Expendable Crew Member

AKA cannon fodder, redshirts (original Star Trek), yellowshirts (other Treks), extras. They usually die one at a time after landing on Some Lame Planet. They come from the same place as Spare Shuttles. Monsters have instinct which prevent them from ingesting more important characters before the ECMs.

The ensign never seen in previous episodes, but suddenly chosen to beam down with Spock, Captain Kirk, and Bones to the uncharted planet. Always the one elected to explore the cave, talk with the "ambassador," test the _______ for malfunctions, or protect the alien royalty from rebels.