The Character creation process in Star Trek is alternatly more straight forward and more confusing than the other WoD character creation processes. I'll lay out the whole process here as simply as I can.

Step 1: Creating a Character Concept

The first step is to decide what type of character you want to play. This can just be one or two words that describe the essense of your character. "Taciturn Changling Security Officer" or "Rennisiance-esqe Starfleet Captain" or "Brash Female Starfleet Security Chief" This is simply to give you something to start with. You'll add the details later.

Step 2: Determing Your Race

You need to select a race from the Race Index and read up on the various specifics of the races. Each of the Races has its own advantages and disadvantages. You need to make sure you have at least a basic understanding about that race in order to select it. Mark down any special abilities, traits, or Racial Advantages on your character sheet.

Step 3: Selecting your Nature & Demeanor

This is just a basic 'archetype' what your character wants or what your character's 'inner self' is like. Your Demeanor is your character's outward behavior. You may choose off of a list of Natures & Demeanors.

Step 4: Choosing Traits

The effects of modern medicine, modern education, and modern nutrition have made people healthier, stronger, and better trained than they were during the 20th century. As a result, characters may choose 7 primary traits, 6 secondary and four tertiary traits off of the traits list(rather than the 7/5/3 or 6/5/4 of WoD standard). For instance: You may choose 7 Social, 6 mental and 4 physical traits to describe your character. You may only choose positive traits at this point, negatives you can choose later. Also: Any additonal traits that are part of the statistics listed for your race do not count toward the 7/6/4 total.

Step 5: Adding in Your Abilities

At this point you have points to add in abilities. You may choose these off of the abilities list or, with the narrator's permission, create your own. You must prioritize where you want your abilities--In Knowledges, Skills or Talents. (5/4/3 in whichever combination you wish.) You may take multiple levels of a single ability for 1 additional point per level.

Step 6: Choosing Influences

You may choose up to 3 points of influences from the influences list.

Step 7: Willpower

Now is when you add the rest of the odds and ends that fill out your character sheet. Assign your character a single Willpower trait. (note that unlike the WoD, characters do not get starting disciplines unless granted them by their race or bought with freebie points)

Step 8: Freebie Points, Merits & Flaws

You get 8 points to allocate wherever you wish. With the points you can purchace: merits(see list for costs), traits (2 points per), disciplines allowed by your race (3 points per), Influences (1 point per) and Willpower points (3 points per). Note that Racial Maximums apply for traits, and these may not be exceeded.

You may also take negative traits, (2 points per) and flaws (see list for costs) up to a total of 5 negative points in addition to the 8 points of freebie points.

Step 9: Narrative Description

At this point you have a framework for your character. You have a set of adjectives in the form of your traits, and you have a vague idea of what some of your character's experiences have been like. Now is when you flesh it all out. You should write at least a page (preferably much more) describing the role that this individual you have created is going to play.

Step 10: Final Step

Depending on the preferences of your storyteller & narrators, you must then get final approval for your character. This is sometimes easy, but sometimes far more difficult, requiring vast ammounts of reworking. Remember that Storytellers are there to ensure game balance and fun for all players. Their critizisms are intended to make the best of the situation for everyone, and any limits they put on your characters should not be taken personally.