Question: When it is mentioned that Ilia is Deltan, a couple of the male Enterprise crew members (Sulu in particular) look very interested when they hear that. Why? Also, why was it necessary for her to say that she has taken an oath of celibacy?
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
2 questions
Directed by: Robert Wise
Starring: William Shatner, George Takei, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols
Revealing mistake: When the Enterprise is leaving its docking station and pulling out, two little bugs or debris from the model lands on the camera lens on the lower left corner (corrected in the Director's Edition).
McCoy: Well Jim, I hear Chapel's an M.D. Now. So I'm gonna need a top nurse, not some doctor who'll argue every little diagnosis with me. And they probably re-designed the whole sickbay, too. I know engineers, they LOVE to change things.
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Answer: Deltans exude an intensely potent and effective chemical substance known as pheromones, which act as signals arousing an intense sexual reaction in other species (in other ST material it's inferred that its potency is so extreme that a non-Deltan risks insanity in a sexual encounter with a Deltan). Upon entering Starfleet, Deltans must swear "an oath of celibacy" so as not to influence or take advantage of crewmembers. That is why Lt. Ilia stated that her "oath of celibacy" was on record.
Super Grover ★