# Tasha Yar vs Kara Thrace...who'd win? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345 "2009-01-08T06:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/1 "2009-01-08T06:14:09Z")
Yes, it’s another fantasy fight thread. Both are trained fighters. Tasha was the head of security in ST:TNG. “Died”. Came back, sorta, and likely died again pursuing her own “special destiny”. Kara is the best frakkin pilot in the fleet. Possibly also the most often frakkin pilot in the fleet. Also allegedly has a “special destiny”. Hard drinking, hard fighting woman. Say the two ladies decide to throw down for whatever reason. No weapons. Who wins? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/2 "2009-01-08T06:18:03Z")
Mud or jello? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/3 "2009-01-08T06:23:10Z")
Neither. These gals don’t need gimmicks. They both can hold their own with skilled men in physical combat. Just a regular fight, except the participants happen to be female. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/4 "2009-01-08T06:30:14Z")
Kara Thrace. Tasha wasn’t hard enough. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/5 "2009-01-08T06:37:16Z")
But yeah, it would have to be Kara. Tasha Yar is pretty much famous for two things, being hugely unlucky and being this famous character that pretty much never actually had any screen time. So from a purely storytelling standpoint, it would be unlikely for Tasha to win. Major character’s will always win over minor, regardless of their idiosyncratic fame. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/6 "2009-01-08T06:41:05Z")
Tasha Yar. I don’t think she’s as _interesting_ a character as Kara - but she’s disciplined, thoughtful, and focused in a way that Kara has never been. Thrace is a talented frakup - even money says she’d frak up this fight. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/7 "2009-01-08T06:44:26Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Kara Thrace. Tasha wasn’t hard enough. Tasha was a tough gal…she just happened to exist in a universe that wasn’t nearly as dark as the Galacticaverse. When she chose to go back in time on the doomed ship, she showed plenty of grit. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/8 "2009-01-08T06:47:10Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > But yeah, it would have to be Kara. > > Tasha Yar is pretty much famous for two things, being hugely unlucky and being this famous character that pretty much never actually had any screen time. So from a purely storytelling standpoint, it would be unlikely for Tasha to win. Major character’s will always win over minor, regardless of their idiosyncratic fame. This is not supposed to be booked like a pro wrestling match. Think of it as a shoot. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/9 "2009-01-08T06:48:47Z")
Kara. Bitch is _crazy_. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/10 "2009-01-08T06:52:46Z")
Drunk, crazy, and willing to play dirty? Advantage Kara. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/11 "2009-01-08T07:02:32Z")
Well, if Starbuck \*is \*a Cylon, I’d say she’d win by default. I mean, sure Yar’s come back once before, but a Cylon could theoretically come back infinitely. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/12 "2009-01-08T07:03:29Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > This is not supposed to be booked like a pro wrestling match. Think of it as a shoot. Well subtracting storyline considerations then I’d go with whoever is the physically larger person. Kara seems to be a pretty solid gal, so I’d still give her the advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/13 "2009-01-08T07:25:57Z")
Kara, no contest. Tasha wasn’t really that much of a bad ass. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/14 "2009-01-08T07:35:33Z")
Think y’all are selling Tasha short here… \* The back story for the character states that Natasha (Tasha) Yar, of Ukrainian descent, was born on Turkana IV, a colony that fell into chaos and eventually severed ties to the United Federation of Planets.[1] Tasha learned to defend herself on the streets and avoid rape gangs.[1] She left Turkana IV at age 15, leaving her younger sister behind, and later attended Starfleet Academy.[1] After watching Yar cross a minefield to save a colonist, Jean-Luc Picard requested that she be assigned to his next command.[1] She later becomes chief of security and chief tactical officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D, some time prior to the beginning of the series.[1]\* [Wiki link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasha_Yar) ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/15 "2009-01-08T07:46:27Z")
Tasha Yar (from ‘Code of Honor’ episode): “I think you should know, there is no physical training ANYWHERE that matches Starfleet. Especially it’s security officers.” I’m afraid she is right. Tasha Yar is chief security officer on THE Flagship of all Starfleet. Kara Trace is a badass pilot. I’m sorry, but, no contest. At all. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/16 "2009-01-08T08:11:14Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > Tasha Yar (from ‘Code of Honor’ episode): “I think you should know, there is no physical training ANYWHERE that matches Starfleet. Especially it’s security officers.” Anywhere in the Star Trek universe, that is, and you have to admit that that’s a pretty wimpy universe. Plus, training isn’t everything. When it comes to violence, Kara Thrace is a natural prodigy. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/17 "2009-01-08T08:17:52Z")
I’d call the training roughly equal. Both appear to have top level military training in hand to hand combat. Tasha has some street cred from her younger days…she wasn’t always a squeaky-clean Starfleet officer. ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/18 "2009-01-08T15:07:29Z")
Bear in mind that Tasha was bad-ass enough to have Worf as her subordinate. So if she can keep a Klingon in line, what would she to do Kara? I’m still putting my money on Kara Thrace, though. She may have lost the fight with #6 on Caprica, but she held up for longer than anyone was expecting. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/19 "2009-01-08T15:43:13Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > Tasha Yar (from ‘Code of Honor’ episode): “I think you should know, there is no physical training ANYWHERE that matches Starfleet. Especially it’s security officers.” The day I see a Star Trek redshirt fighting like Jet Li, I might actually believe that. Until then, I’ll put my money on Kara Thrace. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345/20 "2009-01-08T15:48:08Z")
> [@slitterst](#): > > Bear in mind that Tasha was bad-ass enough to have Worf as her subordinate. So if she can keep a Klingon in line, what would she to do Kara? Keep in mind that Worf would have his ass kicked on a weekly basis… once by a woman eight months pregnant. Hell, _I_ could probably take Worf. I say Kara. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tasha-yar-vs-kara-thrace-whod-win/480345.md?page=2)