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Captain’s Log THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL
Editor: John Freeman
Designer: Dan Bura
Group Editor: Jake Devine
Art Director: Oz Browne

Contributors: Jake Black, Keith R. A

DeCandido, Frank Garcia, Calum Collins,
Christopher Cooper, Greg Cox, Chris Dows,
Tim Earls, Frank Garcia, Rich Handley, Lisa
Herrera, John Kirk, Kurt Anthony Krug, David
Mack, Louie de Martinis, Rich Matthews, Joe
Nazzaro, Larry Nemecek, Wamberto
Nicomedes, John Peel, Ian Spelling, Jeff Spry,
Jay Stobie, Paul Travers, Andy Walker

PARAMOUNT GLOBAL - STAR TREK FRANCHISE

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and John Robson
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 Contents
Issue #09 Winter 2023

16 INTERVIEW
TODD STASHWICK
Catching up with
Star Trek: Picard’s
tortured Captain
 SUBSCRIBE TO

MAGAZINE
P. 84 Newsstand/ Comic Shop
Subscriber Edition Exclusive Edition

22 26 64 76 86

06 NEWS & COMMENT 30 INTERVIEW 70 EXCLUSIVE FICTION 96 THE COLLECTOR

ENGAGE! BERNADETTE CROFT THE TROUBLE WITH Star Trek merchandise
News and notes from every Creating the costumes JONES by Greg Cox rarities celebrated
quadrant of the Star Trek of Star Trek: Strange Captain Kirk has an
universe New Worlds unexpected encounter with 96 PUZZLES & MORE
an old foe… HOLLOW PURSUITS
12 INTERVIEW 38 LARRY NEMECEK’S Our latest wordsearch
KETHER DONOHUE A FISTFUL OF DATA 76 DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO - and other puzzles
Meet the voice of Star Trek: STAR TREK: PRODIGY
Lower Decks Peanut Hamper 42 ARCHIVE IMAGE Your complete guide to the 97 CARTOON
LOST AND FOUND first season of the popular THE WARPED FACTOR
20 INTERVIEW A festive season special! animated series How to rehabilitate mad
MICHELLE HURD computers and bad robots!
Raffi Musiker imbued 60 TOMORROW ’S TECH 86 STAR TREK COMICS
Star Trek: Picard with TREKNOLOGY THE BRITISH
heart, action, passion – How Star Trek’s Treknology INVASION
and anger is being reimagined and Vintage Star Trek comics
STAR TREK
realized today from the UK in the EXPLORER
24 INTERVIEW spotlight SUBSCRIBER
DIANA MULDAUR 64 INTERVIEW BONUS
Catching up with Star HARVE BENNETT 92 FANDOM UNBOUND Our digital extra for
Trek: The Next Generation’s A never-before- TREK THROUGH LIFE subscribers includes two
second season medical lead – published interview Fans share their cosplay, brand new Star Trek stories
and Star Trek: The Original with the late Star Trek values, creativity, and – “Sundering” by David
Series guest star films producer memorabilia collections Mack, and “Academy
Acquisition” by Jake Black;
a celebration of actor

Inside Trek Mark Lenard, who played

Sarek – and more!

44 TOP 10 48 PROFILE 54 EXCLUSIVE FICTION

CAPTAINS DOCTOR PULASKI WORK WORTH
Who’s rated Starfleet’s Her time aboard the U.S.S. DOING
finest? Enterprise NCC 1701-D by Keith R.A. Candido

was limited – but she made An all-new Star Trek:

her mark! Discovery story!
 E x p l o r i n g t h e S t a r T r e k U n i v e r s e
REPORTING TEAM: JAY STOBIE AND JOHN KIRK

Ready for Action!

I
n a matter of two ten-episode makes the most of its potential, even landing Visit EXO-6.com to stay updated, and,
seasons, Star Trek: Strange on Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming charts. while you’re there, be sure to check out
New Worlds has endeared EXO-6 has announced that it is adding another recent addition to EXO-6’s 1:6 scale
itself to fans with its the show’s characters to its popular line of figures line: Star Trek: The Next Generation’s
storytelling range. Whether museum-grade 1:6 scale figures. With expert Lt. Commander Data! Available in an
you tune in for poignant social commentary sculpting and screen-accurate costumes, Essential Version, accompanied by a Starfleet
(“Strange New Worlds”), lighthearted EXO-6 brings Strange New Worlds to the Type II hand phaser and TR–580 tricorder
hijinks (“Spock Amok”), powerful forefront in its superbly-detailed figures of VII and a Standard Version complete with
character studies (“Ad Astra per Aspera”), Captain Pike, Una Chin–Riley (Number hand phaser, tricorder, PADD, a second
or innovative experiments (“Those Old One), Spock, Nurse Christine Chapel, and Data head with removable panel, and two
Scientists,” “Subspace Rhapsody”), the series La’An Noonien–Singh. different poses of Data’s pet cat, Spot.

Warp-Powered Prints Seven’s Story

M
any fans consider Star Trek starships to be works of art, but Retrospect New York Times
Studios propels the interstellar designs to new heights with their signed, bestselling author
Limited Edition Archival Fine Art Prints. These stunningly detailed pieces David Mack
from Retrospect’s Kavita Maharaj are made with museum-quality paper returns with
and inks, bringing incredible scenes – ranging from a fictional depiction another superb
of the Constitution-class U.S.S. Enterprise soaring above its ancient predecessors novel, as Star
(“Legacy”) to the Klingon Bird-of-Prey’s arrival on Vulcan in Star Trek III: The Search for Trek: Picard:
Spock (“Precious Cargo”) – to life with a vibrant blend of inspiration and expression. Firewall details
Warp over to RetrospectStudios.ca, where you’ll find “Legacy” (14 x 18.5”) and the fallout from
“Precious Cargo” (22 x 12.5”). Seven of Nine’s
rejection from Starfleet, her turn
toward the Fenris Rangers, and her
evolving friendship with Admiral
Kathryn Janeway. A prequel to
the hit series Star Trek: Picard,
this 320–page hardcover from
Pocket Books is scheduled to be
released on February 27, 2024.
You can reserve your own copy at
SimonAndSchuster.com

6 STAR TREK
 E X P L O R I N G T H E S TA R T R E K U N I V E R S E

Boldy Be, with Kid Cudi! Star Trek: Prodigy

Returns!

S
cott Mescudi, better known Boldly Go as you partner with Captain
by his stage name, Kid Cudi, Skyles (Kid Cudi) on a mission to uncover the
announced details of a one-of- source of a sonic anomaly that threatens the
a-kind collaboration with Star peaceful planet Vada. Explore, discover and
Trek at New York Comic Con in defend a world these forces are threatening to
October, kicking off the “Boldly Be” campaign tear apart. It’s up to you and other Starfleet
The campaign launched with the release of recruits to work together with Captain Skyles
an original Kid Cudi song inspired by Star Trek, to uncover the source of this musical malady
titled “Heaven’s Galaxy”, produced by longtime and restore the harmony of Vada. Star Trek: Prodigy season
collaborator Dot Da Genius, and inspired by Use island code 0961-7139-1749 in one will arrive on the
Cudi’s own fandom of Star Trek. Fortnite to enter the experience, which is only streaming service Netflix
Available now on all streaming platforms, available until 31st December. on December 25th, and
the release was quickly followed by the launch Also available now are items in a new season two sometime
of Star Trek X Kid Cudi: Mirror Mayhem, clothing line, available at shop.kidcudi.com. in 2024, news that has
bringing Kid Cudi into the worlds of both Star Featuring Star Trek-inspired mantras, the Kid delighted fans and the
Trek and the online video game, Fortnite, to Cudi x Star Trek capsule collection includes show's creative team.
perform the music collaboration. tees, crewnecks and more. More on this next issue,
but in the meantime,
check out our Definitive
Guide to season one,
starting on Page 76!

A Tailor’s Tale
Temporal Toys One of Star Trek’s most
popular novels, Star Trek:

I
ntroduced in Star Trek – Kirk brings a communicator and hand Deep Space Nine: A Stitch
(2009), the alternate phaser, while Dr. McCoy arrives with two in Time, has received
universe known as the Kelvin medicine bottles, a medical pouch, and an exciting update to
Timeline charted a new a medical tricorder. The figures can be celebrate the show’s 30th
course for James T. Kirk and purchased at HIYAtoys.com, where all anniversary. Actor and
the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. HIYA future releases will also be available. director Andrew J. Robinson,
draws upon the hit films for its brand- who is widely beloved for
new Exquisite Mini-Series line of 1:18 scale his time portraying Garak
3.75” action figures, whose first releases – the Cardassian space
are depictions of James T. Kirk (Chris station’s plain and simple
Pine) and Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban). These tailor, wrote the spin-off
figures feature 17 points of articulation novel himself, and now he
and utilize a new body to provide a revisits the thrilling story by
wider range of motion for dynamic narrating the audiobook
action poses. adaptation of A Stitch in
Based on the characters’ Time. From Simon & Schuster
appearances in Star Trek (2009), both Audio, Robinson’s latest
figures come with two interchangeable contribution to Star Trek
hand parts, a special stand, and lore can be found wherever
accessories tailored to their assignment audiobooks are sold.

STAR TREK 7
ENGAGE!

Engage the In Awe of Shaw

Fleece One cannot mention the U.S.S. Titan–A without acknowledging Captain Liam
Shaw. Portrayed by Todd Stashwick, interviewed elsewhere this issue, the
captain became a standout star in Star Trek: Picard’s final season. The hostility

I
n addition to being shown by the Constitution III-class vessel’s commanding officer toward Jean-
packed with adventure, Luc Picard, William T. Riker, and Seven of Nine initially left fans weary, but the
Star Trek: Picard’s self-proclaimed “grease monkey” from Chicago quickly endeared himself
third season featured to audiences with his straightforward style, sardonic quips, and depth of
an array of stylish jackets character. While Shaw didn’t quite make it through the entire season, there are
worn by Admiral Jean–Luc Picard plenty of fantastic moments to enjoy.
and his cohorts. Hero Within found
inspiration in Picard’s fashionable
ensembles and used its creativity to
produce the Picard Fleece Jacket.
The garment comes equipped with
a premium fleece shell, reinforced
nylon shoulders and elbows, multiple
exterior pockets, Picard logo sleeve
embroidery, and a 25th century
Starfleet delta on the back.
An exclusive velcro U.S.S. Titan-A
patch provides the attire with the
perfect piece of final season flair. You
can beam this jacket into your closet
by visiting HeroWithinStore.com.

Today is a Good Day to Buy

Looking for an exciting way to countdown to Christmas,
Frontier Day, or even the Klingon Kot’baval Festival? Then the
Star Trek Advent Calendar is for you! The calendar’s arsenal of
high-quality collectibles includes a Starship U.S.S. Enterprise
bottle opener, Klingon warship bookmark, a monstrous bottle
stopper, solid metal Starfleet ice cubes, a shot glass straight
from a starship bar, a spongy shuttle stress toy, a hand–
signed art print by Star Trek artist Ryan Dening, and more.
Order your calendar at InsightEditions.com.

Outer Space Originals

T
he U.S.S. Enterprise’s stop the craft’s famous interior. Within
at Deep Space Station its hull, Spock dealt with the rigors
K–7 in Star Trek’s “The of command and Scotty worked his
Trouble with Tribbles” magic in an effort to get the shuttle
and its search for the back into orbit. Sold separately,
lost shuttle in “The Galileo Seven” the model kits for these Starfleet
represent two of the Federation vessels can both be ordered through
starship’s most remarkable missions. Round2Corp.com.
AMT’s Star Trek K-7 Space Station
1:7600 Scale Model Kit lets you
construct a 15 inch-wide plastic
replica of the starbase that also
contains a miniature U.S.S. Enterprise.
The Polar Lights Galileo Shuttle
with Interior 1:32 Scale Model Kit
provides a similarly entertaining
experience, though it also highlights

8 STAR TREK
 E X P L O R I N G T H E S TA R T R E K U N I V E R S E

Bajoran Gems

A
llison Cimino, RockLove Picard Bajoran Cuff Earring. Utilizing
Jewelry’s designer, the same sculpts used on the show and
CEO, and a life-long made with nickel–free sterling silver and
Star Trek fan, earned the cubic zirconia crystal, the 15mm x 18mm
opportunity of a lifetime earring comes with a 70mm chain and a
when she was invited to translate rose gold-plated finish.
Star Trek: Picard Prop Master Jeffrey RockLove also has something
Lombardi’s original design renders into special for Star Trek: Deep Space
physical jewelry items worn by the actors. Nine fans. The Star Trek X RockLove
One such item was the Bajoran Kira Nerys Bajoran Cuff Earring is a
earring, or d’ja pagh, worn by Ro Laren screen–accurate, sterling silver piece
in her heartwarming–yet–tragic return that replicates Colonel Kira’s own
for the episode “Imposters.” RockLove Bajoran earring. The Ro Laren and Kira
Jewelry is now giving you the chance to Nerys earrings can both be ordered at
purchase your own Star Trek X RockLove RockLove.com.

Ensign Ro Essentials
Ro Laren – along with her Bajoran earring – stirred up controversy the
moment she first set foot on the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-D in Star
Trek: The Next Generation’s “Ensign Ro,” but her dedication and fortitude
gained her the respect of her peers. Ro played a vital part in solving deadly
mysteries in “Disaster,” “Conundrum,” “Power Play,” and “Cause and Effect,”
while “The Next Phase” saw her face her views on the afterlife alongside
Geordi La Forge. Ro’s time on the ship came to a controversial end in
“Preemptive Strike,” severing the connection between the Bajoran and
Jean-Luc Picard to such an extent that it could not be resolved until her
return in Star Trek: Picard’s “Imposters.”

A Bear
with Flair

B
uild-A-Bear Workshop
adds a marvelous Star Trek
piece to its iconic line
with the Nebula Bear, a
new design featuring a gold,
red, and blue nebula pattern, Starfleet
delta, and Star Trek Universe paw pad.
The bear can be purchased on its own,
or as part of two themed sets: the Nebula
Bear Red Uniform Gift Set and the
Nebula Bear Tribble Gift Set.
While the Red Uniform set
equips your bear with a Star Trek:
The Next Generation command
uniform and plush phaser, the Tribble
variant outfits it with a gold Star
Trek uniform, a 23rd century plush
phaser, and a fuzzy tribble. The
galaxy of Nebula Bears – as well as
their accessories – can all be found at
BuildABear.com.

STAR TREK 9
ENGAGE!

Computer, Energize
Program

A
s Star Trek’s original Of course, Captain Kirk had plenty
James T. Kirk, actor and of his own experience with the fictional
philanthropist William transporters of Star Trek. The character
Shatner often arrived on was split into positive and negative
strange new worlds through variants of himself in “The Enemy
the technological wonder known as Within,” while “Mirror, Mirror” saw Kirk
the transporter. In August, Shatner and several colleagues endure an
took a real-life leap, utilizing Proto unexpected trip to the Mirror Universe.
Inc.’s hologram technology to remotely In fact, without the breathtaking
‘beam in’ to Advertising Week APAC tech, Kirk would have never made his
2023 in Sydney, Australia. Speaking from miraculous escape from the Genesis
Los Angeles, Shatner engaged with Planet in Star Trek III: The Search for
the audience, embracing the unique Spock or Rura Penthe in Star Trek VI:
opportunity to explore this new frontier. The Undiscovered Country.

Visitor’s Voice

A
ctor and author Nana Visitor their experiences and the way their stories
gained trust and respect from have progressed from the 1960s to the present
fans for her portrayal of Kira day.
Nerys in Star Trek: Deep Including interviews with influential
Space Nine and her empathetic Star Trek cast members (Kate Mulgrew, Terry
outlook on life. Visitor brings the same care Farrell, Denise Crosby, Mary Wiseman,
and wisdom to Insight Editions’ Star Trek: Rebecca Romijn, and more) and discussions
Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek, a must-read focusing on Star Trek’s impact on the
book that chronicles how the franchise has real world (Visitor interviewed astronaut
portrayed and influenced women. Paired with Samantha Cristoforetti while she orbited
her own journey, Visitor interviews women Earth on the International Space Station!),
who have been involved with Star Trek – both Open a Channel can be pre-ordered at
in front of and behind the camera – about SimonAndSchuster.com.

In Memoriam
Star Trek Explorer joins
the galaxy in mourning
celebrated actor Mark
Margolis, who portrayed
the troubled Doctor Nel
Apgar in Star Trek: The Next
Generation’s mind-bending
“A Matter of Perspective.”
Margolis’ storied career
excelled to new heights
when he took on the role
of Hector Salamanca in
Breaking Bad and Better
Call Saul. Star Trek Explorer
extends its condolences
to Margolis’ friends,
colleagues, and loved ones,
including his son Morgan
H. Margolis, who himself
appeared in episodes of
Star Trek: Voyager and Star
Trek: Enterprise.

