Over the many years of Star Trek, we’ve seen multiple Red Shirt deaths to the point it’s one of the most popular memes — if not the most popular — in the fandom. Nothing says “you’re about to kick it” like being summoned on an Away Team with all the major characters, and you turn up wearing red. Like a flag to a bull, no matter the direction someone fires their phaser in, somehow it’s going to end up slap bang in the middle of the Red Shirt. Synonyms for the redshirt include sacrificial lamb and spear-carrier, so you know what conotations are a given.
HOWEVER!
Someone did the science! In a recent Star Trek: The Math of Khan talk at the Museum of Mathematics, one determined trekkie, James Grime, discovered out of three seasons of our beloved Original Series, only 25 died out of 239, a stunning 10 percent of deaths. However, out of 55 gold shirts, 10 of them died, resulting in 18 percent. In true defiance of everything we hold dear, if you wanted to cheat death, science came out alive with a staggering 6 percent dead.
Perhaps the Scientists and Doctors have it right all along. Wear the blue, avoid the chop.
Regardless, in honour of this humble trope, we’re asking you this week to choose your favourite red shirt death from the Original Series. You’ve got a few good ones to choose from, so let us know which plucked at your heartstrings the most!
So, this week, we want to know…
Which of these classic redshirt deaths factor in your top five?
Click here to head to the forums now and vote in this week’s poll on which you would choose, or let us know your own! Be sure to leave a comment in the thread!
Poll of the Week: Nothing But Red Shirts
We are a star trek roleplaying game
We are a free, fun, and friendly community of Star Trek fans who write collaborative fiction together. It’s easy to join – we’ll teach you everything you need to know!
Latest Mission Reports

StarBase 118 Ops honours crew for heroic actions against rogue AI
Federation News Service
February 15, 2025
Read More »

USS Khitomer recalled for classified refit amid war efforts
Federation News Service
February 13, 2025
Read More »

Federation relief mission faces uncertainty on Koreli IV
Federation News Service
February 9, 2025
Read More »
Latest Interviews
Latest News


Love in the Fleet: Advice for Writing In Character Relationships
Dr. Alix Harford
February 14, 2025
Read More »

OOC Activities
Looking for something fun to do? We have a whole list of fleet activities that are looking for members like yourself! Check out the Fleet Activity List today to see where you’ll fit in.