Uhura Takes Control of the Enterprise (Star Trek The Animated Series)

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[@majkus]

At a convention once, Nichelle Nichols told us that she read her lines for this story 'cold' without reading the whole script. When she got to her take-over line, she read, 'I'm taking command of this ship. I'm taking command of the ship? I'm taking command of the ship! I finally get to take command of the ship!!!!' or something close to that. She said it was a pity there was not audio 'blooper reel' for the animated series.

[@bb7931]

It's a damn shame this episode wasn't part of the live action series. Uhura commanding the Enterprise would've been awesome to see.

[@Selvokaz]

isnt she like 3rd or 4th in command anyway?

[@thatHARVguy]

@@Selvokaz Kirk, Spock, Scotty and then Uhura. In Star Trek Online for the TOS Federation faction tutorial, Uhura is on bridge duty during the Babel mission.

[@Selvokaz]

@@thatHARVguy Thanks for the reply, and the info.

[@Blazingstoke]

@@thatHARVguy Isn't Sulu next after Scotty? He is usually seen taking the conn when the first three are away

[@kamalalsb7292]

@@Selvokaz due to the politics of America in the 1960's, there was studio pushback against... almost anything featuring Uhuru as any kind of authority figure. Her role was quite limited by the studio and the network because she was a Black woman. I think there are times where they literally had to invent some rando lieutenant to take command of the bridge when the main three weren't on the ship specifically to avoid showing Uhuru in that position in TOS. It's why her doing it here is noteworthy - and they only got away with it cuz less people watched the cartoon than the original series.

[@kevinslater4126]

This scene and the one where she repairs the communications and Spock tells her "I would trust no one more than you to repair this" are my two favorite Uhura moments.

[@LuckyBird551]

Well, Uhura is the highest ranking female officer of the Enterprise, so it is perfectly within Starfleet regulations that she is in control of the ship if everyone that outranks her is incapacitated.

[@tyrongkojy]

Honestly the only reason Scotty got the bridge instead of her is seniority. At least lore wise. Because I think they're the same rank.

[@LordZontar]

@@tyrongkojy Scotty outranks Uhura (LtCmdr to Lt) and is Chief Engineer, which puts him third in the command hierarchy of the ship. Uhura would be sixth behind Sulu and DeSalle.

[@tyrongkojy]

@@LordZontar I thought she was lt cmdr.

[@LordZontar]

@@tyrongkojy Not until the movies -- and even then Scotty got bumped up to Commander and later Captain (Star Trek III onward)

[@alcockell]

@@LordZontar not necessarily. If ufp are borrowing from royal navy, seaman officers and engineering officer are two different career paths. Engineers or weapons officers don't generally take Perisher. (British command qual for subs)

[@NerveWorks]

One of the best episodes from both the live action and the animated series! RIP Nichelle Nicholas.

[@invisiblewizard2538]

Uhura's crowning moment of awesome! RIP Nichelle.

[@williampaz2092]

It always annoyed me that in the TOS episode “Arena” Kirk commanded the Enterprise in a ship-to-ship action while on the surface of a planet and simultaneously engaging in infantry combat. The very first time I saw that episode I stated emphatically that Uhura should have been in the Captain’s Chair commanding. When I met Miss Nichols at a Star Trek Convention in 1976 I told her so. Her smile took my breath away as she said: “Yes, I agree with you. But NBC objected.”

[@irregularassassin6380]

Thank you for sharing that. I love hearing stories about how much Nichelle Nichols loves Uhura, and wanted the character to reach her full potential. I like to think that she does in the hearts of trekkies everywhere.

[@jonathanz.9675]

Wow. Cool. So they had even petitioned for it

[@projektkobra2247]

Except Scotty was on the ship, the Second Officer, and barring that --Sulu..who was a "Command" (gold shirt) officer would have taken over...Just cuz someone out ranks you in the military doesnt mean they get to "take over" the job YOU are trained to perform.

[@neutrino78x]

@@projektkobra2247 Well, in the real Navy, helm is a watch normally stood by an enlisted member, so the only way the helm could take command is if all the officers are dead and all the enlisted except the helm is dead. lol. (I served on nuclear powered submarines in the USN, 1999 to 2003, STS3(SS) (that's paygrade E-4.)) Besides, Uhura has stood helm before, I forget the title of the episode, though. 🙂

[@projektkobra2247]

@@neutrino78x -She did on Balance Of Terror...

