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Janet's Star Trek Voyager Site

TUVOK
Family & Life Before Voyager
screenshots by Janet

STARFLEET CAREER

Tuvok's station aboard USS Excelsior
[#44 Flashback]
Tuvok takes Sulu a Vulcan tea blend
[#44 Flashback]
Tuvok protests at Sulu's unilateral
decision to help Kirk and McCoy
[#44 Flashback]

Aspects of Tuvok's first assignment, as Ensign aboard the USS Excelsior, are shown in [#44 Flashback], and his memories were shared with Janeway through their mind-meld. Tuvok's first captain was Hikaru Sulu. Tuvok noted that Sulu liked to drink tea in the mornings and took him some Vulcan tea; he never, so Janeway pointed out, took Janeway tea. The Excelsior was charting gaseous anomalies when she was hit by the shock wave from the explosion of the Klingon moon Praxis. Two months into Tuvok's assignment Sulu decided to disobey regulations and go to help his former shipmates Captain Kirk and Dr McCoy when they faced a murder charge (events depicted in the film [Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]). Tuvok protested Sulu's intentions and was told by Sulu, "You'll find that more happens on the bridge of a starship than just carrying out orders and observing regulations. There's a sense of loyalty to the men and women you serve with, a sense of family. Those two men on trial - I served with them for a long time. I owe them my life a dozen times over. And right now, they're in trouble, and I'm going to help them. Let the regulations be damned." Janeway told Tuvok he did the right thing.

Tuvok spoke out against Captain Spock's visionary proposal of an alliance between the Federation and the Klingon Empire [#30 Alliances].

After a 51-year absence, Tuvok returned to Starfleet in 2349 and was assigned to the USS Wyoming [#44 Flashback] (which Janeway at first thought was his first assignment rather than USS Excelsior).

Tuvok served with Janeway aboard USS Billings where she had the rank of Commander [Night].

Tuvok was stationed at Jupiter Station for a time before 2371. While there he kept in contact with Kathryn Janeway by letter.

By [#1 and #2 Caretaker] (2371) Tuvok had served as Janeway's tactical officer for many years.

Tuvok taught at Starfleet Academy for sixteen years [#16 Learning Curve].

Teero Anaydis, [Repression]

The adult Tuvok is 182 centimetres tall [#150 Repression].

Shortly before assignment to the undercover mission in Chakotay's Maquis group, Tuvok was captured by a Bajoran vedek called Teero Anaydis, a fanatical Maquis, and subjected to Teero's invasive mind-control techniques. The Maquis thought and purpose planted in Tuvok's mind was triggered early in 2377 when Teero transmitted an "awakening" message buried in a transmission by Tuvok's son to his father. For a short time Voyager faced a Maquis mutiny but Tuvok successfully conquered Teero's control of his mind and helped overcome the mutiny [#150 Repression].

Tuvok battles to overcome Teero's mind-control, [Repression]

[#1 and #2 Caretaker]

Tuvok went under cover and infiltrated the Maquis. He was a member of a Maquis vessel commanded by Chakotay. This vessel was thrown 70,000 light years from Federation space, and Janeway set out to search for him and Chakotay in Voyager [#1 and #2 Caretaker]. Both the Federation and the Maquis crews were stranded in the Delta Quadrant, facing a journey home that could take seventy years. Tuvok's under cover role was revealed. Chakotay became second-in-command on Voyager while Tuvok resumed his post as chief of security.

[#65 Distant Origin]	[#12 Heroes And Demons]
Security/Tactical, Tuvok's station on Voyager.

Tuvok is Voyager's chief of security. Thirteen department heads report to him [#75 Scientific Method].

[#16 Learning Curve]	[#16 Learning Curve]
[#16 Learning Curve]	[#16 Learning Curve]
Tuvok taught at Starfleet Academy for sixteen years. Accordingly late in 2371 Janeway assigns him to teach four unruly members from the new Maquis crewmembers Starfleet protocols and procedures. Tuvok is reluctant, saying that Chakotay as their former commander is more suitable, but Janeway says that Chakotay does not have to earn their respect but "we" (Federation Starfleet) do. Tuvok finds the trainees the most difficult he has ever had to deal with. He tells Neelix: "...I'm afraid that I'm at a loss. I have taught literally thousands of cadets and I have never encountered any of these difficulties. My methods are sound, and time-honoured. I insist on strict adherence to rules and protocols, and never waiver from that approach. I've always been successful in honing each cadet into a Starfleet officer." Neelix's advice helps him realise that he needs to be more flexible. Later he bends his strict rules, and the rules of his tactical logic, to go back and save Crewman Gerron from toxic fumes in the cargo bay. This earns Tuvok the respect of his trainees. In addition, the trainees have bonded together during the time when they faced and overcame danger together in the cargo bay.

Capt. Tuvok, in the captain's chair.

Capt. Tuvok, captain's ready room.

Around stardate 49690 Janeway handed permanent command to Tuvok because she and Chakotay were unable to leave a particular planet in Vidiian space without triggering a fatal virus in their bodies. Fearing the Vidiians would, if asked for help would attack and try to harvest body parts from the crew, Janeway ordered Tuvok not to contact them, but Tuvok eventually gave in to "the sensibilities" of the crew and, with the help of Dr Danara Pel, a Vidiian whom the Doctor had once helped, obtained an anti-viral serum for Janeway and Chakotay. Janeway then resumed command.

During this period Tuvok did not adopt the scarlet command uniform.

Tuvok told Kes: "If you are suggesting that I am not sensitive to the situation, nothing could be further from the truth. I have lost a valued friend. I am not immune to the effects of that loss."
Kes: "Then try to imagine what it's like for those of us who feel things more deeply."

Tuvok's address to the crew:
"None of you can appreciate what it means to be in command of a ship until the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders as it does on mine. It has been suggested that I take an action which would require me to disobey an order and knowingly put this crew into a life-threatening situation. In general I believe it demonstrates faulty leadership to be guided by the emotions of a distraught crew. However, as captain, I must not ignore the sensibilities of those I command. We will contact the Vidiians. This is my decision and mine alone. You are all absolved of responsibility in the matter. I will accept any consequences that may ensue. Lieutenant, set a course for the Vidiian convoy."
When Janeway resumed command she told Tuvok, "If I didn't know you better, I'd say your decision was almost emotional."

[#73 Revulsion]

Janeway promoted Tuvok to Lieutenant Commander on stardate 51186. The crew held a dinner in his honour at which Harry Kim and Tom Paris related how they rigged the internal sensors to say "Live long and prosper" every time Tuvok accessed them. Janeway told the gathering that Tuvok once dressed her down in front of three admirals for not following proper tactical procedures; she said he was correct.
Tuvok's speech: "Thank you, Captain. Had I known this commendation entailed ritual humiliation I might have declined. However I accept it with gratitude and will honour the responsibility that comes with it. During my three years on Voyager I have grown to respect a great many of you. Others I have learned to tolerate. As your tactical officer I will continue to do my best to ensure a safe passage home. As a Vulcan I share the following sentiment: live long and prosper."

Tuvok has received seventeen commendations for valour [#125 Alice].