10 STAR TREK
 E X P L O R I N G T H E S TA R T R E K U N I V E R S E

Mirror Missions Two from Titan

B
lack Alert! The U.S.S. but your goal as a Terran soldier is to
Discovery’s call for its capture the Starfleet vessel and study
spore drive to be activated its revolutionary propulsion system.
has inspired WizKids’ Star Players can opt to play one-on-
Trek: Discovery: Black Alert one, or they can arrange teams of 1–2
strategy game, which harkens back to people. Each person selects a character
when the Federation starship was pitted to become, whether they choose to side
against the Terran Empire’s flagship, with Discovery (Michael Burnham, Saru,
the I.S.S. Charon, back in the show’s Paul Stamets, Cadet Tilly) or the Charon
second season. As a Discovery crew (Emperor Georgiou, Gabriel Lorca,
member, you must complete missions Captain Killy, Ellen Landry, Mirror Paul
to learn how to use the spore drive and Stamets). To order, you can jump over to
make it back to the Prime Universe, Shop.WizKids.com.

Titan Books’ Star Trek:

Lower Decks – Crew
Handbook by Chris Farnell,
on sale now, takes you
inside the U.S.S. Cerritos,
offering advice and insider
knowledge from the crew
members serving on the
California-class vessel. This
in-universe hardcover is
the perfect companion for
the Lower Decks series.

Coming in January 2024

is Star Trek Explorer:
Conquering the Quadrants The Mission and Other
Produced by Nimble Giant Entertainment, Stories, a collection of
Star Trek: Infinite is a strategy game that tales from this magazine,
sends players to the Star Trek: The Next including tales by Michael
Generation era, where fans command their Carroll, Michael Collins,
interstellar faction by deploying fleets, Christopher Cooper, Greg
managing an economy, and navigating Cox, Keith R. A. DeCandido,
diplomatic endeavors. When you control your Chris Dows, Una
own destiny, the possibilities are truly Infinite. McCormack, John Peel,
Keep an eye on ParadoxInteractive.com for Gary Russell and James
more details and updates. Swallow.

As Lustrous as Latinum
FanSets builds upon its marvelous pin series with its Star Trek: The
Universe of Trek Collection, a new batch of pins celebrating Star Trek
characters with a signature glitter effect. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s
Captain Sisko, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Nurse Chapel, and Star
Trek: Discovery’s Doctor Culber are the line’s first releases, with the
roughly two inch-wide character pins available.
Want to expand your collection even further? FanSets has already
begun releasing the second wave of the glitter series, with Star Trek
Beyond’s Jaylah, Star Trek: Enterprise’s Captain Archer, Star Trek:
Voyager’s Chakotay, and Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Captain
Picard. Boasting quality rubber pin backs and a smooth glitter with
epoxy finish, the line’s latest releases are available at FanSets.com.

STAR TREK 11
 KETHER DONOHUE

MATHEMATICALLY

It’s difficult to reconcile the warm-hearted and gregarious Kether Donohue

with her Star Trek: Lower Decks manipulative and conniving alter-ego, Peanut
Hamper. Unlike the narcissistic exocomp with the “mathematically perfect
name”, if you ever meet Kether, you can expect hugs and a whole load of
validation coming your way. Star Trek Explorer had a chance to catch up with the
voice performer of the deceitful exo-comp before the SAG-AFTRA strike, asking
about her work on the animated show – and how someone so diametrically
different to Peanut Hamper can play the character so well.
WORDS: JOHN KIRK

P
arodic humor is the key to come out! But I characterize it as
enjoying Star Trek: Lower impulsiveness and no filter! No regard
Decks. Whether it’s Brad for human behavior of what’s considered
Boimler’s girlish squeals acceptable – I mean, even though
of terror, while at the helm Peanut Hamper isn’t human.”
of the U.S.S. Titan in the face Are there any influences or other
of intrepid danger, or Peanut Hamper performers she channels when playing
refusing to sacrifice herself in the warp Peanut Hamper?
core for the “good of the many” and using “I don’t think so,” she muses. “I think
her internal transporters to “peace out, everyone can act, and that’s every
bitches!” - this is the type of humor Star human being channeling their own selves.
Trek fans get to enjoy sharing with each All of us have a gamut of emotions. I
other. Sure enough, Kether gets it too. wouldn’t say I’m channeling a person, but
Before we got started, we had to ask tapping into the spectrum of emotions
about the origin of her name. that is inside all of us.
“My mother was very spiritual. She got “And it’s fun,” she insists, “and what’s
the name from an angel book. It’s Hebrew fun about being an actor is that because
actually and it means ‘the crown angel’ or it’s free play, because you’re exploring,
something like that! It’s a lot to live up to, there’s no judgment or negative
because I’m not an angel!” She laughed. emotions. In acting, everything is allowed
In the show, I comment, Peanut – and that’s perfect for Peanut Hamper’s
Hamper transitions easily from a friendly character. She has no checks on herself!”
character that is so happy to meet True enough. Even though Peanut
her crew mates on the U.S.S. Cerritos Hamper is a self-centred machine, who
to immediately switching to a self- really doesn’t feel any limitations in the
absorbed, egoist in a split-second. So form of self-judgement about what
how does she managed to pull that off? she says, she certainly likes to have fun
“Aw. Thanks!” Kether laughs, then pushing other characters’ buttons, and is
assures us, with a wicked grin: “I’m not a ‘manipulatronic’ machine, dedicated to
gonna change on you in this interview! self-care and survival. That trumps all in
Peanut Hamper’s bad side will not her circuits.

STAR TREK 13
INTERVIEW

01

While not directly inspired by 01 Peanut

Hamper in the
others, Kether does acknowledge
thick of the
some formative influences on her action in Star
acting in general. Trek: Lower
Decks Season
“Do you know the producer One, "No
Jimmy (James) Burrows? He did Small Parts"
so many sitcoms, he’s so well- 02 Kaltorus
known for shows like Cheers – unites Rawda
and he’s the best director, ever. and Peanut
Hamper in a
I was so blessed to have worked wing-joining
with him. He directed me in a in Star Trek:
Lower Decks
pilot, and he said something
Season 3 "A
that really applied to me in Mathematically
working as Peanut Hamper. I’ll Perfect
02
Redemption"
never forget, he said at a table
read: ‘So, this process is like 03 Peanut
proves
a tennis match between the resourceful
actors and the writers. They’re in Star Trek:
gonna throw the ball at you and Lower Decks or happy or sad, and that theatre background, and one
Season 3 "A
you’re gonna throw it back to Mathematically creates such a range of emotive of the things he reminds me of
them. At the end of the week, Perfect possibilities that makes this show is that in theatre, we are big
Redemption"
the audience is going to tell us so great! The direction and writing into rehearsal and into freedom
what’s funny.’ play so heavily in the range of to explore different ways of
“I loved that idea, the fun the character and ultimately portraying a character. Mike?
collaboration between the everything. It’s the collaboration.” His process is very similar. He
actors, the writers, and the With that, the conversation does not rush the actors into
audience. Part of the fun, and had to turn to the direction of recording. He’ll literally rehearse
what’s colorful in playing Peanut the show, in terms of the vision the scene a bunch of times with
Hamper is that the writers are so of the show’s creator, Mike me before we hit record and
brilliant at creating a treasure McMahan. he is so open to different ideas
trove of emotional surprises, is “Mike is so awesome, how to say a line. He is eclectic
that I’m not restricted; there’s hands-on and right there,” in different ways. Honestly, he
a wealth of possibilities in each Kether opines. “He is so cool has empowered me to express
line. She could either be angry to work with. I come from a myself and feel free.”

14 STAR TREK
 KETHER DONOHUE

03

“I THINK EVERYONE CAN ACT, AND THAT’S EVERY HUMAN

BEING CHANNELING THEIR OWN SELVES. ALL OF US HAVE A
GAMUT OF EMOTIONS.”

Kether is a professional. Her acting Remember, as much as this is a humorous so much fun,” she says. “She appeals to the
credits on films like Pitch Perfect and shows show, characterization is key into fans because of the writing. The audience
like You’re the Worst are visual testaments describing how the different cast members loves a character that’s off the handles!
to her high-energy characterization ability, fit canonical elements of Star Trek, like “We live in a crazy world and often
but to be able to render that same sort of artificial intelligence and in particular, the times human beings have to suppress
excellence into a voice performance alone exo-comps. In fact, Lower Decks represents their emotions. But sometimes we need
is further proof of her skills. However, her the first exploration of the personalities to let out the screaming person within us
accents and ability to burp on command of exo-comps and Kether is the first and when a character can freely express
were elements of humor that were just too performer to do so. themself in a funny way, I think we
much fun to overlook. Creator Mike McMahan instantly all respond to that. It’s fun to watch a
“Okay – how did you find about that? recognized Kether’s talent, after seeing her character let loose with no boundaries!”
That’s what we call a deep dive!” She laughed. as Lindsay in You’re the Worst. That’s Peanut Hamper’s super-power
However, her impression skills were “Mike thought that I would be right right there. If there’s a character who can
also a surprise to hear. for this part,” Kether confirmed. “He and I let loose and unload on the crew of the
“I do a pretty mean Britney Spears!” went on a ride together to discover Peanut U.S.S. Cerritos, then it’s her… and we
She confided. Hamper! Originally, Peanut Hamper was only got to see her do more of this in Season
In fact, she boasts an array of in one episode in Season One. It was really Four.
impressions, rapidly switching form cool, and a pleasant surprise to learn that we
one persona to the other. It goes far to would have more adventures together!” „ Star Trek: Lower Decks is available on
demonstrate Kether’s ability to portray a Above everything, Kether loves the Paramount+
character with the challenging dimensions freedom in playing Peanut Hamper. „ Follow Kether Donhue on Instagram
of a character like Peanut Hamper. “The range in which she is written is @ketherdonohue

STAR TREK 15
 T O D D S TA S H W I C K

A Flawed
Hero?

Todd Stashwick absolutely killed it as Captain Liam Shaw

during Star Trek: Picard’s third and final season. He brought
drama, action, humor, attitude, and pathos, and often did so
from moment to moment, as the character evolved from
a hiss-worthy jerk to a hero mourned.
WORDS: IAN SPELLING

(This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike)

S
tashwick considers about all of the above and more
himself a hardcore – including how his friendship
geek, so it’s no with 12 Monkeys and Picard show
surprise that his runner Terry Matalas paved the
dozens of film and way for him to play Shaw.
television credits also
include Angel, Buffy the Vampire How deep is your love for sci-fi,
Slayer, Dark Angel, Supernatural, fantasy, and horror - in general
Heroes, Mockingbird, Warehouse - and Star Trek specifically?
13, The Originals, the full run of Let’s go back to 1974, when my
12 Monkeys, and a Star Trek: cousin gave me my Mego Kirk,
Enterprise guest spot as Talok, Spock, and McCoy action figures,
a Romulan posing as a Vulcan, and the U.S.S. Enterprise playset.
in the episode “Kir’Shara.” He’s That probably lit the fuse of how
also a Dungeons & Dragons the structures of my imagination
master and has even convinced were fed at an early age with
several of his Star Trek friends sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. From
– among them Jeri Ryan! – to that point forward, going through
roll the dice with him in his geek- Planet of the Apes and the
heaven room, lovingly dubbed juggernaut in 1977 of Star Wars,
the Nerd Lair. my indoctrination into all of the
Star Trek Explorer caught nerdom happened at probably
up with Stashwick via Zoom five and six years old, and I have
before the strike to talk to him not changed for 50 years.

STAR TREK 17
INTERVIEW

1977 obviously was a seminal 01 Captain You probably thought you’d How does the dynamic
year because you had Atari, The Shaw lived the Star Trek dream when work between you and Star
and Riker
Hobbit, Rankin and Bass, and (Jonathan
you played a Romulan posing Trek: Picard showrunner Terry
Star Wars. That led to Dungeons Frakes) in Star as a Vulcan. You even had the Matalas when it comes to
and Dragons, Star Trek: The Trek: Picard Vulcan nerve pinch done to him connecting with you for
Season 3
Motion Picture, and Star Trek II: "Disengage" you in your Enterprise episode. projects?
The Wrath of Khan. Being a kid What do you remember from Terry has always been super-
02 U.S.S. Titan
in the 1970s and 80s, that was science of- that experience? magnanimous, and says, “Hey,
sort of a pivotal time to be a ficer Lt. T’Veen Two things. What was really if there’s something for you, you
(Stephanie
fledgling nerd. We are standing special is my friend Kara Zediker know I’m going to look for it. I’ll
Czajkowski)
on the foundation of all those and Captain played T’Pau. It was fun to share keep my eyes peeled.” He called
things that were laid back then. Liam Shaw that with a friend – and similar me about a character in season
in Star Trek:
Picard Season
to Picard, on which my friend two. That didn’t pan out, and it
You share what you call your 3 "Dominion" Stephanie Czajkowski plays went to another actor. I never
“personal nerdom” through your 03 A bridge
T’Veen, my science officer. I expect anything, so it’s always a
site, The Nerd Circus, and your scene from remember the first day when I pleasant surprise. Then season
company, Mystic Libations. You Star Trek: was in Vulcan makeup. I was in my three rolled around, and here
Picard Season
also have a sweet collection 3 "Imposters" silver jumpsuit, on set, and I was we are.
of Star Trek memorabilia. just taking stock, going, “All right,
What’s your favorite piece in Stashwick. Remember this. You are What did you like about Shaw,
your collection? standing on Vulcan. It’s official.” and what do you feel made
My Mego action figures, because Getting to do fight scenes with him tick?
I can still see the moment when my lirpa, it was special, like, “I’m What I liked about Shaw was
I opened the present and they in space and I’m doing this. I am he suffered no fools. I loved
were lined up in the box on contributing to this canon that the fact that he was blunt, and
the card. What I have now are is beloved to me,” but also trying he was clear about where he
replacements because I, of to figure out, “Okay, how do I stood, albeit at times passive
course, ripped them open as a play a Romulan underneath the aggressive. I also loved his
six-year-old should and played surface of a Vulcan?” If you go wicked sense of humor. He
with them. I re-bought on eBay back and watch it, you can kind rolled with the absurdity
the U.S.S. Enterprise playset of see the Romulan sneaking of everything in a bit of a
and the Mego action figures. through when he gets a little hot begrudgingly, exhausted way.
I love them so much. They’re in places that a Vulcan wouldn’t. What made him tick was his
really good sculpts and had That was fun. The cast and burning need to keep as many
cloth costumes. If I had a time crew, they were just wonderful. people alive as he could.
machine, I’d get Mego to build Everybody loves what they do Obviously, early on, he had
me a Captain Shaw action figure. when they work on these things. some trauma.

01 02

18 STAR TREK
 T O D D S TA S H W I C K

03

“BEING A KID IN THE 1970S AND 80S, THAT WAS SORT OF A PIVOTAL TIME
TO BE A FLEDGLING NERD. WE ARE STANDING ON THE FOUNDATION OF ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT WERE LAID BACK THEN.”

How much fun do you think he had He knew how good she was at what she How ready are you for things that
treating Picard, Riker, and Seven so does, and at the same time has to keep one come with being on Star Trek, such
shabbily? eye closed to her Borg-ness because of his as attending conventions, meeting
It was delicious. His relationship with Seven own pain, trauma, and fears. the fans, signing autographs, posing
was very complicated. In my head canon, for photos?
he chose her as his first officer for many How satisfied were you with Shaw’s death? I recognize that I am a custodian, steward,
reasons. A big reason primarily is so that he In many ways it was beautiful poetry, and an ambassador of legacy. My job is to
could have a dissenting voice on the bridge, the story he tells in episode four, about represent this legacy in the best way that
a counterpoint. He knew she’s good at what his experiences at Wolf 359 and how I can, and that is bringing that joy with
she does and he needed that person to be he was chosen by his superior officer to me to the fans. I want to celebrate it as
more impulsive than him, so that he can think get off alive. I was put in a very similar much as any of the people attending these
outside of his own box. A good first officer situation, where he has to provide the conventions. I don’t know what it means
challenges their captain in healthy ways – still cover so that our heroes can survive. He in the long run because I’m literally just
carries out their orders – but challenges goes down nobly and falls in battle. He dipping my toe in it. It started long
their opinion and offers an alternate has a beautiful, heartfelt goodbye where he before I ever got here, and it will go on
perspective. Seven did that bountifully. finally acknowledges Seven completely. long after I leave. This is my little, “Put
I also think the idea of finding a way In episode ten, there was a beautiful my thumbprint on it here” moment.
to have some control over his deep-seated moment where he appeared again as a I’m excited.
animosity towards the Borg might be hologram and basically told those that
another subconscious reason he chose her, needed to hear it that she is captain People loved Shaw and want to see more
so that he can find a way to control this material. They wrote a beautiful goodbye, of you. If that could somehow happen,
thing that broke him in many ways. as I am literally dying in Seven’s arms. It how open would you be to reprising
was him acknowledging that it’s no longer the role?
It’s also interesting that he called her his ship. She has the con. The hologram… If they send up the Star Trek signal...
Hansen rather than Seven. He actually recorded the message before I’m there.
He had a lot to learn and a lot to process. Riker and Picard ever came on. What’s
He was in the wrong calling her that. It revealed to her is that he always believed
was wrong, and he finally grew to a place in her. It’s this great insight into who he „ Both Enterprise and Star Trek:
where he saw that was disrespectful, that was. Even though his external presentation Picard are available on Paramount+
it was not the way to treat a person, but was gruff, caustic, and acerbic, inside he „ Follow Todd Stashwick on X at
I think it was the only way he could have was thoughtful and he did see her for who @ToddStashwick or visit The Nerd
the best first officer he could possibly have. she was. Circus at thenerdcircus.com

STAR TREK 19
INTERVIEW

PERFECTLY
IMPERFECT
WORDS: IAN SPELLING

R
affi Musiker imbued Star Trek: Picard
with heart, action, passion, anger,
compulsion, and so much more
over the course of the show’s three
seasons. It’s why Michelle Hurd, who
brought Raffi to life, emerged as such a fan
favorite. The actress created a strong, decidedly
imperfect character in whom fans saw glimpses
of themselves. In this interview conducted before
the SAG-AFTRA strike, Hurd looked back at her
time on Picard, considered the character’s impact
on fans, and confirmed that if the opportunity
presented itself, she’d happily return to play Raffi
again, especially if it meant reuniting with Michael
Dorn and Jeri Ryan.