[@thesteveandianproject2532]

Shatner's voice over is just gold. Pure gold. Best ever. Total and complete KIRK.

[@VideoNOLA]

"Bill, play it like your sac has been completely exhausted. It's a RAISIN, I tell ya."

[@jaysinha0]

He sounds like he just had a spliff. 🙂

[@bomat761]

Unlike when Troi was driving, Uhura didn’t wrap the Enterprise around a pole.

[@brookeking8559]

LOL!

[@johnbockelie3899]

She's a bridge officer, why not?. Uhura puts her foot down for once in this episode. Storms the alien harem with an all female landing party too. Great episode.

[@TheSorrel]

I'd even say that she was the most competent Captain this ship ever had.

[@trhansen3244]

A bridge officer doesn't mean a thing when it comes to line of command. Come on, man!

[@neutrino78x]

@@trhansen3244 it's another way to say "Department Head". On a submarine, radio is under the Navigation Officer (Nav has radio ETs and nav ETs), which is a Department Head. Our Navigation Officer is an expert on navigation and communications. So Uhura would be the equivalent of the Nav. The only Department Head on a submarine that's not in the line of command is the Supply Officer (MS, CS, and yeomen). So it should go, CO-XO-Eng-Weps-Nav. (I was enlisted sonar tech, sonar division is under Weapons Department.) Of course, we have a very small crew (20 officers, 100 enlisted) and everyone is required to train multiple watches.The instruction says you have to know one forward watch and one engineering watch, but each boat can have additional requirements, and on my boat (I think most others also), it was basically you are expected to qualify as many watches as you can. Everyone also has to be Qualified in Submarines, which is sort of like the Surface Warfare Qualification, but you are required to have the same knowledge as the nuclear trained officers (as far as that badge is concerned). So you have to learn all the major systems and stand for a board interview with a nuclear trained officer, a non-nuclear trained senior enlisted, and a nuclear trained senior enlisted. You have 12 months to prepare for this, but after 9 months you are "delinquent" and they start deliberately depriving you of sleep until you get qualified. Officers have to stand before the same board. So even though I'm technically not nuclear trained (I was a sonar tech), I was required to learn a lot about nuclear reactors and ours in particular. So yeah....on a submarine, normal. Not sure about the surface. 🙂 Although in this particular situation, it was also, she was the only Officer of the Line aka Line Officer who had not sucomed to the effects of the planet, so it had to be her. 🙂

[@josephmanno4514]

@@TheSorrel Let's not get silly.

[@TheSorrel]

@@josephmanno4514 Well she didn't get into the most obvious traps out of shere naivety.

[@bespectacledheroine7292]

Uhura is soooo cool, makes me feel like a little girl watching a role model and I never knew about Star Trek then.

[@ChadSlampiece]

My favourite part was the side-eye Uhura gave after saying "I'm taking command of the ship".

[@irregularassassin6380]

Side-eye was one of the few expressions anyone could have in TAS. It was basically that and "fairly concerned frown."

[@yvettemarshallTWN]

I loooove it! Something she’s always wanted to do! Ridiculous Kirk and his Rudolph Valentino kiss. Smh. Uhura was boss so why not be THE BOSS? Perfectly arched brows and eyeliner. She looked beautiful. 😍😉

[@malirabbit6228]

You are so correct! I needed to watch it several times! Live long and prosper, y’all.

[@ChadSlampiece]

@@yvettemarshallTWN It's like as she knew that as soon as she said it, some basic bitch was gonna have something smart to say and she was not having it.

[@jv-lk7bc]

@@yvettemarshallTWN Perfectly arched brows and eyeliner are clearly key elements of ability to command. ;)

[@bana2s]

My favorite scene happens later, when Uhura and a security detail beam down and start kicking ass.

[@irregularassassin6380]

Best scene in TAS, in my opinion, and one of the best scenes in all of Trek. Rather than gush further, I'm going to drop this link here so people can watch for themselves: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWbQn4KFp6yDZ5o Seriously, watch it.

[@johnalang]

Chapel: "What are you doing?" Uhura: "Taking command of this ship!" ME: Oh, yeah!

