Emigh was a 23rd century Human man who served Starfleet as a security officer, assigned to Federation starship USS Enterprise in the 2270s. Lieutenant Emigh and two other Security men, Barnes and Padilla, accompanied Admiral James T. Kirk, Commander Spock and Dr. Leonard McCoy on a visit to the colony planet Calibus VII. The colony was ravaged by a zombie virus, with which Padilla and Barnes were soon infected and transformed into zombies. When an infected colonist was about to attack McCoy, Emigh pushed him out of the way and was bitten on the neck. Emigh urged McCoy, Kirk and Spock to leave him before he changed.