How satisfying was your Raffi and Worf. First, I

run on Picard? should say what excited
Fully and completely, me the most is that you
unlike any other job. It’s the get to see Raffi in some
most satisfying, just the of her power, because we
fact that I was given an haven’t seen her when
opportunity to bring a very she works in Starfleet as
complex, complicated, a part of Starfleet. I love
flawed, delicious character that you get to see that
to life. From kicking Patrick she’s a super-spy. She’s
Stewart out of my trailer smart and methodical.
in the desert to kicking She is like a dog with a
ass with Michael Dorn on bone. She’s tenacious. I
camera, to snuggling up love that. And then once
with Jeri Ryan, it couldn’t you see Raffi and Worf,
get any better. how they interact, the
journey that they go on, it
What excited you most was satisfying and fun. As
about season three? Michael likes to say, “We’re
Honestly, the journey with the muscle on the show.”

20 STAR TREK
MICHELLE HURD

STAR TREK 21
INTERVIEW

01

01 Riker
Talk to us about working with
(Jonathan
Michael... Frakes) and
He’s been an absolute gift. I Raffi Musiker
(Michelle
don’t think the writers knew how Hurd) in Star
well we would get along, how Trek: Picard
that energy and experience Season 3 "The
Bounty"
would come across on camera.
The thing I do love about our 02 Raffi in
trouble in Star
writers and producers is that Trek: Picard
they can see that and then Season 2
"Mercy"
respond with, “Oh, they’re really 02
working. Let’s see what else we 03 Seven (Jeri
Ryan) and Raffi
can get out of that.” Honestly,
share a tender
from the moment I first met moment in
Michael, I was giddy – of course, Star Trek:
Picard Season
because it’s Michael Dorn – 2 "Farewell"
but we just clicked, naturally.
04 Star Trek:
It wasn’t forced. We became Picard Season
collaborators. We had each 3 "Seventeen
other’s back no matter what. It’s Seconds"

been an absolute gift working 05 Star Trek:

with him. Picard Season
3 "Seventeen
Seconds"
You’ve been a guest at a
number of conventions since
entering the Star Trek universe.
What kind of feedback have 03
you gotten from the fans?

22 STAR TREK
 MICHELLE HURD

04 05

It’s been amazing, and come out.” I’ve had so many amazing journey learning about more of
one of the things I wasn’t
expecting. Jonathan Del
“I THINK THAT people in the neurodiverse
community come to me and
our family members.

Arco and Jonathan Frakes THE WORF/RAFFI tell me that they feel seen How open would you be to playing
warned me when they said, STORY CAN BE and heard, because Raffi was Raffi again, whether it’s on a Rangers

TOLD. THERE’S SO
“Get ready for the fans, oftentimes misunderstood. series, or a Raffi/Seven spin-off?
because it’s unlike anything People tried to erase or So open. I think that the Worf/Raffi story
you’ve ever experienced.” MUCH FOR US TO disavow her. can be told. There’s so much for us to tell.
I wasn’t prepared for how
many vulnerable people TELL. THAT KIND For me, when
I’m at a con, I am so
That kind of energy, that chemistry that
we have, it’s tenfold. Also, it’s necessary
would come and tell me OF ENERGY, THAT humbled, because all I to see these two individuals on camera
their stories, because Raffi is
a recovering addict. Once an
CHEMISTRY THAT get is unbelievable love
and appreciation. I spend
again. As a child, to see us represented
is incredibly powerful. It’s impactful and
addict, always an addict. So, WE HAVE, IT’S so much time with each necessary. And, of course, throw Seven
Raffi is on that journey.
I’ve had so many addicts
TENFOLD.” person. It’s funny, because
people are always saying,
in there!

who have come to me and “Hurry up the line,” and

said that they were able to get back on the I’m like, “No. I’m going to sit here and „ Star Trek Picard is streaming now in
wagon because of Raffi. I’ve had so many talk to you because you have told me your Paramount+
people in the LGBTQ community come to truth, and I want to give you that space.” „ Follow Michelle Hurd on Instagram
me and say, “Thank you. You gave me the It’s been an amazing experience. I call Star @realmichellehurd and X @
power, the strength, and the permission to Trek fans not fans, but family. It’s been an itsmichellehurd

STAR TREK 23
INTERVIEW

24 STAR TREK
 DIANA MULDAUR

The accomplished actress reflects on her acting career.

WORDS: KURT ANTHONY KRUG

D
iana Muldaur didn’t know I had with him. He got my tequila.
she shared the same I never got another bottle,” recalls
birthday – August 19 – Muldaur, laughing.
with Star Trek creator From 1983-85, Muldaur was the first
Gene Roddenberry female national president of the Academy
until this year. of Television Arts & Sciences. One of her
“I had no idea that we greatest accomplishments was bringing
were born on the same day,” confesses New York back into the Academy.
Muldaur, of Martha’s Vineyard, “I spent a lot of time having a
Massachusetts, who played three wonderful relationship with New York.
different characters in the Star Trek The next thing I knew we were all one.
canon. “I was always a doctor as you That was huge – nobody else pulled that
know on Star Trek, then a lawyer. But one off,” she says. “I brought in cable.
when I started out, I was a housewife.” The good ol’ boys who’d been running
An actress for nearly 60 years, the Academy didn’t want anything new
Muldaur has shared the screen with to ruin their lives, so they hadn’t dealt
Hollywood legends John Wayne, Lana with cable, which was just starting.
Turner, Burt Lancaster, Charlton I went to a cable conference in Las
Heston, Jackie Cooper, Burt Reynolds, Vegas. I realized it really was coming
Dennis Weaver, et al. and decided it should be part of us, so I
“We’d be there at 6.00 am for brought it in. Now, of course, it’s almost
makeup and hair [for 1969-70’s The on its way out. It’s already something
Survivors]. Lana might show up at that is becoming an antique… I reached
noon or a little before that, hit all her out to everyone, of every color, size, and
marks, get all her lines totally correct, shape. That’s what I’m proudest of.”
and leave right away,” she says. “That’s Muldaur portrayed Dr. Katherine
all I knew of Lana Turner. I never had a Pulaski during the second season of Star
conversation with her. It was about the Trek: The Next Generation, temporarily
work – she came in and got it done. It replacing Gates McFadden’s Dr.
took her a while to get on-set, but once Beverly Crusher (McFadden was let
she was there – she was perfect.” go at the end of the first season).
That was her same experience with This was not her first foray into Trek,
John Wayne, on 1974’s McQ. having appeared on Star Trek: The
“Once again, John came in, hit Original Series as Dr. Ann Mulhall, in
his marks, did his scenes, and then he the second season episode “Return to
left. He knew I drank tequila. There Tomorrow”, and as Dr. Miranda Jones
was a bottle in my room. One of the in the third season episode “Is There in
producers said, ‘John doesn’t have any Truth No Beauty?” She also appeared in
tequila. Do you mind if I take your Roddenberry’s made-for-television film,
bottle?’ That was the closest encounter Planet Earth, in 1974.

STAR TREK 25
INTERVIEW

01

“The whole cast was having 01 The Star work. I did my Broadway plays Everybody who was part of it
lunch on the set of Planet Trek: the (Seidman and Son, Poor Bitos, was creative. It was before the
Orginal Series
Earth – I think it was the first season two and A Very Rich Woman) three business side dominated film
day – and in came Gene, episiode, years in a row and realized I still and television. It was just a thrill.”
"Return to
his wife (Majel Barrett), and didn’t have any money! I’d flown Muldaur has fond memories
Tomorrow",
their baby boy (Eugene “Rod” marked out to Hollywood to shoot a of her second episode, “Is There
Roddenberry, Jr). I think we were the first television series. I borrowed $750 in Truth No Beauty?”
appearance
the first ones to meet the baby of Diana
from the AFTRA union and off I “The second show was
boy. That was a big moment, Muldaur in the went to the West Coast. The rest fascinating, because we had
how happy those two were with franchise is history.” a reading, and they threw the
their baby boy,” recalls Muldaur. 02 Dr. Pulaski Her first TV role was playing script away,” she recalls. “We
The second of three children discovers Ann Wicker on The Secret would get a new scene every
a double of
and the only daughter, Muldaur Captain Picard Storm. Muldaur guest-starred morning, read it, rehearse it,
earned her undergraduate in the Star on Dr. Kildare, I Spy, Bonanza, learn it, and shoot it out of
Trek: the Next
degree in art history and Gunsmoke, The Courtship of context, which was fascinating
Generation
theater from Sweet Briar season two Eddie’s Father, Hawaii Five-O, to me because I was from the
College in Sweet Briar, VA. By her episode "Time Mannix, et al. She spoke about theater. It came together as
Squared"
own admission, she never knew The Original Series, and why she one of the best Star Treks they
she would become an actress. played two different characters. ever had. It made total sense. It
“I just loved every bit of “It was just the way it was. absolutely fascinated me how
the theater,” she says. “When I It had nothing to do with me we shot scenes; we had no idea
was doing summer stock, I was at all. They were both so very where it came from and where
building sets, I was painting, I different, which was wonderful,” we were going, but it all worked!
was doing sound, I was doing says Muldaur. “It was so creative It was absolutely, incredibly
editing, I was doing office walking onto the Star Trek set. creative and marvelous!”

26 STAR TREK
 DIANA MULDAUR

02

“There was a reason for it that I don’t

“IT WAS SO CREATIVE WALKING want to go into, but it had nothing to do

with Gene or the cast,” she says. “I left
ONTO THE STAR TREK SET. EVERYBODY the show because the year was up, simple

WHO WAS PART OF IT WAS CREATIVE.

as that, under my own power. And if
anything else happened, I would still be
IT WAS BEFORE THE BUSINESS SIDE leaving under my own power. I would not
have stayed, let’s put it that way.”
DOMINATED FILM AND TELEVISION. Muldaur recanted claims in previous

IT WAS JUST A THRILL.” interviews that she was unhappy with the
role of Pulaski.
“No, I was never unhappy,” she
insists. “No. Never. I don’t even know
why I said that. They were all good actors,
“You have to understand, I loved acting,” “It was out of the blue. I didn’t read they all worked very hard. I was a little
she continues. “I loved finding something in for that one, I’ll tell you,” Muldaur recalls. disappointed in the people putting it
every human being I’ve ever played that had “I remember wanting a name change. I together. I thought they were not creative
a kindness and a humanity. Even if it was a can’t remember what [Gene] wanted it to as they might have been.”
falling-down-drunk, I had to find that in that be originally, but I suggested Katherine. However, it worked out for Muldaur.
person and in that character. All of the Trek He said, ‘All right, if you want.’” After The Next Generation, she portrayed
characters fit into that magnificently, even if Unlike Crusher, Pulaski was acerbic conniving, hard-nosed attorney Rosalind
they weren’t people (i.e., androids).” and abrasive. She wasn’t afraid to butt Shays on L.A. Law, one of her most
Muldaur spoke highly of William heads with Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick recognizable roles – if not the most
Shatner. Stewart). She also saw Data (Brent Spiner) recognizable – a career highlight for her.
“I find him to be wonderful,” she adds. as a machine, not a person at first. “It was a whole different world for
“He’s a brilliant actor. I’ve seen him do However, Pulaski wasn’t that popular me,” she says.
things before he did [Star Trek] and he was with fans and Muldaur left after one Not only did her performance earn
really well-respected, and well-known.” season, with McFadden returning the next her two Emmy nominations, Muldaur was
Although Muldaur had a good season. Roddenberry stated in interviews part of two memorable scenes in television
working relationship with Roddenberry, that “the hoped-for chemistry between her history: The revelation that Rosalind was
they had lost touch for years when he and the rest of the cast did not develop.” sleeping with Leland McKenzie (Richard
called her about the role of Pulaski on Star According to Muldaur, she only Dysart) and plummeting to her death
Trek: The Next Generation. planned to stay for one season. down an elevator shaft. Rosalind was the

STAR TREK 27
INTERVIEW

creation of David E. Kelley – who would “They were waiting for me to finish him? It was the right thing to do, he
go on to create The Practice and Ally all my scenes before I fell down the shaft,” knew that.”
McBeal. she recalls. “I said, ‘Are you out of your Looking back on her long career,
“I will thank David to my dying day mind?’ It was like eleven feet down and Muldaur has a special place in her heart
for creating her,” she says. “I couldn’t they said they’d put a mattress down there. for Star Trek and its legions of fans.
wait to do the part. I will still say it: If it ‘I don’t care where you put it, I’m not “I’ve done lots and lots of cons. I’ve
had been a man, nobody would’ve said a doing it. You can use my double.’ She just been all over the country and all over the
word but because she was a woman, that’s had to turn around, take a step, and fall. world. The true joy of Star Trek, from
what made the character. To me, that’s They made her do it 10 times! I wasn’t beginning to end, is the fans,” she says.
fascinating.” there. I didn’t watch it.” “There’s nothing like a Star Trek fan. I
Muldaur objected to Rosalind being Rosalind’s death was one of the have fans from everything I ever did. I
labeled as a villain. greatest TV moments in 1991, because it never, ever had anything like the joy of the
“She really wasn’t a villain. She was a was so unexpected. The woman everyone fans I’ve had from Star Trek fans and that’s
woman doing a man’s job and that made loved to hate falling down an elevator everywhere in the world.”
her a dreadful woman,” says Muldaur. shaft was the talk around water coolers Muldaur continues: “I’m still
“She wasn’t one-sided.” across the nation. getting massive, massive letters and it’s
“Who would’ve dreamed?” she adds, “David was leaving L.A. Law and generational. I would meet people with
of Rosalind’s relationship with Leland. “If took his character with him,” said their children at a con and that child
you remember, it was him in the frame, Muldaur. “That was done in an interesting would be named after my character! It
then the camera pulled back and it was way as well. Unfortunately, the whole goes on and on and on. The joy they have
me laying there. It was all the men who show went down the tubes. He left the in Gene’s creation is just a joy to behold.
bedded their cohorts, but here I was show at that point and started his own, So much is turning out to be correct
bedding him,” she recalls, laughing. Picket Fences. in many ways. The world he saw is still
Muldaur, however, refused to do the “He did the right thing [by killing happening – it’s extraordinary. It’s so far
elevator shaft scene herself. her off]. Who else could write her but beyond any of us.”

