Editing Ro Laren (section)

===''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''===
"Ensign Ro" influenced the creation of ''Deep Space Nine'', with the Bajorans and [[Cardassian]]s taken directly from the episode.{{sfn|Nemecek| 2003| p=178}} The character was included in the original series description, stationed on the Bajor-based Starfleet station, and the producers had planned for her to be promoted to lieutenant in an episode of ''The Next Generation'' prior to the start of ''Deep Space Nine''.{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=37}}{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=84}} Taylor had expected Ro to be written out of ''The Next Generation'', so had taken some steps to see that the character was replaced.{{sfn |Gross|Altman| 1993| p=229}} She said, "We all just love Michelle Forbes", but the plans to replace Ro would not seek to add someone with the type of fire shown by the character in such episodes as "The Next Phase". She also said that if Ro were to remain on ''The Next Generation'', then the character would have naturally evolved away from that conflicted position, anyway.{{sfn |Gross|Altman| 1993| p=247}}

The intention was that Ro would be one of a handful of ''The Next Generation'' characters moving over to the new series, alongside [[Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)|Miles]] and [[Keiko O'Brien]]. At this stage, the other characters were only described as a [[wheelchair]]-using science officer,{{#tag:ref|The wheelchair-using science officer was replaced with Jadzia Dax. The idea was brought back for the [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2|second-season]] episode "[[Melora (Star Trek Deep Space Nine)|Melora]]".{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=108}}|group="n"}} a brash doctor, a civilian law enforcer, a bar owner and the station commander and his son.{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=74}} Ro's position on the station would have been to act as the liaison between the station and the Bajoran government.{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=70}} As described in the series [[Bible (television)|bible]], the producers had planned for Ro to be a point of conflict with "by-the-book Starfleet officers".{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=84}} Regarding the other main characters, she was planned to have a friendship with [[Odo (Star Trek)|Odo]] and be mentored by [[Jadzia Dax]].{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| pp=85–86}}

Both Berman and Piller sought to have Forbes sign on to portray Ro as a main character in the series, but she turned them down. She liked making occasional appearances on ''The Next Generation'', but did not want to tie herself down to a five- to six-year main-cast contract at that point in her career.{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=105}} She was also apprehensive about the types of demands fan appearances made on the stars of that series, and did not want to undertake the level of appearances that would be expected of a main cast member in ''Deep Space Nine''.{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=175}} The producers of ''Deep Space Nine'' decided to create a new character to fit a similar mold, which resulted in the creation of Kira Nerys,{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=105}} who was played by [[Nana Visitor]].{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=193}} This was designed to require as minimal a change as possible in the premise of the pilot at that time, which was already under production.{{sfn |Reeves-Stevens|Reeves-Stevens| 1994| p=110}} During the course of the series, Forbes told interviewers that she was interested in making one-off appearances in the series if she liked the story and role.{{sfn|Nemecek| 2003| p=298}}