . . it was definitely discussed that (Commander) Sisko might be a woman."
The other woman of "Deep Space Nine," science officer Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), is also a strong, self-sufficient character.
It's a long way from the first "Star Trek" series, in which the only regular female character - Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nicholls) - was little more than a mini-skirted, 23rd-century switchboard operator.
Of course, between the original "Star Trek" and "Deep Space Nine" came "Star Trek: The Next Generation." And one female member of that cast believes that women and men don't always have equal standing on the show.
"Sometimes they have and sometimes they haven't," said Gates McFadden, who plays Dr. Bev-erly Crusher on "ST:TNG." "I think that there is a ways to go . . . for our show."
McFadden said she has frequently voiced her concerns to the show's producers.
"I've been quite forthright in asking for more of that all the time. I know that Marina (Sirtis, who plays Deanna Troi) and I always laughed about the fact that both of us can do fencing and that sort of thing, yet we're the ones who bash the pots over the warriors' heads, instead of doing our karate. I do think we've got a ways to go."
However, Sirtis doesn't entirely agree with McFadden's take on the situation.
"I think there's a difference," she said. "And the fundamental difference is that the two female officers in `Deep Space Nine" are a science officer and a Bajoran major who is second in command of the space station. The two female characters on `Next Generation' are a doctor and a psychologist, and as such you're kind of limited as to what you can do."
The disagreement between McFadden and Sirtis became almost humorous, evolving into a definition of "Trek" terms.
"I'm second-ranking officer. I've got his rank," McFadden said, pointing to Jonathan Frakes, who plays first officer William Riker. (Both Riker and Crusher are full commanders in Starfleet.)
"But you're not," Sirtis retorted. "You're not second in command. Jonathan is. Kira is the second in command (on `DS9'). It's a slightly different thing.
"And we have said to our producers, `Why can't we do this?' And then they say a doctor and a psychologist - I'll speak for me because the doctor isn't so bad - but for a psychologist who's basically a peaceful, analytical kind of a person, it really doesn't fit."
Which is not to say that "Next Generation" is without women in authority. Indeed, over the 51/2 seasons there seem to have been more women admirals than men.
And even Sirtis and McFadden get their chances to expand a bit on their roles. McFadden's Dr. Crusher recently was a commando of sorts during an away-team mission, while Sirtis' Counselor Troi took an unusual turn after she was captured and surgically altered to look like a Romulan - "And she kicks some major butt," the actress said.
The actresses are not facing an all-male production staff, either. Co-executive producer Jeri Taylor is a woman.
"I particularly am very aware of this problem," Taylor said. "I think they're both right. (`Star Trek' creator) Gene (Roddenberry) gave the women on the show the role of nurturers and caregivers, which is in many ways appropriate, but it is limiting.
"It's hard for us at times. It becomes a strain to put those people in situations where they can show their stuff."
Leave it to Captain Picard himself, actor Patrick Stewart, to put some perspective on the issue.
"Historically, the fact is that when the series was created, there was another female character," Stewart said. "And if Denise Crosby (who played Lt. Tasha Yar) had chosen to stay with the series instead of asking to leave, we would still have a woman as head of security.
"And I've often wondered, if that had remained the case, what a difference that would have made to Marina and Gates' characters, if you had had a woman in that particular position. My feeling is it would have changed the female dynamics throughout the entire series."