DIANA MULDAUR’S STAR TREK CHARACTERS

Dr. Ann Mulhall: “Return to U.S.S. Enterprise, Kirk gives Jones a rose, reminding her
Tomorrow” marks Muldaur’s first every rose has its thorns.
appearance on Star Trek, playing
science officer Dr. Ann Mulhall. Along Dr. Katherine Pulaski:
with Kirk and Spock, she beams Muldaur’s most recognizable Star
down to a planet where a telepathic, Trek role, Dr. Katherine Pulaski was the
disembodied being named Sargon wants to inhabit Enterprise’s chief medical officer for the
their bodies, so he, his wife Thalassa, and former enemy second season of Star Trek: The Next
Henoch (who are also disembodied) can create android Generation, debuting in the season
host bodies for themselves. In the end, Sargon and premiere episode “The Child” (as did Whoopi Goldberg’s
Thalassa decide to “depart into oblivion” and make a Guinan). In many ways, she was a female version of Dr.
final request to use Kirk and Mulhall’s bodies, respectively, McCoy – she was abrupt, distrusted transporters, and
for one final kiss, which is granted. was averse to new technology. Pulaski inadvertently
caused George LaForge to create a self-aware hologram
Dr. Miranda Jones: “Is There of Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis who
in Truth No Beauty?” has Muldaur return became a recurring villain. She also was romantically
this time as Dr. Miranda Jones, who is linked to Kyle Riker, father of Cmdr. William Riker, whom
a psychologist with telepathic powers. she’d marry in a “cold minute.” Her final appearance
She is also blind, as revealed later in was in the season finale, “Shades of Gray.” Unlike
the episode. Jones escort Medusan former regulars Wil Wheaton and Denise Crosby,
ambassador Kollos, whose outward appearance is so Muldaur never returned to The Next Generation in a guest
hideous that it makes humanoids go insane if they look appearance as Pulaski. “I probably didn’t have a second
at him. Spock mind-melds with Kollos and when Spock is to do one,” she notes.
in danger of going mad, Jones telepathically connects
with them, eventually saving Spock. In the end, Jones and • Check out our full profile of Doctor Pulaski on page 48
Kollos are now mentally bonded as one. As they leave the of this issue

28 STAR TREK
THE STORY OF STAR TREK TOLD BY
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INTERVIEW

01 Bernadette
Croft

02 Croft with
some of the
Star Trek:
Strange New
Worlds season
two cast

Fashion

Costumer Bernadette Croft makes space fashionable

for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
WORDS: JEFF SPRY

T
he old saying goes, instant familiarity, yet exuded a
“clothes make the classic look all their own as worn
man” – or woman by the talented ensemble cast.
of course, and in the “It’s such an interesting project
futuristic realm lorded to be a part of,” Croft tells Star
over by the peacekeeping armada Trek Explorer. “On one hand we’re
of Starfleet, that still rings true. leaning into the nostalgia of The
Award-winning costume Original Series, which was made
designer Bernadette Croft and in the 1960s, and that was
team are outfitting definitely a certain
humans and aliens look. And I’m also
of all stripes; most looking at Star Trek:
recently, in the latest Discovery, because
23rd century fashion we’re set only a year
for the second year in after Discovery and
a row, for the Star Trek: about ten years
Strange New Worlds before The Original
sophomore outing. Series. Those two
In the first season, shows are so different
Croft, who also in terms of a look
worked on episodes and design, so we
of Star Trek: Discovery, have to kind of
had her work cut out 01 meet somewhere in
for her, emulating the middle.
the iconic 1960s-era “I took direction
costumes created by designer from our showrunners Akiva
Bill Theiss for Star Trek’s initial Goldsman and Henry Alonso
television run on NBC. Her slick Myers. They said that Strange
Federation uniforms for Captain New Worlds will be reimagining
Pike, Number One, Spock, and the everything with today’s budget 02
rest of the Enterprise crew had an and technologies.”

30 STAR TREK
 BERNADETTE CROFT

“IT’S UP TO THE ACTORS HOW THEY WANT

TO LOOK AND WE’RE ALWAYS OPEN TO
T H E I R B O D I E S C H A N G I N G. I T ’ S T O TA L LY
UP TO THEM.”

STAR TREK 31
03

For Croft, her blueprint to

conceiving stylish laundry to
galavant around the galaxy starts
with today’s hi-tech construction
techniques, looking at processes like
3D printing, chroming and foiling,
which were things not commonly
available to Bill Theiss back in the
day. The Australia-born seamstress
hoped to honor him, but still bring a
fresh take so modern audiences can
see entertaining production values
and believe that what her team was
doing could be real.
04
This season, she wisely left
most of the main U.S.S. Enterprise
officers’ costumes alone, believing
that mere minor makeovers were in noticed a slightly more buffed to them and he does look great.
order, for continuity’s sake. Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock He loves rollerblading. Ethan is so
“Everything is exactly the this year, and we wondered if that generous and amazing and we’re
same,” she reveals. “The only micro necessitated any special alterations lucky to have him. For how high he
adjustment I made was bringing to his basic blue uniform to is on the call sheet, he’s just such a
their undershirts slightly higher. It accommodate his prominent pecs. lovely human.”
was one little thing that I would have “I can’t give measurements One of the many standout
liked season one to have, that higher away, that’s a confidential secret. costumes in season two includes
turtleneck vibe from The Original He keeps in great shape. It’s up to Admiral Robert April’s (Adrian
Series. Just a quarter of an inch, but the actors how they want to look Holmes) regal Starbase outfit,
it actually makes a lot of difference.” and we’re always open to their which makes a serious statement
Sharp-eyed fans might have bodies changing. It’s totally up of charismatic authority.

32 STAR TREK
 BERNADETTE CROFT

with the decorative trim down the

center front but added some extra tech.
“That thick braid looked more
theatrical in The Original Series, since
it was filmed in the 1960s. We used a
vinyl that adhered to the fabric, very
clean and sleek. The shoulders were 3D
printed. We use modern technologies
but still lovingly look back on The
Original Series to give us that real
inspiration. The fabric is a polytech
knit bonded with microfleece so it’s got
a bit of body, but you can still see the
muscular form. And Holmes in great
shape! So it’s one of those costumes
where we can see his physique but it’s
still got tailoring and sharp shoulders.
He’s got a presence and when he enters
the room you’d notice. Hopefully we
see more of him.”
05 In that same courtroom episode,
titled “Ad Astra Per Aspera”, the Illyrian
civil rights attorney Neera Ketoul played
by Yetide Badaki was blessed with her
own brilliant business wardrobe.
“She’s so perfectly cast,” Croft
says. “I feel like the casting people
struck gold… well, struck dilithium.
I think it’s more valuable. Yetide
came in and was so collaborative.
She’s got such a calm presence but is
very focused. She’s a Star Trek super
nerd, too. She came in with quotes
and referenced episodes I’ve never
03 The
uniforms of
watched before. What we wanted to
Star Trek: show with her character is her power
Lower Decks and feminine energy, so we leaned into
are brought
to live action, those beautiful jewel tones. We used
in "Those Old a lot of brocade that had a metallic
06 Scientists"
quality, so it caught the light and her
04 An opening skin looked just fabulous.
secene from
“Stephen Wong is our tailor for
"Those Old
“They’re for the admirals or hundred admirals or commodores, Scientists" Yetide and he comes from a fashion label
commodores. The brass. The higher- we’d need extra time for sure! called Greta Constantine, which is based
05 Bernadette
ups,” Croft notes. “We wanted to “That costume was in our muscle Croft and her in Canada. He knows the female form
show an elevation of their rank, of memory,” she adds, “so when we did team on Star and he can really pack a punch with his
Trek: Strange
their prestige and experience. So we episode two, which was the courtroom New Worlds
building skills. All of her pieces were
used the charcoal grey fabric but drama written by Dana Horgan, we season one very tailored with a retro-futuristic vibe.
embellished it with the gold. Their looked at ‘The Menagerie’, to see what 06 Hemmer
The whole Illyrian planet had that retro
rank is on the shoulders. And their they did. They’ve got the gold collar gets a fantasy touch, even the background performers.
style lines, they’re just a little more and gold trim down the front and we look in the We used many monochromatic looks
Star Trek:
technical so we’ve got spacer fabric tried to merge those two styles.” Strange New but added futuristic accessories so it
down those seam lines, which takes Croft’s crew used the same rank Worlds season looked like we weren’t on Earth.”
one episode,
much longer for us to factor in. If and silhouette of the admiral’s uniform Klingons get their own style
"The Elysian
there was ever an episode with a and brought in that formal high neck Kingdom" upgrade in the season premiere, and

“WE USE MODERN TECHNOLOGIES BUT STILL

L O V I N G LY L O O K B A C K O N T H E O R I G I N A L S E R I E S
T O G I V E U S T H AT R E A L I N S P I R AT I O N.”

STAR TREK 33
INTERVIEW

08

07 09

“ H AV I N G TO R E I M AG I N E T H E K L I N G O N S F O R
STRANGE NEW WORLDS WAS SUCH AN HONOR…”

Croft and her team were very respectful make it look battle-worn to show it’s not there’s just so much more to come that’s
of fandom’s love of the aggressive warrior fresh off the machine.” going to give audiences something to
tribes hailing from the planet Kronos. Similar to the acclaimed The Original really enjoy.”
“Having to reimagine the Klingons Series episode, “City on the Edge of Picking one of her favorite episodes
for Strange New Worlds was such an Forever”, this new mission for Strange from season two requires some deep
honor,” says Croft. “I know how New Worlds offers a flipped temporal thinking from Croft.
important the Klingons are for the tale in “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and “I really loved episode four ‘Among
Star Trek community. It means a lot, Tomorrow”, necessitating the sewing of the Lotus Eaters’, which is when our team
and there’s been much talk about 21st century civilian costumes for Lt. is getting their incognito looks for Rigel 7.
what a Klingon should look like. Our La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) And we see a little bit of ‘The Menagerie’,
showrunners, writers and producers have and Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley). when they reference ‘The Cage’, when
all taken note and they guided us into the “We do film in Toronto and we Pike originally went to Rigel 7. This crazy
look we see in ‘The Broken Circle’. weren’t able to travel to another country caveman-type person comes out wearing
“We wanted to lean into the gold and or city while filming during COVID and fur and leather and he’s got rotten teeth.
black palette of The Original Series. Our we had to make it work for the script,” “I thought, ‘Dear God, what are we
showrunners wanted the prosthetics to have Croft explains. “So Toronto was it. It’s going to do here?’ We wanted to show
ridges, so I made exoskeleton ridges on top a monochromatic look and people wear that the Kalar were intelligent but don’t
of the armor to reflect those cranial ridges. a lot of black in the winter and it’s just have a lot of materials. So the costumes
We made the armor from molded leather very practical and a leisure look. Then we are lots of leather and natural fibers, but
and then my sculptor, Alex Silverberg, did peppered through some Canadian things, we embellish things and make them look
all the skeletal work. He hand-molded that like the Blue Jays, and some sporting broken down and hand-made. Even their
and we cast it and made replicas to outfit teams that are popular right now. I can boots have mud caked on them, so it
everywhere. The textile art department never pick what the writers are going to looks like they’re about to do labor in the
is such an integral part of costuming. It come up with. Last season we did ‘The fields. It really tells a story and grounds
really grounds every single costume. Anna Elysian Kingdom’, which was this fantastic the worldbuilding job.
Pantcheva goes in and shades it to make fantasy romp-through in space. And now “I always look to Jonathan Lee, our
it pop on camera, then breaks it down to we’re doing this modern episode, and production designer, who does such

34 STAR TREK
 BERNADETTE CROFT

10

07 Klingon Lower Decks to make sure he’s on board

costume
with what we’re doing,” she recalls. “I
reimagined,
for Star Trek: didn’t cover anything with microprint.
Strange New It was our uniform fabric, but it wasn’t
Worlds season
two's "The
embellished in any way. We wanted to
Broken Circle" make it look a little bit 2D, like they’ve
08 Illyrian
just come from that world.
lawyer Neera “Their uniforms had been lined
Ketoul, in with neoprene which give it body and
"Ad Astra per
Aspera" smoothness so everything just looks
perfect on them,” Croft adds. “I loved
09 Robert
April, in dress the scenes with Boimler and Spock
uniform, in and the tone of voice Jack Quaid
the season
used. He goes an octave higher. Their
11 one episode
"Strange New voices are sped up a little in Lower
Worlds" Decks and they have to speak really
10 Captain fast. Working with another iconic
Pike finds show like Lower Decks, which I love so
himself
incredible work. He’s a living legend A definite highlight for Croft was forgetting
much and just gobble it up, was really
and I’m always seeing what he’s up “Those Old Scientists”, the crossover everything, fun. This season I learned that I can be
to so I can make sure my costumes episode with Paramount+’s animated including their ambitious and do things we’ve never
own identities,
work with his designs. Even with series, Star Trek: Lower Decks, where in "Among the dreamed of. I’m so inspired by the
prosthetics, we want to make sure voice actors Tawny Newsome Lotus Eaters" talent of my crew.”
our aliens are cohesive as well as the (Mariner) and Jack Quaid (Boimler) 11 Spock, in
hair and the makeup, so we always brought their 2D cartoon characters dress uniform, „ Bernadette Croft is online at
in "Ad Astra
have meetings to discuss everything. into the live-action world. bernadettecroft.com or follow her
per Aspera"
We don’t have a lot of time so we “We were looking at those on Instagram @berncroft
really do need to get the ball rolling costumes and working with Mike „ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
very quickly.” McMahan, who’s the showrunner of airs on Paramount+

STAR TREK 35
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 LARRY NEMECEK’S
A FISTFUL
OF DATA
MAKING SENSE OF
THE FUTURE

I’m just sitting here catching A MATTER OF TIME

my breath amid my own trek,
trying to enjoy the holidays Were The Next Generation writers told Enterprise NCC-1701-D, we only saw
explicitly not to use saucer separation it undergo emergency saucer separation
and reflect on what a year it’s as a plotline after season one due to in the pilot “Encounter at Farpoint”,
been. So many changes, and the budget issues involved in filming and once for a “routine” episode (“The
yet – so much new Star Trek, the separated ship footage? Arsenal of Freedom”) – both in season
so much to draw new fans, one, as you note. After that we only saw
Johannes Kemppanen – Oulu, it in two more big “event” moments: the
and, I dare say, so many fans Finland second-hour conclusion to “The Best
as excited as they haven’t of Both Worlds” – and the ship’s final
been in years. Good question, Johannes –but let’s hurrah in the film Star Trek: Generations.
define the word “budget” here: It’s not Remember that visual effects legend
The logical end to that
so much about money (as you suspect) ILM created the initial ESS for the pilot
explosion is a digital mailbag but of time. “Encounter at Farpoint” as part of its
stuffed like never before, I understand your curiosity, though: start-up library for the series – and that
thanks to the booming In all the filmed missions of the U.S.S included building the six-foot analog

success of Star Trek: Picard’s

finale season and season two
for Star Trek: Strange New
Worlds. Of course, Star Trek: COSTUME CONUNDRUM
Lower Decks is no slouch, Since the series Star Trek: years after the time of “The Cage.”
either – and Star Trek: Discovery is set a decade But truly – the “canon reality”
Prodigy is still flying. before The Original Series, of Federation Starfleet uniform
why are its uniforms different protocol and goals has always been
But enough chit-chat –
to those which appear in the a product of the real world of studio
let’s get to it! first Star Trek pilot film “The production – and budgets. Perhaps
WORDS: LARRY NEMECEK Cage” (with Captain Pike) unfairly, every generation of new
which is set thirteen years Star Trek has been held hostage
before The Original Series (as by the very real limits of time and
was mentioned in the two-part budget, as always. And none more
episode “The Menagerie”)? that our original classic impression
Could Starfleet change its of uniforms: The Original Series saw
uniforms for all its personnel in two related versions of uniforms in
only two to three years? the two TOS pilots, and then three
years of standard designs (despite
OWEN ADAMBERRY – Gibraltar some tweaks, including the real-
world fabric change from velour
Ah, uniforms! The growth industry to double-knit polyester).
of modern Star Trek. Oh, and don’t even get me
In case you hadn’t noticed, started on the two eras – aka the
Owen, practically every new Star Star Trek pilots– when tan, not
Trek series of the current era – since red, was the division color used for
Discovery’s premiere– features Operations personnel!
not only its own uniform style, but You ask about the extremely
combadge as well. Including the distinct blue and metallics uniforms
Meanwhile, for next issue, send
animated series! of seasons one and two Discovery,
your queries bridging old, new,
That seems to have upset versus the uniforms to follow in just
and “breaking news” Star Trek
regarding its production and some fans, who feel that prior 10 years? They were not just limited
background continuity to Trek shows a history of uniform to the NCC-1031: we saw them
[email protected] restraint. To your specific question, elsewhere as on the U.S.S. Shenzhou,
— or via [email protected], though, recall that Star Trek: U.S.S. Glenn and others. But we
or @larrynemecek on Twitter. Discovery premiered in 2256 – two might as well look at not one but
 A F I S T F U L O F D ATA

“big model” of the U.S.S. Enterprise

itself. The detail was amazing, but
on a practical level, it was a big pain:
the model’s large size required long
camera focal setbacks and its bulk made
handling awkward.
The one regular “episode” to feature the
move came early – and only utilized stock
footage created for “Farpoint.” Filming
fresh sequences for mid-year episodes would
not only have been costly, but would also
have taken time and money away from
the additional visual effects shots likely
needed in that kind of story.
No The Next Generation writer’s
guide ever outright discouraged or banned
saucer-sep story submissions, but it may
have remained an unstated message for
staff. As for outside writers submitting spec
scripts or pitching stories, a “saucer sep”
was clearly a big-ticket item in both time
and effort, reserved for big stories the staff
01
would have kept for themselves anyway.

