Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Rachow

Helmsman of the USS Banshee. Ben is best known on the ship as a homophobic womanizer who never really succeeds at being both. ("Resistance is Futile, Part I" [BAN]). Ben was assigned as helmsman of the Banshee when it was launched from the San Francisco Fleet Yards and remained at that position after Captain Jad Vorezze assumed command in early 2374. ("Tolkien III" [BAN]). He had a goatee toupee on his chin up until early 2374, when Commander Charlotte Burns ripped it off of him. Ben opted not to reattach it for fear of a repeat performance. ("Natural Disaster" [BAN]). Ben is also quite fond of 'Wild Klingon' brand deodorant. ("The Truth is Out There, Part One" [BAN]). No one is exactly sure why or how it started, but Ben quickly developed a strong grudge against Lieutenant Commander Vincent DiSanto, often calling him various derogatory remarks relating to Ben's belief that Vince is a homosexual. ("Resistance is Futile, Part I" [BAN]). This rivalry came to a brief truce after Vince saved Ben's life during an attack from Voran intruders on the Banshee. This did not last very long. ("The Dark Fleet, Part III" [BAN]) Although Ben claims to be a love machine, most all women argue with that, and some speculate that, after a remark he made while his shuttlecraft was being flung in circles after being caught in a tornado, that Ben is still a virgin. ("Natural Disaster" [BAN]). Ben very quickly aimed his raging helmsman hormones at Dr. Elizabeth Lang, who most certainly does not reciprocate. ("Resistance is Futile, Part II" [BAN]). Ben was among the Banshee crewmembers killed when the Banshee's main bridge was destroyed in combat with the Voran warship Triaxis. Ben was eventually returned to life, with the rest of the crew with him, when the Afterlife decided that they weren't ready to take the Banshee's crew. ("The Dark Fleet, Part II" [BAN]). On planet Fornax III, Ben endured rather abnormal effects of an unidentified type of radiation after the suns had set. The radiation, normally dispersed by sunlight, caused Ben to exhibit characteristics similar to that of a vampire. He attacked Commander Tagel in the back of the runabout Indus before being hit by sunlight and returning to normal. ("Until Dawn" [BAN]). Ben went to Mordor with many other Banshee crewmembers. While there, he met a Deltan woman named Karenil. He and Karenil had a considerable fling, but Ben was unaware, at the time, that she was a member of Mordor's highly feared Deimos Cult. ("Where Angels Fear to Tread, Part I; Shore Leave From Hell" [BAN]). While on a date with Karenil, Ben was lured out into a cemetery where he was captured by various cult members. He was intended to be killed by Commander Dan Smith, who was under a spell from Deimos leader Kristina Mattice. Ben was saved by quick phaser work from Vince, and was later rescued from Mordor by the Banshee. ("Where Angels Fear to Tread Part III; Death of Hope" [BAN]). Ben was apparently moved by various artifacts seen in the Love Temple on planet Menda IV during an archeological survey in early 2376. Dr. Elizabeth Lang, however, suspects that the only part of Ben that moved was something in his pants while looking at her. ("The Petzorcist" [BAN]). Ben became quite fond of the phrase "But grandma, I don't believe you," and continued reciting it, much to the irritation of those around him. ("The Truth is Out There, Part Two" [BAN]). When the Banshee was stealthily being taken over by mirror universe counterparts, Ben was the first to be replaced, having been shot by a phaser when he answered his door. ("Two of a Kind" [BAN]). Ben's last name is pronounced Rock-Oh. The character's name is derived from the two people he's based on, Ben Richards and Jessie Rachow.