[@AdmiralQuality]

Yeah, that was badass.

[@lawnmowermanTX]

❤️❤️❤️❤️ Captain Uhura!

[@AdmiralQuality]

@@lawnmowermanTX *Acting* Captain, but yep!

[@lawnmowermanTX]

@@AdmiralQuality Technically the Communication Officer is the logical choice as Captain when the senior staff is not able to resume duties.

[@AdmiralQuality]

@@lawnmowermanTX It's done by rank. (Unless the Captain specifically appoints a replacement.) With Kirk, Spock, Scotty and McCoy on the away mission, she's the ranking officer on the ship. Love how it shocks Chapel though. Very cool depiction for a kid's cartoon.

[@dirdib69]

TOS unfortunately still insisted that Uhura have her "I'm frightened, Captain" moments, but they did at least show her competence. She took the helm on at least one occasion. Uhura was a trained and experienced officer. Like the rest of the Enterprise senior staff, she represented Starfleet's best and brightest. We'd have to wait until TNG to see female officers taking command of the ship, but Uhura was a department head and certainly capable of taking command.

[@potsdam28]

Star Trek IV.

[@bleirdo_dude]

This is canon.

[@animateddepression]

And unless I’m wrong it was Troi and at that point she was not a competent officer (arguably) but at least she became one… sortof… not as good as Beverly.

[@kevinslater4126]

The only 'I'm frightened" moment I remember was when Starfleet was erased by the Guardian of Forever. I'd be pretty frightened too.

[@christopherg2347]

@@potsdam28 Indeed. USS Saratoga. The guys that first ran into that damn Whale Probe.

[@PLTWCastro]

With her passing, I had to see at least once where she was in charge. RIP Lt. Uhura

[@AdmiralQuality]

I forgot how good this cartoon was. Thanks!

[@georgewilkinson1068]

It was The Animated Series that got me hooked into Star Trek.

[@trhansen3244]

A cartoon is for kids. This is an animated graphic tv/movie series written and intended for people of mature intellect and savvy.

[@AdmiralQuality]

@@trhansen3244 It was on Saturday mornings when I was a little kid. Sit down!

[@ematuskey]

Yeah, the TAS had its goofy bits, but hot damn it also had awesome ones. Go Uhura!

[@johnsensebe3153]

This episode is funny because Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett are doing all the female voices, and it's pretty obvious.

[@potsdam28]

Low budget for actors

[@johnsensebe3153]

@@potsdam28 Yep. They could afford most of the main cast, and not much else.

[@animateddepression]

And Barrett was probably only paid in abuse from her husband.

[@acerjuglans383]

Interestingly, it sounds like the computer's voice was Nichelle's, and not Majel's.

[@johnsensebe3153]

@@acerjuglans383 I noticed that, too. Maybe they juggled the roles around to limit situations where one actor would be both sides of a conversation.

[@pamelamays4186]

Uhura deserves her own command.

[@lawnmowermanTX]

Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, Spock, Scotty as Séñíór Instructor of Engineering as Admiral! Senior Bridge Officers having their own ships.

[@trhansen3244]

Scotty never got his own ship. Neither did Chekov. In fact, most officers in Starfleet never get to command a ship of any kind. It's incredibly rare.

[@davea6314]

Nichelle Nichols died of old age last Saturday 7/30/22, she was 89. By her own words she had a great life. RIP

[@micmac99]

2:29 "And ANYONE thinking about leaving is gonna find my left foot square up their ***, do you hear?????"

[@fredWaxBeans11111]

What the USS Enterprise needed, was a Captain Dolemite! NOBODY would F**K them him!

[@tech83studio38]

"Where's my baby ? "

[@leonkernan]

Nah, Red Foreman wasn't around until the Voyager days.

[@euclideszoto997]

Have they ever considered redoing this entire animated series in CGI animation? Dialog, plot, and plenty of room to improvise and innovate. All the original voices are still there!

[@kendo2377]

Do you trust today's Hollywood to not screw it up? I don't.

[@euclideszoto997]

@@kendo2377 Sometimes I don't realize how naive I can be. Maybe an independent, not connected to the Hollywood garbage.

[@Carnyx72]

@@kendo2377 Prodigy and Lower Decks are both very good.

[@roccosfondo8748]

I wish I could see the whole series as it is.

