Star Trek: Who is Roberta Lincoln?

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Star Trek: Who is Roberta Lincoln?

Key Takeaways

  • Gary Seven reveals he is an alien on a mission to save Earth, despite skepticism.
  • Roberta Lincoln becomes unintentionally involved in helping Seven complete his mission.
  • Kirk and Spock reluctantly choose to trust Seven to prevent nuclear war and save Earth.

As a fan and admirer of Terri Garr, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of appreciation for her contributions to the world of science fiction, particularly in the realm of Star Trek. Her portrayal of Roberta Lincoln in “Assignment: Earth” is a testament to her versatility as an actress, able to bring depth and realism to a character who played a pivotal role in saving the universe (or at least Earth).

In the final episode of “Star Trek: The Original Series,” titled “Assignment: Earth,” the spaceship Enterprise travels back to 1968 from the future. Upon arrival in the 20th century, a puzzling figure materializes on board using a device that didn’t exist during that era – the transporter. He presents himself as Gary Seven, played by Robert Lansing, and claims to originate from the same time period. The Enterprise crew finds this hard to believe given the technology he used to join them. After some probing, it is revealed that he hails not from Earth but another planet, and had been sent on a mission to protect Earth, making one of the earliest instances in “Star Trek” where they delved into the classic science fiction theme of extraterrestrial intervention for the sake of saving humanity.

Following an investigation into Seven’s narrative, the Starship Enterprise team finds that his account is authentic. Yet, they continue to detain him, leading to his daring escape and transportation to Earth. In his quest to locate fellow extraterrestrial operatives sent to aid his mission, Seven stumbles upon a human named Roberta Lincoln while using a covert advanced computer known as Beta 5.

Who is Roberta Lincoln?

Star Trek: Who is Roberta Lincoln?

In the series, Roberta Lincoln, played by Terri Garr, was a resident of New York City who happened to be twenty years old. It was in this city that Gary Seven and his team arrived with the goal of averting Earth’s governments from precipitating a global catastrophe through the use of nuclear weapons. Upon their initial encounter, Seven mistakenly believed Lincoln to be one of his fellow agents, as he hadn’t previously met them. However, as he began to disclose details about his mission, Seven came to understand that she was not privy to this information.

The Beta 5 computer shares with Seven that Lincoln has been employed by other agents as a secretary to assist them in collecting information for their operation. Lincoln clarifies that she was led to believe she was working on research for a series of encyclopedias. Overwhelmed by the revelation that sensitive mission details were shared with a 20th-century civilian, Seven becomes enraged. However, since Roberta was already aware of the information, he decides it’s best to make use of her services and asks her to keep an eye on the office while he attends to confidential tasks.

Meeting Kirk and Spock

Eager to capture Seven, Captain Kirk and his loyal first officer Spock materialize onto Earth, with Spock donning a hat to conceal his Vulcan ears. Following Seven’s transporter trail after her escape from the ship, they approach her office door only to find Lincoln standing guard. Trying to prevent them from entering, Lincoln resists their attempts. In an effort to force their way in, Kirk and Spock manage to subdue and restrain her. However, it turns out that Lincoln had already contacted the police, who were en route to the scene.

Within the office, Kirk stumbles upon a blueprint of McKinley Rocket Base, yet before he could ponder about Seven’s activities, the law enforcement officials arrive on the scene. In a rush to avoid detection, Kirk and Spock urgently communicate with the Enterprise to teleport themselves off-world. Regrettably, the police showed up prior to Scotty successfully materializing their transport, leaving them stranded. Once the Enterprise finally managed to establish a transporter link, an unexpected group consisting of Kirk, Spock, and the two arriving officers were beamed aboard, vanishing in full view of Lincoln.

Immediately upon Kirk and Spock’s return to the Enterprise, Kirk orders Scotty to teleport the policemen back down instantaneously. This is carried out, and the policemen reappear in the office, directly before Lincoln. Everyone was left speechless by this unexpected occurrence.

Accidentally Helping Seven Complete His Mission

Star Trek: Who is Roberta Lincoln?

Unintentionally and purely by chance, Lincoln ended up playing a crucial part in Seven’s mission to save Earth. When Kirk and Spock were still onboard the Enterprise, it was only Lincoln who remained in the office. Meanwhile, Seven was at McKinley Rocket Base, attempting to prevent a nuclear missile from being launched. Upon their arrival, Kirk and Spock tried once more to capture Seven, but Lincoln’s presence had already helped Seven complete her mission.

In the office, Roberta inadvertently triggers a hidden computer and transporter, revealing Seven’s secret equipment. She was tinkering with the transporter just as Kirk, Spock, and Seven got into a chase, and unknowingly transported Seven back to the office. Initially upset, Seven later understands she prevented another capture. However, Lincoln becomes suspicious, leading to an attack on Seven. He pleads for her to allow him to finish his mission, warning of imminent nuclear war if he didn’t. He then disclosed the true objective of his mission.

Following his declaration, Lincoln nods, expressing faith in him, largely due to her understanding that the world was desperately crying out for aid unprovided by global administrations. She vowed to lend a hand wherever possible, but just then, Kirk and Spock barged into the room with the intention of halting Seven once more. In a hurry, Seven clarified his objective’s significance, leaving Kirk and Spock grappling with the tough decision to put faith in Seven. After weighing their options, Spock and Kirk deemed it “rational” to trust Seven given the gravity of the situation. Successfully, Seven triggered the explosive in the atmosphere, safeguarding Earth.

Seven felt troubled when Spock and Kirk intervened with her mission, but Spock proposed that the only rational reasoning could be that the Enterprise was meant to play a role in these unfolding events. In our historical records, an explosion of a sub-orbital warhead in Earth’s atmosphere marked the event that led Earth’s governments to reconsider nuclear war. Despite the mission not proceeding as intended, Seven – and coincidentally Lincoln – managed to save Earth and protect the main timeline.

Remembering Terri Garr

Star Trek: Who is Roberta Lincoln?

When the show “Assignment: Earth” was broadcasted, Garr was a less recognized actress. She had played some roles in both small and large screens, but it was yet several years before her major break as Inga in Mel Brooks’ film, Young Frankenstein. A few years down the line, Garr’s experience from Star Trek came in handy when she landed the role of Ronnie Neary in the timeless alien classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Garr, who had a long career spanning films and TV that extended for several decades, concluded it in 2011. Despite battling multiple sclerosis throughout this time, she persisted with her work. Regrettably, she passed away on October 29th, 2024, at the age of 79.

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2024-11-08 22:05