Technically, it would
seem the 24th century speed
and breadth of replicators
everywhere would allow a faster
turnaround time for new design
proliferation, but the century
before with matter synthesizers
was no slouch. Don’t forget:
The varied uniforms seen in
03
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
arrived within a couple years
of the TOS era – including Star
Trek: The Animated Series. Then,
the “monster maroons” that
replaced them sometime in the
next 12 -14 years or so were the
01 "The basic tunic for the next 80 years!
Arsenal of Again: that’s due to visual
Freedom" Star
Trek: The Next 02 04 clues from limited TV budgets
Generation of the The Next Generation era,
season one but it does show real-life swings
02 Sylvia Tilly, two styles seen on the U.S.S. indeed overlapping Discovery’s from such a conservative use to,
in Star Trek: Enterprise right then as well –the uniform style. say, the 2360s and later, when
Discovery,
season one built-up asymmetrical black Which brings us back to even The Next Generation and
collars of 2257 (Discovery season the idea of uniform fleetwide Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
03 A scene
from "The two), set in 2257, as well as the uniforms! And the time and gave us varied unforms styles
Cage" in Star black undershirt “reveal” collar energy cost of a complete at the same time. (Now, just
Trek: The
of the V-neck uniform tunics of do-over in styles – which, I’m imagine the mix had the original
Original Series,
season one 2259 – aka Star Trek: Strange saying, may not be a hurdle if Star Trek: Generations uniform
New Worlds. Although these are the fleet truly doesn’t field one design been built out, as first
04 "Children
of the Comet" two tweaks of the same basic single style to begin with. Truly, planned!).
Star Trek: type –and again, distinct from the later in real-time history Even in the 23rd Century,
Strange New
Worlds, season the stretch uniforms of Kirk’s era we go, the more uniforms the Starfleet quartermaster
one just a few years away –they are seem to proliferate. corps was up to the challenge!
 CANON
FODDER
PUTTING CONTINUITY IN
THE FIRING LINE

01

W
elcome back to our budget rubber alien suit). And how Starfleet. Amazingly, by show’s
even deeper dive into Kirk’s log about “the creature the end you’ll notice no one on Kirk’s
a broader aspect of Metrons called a Gorn” might be less bridge ever observes out loud how
the Star Trek universe. about total unfamiliarity, and more about a “first contact”: That’s our
For this issue, how about about not connecting this enemy’s supposition – unchallenged for 50
a rare revisit: the newest “old” looks to prior Gorn encounters: “This years. Including 20 years before
adversaries on the block, the Gorn. is a Gorn?” the term “first contact” was even
All thanks to their appearance as Given what we know now of their coined, during Star Trek: The Next
the “big bad” of Star Trek: Strange life cycle – it’s a fair question! Generation!
New Worlds’ first two seasons – and But “Hegemony” has been But the bigger breakthrough for
back in fan comments thanks to the relentless, pushing even more our “canon smoothing” this time
season two finale, “Hegemony.” “canon smoothing” (while showing around comes earlier in “Arena.” I
No single reader prompted this – us – yes!–an adult Gorn that is had it pointed out to me that the
it’s discussion I still see everywhere. indeed “grounded”). It forces us to Metron mentions the Gorn before
We looked at the Gorn here a reconsider, after all these decades, the combat – even as Kirk is still
couple issues back, reconciling their whether the 1967 outing really is a with his crew on the bridge, as
refresh with the legendary lone “first contact” between Gorn and the cosmic referees they’ve just
Gorn captain in the original series’
“Arena.” (Don’t forget the oft-forgot
Gorn in Enterprise, either – and even
recently on Star Trek: Lower Decks.)
That earlier take resolved the
DATACORE Tuesdays Live, and leads the
Portal 47 monthly “backstage”
L A R RY N E M EC E K
hyperkinetic and killer-competitive fan experience and Trekland
nature of Gorn hatchlings and As a longtime Star Trek Treks location site day tours from
younglings we saw on Strange New author of bestseller larrynemecek.com. He is also
Worlds with Kirk’s “Arena” opponent The TNG Companion producer of The Con of Wrath
and fellow captain, who I guessed , editor, consultant, documentary, and his updated
might be an elder. Such would interviewer, and archivist, Star Trek: Stellar Cartography
explain that Gorn’s infamously slow Larry Nemecek hosts The Trek map/book set continues to
combat moves (even though we all Files weekly for Roddenberry guide fans and Star Trek TV
know the true reason: a 1960s mid- Podcasts, livestreams Trekland creators alike.

40 STAR TREK
02

encountered lay down the Spock and company get their or two like, for instance, our
name of the game. wits and voices back. superhero fan-friends.
So, now knowing the events All right, but one could also To be sure, some in Trek
of Strange New Worlds as we ask, with Gorn space already fandom I hear from feel let
do, why didn’t Spock, or even detected, as we can see in the down a bit. As I read their
Uhura or Scotty, comment or star charts of Pike’s time, how comments, it’s not simply
just react at the superbeings’ can the Cestus III colony still be about “smoothing canon” with
mention of Gorn? A puzzler, until seen as an innocent act – and retcons – it’s about doing it so
you check this long-familiar the Gorn not rocket to the top of much, reviewing new angles
scene with fresh eyes. When the prime suspect list after the of long-assumed continuity
the Metron addresses the crew raid? For that, we can only say in the first place. But why not
onscreen, no-one appears in we’ve yet to see how the next bring fresh takes, fresh eyes?
person! Of course, that’s to set few years play out in this region: We didn’t know about Spock’s
up a shock reveal of their look maybe the Gorn, as Klingons and half-brother for 20 years – or
as nearly genderless ancients, Romulans do, pull back a bit? his foster sister for 50. It took
at show’s climax. Instead, we It’s still a fringe-space area, full 25 years to hear about the
get an eerie, glowing color of unknowns. In Kirk’s time the Klingons’ Augment virus. Those
effect dominating the main Metrons’ “combat planet” is still seemed like a real stretch at the
01 The Gorn viewer, complete with a whiney 22.3 parsecs (or 72 lightyears) time, as well. But look how much
in "Arena"
undertone. beyond charted space. focus and fleshing-out the Gorn
Star Trek: The
Orginal Series It’s so obvious now: that Whether in short answers are getting after all this time!
season one comms effect is a mesmerizer! or our “Canon Fodder” feature, In fact, this retcon of the
02 The In our 2023 updated view, the reconciling the rare bumps in Gorn – if my “aged Gorn captain”
mysterious Metrons have cut down on our beloved Star Trek continuity theory holds up – would actually
Metrons make
their move,
protest and eased the shock to has always been what made me and amazingly redeem the slow-
in "Arena" their combat captains’ crews by a fan – and, at the same time, yet-spacefaring species (and its
Star Trek: The extending their “holding” force shown to me what sets Star Trek original 1960s alien TV tech) that
Orginal Series
season one, from the ship to its crew inside, apart from all the other genre we’ve loved to lampoon for 50
enginnering a allowing only Kirk to react and entertainment franchises. It years. And who saw that coming?
fight between
talk. Then he’s blinked off the might be a strain at times, but So the moral of the story?
human and
Gorn bridge and gone by the time we don’t reboot every decade Respect your elders!

STAR TREK 41
 A R C H I V E I M AG E S
RETRIEVED

WORDS: LARRY NEMECEK

N
o matter how you observe or celebrate them, the appeared here as Picard’s wished-for wife Elise in his Christmas
holidays of all faiths this time of year remind us that, morning fantasy from Generations (directed by her husband, David
yes, occasionally the human variety of “special days” do Carson). And in this moment between takes, she’s sharing frame with
show up in Star Trek. From the Thanksgiving turkeys two of her five Picard children: actual siblings actors Matthew and
synthesized by Kirk’s galley chief to Janeway’s use of Mimi Collins– nearly 30 years ago!
Christmas-morning metaphors, human culture is still very present in This “Christmas morning” primary shoot occurred over May
the future – even, it seems, in the fantasy fulfillment of the Nexus. 19-20, 1994, a Thursday and Friday, on location using a late
So for our archival dive into “Lost and Found” backstage Victorian-era home in Pasadena, not far from Paramount Studios
images, here’s one right in the festive spirit from the shoot of Star in Hollywood. That Nexus reality gave Picard five children in all,
Trek Generations. Not a moment per se from Scenes 151-161, but a using their true-life names as their Picard characters. The quintet
backstage candid showing off costumer Bob Blackman’s Victorian- also included a young Thomas Dekker – who twice played Janeway’s
retro finest for Picard’s would-be family. Gothic holonovel ward “Henry Burleigh,” and just turned up as
Fans will remember actress Kim Braden as Ensign Janet Brooks Changeling-assumed criminal Titus Rikka in season three of Star
from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “The Loss,” but she also Trek: Picard.

42 STAR TREK
 Inside
Trek

The life and

WORK legacy of
WORTH
DOING DOCTOR
An exclusive
Star Trek: Discovery
story by Keith
PULASKI
R.A. Candido

TOP TEN
CAPTAINS WHO MAKES THE GRADE?
TOP 10 STARFLEET
CAPTAINS
BY JAY STOBIE
 T O P 1 0 S TA R F L E E T C A P TA I N S

10 Philippa Georgiou
(STAR TREK: DISCOVERY )

Considered to be one
of Starfleet’s best in the
Georgiou’s compassion
for her crew and devotion
09 Spock
(STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN)

Better known for his

time as a science officer
his brief term as the U.S.S.
Enterprise NCC 1701-A’s
23rd century, Captain to peace represented and ambassador, Spock acting captain resulted
Georgiou was a revered Federation ideals to also served admirably in the rescue of the
explorer and diplomat the fullest. Plus, the as the U.S.S. Enterprise’s legendary James T. Kirk
during her tenure aboard mentorship Georgiou captain, where he and the establishment
the U.S.S. Shenzhou. provided to Michael ultimately sacrificed of an ongoing peace
Unfortunately, we did not Burnham helped the his own life to save his between the Federation
spend much time getting younger officer become shipmates following and Klingon Empire at
to see her most notable an iconic captain in her the Genesis Device’s the historic Khitomer
accomplishments, but own right. detonation. Additionally, Conference.

08 Hikaru Sulu
(STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED
COUNTRY )

Another experienced
officer whose leadership
U.S.S. Enterprise’s battle
against the rogue Klingon
07 Jonathan Archer
(STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE)

You know Starfleet list! From dealing with

was not fully explored General Chang. With Sulu’s skippers are an elite the Temporal Cold War
on–screen, Captain assistance, Starfleet’s bunch when the person to exposing a Romulan
Sulu nevertheless flagship defeated Chang’s who brought the Vulcans, plot designed to sow
demonstrated his starship, thus saving the Andorians, Tellarites, and discord among the local
dedication to galactic Federation President and humans together in a way powers, Captain Archer’s
stability when he pushed preserving the hope for that led to the birth of contributions to humanity
the U.S.S. Excelsior to its an end to the Federation– the Federation comes in and the galaxy–at–large
limits in a bid to join the Klingon cold war. at number seven on our remain incalculable.

STAR TREK 45
A N A LY S I S

06
Christopher Pike
(STAR TREK:
STRANGE NEW
WORLDS)

One of Starfleet’s most

vaunted tacticians, Captain
Pike received so much
respect from his peers that
the fleet kept him out of the
Klingon War to preserve the
Federation’s values… and
that was before he even took
command of U.S.S. Discovery
and guided the vessel down
the path to defeating Control
and saving every living species
from extinction. While those
exploits became classified, we
are still learning more about
Pike’s deeds as the Enterprise’s
captain in a post–Control
23rd century. However, as with
Spock, we do know that Pike
willingly chose to sacrifice
himself to save the young
cadets who looked up to him.

05 Michael Burnham
(STAR TREK: DISCOVERY )

Having achieved immeasurable success prior to assuming the U.S.S.

Discovery’s center seat in the 32nd century, Captain Burnham employed
04 James T. Kirk
(STAR TREK )

The very embodiment of cowboy diplomacy, Captain Kirk navigated

conflicts with the Klingons, Romulans, Gorn, and Tholians. Never
her extensive experience to investigate the Dark Matter Anomaly, locate afraid to jump into the fight, Kirk still preferred statesmanship
Species 10–C, and negotiate an amicable resolution to the crisis. Perhaps to war, even impressing the Metrons with his merciful behavior.
even more importantly, Burnham’s love for the Federation proved Whether he was outsmarting a super-computer or initiating first
instrumental in helping the galaxy heal and creating a reinvigorated contact with a new world, Kirk committed his entire being to
faith in the interstellar organization in a post–Burn society. Starfleet. After being demoted from the admiralty, Kirk returned
As with Captain Pike, we still have so much to uncover about to the captain’s chair and faced his own demons, overcoming his
how Burnham’s career will unfold in the future. prejudice toward Klingons at the Khitomer Conference.

46 STAR TREK
 T O P 1 0 S TA R F L E E T C A P TA I N S

03 Kathryn Janeway
(STAR TREK: VOYAGER)

U.S.S. Voyager’s unplanned excursion to the Delta Quadrant

supplied Captain Janeway with the opportunity to survey uncharted
02 Benjamin Sisko
(STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE)

Without Captain Sisko’s bold leadership and innovative strategies,

the Federation might not have survived beyond the 2370s. A
space, all while representing her steadfast adherence to Starfleet’s survivor of the Borg’s attack at Wolf 359, Sisko went on to find a
values. Janeway not only dealt with the Kazon, Vidiians, Devore, special meaning to his life through a relationship with the Bajoran
Species 8472, and Hirogen, she also brought her crew home in a people and their Prophets, but he also held the line against the
mere seven years. On top of that, Janeway collaborated with a future Cardassians, Klingons, and Dominion. Sisko also provoked the
version of herself to deal a significant blow to the Borg Collective, Romulans into joining the struggle against the Dominion, a
the Federation’s most feared adversary. successful–yet–controversial act that haunted the captain.

01 Jean–Luc Picard
(STAR TREK: THE
NEXT GENERATION)

When assembling such a

prestigious list, arguments
can be made as to why any of
these starship commanders
should be awarded first place.
Nonetheless, Captain Picard’s
role in quelling the Klingon
Civil War, preventing the Borg
from assimilating 21st century
Earth, and opening the door
for peace with Romulus stand
as accolades that are further
bolstered by his well–earned
reputation for expertly
executing missions related
to diplomacy, exploration,
humanitarian aid, and first
contact situations.

STAR TREK 47
A N A LY S I S

LIFE AND LEGACY OF

DOCTOR
PULASKI
When Doctor Beverly Crusher left the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D to
spend a year as the head of Starfleet Medical, Doctor Katherine Pulaski
transferred aboard and became the flagship’s chief medical officer. Pulaski’s
straightforward demeanor differed from that of her predecessor, but she
soon found herself solving curious cases and being welcomed as part of the
crew… at least for the brief period she was assigned to the vessel!

WORDS: JAY STOBIE

Past Pursuits Acclimating to the

Not much is known about Doctor Pulaski’s U.S.S. Enterprise
career prior to her tenure under Captain Upon transferring to the U.S.S. Enterprise
Picard’s command, but we do know that NCC-1701-D in 2365, Pulaski soon ruffled
she met and fell in love with William T. Captain Picard’s feathers by not reporting
Riker’s father, Kyle Riker, around the year to him immediately, but the situation
2353. After a brutal Tholian attack on a was soon diffused when Picard learned
starbase where Kyle had been attached that his new chief surgeon was already
as an advisor, only the elder Riker proved tackling her job and assessing Deanna
capable of surviving his wounds. Pulaski, Troi’s health. With the counselor having
who acted as Kyle’s physician at the time, developed a mysterious pregnancy that
attributed his survival to his determination accelerated at a rapid pace, Pulaski
and a strong will to live. oversaw Troi’s delivery and post–natal
Although the two cared deeply for care, up until the crew discovered that
one another, Kyle’s devotion to his career Troi’s child was actually an alien lifeforce
prevented the couple from getting married, entity who had been curious about
and the two eventually went their separate the ship.
ways. Pulaski did end up marrying on three However, the tenuous interactions
separate occasions, though none of those with her shipmates became an ongoing
relationships endured, either. On the other issue, particularly with Lieutenant
hand, the doctor continued to excel in her Commander Data. On several occasions,
career, authoring the scholarly paper “Linear Pulaski dismissed Data’s individuality
Models of Viral Propagation” and becoming and sentience. For example, the doctor
the CMO of the Excelsior-class U.S.S. expressed doubt that the android
Repulse, where Captain Taggert viewed could adequately comfort Troi when
her as an incredible asset to the crew. she gave birth, an assertion with which

48 STAR TREK
DOCTOR PULASKI

STAR TREK 49
A N A LY S I S

01 02

03

the counselor vehemently 01 Data, Deanna Geordi instructed the Enterprise’s to replace his VISOR with optical
and Pulaski
disagreed. Pulaski seemingly computer to construct a devices to treating passengers
in the season
felt no concern when she two story, "The holodeck character capable of from the U.S.S. Constantinople
mispronounced Data’s name, Child" defeating Data, an act which and helping crew members who
nor did she initially accept his 02 Pulaski's inadvertently unleashed a self– were incapacitated during Ira
status as a living being with curiosity brings aware Professor James Moriarty Graves’ time in Data’s body. The
danger in the
much fervor. At one point, form of form
hologram upon the ship. CMO’s greatest test came when
Pulaski even questioned whether rapid aging in Fortunately, Data was up to the the flagship answered a distress
Data knew how to do his job! "Unnatural task and found where Moriarty call from the U.S.S. Lantree, whose
Selection"
Upon learning about had imprisoned Pulaski, allowing entire crew had succumbed to
Data and Geordi La Forge’s 03 Pulsaki Captain Picard to negotiate natural causes as a result of rapid
joins in with
adventures as Sherlock Holmes adventures on a truce. aging. After quarantining the
and Doctor Watson on the the holodeck in Lantree, Pulaski recommended
holodeck, Pulaski went so far as "Elementary,
Dear Data"
Doctoring with Data tracing the ship’s recent stops,
to challenge Data’s ability to As Doctor Pulaski settled in, including the Darwin Genetic
04 Pulaski
solve a mystery with the same she consulted on medical Research Station on Gagarin IV.
encourages
human intuition that drove Data to take part matters that were common to Upon arrival, Pulaski
Holmes. To prove the science in a startegy the Enterprise-D, ranging from discovered that the station’s
challenge,
officer could conduct deductive in "Peak
evaluating the mediator Riva and complement suffered from the
reasoning as well as a human, Perfomance" offering Geordi the opportunity same geriatric ailment and