[@landreaulover]

@@roccosfondo8748 It was on Netflix, but it probably got moved to Paramount +. I got through half of the series, but I'd like to see the rest. I had seen some of it as a kid -- and the two most memorable episodes are this one -- and the one where Spock goes back in time and meets himself as a kid.

[@chrispeplinski7306]

Wish the movies would have allowed uhura a chance at commanding the enterprise

[@freebird0147]

LOL. NO

[@potsdam28]

Why.not? They let Chekhov whom she outranked

[@kingsman8475]

There is no chance she could outwit a Romulan or Klingon commander in ship to ship combat. And she had no physical combat skills on the planet Triskelion!! She was exceptional as the communications officer, but that was her limit.

[@freebird0147]

@@potsdam28 She's a woman Piloting the enterprise is a mans job

[@potsdam28]

@@freebird0147 Tell that to Ensign Ro

[@georgewilkinson1068]

The Lorelei Signal. One of my favorite episodes in The Animated Series.

[@Pyrotech56]

2:00 Nichelle Nichols (computer) followed by Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) calling Nichelle Nichols (Security Officer Davison). When she passed away in 2022, I dusted off this episode to watch it.

[@hifrommike2120]

Uhura rocks!

[@Elmaestrodemusica]

I loved this animated series when I was a kid!

[@Skyking67832]

I remember reading in "The Making of Star Trek," by David Gerrold that the command hierarchy for the Enterprise put Lt. Uhura in 4th place due to her being Department Head for Communications and Computer Systems as well as having qualified as OOD. So the Command order was Kirk, Spock, Scotty and Uhura. Too bad TOS never used this bit of BG canon.

[@karlc2869]

R.I.P. DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy, Majel Barrett, Nichelle Nichols and James Doohan.

[@paulhunter6742]

It's great seeing Lt Uhura in Command. No question she has the experience and ability being Bridge Officer. i just disappointed we didn't get see her this role more often live action series

[@exposingproxystalkingorgan4164]

Uhura in command is interesting. She did rise to full commander rank.

[@trhansen3244]

Rank has nothing to do with command. A commander outranks a lieutenant but the chain of command could be structured so that the lieutenant is higher than the commander. I learned that watching Battlestar Galactica.

[@gmajor1273]

That episode will always be one of my favorite in all the star trek series.

[@midnightrun5622]

Would have been nice to have a scene of Uhura taking the captain's chair.

[@jyvben1520]

adding a flowerpot to left arm rest ... with some alien flesh eating plant ... (needs alien food too)

[@voyagervimedia3174]

I know it's not canon, but something that really tickled me was the STAR TREK ONLINE "Agents of Yesterday" mission "Return to Babel". You're sent back in time to the Enterprise during the reception scene from "Journey To Babel" to hunt for a rogue time traveller trying to disrupt the conference. In searching for them, at one point you go to the bridge, and Uhura is in the center seat. Was super cool to see and a nice surprise.

[@jeffclark2]

"The Lorelei Signal" was the ONLY Star Trek episode where Lt. Uhura takes command of the Enterprise because the men were all incapacitated. Uhura led an all-female landing party to rescue Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy from the alien women. Kirk was so hypnotized by the beauty of the siren-like women he couldn't focus on his Captain's Log report. Still, Uhura had to take charge to save the crew. Too bad this wasn't shown in the live-action series. Also, this episode aired October 6, 1973, when the Women's Liberation Movement was at its peak.

[@zebedie2]

Captains log, for some reason Sulu seems unaffected by the Alien female's advances. Note for future investigation, further research is recommended towards this apparent immunity.

[@megachonker5664]

Beautiful women of pleasure will drain a man's life energy and take his sense of purpose...Only a great show like Star Trek could teach ancient universal truths like these

[@rolanddressler]

Oh Yes, .... happens every time

[@therealhardrock]

Filmation's cheap animation doesn't leave room for much subtlety, but at 1:10 Theela sheds a single tear. She doesn't want to kill them, they're just trying to survive.

[@mrgreengenes04]

The Lorelei Signal

[@danjohnston3422]

Dragged to the Slumber Chambers by beautiful aliens. JTK probably thinking "Yeesh - again?"

[@TheSorrel]

I love how everytime someone says something dramatic in this show, they then look to the side as if they are not sure. "What are you doing?!" "Taking command of this ship! ... did I do that right?"

