while  Faran Tahir  plays  Kelvin  captain Richard Robau. Winona Kirk, Kirk's mother, is played by  Jennifer Morrison .  Greg Ellis  plays  Chief Engineer  Olson, the  redshirt  who is killed during the  space jump . [ 45 ] Additional minor roles include  Rachel Nichols  as Gaila, an  Orion   Starfleet  cadet;  Deep