50 STAR TREK
 04

“IT’S NO FUN GOING INTO A GAME WHEN YOU KNOW

YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE.”
KATHERINE PULAS KI

imposed another quarantine. In an effort to evaluate Finding Friends

the facility’s allegedly healthy children, who had in fact Having put the worst clashes with the crew behind her,
been genetically enhanced, the doctor volunteered to Pulaski settled into her role on the Enterprise, managing
risk exposure to the disease and assess one child aboard to set aside time to dine with Commander Riker before
a shuttlecraft. In an ironic twist, Pulaski requested that his temporary assignment to a Klingon Bird-of-Prey,
Data pilot her shuttle, as she did not believe the medical play the occasional game of poker, and enjoy breakfast
condition could harm him. Sadly, the same wasn’t true with her colleagues. When the Enterprise’s systems were
of Pulaski, who soon became infected after learning the impacted by an Iconian computer program, Pulaski
children carried the disease. demonstrated her reliability and encouraged her staff
Data not only stayed by Pulaski’s side to offer a to employ splints and other rudimentary procedures to
reassuring presence, he also assisted in determining the treat injured personnel.
disease’s root cause. By this time, it was clear Pulaski had Pulaski’s bond with Riker was significantly altered
finally learned to respect the android and his capabilities. when it was revealed that she and his father had been
Simultaneously, Picard learned from Pulaski’s former in a romantic relationship. Initially unhappy with the
commanding officer that the doctor’s stubbornness was the information, Riker apologized to the doctor, receiving
reason for her transfer to the Enterprise – she had insisted some much–needed perspective on his father’s
she wanted to serve with Picard, who she had admired from demeanor from Pulaski in the process. The doctor also
a distance. While the crew devised a method to save Pulaski, shared her wisdom with Wesley when he doubted his
the situation also provided an opportunity to heal the authority to lead a mineral survey, and she solidified her
perceived rift Pulaski felt in regard to Data and the captain. friendship with Data when she expressed discomfort with

STAR TREK 51
A N A LY S I S

the notion that a child Data had Mariposans covertly stole DNA and began to experience
corresponded with would die if the samples from Pulaski and Riker self–doubt, Pulaski gave the
captain did not choose to violate in order to clone them, forcing android a no–nonsense pep
the Prime Directive. Pulaski even the two to beam down and talk and apologized for putting
came to Picard’s rescue when a destroy their own duplicates. him in that situation. While
procedure involving his artificial The stakes turned out to be Data achieved a stalemate in
heart went awry at a starbase even higher when Pulaski was his rematch with Kolrami, these
medical facility. tasked with observing a pair of events showcased just how far
Antedians who traveled in stasis, Pulaski had progressed since
Formidable Foes 05 Doctor particularly when Lwaxana Troi the days when she treated
Pulaski in
The Enterprise-D encountered explained that the passengers Data more like a computer
"Manhunt"
an unexpected situation on were actually assassins. than a person. In under a year,
06 Commander
a colony called Mariposa, On a friendlier front, Pulaski the doctor expanded her
Riker destroys
as the surviving members of clones of volunteered Data to take on perceptions and accepted
an exploratory group had hmself and Sirna Kolrami, an expert in the what, in her eyes, was a new
other crew in
taken to cloning to keep their "Up the Long
game of Strategema. When lifeform. It doesn’t get much
population numbers up. The Ladder" Data failed to defeat Kolrami more ‘Starfleet’ than that!

52 STAR TREK
 DOCTOR PULASKI

The Legacy of Leaving that would make it incredibly difficult to presided over the crew’s well–being, dealing
In one of her last undertakings as the truly leave a lasting impact. Nevertheless, with everything from Worf ’s case of the
Enterprise–D’s chief medical officer, Doctor the doctor exhibited significant personal Klingon measles to Picard’s artificial heart.
Pulaski treated Commander Riker after he growth, both in the treatment of her In early 2366, Doctor Crusher remarked
was infected by microbes that had invaded patients and the manner in which she that she was aware of Pulaski’s procedure
his nervous system. The doctor realized dealt with Data and Captain Picard. for a short–term memory wipe, indicating
that, by stimulating negative memories Interactions with Pulaski surely taught that knowledge pertaining to the doctor’s
and emotions, the resulting endorphins Picard a great deal about becoming better work spread throughout the fleet. Whether
halted the microbes’ growth and eventually acquainted with someone before making remembered for her headstrong personality
eradicated the infection entirely. At some any snap judgments or unwarranted or her Leonard McCoy-like aversion to
point prior to the beginning of 2366, assumptions. using the transporter, Doctor Pulaski
Pulaski left the Enterprise for an unknown Perhaps the best tribute to Pulaski’s persevered through one medical crisis after
assignment, providing Doctor Crusher with legacy rests with the lives she saved another and always made it known that
the chance to return to her old posting. through her profession, an observation she was up for whatever the galaxy threw
Katherine Pulaski’s tenure on the that would surely inspire a smirk from the her way. As a doctor, what more could one
Federation flagship was all too brief, a fact good doctor. For an entire year, Pulaski hope to achieve?

“IT’S A TIME-HONORED WAY TO PRACTICE MEDICINE, WITH

YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEART AND YOUR HANDS, SO -
JUMP TO IT.”
KATHERINE PULAS KI

STAR TREK 53
 FICTION

E XC LU S I V E F I C T I O N

STORY: KEITH R.A. DECANDIDO

I L L U S T R AT I O N : L O U I E D E M A R T I N I S

3190

A
expand the Federation, and that’s been on overdrive since the
mbassador Laira Rillak sat in the reception Verubin Nebula.” She took a sip of tea, then decided to just
area outside the office of Federation President ask. “Madam President, why are you asking me about those
Ligg, trying very hard not to fidget. two in particular?”
Ligg’s assistant – like the president herself, “Tomorrow, they will both be officially announced as
a native of Tellar, the only founding member world still candidates running for Federation President.”
in the Federation – touched her ear and then said, “The Somehow, Rillak managed not to scoff derisively. “Why
president will see you now, Madam Ambassador.” would they even consider running against you?”
Rillak smiled and nodded as she slowly got to her feet, “Because I’m not running again.”
walking past the assistant’s desk to the doors that parted at
her approach. 3138
Inside, the elderly Tellarite woman who’d led the Fifteen-year-old Laira Rillak saw that the bay doors to
Federation for six terms was sitting at her desk reading a Hebitian Pride weren’t yet shut. Dad had put her in charge of
holo display. At Rillak’s entrance, she stood and waved away this run from their home on Alshallah to Toros III while he
first the holo, then her entire desk and chair, reprogramming and Mom took a much-needed vacation to Lake Sisko. She
the latter into two comfortable chairs. “Madam Ambassador, immediately transported down to the cargo bay to find out
thank you for coming. Please have a seat.” what was going on.
“My pleasure, Madam President.” Rillak sat in one Dad’s cargomaster, a Lurian named Flicc, had his head
of the seats. A replicator prompt appeared over one of the in his hands, while two of Dad’s clients – a Ferengi woman,
armrests, and she said, “Tarkalean tea, hot.” Brya, and Dad’s cousin Mareq, a Cardassian – were arguing
The beverage materialized on the armrest. As Rillak took with each other. Like many members of Dad’s extended
a sip, Ligg said, “Raktajino, with a jacarine peel.” family, Mareq followed the Bajoran religion, and wore an
Setting her cup down, Rillak smiled. “I didn’t know you ornate earring on his left ear.
liked Klingon coffee, Madam President.” “What’s going on?” Laira asked Flicc.
“I like to vary my drink choices. But we’re not here to Before Flicc could say anything, Mareq said, “Oh thank
talk about beverages. I want your honest opinion – what do the Prophets, you’re here, Laira. Tell this Ferengi that I have
you think of Governor Tira?” priority.”
The request for honesty notwithstanding, Rillak chose “Priority for what? Both of you have cargo going to Toros.”
her words regarding the elected leader of Denobula Triaxa Brya pointed an accusing finger at the Cardassian.
carefully. “Denobula has remained very stable under his “Two of his cargo containers are occupying the space for my
leadership – no mean feat in these times. That’s probably tulaberry wine!”
why he’s so popular.” Turning to Flicc, Laira asked, “Do you have the
“What of Councilor Hrak-Nat?” manifest?”
Now wondering why she was being quizzed about The Lurian activated a holo display and cast it to Laira.
random politicians, Rillak said of Brikar’s representative Laira studied the display, then looked at both clients.
on the Federation Council: “She’s very blunt, but also “Uncle Mareq, you were only supposed to have six
very proactive. She’s been at the forefront of every effort to containers of stembolts. This says you have eight.”

STAR TREK 55
WORK WORTH DOING

Mareq shrugged. “My client back three cases of wine.” her. “Your father’s going to hear
increased the order at the last minute. “I’m not willing to hold back about this.”
It happens sometimes. Your father anything!” Mareq snapped. “My As the Cardassian stormed off, Laira
always gives me the extra space.” client needs these stembolts! I’m not looked at Flicc. “Have two of Mareq’s
Brya threw up her hands. “I going to let anything stand in the containers transported to his cabin.”
knew it! I knew you’d pull the family way of fulfilling this order.” Flicc nodded.
card! I should’ve gone with a Ferengi Laira ran some projections. “Computer, reset the
carrier – one who knows the Rules of “Brya, it’s fine. You can have all programmable matter in guest cabin
Acquisition!” fifteen cases. We can make the room, four to empty.”
Laira grinned. “Like the one as long as Uncle Mareq keeps to his “Acknowledged.”
about how you shouldn’t let family assigned cargo space.” Brya bowed her head to Laira.
get in the way of opportunity? The “But what about my other two “Thank you, Ms. Rillak. I guess you
Sixth Rule, right?” containers?” Mareq asked. understand the Sixth Rule after all.”
With respect, Brya said, “You “They’ll go in your cabin.” “I also know that you’re bringing
know the Rules.” Mareq’s eyes went wide. “They twenty cases, and the other five are
“Yes, and I know the Four won’t fit!” in your cabin. That’s where I got the
Hundred and Nineteenth Rule, “Oh, they will, after we lose the idea.”
too: ‘It’s easier to get forgiveness bunk and desk and commode. They’ll With that, Laira transported out
than permission.’” She rotated fit perfectly, in fact.” She showed of the cargo bay. She needed to get
the holo toward Brya. “You were Mareq the specs she’d just worked out. this run going…
only supposed to have ten cases of “Where am I supposed to bunk?”
tulaberry wine, not fifteen.” “We can set up a hammock 3190
“Ha!” Mareq sneered at the somewhere, and you can use the crew “What do you mean you’re not
Ferengi. “So she lied! She doesn’t commode.” running?”
deserve the space.” “That is not acceptable!” President Ligg chuckled. “I’m a
“Not so fast, Uncle Mareq, you Laira tilted her head. “You just hundred and forty-seven years old,
lied, too.” said that you wouldn’t let anything Laira. I’m tired.”
“I didn’t lie, I underestimated. stand in the way of fulfilling this “But – the Burn is over! The
Look, let’s just call your father. I’m order. That would include your Federation’s finally expanding for the
sure he’ll settle this.” comfort, right?” first time in a century! This is what
“I’m in charge of this run, Uncle “I – ” Mareq stared angrily at you’ve been waiting for!”
Mareq. Besides, it’s the middle of
the night on Lake Sisko, and I’m
not waking him and Mom for this.” “I LIKE TO VARY MY DRINK
Mom will kill both of us, she thought
with a shudder. Her parents had been
CHOICES. BUT WE’RE NOT HERE
planning this vacation for over a year. TO TALK ABOUT BEVERAGES. I
Brya said, “I’m willing to hold WANT YOUR HONEST OPINION…”

56 STAR TREK
 FICTION

“It’s what I’ve been hoping for. Ambassador Laira Rillak.” Vice do for the minister to telepathically
But that hope was buried so deep.” President Qiladar had only sworn sense her fear that she had blown her
She shook her head. “The thought of Rillak in to her new post as Federation first diplomatic assignment.
leading the Federation through what Ambassador-at-Large a day ago. “I’m She hadn’t even wanted to
comes next, frankly, exhausts me. And replacing Ambassador Chynskai.” become a representative on Alshallah
if just thinking about it does that, The other holo in the room a decade ago, but when Dad retired,
then actually doing it will probably was the Prime Minister of Betazed, it seemed the thing to do.
kill me.” She chuckled again. “No, we Lwarafarakna Vill, who bowed her And now she was an ambassador,
need fresh blood. We need you, Laira.” head. “I was sorry to learn of Chynskai’s and she had apparently wasted no
Rillak blinked. “Excuse me? You death. She was a good woman.” time in pissing off the Tholians.
just said that Tira and Hrak were The Tholian – whom the briefing Only a few seconds passed,
running. For that matter, there’s Vice material said was named Sraklene – though it felt like hours, and the
President Qiladar.” made another screeching noise. “She Tholian reappeared. “I did warn
“Qiladar’s retiring also. As for was rigid. You will not be, lest we Sraklene. He said you could not
the others, Tira is too passive. He’s walk away from these talks.” tell us apart. I have told him he was
popular, yes, but his strength comes “I have no wish to be rigid. Let us wrong.”
from staying the course, which is begin by completing the introductions,” Vill said, “This is what we
what’s been needed. But we can’t said Rillak. “I already know Minister have had to deal with, Madam
afford someone who will remain so Vill, but I’m afraid your government Ambassador: the contempt the
status quo now. As for Hrak-Nat, didn’t update us as to who Sraklene’s Tholians have for all who are not
she’s too far in the other direction. replacement would be.” Tholians. It has made negotiations
She bullies her way into getting what The Tholian was silent. impossible.”
she needs for her constituents on Rillak continued. “Your dorsal “The contempt,” the Tholian
Brikar, and doesn’t care who gets in chitin reflects differently than Sraklene’s. said, “was Srakelene’s. I am Captain
the way. That works for a member of If I recall correctly, that means that Zrelarn. Let us speak and let us
the Federation Council, but not for you’re a military captain, rather than solve.”
the council’s leader. With Ni’Var and a diplomat, like Sraklene. I hope this Rillak smiled. “Yes. Let’s.”
Trill on the cusp of rejoining, talks doesn’t mean that the Tholian Assembly
with United Earth progressing, and is going to take a more hardline 3190
with the Emerald Chain broken, we approach to this border dispute “Final question for the three
need someone who will bring sides with Betazed. I also must admit to candidates.” The moderator read
together.” She put a hand on Rillak’s finding it puzzling that you switched off the holoprompter. “How would
shoulder. “We need the person who negotiators without alerting us. Did you convince worlds that have left
negotiated the border dispute between you think we wouldn’t notice?” the Federation, such as Ni’Var and
the Tholians and the Betazoids.” The Tholian remained silent. Andor, to rejoin? Governor Tira?”
Then the holo flickered and None of the three presidential
3169 disappeared. candidates were in the chamber with
The holographic image of the Tholian Rillak felt panic suffuse her entire the moderator. Tira was in his home
made a screeching noise that Rillak person. She was extremely grateful on Denobula Triaxa IX; Hrak-Nat
felt in her ribs. “Who are you?” that Vill was on Betazed rather than was on her personal yacht somewhere
“I’m Coun – I mean, Federation in the room with her, as it wouldn’t in the Brikar system; Rillak was in

STAR TREK 57
WORK WORTH DOING

replacing.
President Ligg looked at her with
concern and compassion behind her
sunken eyes. “Are you ready, Laira?”
Rillak took a deep breath. “I –
I’m not. Madam President, I don’t – I
don’t want this job.”
Grinning, Ligg said, “Leaving
that a bit late, aren’t you? You
won the election. Quite handily, I
might add. And you can handle the
responsibility.”
“I don’t mind responsibility. It’s
the power that scares me.”
“Trust me, the position isn’t that
powerful,” Ligg said with a snort.
“Are you worried that it will corrupt?”
“No, that it’ll overwhelm.” Rillak
sighed. “There’s so much at stake. I’m
not sure I’m the right person to lead
this – this rebuild.”
“Of course you are. Your entire
her living room on Alshallah. All were come to us – but we can’t go out and career has been about finding ways to
being projected into the chamber, force them, either. For far too long, turn disagreements into agreements.
and this debate was being projected the Federation has – by necessity – That’s what the Federation needs right
into locations both private and public been isolationist. But that will make now.” Ligg leaned in and spoke in a
all over the thirty-eight worlds of the it difficult for people to trust us. conspiratorial whisper. “And we need
Federation, as well as some places We haven’t been the Federation, not your doubts, too. One reason why
outside it. really. We’ve had to compromise, to I was worried about Tira or Hrak
With a disturbingly wide smile, sacrifice. And we’ll have to do that taking my place is that they’re both
the Denobulan said, “Oh, I think some more, but now we can do it too sure of themselves – Tira to stay
the benefits to joining the Federation from a place of compassion instead the course, Hrak to barrel ahead. But
speak for themselves – especially now of fear. We can offer freedom, and we you? You’re the right person for the
that dilithium is becoming readily can offer dilithium – and for many, job precisely because you don’t think
available once again.” the latter will be more appealing than you’re the right person for the job.”
“Councilor Hrak-Nat?” the former. However, it would be a On the stage, the vice president
The woman with the rock-hard mistake to try to force anyone’s hand. had finished being sworn in. It was
skin rose from her giant chair and We should reach out, absolutely, but now Rillak’s turn.
spoke in what almost sounded like a that’s the starting point. We should She followed Ligg onto the
growl. “It’s been a hundred years, I speak, and then we can solve.” stage. The entire Federation Council
don’t think anything the Federation – including Hrak-Nat, who had
does can be said to speak for itself. 3191 given an uncharacteristically gracious
We must push back out into the stars, President-Elect Rillak stood behind concession speech – was present, as
and we should start by annexing the stage in Federation Headquarters, were representatives from all over
what’s left of the Emerald Chain. next to the Tellarite woman she’d be the sector. Even President T’Rina of
That, along with the dilithium Ni’Var and Leader Pav of Trill – both
mining in the Verubin Nebula, will
give us the resources to properly “MY CLIENT still in talks to rejoin the Federation
– were here to see her take the oath
rebuild. We can finally go back to NEEDS THESE of office.
doing what we did best in the old
STEMBOLTS! I’M As she approached the podium,

NOT GOING TO
days: bring people in.” she found herself reminded of words
“Ambassador Rillak?” spoken by a leader on her mother’s
Rillak waited for Hrak to sit back LET ANYTHING ancestral home of Earth from thirteen
down. “We can’t expect people to
come to us, and we can’t force them,
STAND IN hundred years earlier: “Far and away
the best prize that life has to offer
either. The Federation is an idea, an THE WAY OF is the chance to work hard at work
important one, and it’s one that’s FULFILLING THIS worth doing.”