[@Kingrob30]

Uhura Head Boss in Charge!

[@davincent98]

TAKE THAT, NBC

[@SusanChristopher-hl7eq]

The Loralei Signal -- my fav in the animated series

[@xnihilo64]

I'd take orders from Lt. Uhura. ❤

[@thomaslocke3939]

Lieutenant Uhura being given the com on the Enterprise should have been included in the original series. It would have been appropriate on more than one occasion. Nichelle Nichols was concerned it never happened.

[@dgray9020]

Rest In Peace Ms Nichelle Nichols

[@ScoobyMystery]

The 2 episodes of Starship Farragut the animated series are based on this one and excellent. They include Gorns, Andorians and Romulans. Plus their ships. TOS.

[@oscarsoto8428]

In some distant multi-verse, this was made as a live-action episode. =(

[@RayLRiv]

I must revisit this series. I have it all on DVDs

[@airforcemax]

*¡The Max Rafael Waller saw this episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series when He was 8 years young living at Tijuana! - 7:10 am Pacific DayLight Savings Time on Sunday, 30 October 2022*

[@RedZeshinX]

"Severely ENERVATING to human males" prepping kids for the SAT with the vocabulary in this cartoon. 😶

[@eddieking2976]

Couldn't wait for Saturday morning cartoons like this. 🤗🤗🤗

[@somebuddyX]

I want to see Captain Uhura fanart now.

[@chrismc410]

In some of the books, Uhura lived well into the TNG/DS9/Voyager era and made Admiral, usually of Starfleet Intelligence with her communications background

[@bettyleeist]

I liked both the episode’s of;Star Trek animated,and,the 🎵 music!This show was on when I was in grade school.(1973,Fifth Grade).

[@AChapstickOrange]

I guess it's because it's 2024 now, but I don't see why this is so extraordinary. Uhura was a bridge officer and a lieutenant. Assuming Lt. Sulu outranked her, Uhura should have been fifth in command of the Enterprise by my estimation.

[@emissaryofcharybdis105]

I certainly didn't expect Star Trek TAS and Wakfu season 2 to have something in common, but there it is, I guess.

[@MulToyVerse]

Funny that the voice of Nurse Chapple(Barret) did not also play the voice of the computer like she has been known to do. I guess yet didnt want her to be talking to herself.

[@SnowDaulphin]

This episode was very adult for a children’s Saturday lineup.

[@NoahSpurrier]

“They occupy another compound.” “That makes sense.”

[@sullyb23511]

I love Uhura.

[@PaulGreen11]

That's Right, Sister!!

[@shuttittuppitt9355]

My favorite (animated) episode is where they end up in a universe where time goes backwards. THAT would be a real mess in so many ways if you were in that universe.

[@geoben1810]

I would be honored and grateful to have Lt. Uhura take command of my ship if I or any other officers of higher rank were incapacitated or otherwise unable to. I believe she would be more than capable of command and carrying out the mission. Attention! Officer on Deck!

[@perfectionbox]

I have the distinct feeling the best part was yet to come

[@ravenclawtom]

1:56 LCARS computer talking to TOS computer

[@spirithawk2418]

Go ahead UHURA. ✊🏿💫

[@PhillipSiddiq]

Energy Vampires! I watched this as a teen!

[@electriceye6718]

As trek fan the thing I didn't like from the animated series was the damn back ground music

[@HarrisonEng2007]

Futurama's inspiration for "Death by Snu Snu?"

[@jay-day]

The computer voice sounds like Nichelle Nichols, not Majel Barrett.

[@MrBlackbass59]

You GO girl!

[@lissainlenoir]

My fave scene from this cartoon. Proof that there was indeed potential for us girls 1972.

[@jeffrobodine9583]

You go uhura !

[@d4v0r_x]

star-date: 69-69. must explore deeper. much deeper. where no man has derped before.

[@NIGHTGUYRYAN]

yay! she said it!

[@johnetheridge5833]

This was added to the star trek tv shows.lineup on the heroes and icons channel

[@endlesswick]

The episode Catspaw all the bridge crew beams down to the planet except Chekov and Uhura. Chekov was an Ensign and Uhura was a Lieutenant. As the highest ranking bridge officer Uhura should of taken command. But they brought in a guest star to take command instead. That must of really pissed Nichelle off. It was a totally stupid episode but if they would of given Uhura command it would of been great for that single reason.

