 Pulaski 's background is touched upon in the episode " The Icarus Factor " . She was previously romantically involved with Commander William Riker 's father Kyle Riker ( Mitchell Ryan ) , after she was part of a rescue team responding to a <unk> attack on a Federation <unk> . She realised that a romantic relationship with Riker would not work , but they remained friends . <unk> prior to serving on the Enterprise @-@ D , she served on the USS Repulse under Captain <unk> , who was sorry to lose her . 