ORDER.”
been lost since the Burn. Councilor This, she thought, is work worth
Hrak-Nat is correct that we cannot doing. Time I started doing it –
simply sit by and wait for worlds to whether I’m ready or not.

58 STAR TREK
 TM

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 TREKNOLOGY
TO M O R ROW ’S T EC H N O LO GY TO DAY

CURING & CARING

IN THE FUTURE
- THE TREKNOLOGY OF
M E D I CA L T R E AT M E N T
WORDS: CHRIS DOWS

60 STAR TREK
 TREKNOLOGY

ADVANCING MEDICINE BEYOND THE FINAL FRONTIER

T
reknology often pushes the boundaries of science, but while a fictional solution
to a problem might satisfy a story’s needs, it can also attract major criticism –
particularly when it comes to medical treatment. A pill that immediately cures a
patient rather than a protracted course of therapy, such as the dialysis-replacing
tablet prescribed by Doctor McCoy to a 1980’s Mercy Hospital patient in Star Trek
IV: The Voyager Home? Retinax 5, a drug that can cure vision defects mentioned by McCoy in
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan? Sealing a wound with the ubiquitous Starfleet Medical dermal
generator rather than stitches? It’s all nonsense, right?

Some Starfleet sickbay tech is fanciful for sure, but there’s an solutions – as in our world where, remarkably, some recent
undeniable authenticity that even in the future, Treknology medical advances not only match what’s seen in Star Trek
can’t solve everything. but surpass it.
Granted, the Genesis project brought back Spock in Returning to our ‘impossible’ list, scientists at Melbourne
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and, having died from University (RMIT) recently unveiled an oral capsule for protein
Irumodic Syndrome, Jean-Luc Picard’s consciousness was drugs that may one day replace the regular insulin injections
transferred to an artificial body in Star Trek: Picard, but diabetics have to take. Over at Ohio State University, a clinical
they are notable exceptions. Early in his career, even the trial of low-dose atropine eyedrops in children aged six to
great Doctor McCoy couldn’t find a cure in time for his ten has shown promising results in reducing the progression
elderly father David’s terminal condition, and nor could of nearsightedness. Then there’s the work of a team out of
Doctor Joseph M’Benga save his daughter Rukiya from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden that is using
her progressive case of cygnokemia, secretly keeping her in electrical stimulation to make wounds heal three times faster.
stasis within the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701’s transporter So critics, put that in your hypospray and inject
buffer until she eventually merged with the non-corporeal it – or, use the revolutionary needleless metal-organic
lifeform named Debra, in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds framework (MOF) injector unveiled by the University of
episode, “The Elysian Kingdom”. People still get sick and Texas at Dallas in March of this year, which propels drug
have accidents, so Starfleet Medical keeps on looking for compounds through the tiny gaps between skin cells.

01

STAR TREK 61
T O M O R R O W ’ S T E C H N O L O G Y T O D AY

SCANS AND SENSORS: AUGMENTING

DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT DAMAGE REALITY:
TECHNOLOGY AS
TREATMENT
T
he ability to gather detailed wide range of conditions.
data on a range of vital It’s not quite the hand-scanner
functions remotely and in real- wirelessly connected to the familiar

R
time is surely one of the most desirous clamshell-configured Medical egardless of whether it’s in
aspects of medical Treknology to real- Tricorder seen throughout the 23rd our local clinic or a starship
world practitioners. Such scans were century, or the portable spinning sickbay, if a drug or procedure
mostly achieved with the Tricorder cylinder frequently employed by earlier cannot solve a medical problem,
and, along with the bio-bed and other Starfleet Medical personnel with the alternatives are often sought through
devices first seen in Doctor McCoy’s classic Tricorder design, but it’s a technology. Consider Captain
sickbay on the U.S.S. Enterprise, have calibration-free system that doesn’t Christopher Pike as he was portrayed
inspired scientists and engineers rely on a cuff to give fast and accurate after his near-lethal delta radiation
to make this not-so-outlandish readings. Even more impressive is the overdose in the Star Trek episode “The
concept a reality for decades. This wearable brain scanner being trialed Menagerie” and Star Trek: Discovery’s
was finally realized in 2017, when the by Britain’s University of Nottingham; “Through the Valley of Shadows”.
Pennsylvania-based Final Frontier most Starfleet sickbays can generate Confined to a life-support
Medical Devices (how’s that for an neurographic scans to detect chair allowing extremely limited
apt name) won the prestigious XPrize, trauma or defects in prone patients, communication via a series of blinking
launched five years previously by but the magnetic field control system lights, he would have given his chef ’s
the Qualcomm Foundation, which designed by UoN’s School of Physics apron for the AI system revealed in May
promised a multi-million-dollar allows sensors built into a lightweight 2023 by a team at the University of Texas
reward for the first company to create helmet to measure magnetic signals at Austin. After a period of calibration,
a functioning ‘Tricorder’ capable of created by the brain’s cellular their ‘semantic decoder’ reads a person’s
diagnosing and interpreting thirteen activity while the patient is standing brain activity through a non-invasive
health conditions and continuously or walking. This is particularly fMRI scanner, converting the words
monitoring five health metrics. important in diagnosing certain heard or imagined into a stream of
While the DxtER device is neurological conditions connected text that, while not always exact in its
relatively old technology, it spurred with movement, such as concussion, translation, represents the substance of
even greater advances in non- strokes and Parkinson’s disease. what is being thought – and offers huge
invasive, portable diagnostic devices. Another particularly innovative potential for individuals unable to speak
If you own a smartphone, you’ll know system created by the Swiss Federal but retaining their mental faculties.
the latest versions allow you to detect Laboratories for Materials Science The impact of two further once-
your pulse rate, and while many and Technology in mid-2023 considered impossible breakthroughs
apps claim to also measure blood incorporates a sensor function within can be perfectly illustrated by events
pressure, they don’t – so the simple a post-operative abdominal polymer seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation
camera clip-on, low-cost 3D-printed patch that can alert clinicians if
attachment developed by engineers sutures are failing, much the same
at the University of California – San way a Bio-bed can immediately
Diego earlier this year aims to fulfill warn of a negative change in a
this often-vital need for sufferers of a patient’s condition.

02
03

62 STAR TREK
 TREKNOLOGY

episode “Ethics”, where Worf was

permanently paralyzed after his spine
was irreparably damaged in a cargo bay
accident. Talked out of committing
the Klingon ritual suicide hegh’bat, he
reluctantly trialed a Doctor Crusher-
designed rig that transmitted electrical
impulses from his brain to stimulation
packs on legs. Because it didn’t provide
full mobility, Worf stopped using it
– which cannot be said for Gert-Jan 04
Oskam, a 40-year-old Dutch man
paralyzed in a cycling accident in 2011.
Earlier this year, thanks to a PREDICTING THE NATURE
OF THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY
revolutionary approach led by Professor
Grégoire Courtine of the Swiss École
Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne
(EPFL), Oskam became the first
01 Medical

W
quadriplegic in the world to walk without technology hat place does Artificial Intelligence have in the future
the use of external motorized devices. A seen in the of medicine? When it comes to contemporary medical
surgically implanted transmitter in his Star Trek: advances, AI is becoming key to major breakthroughs
Picard season
brain sent wireless signals to a second one, episode, in treatment and care – as it is in Star Trek. The expertise, the
spinal implant, which then routed "Et in Arcadia compassion and experience of the human (or in the case of the
Ego, Part 2"
impulses via his existing nerve pathways U.S.S. Enterprise NX-01’s Doctor Phlox, Denobulan) medical team
to create movement in his legs. 02 A Star are crucial, but they often rely on computing power to save the
Trek: The Next
While our favorite son of Mogh was Generation
day – and the patient. Across the scientific community, research is
subsequently cured thanks to a new spine medical focused on whether AI can work better and faster in some medical
‘grown’ in a genetronic replicator, this tricorder roles, although not without controversy.
highly dangerous procedure might have 03 Captain Some of the advances are undeniably positive; the results
been avoided if further developments Pike in his published in April 2023 by medical researchers at Cedars-Sinai
chair, in Star
of the chemical compound recently Trek – "The medical Center in Los Angeles confirmed their clinical algorithm
identified by scientists at the Britain’s Menagerie, more accurately detected issues with cardiac function compared
University College London had been Part II" to ‘real’ sonographers looking at a strictly controlled trial of
used. Named ‘1938’, this experimental 04 An ethical echocardiograms. What’s more, the AI did it faster, freeing up time
compound activates a specific kinase, so- dilemma for for cardiologists to work with patients.
the Doctor
called ‘molecular machines’, to stimulate in the Star Think of the times Doctors Bashir, Crusher and Culber have
new neuron growth even after injury, Trek: Voyager left their sickbay computers running to analyze data and even
season seven
and lead to the recovery of nerve cells episode,
synthesize cures, and the parallels with how Star Trek approaches
not previously thought possible. "Critical Care" medical care become even more apparent.
In fact, the sheer processing speed of AI, particularly when
hooked up to the latest hardware, is another major plus point.
Scientists led by Doctor Paul Jensen at the University of Michigan
recently revealed their BacterAI platform which, with its ability to
learn from its own mistakes and continuously adapt its own data
set, had the projected capacity to conduct approaching 10,000
experiments a day, which shows the massive increase in scale
AI promises in medical R&D. And then there’s the AI created and
trialed by the Austrian Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien)
which proved its decision-making abilities to suggest treatment
and care for sepsis (blood poisoning) patients exceeded that of
human decision-making.
However, once again questions of ethics come into play,
something the Emergency Medical Hologram was faced with in
the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Critical Care”. Stolen and sold to
a Dinaali hospital ship, our favorite Holographic character (and
shining example of how good AI could be in a medical context)
was horrified to discover the all-powerful Allocator system used
Treatment Coefficients based on class status to decide who lived
and died. Given the worldwide warnings being sounded about AI,
let’s hope enough safeguards are created to prevent such a thing
happening here...

STAR TREK 63
INTERVIEW

64 STAR TREK
 HARVE BENNETT

S T A R F L E E T
A C A D E M Y
In this never-before-published interview, recorded in 1993, with the late Harve
Bennett, the veteran producer recalls his struggles to make the Star Trek prequel.
WORDS: JOE NAZZARO

ollowing the release After the critical drubbing of 1989’s Star

of Star Trek: The Trek V: The Final Frontier, Bennett pitched the
Motion Picture in idea of a “first adventure”, which would follow
1978, Paramount the adventures of a young Kirk, Spock and
executives realized McCoy at Starfleet Academy.
the franchise had The idea initially met with approval by
huge potential Paramount execs, but with Star Trek’s 25th
on the big screen, anniversary fast approaching, the decision was
but after the film’s made to go with another film, featuring the
lack of oversight and original cast. The Starfleet Academy idea was
huge cost overruns, subsequently abandoned for two decades,
they enlisted veteran until it was re-presented by J.J. Abrams as a
writer/producer Harve Bennett to oversee means of re-booting the franchise.
subsequent film instalments. Bennett, an Bennett would go on to produce other
alumnus of such successful genre projects as genre projects, including Time Trax and
The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman Invasion America before his death in 2015.
and The Invisible Man, was able to produce During this largely unpublished and uncensored
a string of highly profitable Star Trek films, interview conducted while promoting Time Trax
including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and in the 1990s, he discussed his time on the Star
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, still widely Trek franchise, revealing the reasons for the
regarded as the best in the series. cancellation of his Starfleet Academy film…

STAR TREK 65
INTERVIEW

01 Star Trek
What is it you’re most proud of when you look back On the other hand, had I continued, and we’d V: The Final
at your time on the Star Trek film franchise? done The First Adventure, then in my five-year plan, Frontier
This may sound familiar, but I think I brought a Star Trek VI was going to be “The Over the Hill Gang 02 Star Trek II:
humanity to the movies. The first movie was rather Returns,” literally. I was being responsive to their look The Wrath of
Khan
sterile, in that it did not acknowledge aging and and their age, so seven on my drawing board, was
growth. I was not a Star Trek fan [of the original TV meant to be… they’re retired, but only these old farts
series], because I was working on Mod Squad at the can save the universe. In other words, my concept
time, and there was a moment where we were on was, show how it began, and then go back to the grey
against each other. brigade, and let’s do something that’s very personal. For
When I was going to do my first Star Trek film, somebody who’s 60 years old, let’s say “Hey, these guys
I ran all the episodes in a two-month period before are now 60-plus, but when the flood tide comes, you’re
I did it, and what impressed me was the depths of glad they’re on your side!”
the characters, so what I’m proudest of was that all So that’s where I was headed, so no, it didn’t
the stuff I did was basically character driven. I had to bother me, because it perfectly coincided with my
convince Bill Shatner to be his age, which was fun, own recognition of their age. Poor Bones McCoy was
and when Leonard Nimoy didn’t want to be in it, we getting skinnier with every picture! A dear man, but he
said, “Fine, we’ll kill you!” and then got stuck with it was getting very frail looking.
because he liked the idea. The trinity of those three
main characters was the center of the all the stuff that I How did you feel about the fact that there was a
did. As their newest fan, I think I just zeroed in on that certain progression between the second and fourth
element, thinking, “Hey, I like these three guys, and films, while Star Trek V seemed to suddenly veer off
that triangle of reason, passion and conciliation that in a different direction?
they stand for!” I’m not sure if that’s true or
not, so I don’t accept that
What happened during as a general truth. I would
that period of time after “I THINK I say that Star Trek V was the
you finished Star Trek V
and when you eventually
BROUGHT A weakest of the pictures, both
in terms of coherency and its
returned to television with HUMANITY TO box office, and I would say
Time Trax?
In that first year, almost
THE MOVIES. THE without shirking responsibility
is that the problem was that
eighteen months was spent FIRST MOVIE WAS Bill had story approval. He
under the assumption that I
would make Star Trek VI: The
RATHER STERILE, IN knows this, so I’m not ratting
on my friend, but, basically,
First Adventure. There was a THAT IT DID NOT we got to a point where I said,
green light in preparation,
when management decided
ACKNOWLEDGE “Bill, we cannot make a movie
about finding God!” I said
another “regulation” Star AGING AND that from the beginning, and
Trek for the 25th anniversary.
Basically speaking, I said,
GROWTH.” he said, “How did you get be
so doctrinaire?”
‘We’re in the middle of this I said, “I’m really not, but
picture!’ and they said, “No, I know that if you say in a TV
we want you, in nine months log line ‘Tonight on Star Trek,
to do another picture!” That was impossible for me to the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise goes to find God,’
accept in terms of creativity, because I already had so everybody knows we’re not going to get there, so as a
much invested in this film, and I was going to direct storyteller, it gets to be a shaggy joke!” But he wanted
it as well. Secondly, even if there had been no other to do it, so after much aggravation, I said, “All right,
adventure, to do a Star Trek movie in under a year we’re going to go find God, but we’re going to make it
would have been 50 percent faster than any other the best trip we possibly can!”, and so that’s what we
movie we had done, and I just felt we couldn’t do a did. I think we achieved a good trip, but it was not a
good job even if I had been ready to do it, so I left. strong Star Trek. It was doomed by its premise.
I learned long ago, if it ain’t in the premise, it
You mentioned getting William Shatner to act his ain’t there, but Bill felt if we worked hard enough and
age, did it ever bother you, the running jokes in the dazzled them with enough stuff we could do it, and I
press about the age of your cast? don’t think we pulled that off.
Actually, it didn’t bother me at all. I thought it was On the other hand, it was the same trap I thought
quite legitimate. If you look at the difference between was evident, not in my work but in Roddenberry’s Star
the look of the first two Star Trek movies, you’re talking Trek: The Motion Picture, the premise was a shaggy dog
about vaseline on the screen in The Motion Picture story: you think you’re going to find some super being,
and neo-realism in The Wrath of Khan, so that stylistic only to discover that it’s your own satellite come home.
change admitted that they were old. Now, if we admit Okay, that’s a big letdown, and I think that’s what made
they’re old, we’re fair game, aren’t we? the picture slowly fade from the box office after its initial