[@ocayaro]

I could die there happily

[@AsianFlew]

Well, Uhura did wear a gold uniform at one time, meaning she was on the command track.

[@catman8965]

She would have made a great Commander

[@temoharri8848]

I never saw this series, but this is very informative. I definitely would like to see it if it has a lot of action like the live action series did.

[@roberturey147]

It was great. I was a huge fan of this when it came out

[@SnowGiant.9]

Watch the series. It's very good. This particular episode is my favorite! An all female rescue team!

[@ShredPerspectivesWorks]

love it

[@alexfernandohuenten1374]

Idole

[@Jabberwockybird]

1:55 Why is the enterprise computer talking to that other computer?

[@mikekolokowsky]

Potent as Sorian brandy! Except you and Scotty down buckets of that stuff and keep going.

[@jeannehall7199]

I wonder what effect these women would have on lesbians?

[@Cdr2002]

Presumably the same as on heterosexual men. Bisexual people of any gender would also likely be affected the same

[@irregularassassin6380]

I've wondered that myself. Later in the episode (I believe) they explain that they can only subsist off the energy of males, and that the planet weakens males. I think its fair to assume that we can take this to mean the male sex, since these are physiological effects taking place. Therefore, it follows that the signal they broadcast would also be designed to affect only individuals of the male sex, regardless of gender identity or sexual preference. In other words, even asexual male crewmembers would still be affected and woozy (though they would probably just think the Lorelei women look nice without any physical attraction), and lesbian crewmembers would be just fine. However, this is all just conjecture.

[@emissaryofcharybdis105]

@@irregularassassin6380 Ah. That explains the look on Sulu's face.

[@micmac99]

RIP Nichelle Nichols

[@eddieboggs8306]

Science fiction amazes me how it eventually becomes science fact.

[@eddieboggs8306]

Amazing we only saw main characters on deck with occasional extras. When did they sleep?

[@ultramaximusreviews]

I think that is the only time Uhura took command.

[@potsdam28]

No. One other episode

[@leovalverde1508]

Uhura is also in command in the second season episode "Bem."

[@thatHARVguy]

Star Trek Online gave her bridge duty during the Babal mission, in the TOS Federation faction tutorial.

[@danlowe]

The episode where the voice of the computer speaks to the computer

[@charadeyouare322]

Cool. The Enterprise had Zip drives!

[@AJD73]

RIP

[@VideoNOLA]

Ya leave ya ride's keys in the ignition while ya gone, whatcha think she gonna do??

[@KManXPressTheU]

Just before uhura relieves scotty and takes command,scotty was singing a lovely ballad;Does anybody know what it is,and is it availiable on CD somewhere?

[@Jack21Spades]

@Keith Ranson HEEEY!!! I FOUND IT! LOOK! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3fVh4mQjr6kpLM

[@johnbockelie3899]

Janice Rand should have led the away team. All hell would have broke loose.

[@tonyfelder1206]

@@johnbockelie3899 Did her character ever appear in this series?

[@johnbockelie3899]

@@tonyfelder1206 Yes, Uhura did appear in the animated series. She was in a few episodes , and the one where she took command in order to save kirk, Spock , and McCoy was the best. She was afterwards replaced by feline alien Lt M'Ress . P.S. Leonard Nimoy made sure Nichelle Nichols had the Uhura part for this series.

[@tonyfelder1206]

@@johnbockelie3899 I'm sorry. I ment Janice Rand. I rewatch a some reruns a few years ago after so many years. Maybe I missed the ones she appeared in.

[@SnowDaulphin]

Would love to see the live action version of this on Strange New Worlds.

[@neves5083]

O really like this episode

[@dunbarf2413]

Star Trek Voyager episode Favorite Son borrowed heavily from this ST-TAS episode.

[@paulwolf7562]

Lt. Uhura's gonna fight fire with fire. I think that by the 23rd century, women would have become as capable as men on a landing party. I always thought the women on Star Trek, as well if not more capable, than most of the men, given their intellectual straight forwardness. Besides, she was an officer. As a Lieutenant, she would have been more than capable of taking over the ship, in a emergency.