Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley (aka Number One) was born on an Illyrian colony in the early 23rd century. Illyrians were known for using genetic engineering to adapt their bodies to the new planets they settled, rather than changing the planet to suit themselves. All Una ever wanted, since she first saw the stars, was to join Starfleet. This was impossible, because of the Federation's ban on genetic engineering. So she decided to hide her true identity from everyone.

In the episode "Ghosts of Illyria" it was revealed that Una was Illyrian and therefore immune to the illness that had affected the crew.

La'an hated her for that, but they reconcile later.

La'an Noonien Singh: "You lied to me every day for years. What kind of friend is that? You're an abomination. An augment. That's what the other kids called me when they heard my name: augment, monster. Like you are."

La'an Noonien Singh: "All my life I've hated augments. Hated what-what people thought of me because I was related to them. Understanding why they were outlawed in the Federation. The damage they did. They almost destroyed Earth."

Una: "The augments, yes, but not us. My people were never motivated by domination. Illyrians seek collaboration with nature. By bioengineering our bodies, we adapt to naturally-existing habitats. Instead of terraforming planets, we modify ourselves. And there's nothing wrong with that."

La'an Noonien Singh: "If that's what you believe, why do you hide it? Why hide it from me?"

Una: "I've been hiding it from a lot of people. All I ever wanted, since I first saw the stars, was to join Starfleet."

La'an Noonien Singh: I know. You're the one who gave me that dream. And the fact that strawberries are my comfort food."

Now that her secret is out, Una decides to resign from Starfleet.

Una: "Captain. I'm an Illyrian. Not from this colony, from far away. Starfleet policy is clear. By not disclosing my genetic augmentation, worse, by enlisting in Starfleet, I've committed a Federation offense. I am resigning my commission and surrendering myself for disciplinary review. I only ask that my sincere desire to join Starfleet be taken into consideration."

Pike: "Rejected."

Una: "Sir?"

Pike; "I don't care where you come from. You're the best first officer in the fleet."

Una: "Thank you, sir, but I feel obligated to point out that Starfleet does not allow..."

Pike: "Una, stop."

Una: "Chris, that's kind, but I've broken a dozen regulations. I lied to get into Starfleet. According to Federation law, if you shelter me, they could come after you, too."

Pike: "I welcome that discussion. One thing became clear to me on Hetemit IX. Illyrians are severely misunderstood. Your actions in the crisis prove that again."

Una: "I just did my job, sir."

Pike: "No. You defy every stereotype the Federation has about Illyrians. You're an example to them. And to all of us."

Una: "What do we do when Starfleet finds out?"

Pike: "You let me worry about Starfleet."

Larer, Una is alone in her quarters, contemplating her future and that of others, like La'an, who are different. She records a log entry and then deletes it.

Una: "Dr. M'Benga stopped hiding today, just a little. And for once, I did, too. I told Captain Pike the truth about myself. And he defended me. Told me I was exemplary. That he would fight for me. So why do I feel terrible? What if I hadn't saved all those lives? Would the captain feel the same? What would he do if I wasn't a hero? One of the good ones? When will it be enough to just... be an Illyrian? Computer. Delete log entry."

Computer: "Log entry deleted."

When will the bigotry and prejudice - in the Federation - come to an end?

Questions about Una and La'an Noonien Singh:

What other 'special' augment powers does Una have?

Is La'an Noonien Singh only a descendant of Khan or is she also a fully developed augment?

La'an Noonien Singh: "Illyrians? You think this contamination might be related to them?"

Una: "I don't know what to think. I'm just doing research."

La'an Noonien Singh: "Well, it seems to me, things like this are exactly why the Federation is so wary of genetically-modified species like the Illyrians. You start breaking down the genetic code, who knows what the unexpected consequences can be?"

Una: "If the problem originated with the Illyrians, maybe they could also provide us with a cure."

La'an Noonien Singh: "Isn't using any Illyrian medical tech against Federation regs?"

Una: "Thanks to the Eugenics Wars. I imagine you know all about that period in history."

La'an Noonien Singh: "Well, you don't grow up with a bioengineered mass murderer as your ancestor and not develop a thick skin."

Una: "Khan Noonien Singh."

La'an Noonien Singh: "Made myself a kind of an expert on him when I was a kid."

Una: "I never think of you as a child."

La'an Noonien Singh: "Yeah. For a while there, the worst thing that had ever happened to me was a bunch of the other kids' teasing."

Una: "I'd hope that someone with your last name would know that snap judgments made on genetics are faulty at best. Individuals are so much more than just..."