66 STAR TREK
 HARVE BENNETT

01

02

STAR TREK 67
INTERVIEW

03

“WHILE WE WERE ON STAR TREK V, THE PROMISE OF DOING

THE FIRST ADVENTURE KEPT ME GOING…”

much-anticipated big burst. I think a faulty the old actors, so to answer your question, Enterprise, so suddenly tons of mail came
premise results in a flawed picture. I just could not let go of that. I was blinded in, all orchestrated. We survived it all, and
by it. For better or worse, I couldn’t give it maybe I owe everybody a debt for that,
I remember reading an interview you up. I felt it would have been a great picture, because it created controversy. Would
did where you mentioned that one of and I still do. After that, I was willing to go I have been clever enough to do that?
the reasons for coming up with the back to the bridge with a twist: that it would No way, but I think I was the ultimate
Starfleet Academy premise was that be the same bridge, but the older guys beneficiary, at least with two, three and
you couldn’t see yourself doing another would have been called back into service in four, but by five maybe I was a little
“bridge show.” To play devil’s advocate, desperation, which would give it urgency; punchy.
what would be the harm in that if you the old guys rescuing the network executives. Actually, while we were on Star Trek V,
were focusing on character-driven the promise of doing The First Adventure
stories as you insisted you were doing? Were you prepared for the sheer wave of kept me going, and when we finished that,
I think the answer to that is once you’ve negativity you got? I had become so sucked into the experience
locked yourself for better or worse into Against Starfleet Academy? I don’t care if of trying to make a silk purse, I became
a character driven story, the premise of you print this; that was orchestrated by its largest booster; you know how that
which is how did they come to be, that a variety of special interest groups. I’ve goes. It’s Bridge on the River Kwai; it’s Alec
you are constitutionally unable to say, seen some of the tapes, and I’ve dealt Guinness saying, ‘Who’s trying to blow up
“Okay, drop that; let’s go back to the with that insofar as one needs to; it’s my bridge?’ and forgetting that he’s been
way they are still.” To me, that was like understandable. In some cases, people working with the enemy.
taking something that was a unique were being displaced, in other cases, there
perspective that oddly enough, had never is as you know, in Star Trek, a vast power Would that wave of controversy have
been done. How did it begin? With The organization, and I was never really a helped Starfleet Academy succeed?
Lone Ranger, we know that first episode. member or a participant, because I was That is correct. The ultimate failure
Superman we know; every child who’s really a kind of hired hand, but from to make the “first adventure” was not
ever seen these pieces knows how computer networks to internal fanzines, because of the orchestrated resistance,
Superman came here, but nobody knows I can only tell you that I had no secrets. because you just said it: that helped us.
how these people came together, and what I could not keep a secret, because – I’ll The difference was that management
were they like when they were young, and say it – Roddenberry was on my mailing at Paramount had changed, and the
really innocent. list. [I beleive] his office leaked the death management at Paramount, confronted
The risk of that is that you can’t use of Spock, the destruction of the U.S.S. with orchestrated letters coming over the

68 STAR TREK
 HARVE BENNETT

has gone so far now towards The Next

Generation that it becomes a curiosity
rather than a must-see picture, and
then soon, in another two or three
years, you won’t be able to make it
anyway, because they will have faded
from memory; they won’t be hot.
My understanding was that
if there was to be a picture, it was
going to be Rick Berman doing a
Next Generation picture. You must
remember one thing: this is not just
true of Paramount or of Star Trek,
though it is pre-eminent in Star Trek;
it’s about the “tent pole” mentality,
which is what the Paramount
leadership called it. There was a
big article about the tent poles of
Paramount. Eddie Murphy was a
tent pole; Star Trek was a tent pole;
Simpson and Bruckheimer were a
tent pole – which are the things that
04 hold up all the failures. They are the
reliable franchise-oriented things that
are always good to turn a profit with
at home and abroad, and if you bend
a tent pole, if you take Shatner and
03 Star Trek
transom saying, “Don’t kill Spock, The final word of the head of Nimoy away from the tent pole, you
Generations
don’t blow up the U.S.S. Enterprise!” Paramount, having read it, was, “This is jeopardize, in their minds, the tent.
04 Star Trek
after all that stuff, they said, “Woah, a great script, and I’m going to give you I disagreed with that, so they went
V: The Final
this is big time! Let’s go with it!” But a pay or play commitment to make this Frontier their way, and now the tent pole was
the new management at Paramount, script next… after you get back to the going to be The Next Generation to
confronted with it on The First typewriter and give us a conventional continue still being Star Trek; that’s
Adventure said, “We’ll offend the Enterprise bridge adventure in time for what was out there now. I think they
fans!” They were different people, but the 25th anniversary!” I said, “I can’t will probably say, “Who’s going to pay
frankly, they’re all gone now. do it in that short a lead time.” The that kind of money to see something
special effects alone [on the previous that’s no longer really the #1 in the
So is Starfleet Academy or The First film] cost us eight to ten months of Star Trek universe?’
Adventure now dead and buried? planning, so we were already out of Another subtle thing happened,
I think that boat has sailed. My last time. I think I was right about that; and I’m sure you witnessed it, which
lunch with the then-head of the studio, the sixth film that was made was, is that the fans, who at first were very
who really wasn’t the head, because I think at the least, about 14 or 15 careful about The Next Generation
there’s a guy in New York who still is, months from the day I said that, but began to say, “You know, this is kind
he had read the First Adventure, and that was largely because Nick Meyer of interesting…” It took a year or
he had heard me say, “I know how to decided to do it, and he wrote a script two for them to say, “Okay, there’s a
get Bill and Leonard into it,” which in record time; much faster than I new family in town, they’re not bad!”
was a framed flashback, so I had that, ever could. and by the third year, the new family
and it actually made the story better. “I think that film was a fairly was the family. I think there is now a
It was framed by Kirk’s return to the mixed bag. It was good and bad, but new generation of secondary Star Trek
Academy; he tells the story which in I said at the time, “If I do that film, fans who don’t even care about the
bulk is flashback, and at the end, in a I’m going to make a picture that’s not first series. Anyway, that’s my thought
very poignant and sad moment after even as good as Star Trek V, and with about it.
he’s parted from young Spock, we Star Trek: The Next Generation on the
return to him at a significant grave, rise, it will end the franchise of the Did you ever think about maybe
and Spock appears and they have old folks on the big screen, so you will pursuing the idea maybe in book form?
an enormous scene together about pay me, but you won’t let me make the Yeah, that waggled around, but I think
memories, feelings and the past. And movie.’ it’s time to take a deep breath and do
then Kirk reconciles and says, “Beam us To this day, I know that instinct something else. We’re talking about
up!” and off they go in the Enterprise, was correct, so to answer your change and growth and everybody needs
so it had everything, and set the stage question, is it still viable to do the first to move on and take more risks. But it
for whatever seven might have been. adventure? No, I think the appetite was a great ride. It was a great ride!

STAR TREK 69
70 STAR TREK
 FICTION

The Trouble
with Jones
STO RY: G R EG COX
I L L U S T R AT I O N : A N DY WA L K E R

"C
aptain Kirk! Friend Kirk!” bargain at that.”
Kirk groaned. He’d been enjoying Her antennae drooped. “Oh. I only have half a
shore leave at a tropical beach resort on credit. I spent the rest of my allowance on kelp frosties.”
Siduri, an independent world only loosely The girl’s forlorn expression had Kirk reaching for
affiliated with the Federation, until he recognized an all- his own local currency, but Jones spoke up first. “Hold
too-familiar voice. on. Did I neglect to mention my shiny-smile discount,
Cyrano Jones, interstellar trader and general available only to the best little girls? A big grin knocks the
nuisance, beamed at Kirk from a beachside shack roofed price down to… exactly one-quarter credit!”
with crimson palm fronds. The portly merchant seemed Bemused, Kirk looked on as the delighted child
genuinely pleased to see Kirk, which was rather puzzling wandered off, clutching her prize.
considering their history. “That was… unexpectedly… generous of you, Jones.”
“Jones.” The captain approached the shack warily. The Cyrano Jones he knew was always out to make a fast
Hand-lettered driftwood signs advertised fruity drinks, credit, even if it meant playing fast and loose with the
clams, and trinkets – at suspiciously reasonable prices. law and public safety. Granted, Jones had once provided
Kirk was pleasantly surprised to see no tribbles in Uhura with a complimentary tribble, but only with an
evidence. “What are you doing here?” eye to drumming up sales. Kirk couldn’t see any long-
“Enjoying the good life, captain!” Jones stepped out term advantage to essentially giving the carved mermaid
from behind the counter in front of the shack. Given the away. “Business doing that well?”
balmy climate, he had swapped his usual olive coat for He found it hard to believe that the unprepossessing
a gaudy floral-patterned shirt, knee-length shorts, and snack shack could be all that lucrative. Jones wasn’t going
sandals. He gestured grandly at sand, sea, sun, and sky. to get rich off it.
“Who could ask for anything more?” Jones shrugged. “I make a modest living. Clam-
A pint-sized Andorian girl, no more than seven years digging, beachcombing, and the like. But what more do I
old, interrupted the reunion, tugging on his arm. truly need? Credits aren’t everything after all.”
“Excuse me, Mister Cyrano?” She held up a small Kirk was still trying to process that when a middle-
wooden carving of an Aquan mer-princess, crowned with aged couple in beach attire strolled by. They waved
polished seashell fragments. “How much is she?” cheerily at Jones.
“A mere two credits, little darling,” Jones said. “And a “Hi, Cyrano!” the man called out. “Thanks again for

STAR TREK 71
THE TROUBLE WITH JONES

helping out at the reefs the other day! dating back to his unauthorized exit place the name or face. He lingered
We really appreciate it!” from Deep Space Station K7, but to see how this awkward encounter
“Always a pleasure to assist my Siduri was not under the Federation’s played out.
friends and neighbors!” he replied. jurisdiction and extraditing Jones “Not my finest moment,” Jones
“You coming to the glow-tide might be more trouble than it was conceded, “but can’t we let bygones
feast tomorrow night?” the woman worth. Plus, Kirk was on vacation, be bygones? Allow me to offer you a
asked. out of uniform, and unarmed. He cooling libation, on the house.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for a dozen had his communicator in case the “I don’t want a drink. I want
worlds! Can’t wait to partake of your U.S.S. Enterprise needed to contact what you stole from me.” Hastings
famous anemone punch!” him in an emergency or vice versa, drew a phaser beneath his suit.
Kirk felt as though he’d but was a “reformed” Cyrano Jones “Where is it?”
accidentally beamed into yet another an emergency? “Hold on!” Kirk intervened.
mirror universe. Cyrano Jones, an “Jones, you double-crossing slime “Let’s not lose our heads here. Put the
asset to his community, getting by as devil! Did you really think you could phaser away before matters get too
a genial beach bum, not conniving to get away from me?” out of hand.”
make a killing? A furious stranger stormed “Mind your own business,
He didn’t buy it. “What are you toward Jones, clearly with a score to mister!” Hastings glared at Kirk,
up to, Jones?” settle. after ignoring him before. His eyes
“What can I say, captain? I’m a “Friend Hastings!” Jones said widened in recognition. Hatred
changed man, who regrets whatever somewhat sheepishly. “What brings contorted his face.
difficulties I may have caused you in you to Siduri?” “Kirk! You ruined my life, you
the past.” “Don’t give me that ‘friend’ arrogant bastard!”
As a rule, Jones’ exaggerated hogwash! Friends don’t ditch their A phaser beam knocked the
bonhomie had always been business partners on a backwater captain out cold.
transparently self-serving, but this planet in the middle of nowhere –
time Kirk heard nothing but sincerity and make off with the product!” * * *
in his voice. Now that sounds like Jones, Kirk
“Are you . . . feeling well, Jones?” thought. “I’m telling you for the last time,
“Never better! And healthy as a Hastings was a nondescript Jones! Give me back what’s mine!”
Horta!” fellow whose rumpled brown suit Kirk awoke to find both he and
Kirk debated how to proceed. looked out of place on the beach. Jones taped to surprisingly sturdy
As far as he knew, Jones still had Kirk thought he looked vaguely posts in the back of Jones’s shack. His
outstanding warrants for his arrest, familiar, but couldn’t immediately communicator rested atop a kitchen

72 STAR TREK
 FICTION

“WHAT CAN I SAY, CAPTAIN? I’M threw up his hands, figuratively. “It
seems our time has come, captain.
A CHANGED MAN, WHO REGRETS Whatever will be, will be.”
WHATEVER DIFFICULTIES I MAY “Blast it! I don’t need a kinder,

HAVE CAUSED YOU IN THE PAST.”

gentler Cyrano Jones right now. I
need the crafty survivor who always
lands on his feet.”
And Kirk knew there was only
counter, out of reach. “And you got exposed to your way to get that Cyrano back.
“I would be delighted to oblige, own product,” Kirk deduced. “I should have realized you’d
but, regretfully, that is not so easily “And the pod?” Hastings asked be useless in a pinch, Jones. You’re a
accomplished…” anxiously. “What happened to it?” disgrace: an oily, small-time grifter
“No excuses, Jones! I want those “The poor thing expired, I’m who’s been nothing but trouble since
spores!” afraid. I did my best to nurture it, the day we met!”
Spores? but, as you recall, it was already ailing “Friend Kirk!”
Kirk belatedly remembered when I… took it off your hands as it Jones’ pained expression made
where he knew Hastings from. were. So you see there’s nothing left Kirk feel like he was kicking a puppy,
The man was one of the colonists to quarrel over. Easy come, easy go.” but he persisted – for both their
relocated from Omicron Ceti III a “Probably just as well.” Kirk sakes.
few years ago, after being liberated attempted to reason with Hastings. “You call yourself a changed
from the tranquilizing influence of “Omicron Ceti III was evacuated man? Don’t make me laugh. You’re
the mind-altering spores found on with good reason. Those spores had still the same pathetic embarrassment
that world. sapped you of all drive and ambition, you’ve always been, just weaker and
Could those same spores be the very traits that led you to seek a more helpless!”
responsible for Jones’ easy-going new new life on a new world in the first “Really, Captain, there’s no call
attitude? place.” for that kind of language.”
“The Omicron Ceti spores?” Kirk Hasting wheeled about to “I’m just getting started. You
interrupted. “My understanding was confront Kirk. “Who were you to have less spine than a tribble and
that those couldn’t grow or thrive judge, Kirk? I was happy there, fewer scruples than a Klingon. You’re
outside their native environment, happier than I’d ever been. You a worthless, no-account, double-
which had been inundated by robbed me of paradise!” dealing –”
Berthold rays?” Hastings turned the phaser on “Now see here, Kirk!” Jones
“I was working on that!” Kirk. He switched the setting from flushed with anger. “I won’t stand
Hastings insisted. “Given sufficient Stun to Kill. for –” He paused and blinked in
time and resources, I can find a way “Funny thing, Kirk, I wouldn’t confusion, as good, old-fashioned
to grow them elsewhere, beyond the want revenge if I was still on spores. fury burned away his bliss, just as it
meddling reach of the Federation. Too bad for –” had with Spock years ago. The color
Or that was the plan before Jones There was a knock at the door. drained from Jones’ face. “What in
betrayed me.” “Hello, Cyrano?” The voice perdition have I been doing?”
Jones offered a nervous smile. “I belonged to one of the friendly “Welcome back, Jones,” Kirk said.
wouldn’t quite put it that way.” neighbors who had strolled by earlier. And none too soon. Kirk
“How else would you describe “Sorry to drop in unannounced, but overheard snatches of conversation
it?” Hastings appeared eager to vent. we brought you a fresh pot of my as Hastings sent Jones’ unsuspecting
“Do you know how hard it was to anemone broth, since you were so visitors on their way. “Cyrano’s all
smuggle a pod plant off the planet looking forward to it.” tied up at present, but I’ll make sure
during the evacuation, right under Hastings gave his captives a he gets that broth. Me? Oh, I’m an
the nose of Kirk’s Starfleet goons? warning look, holding a finger to his old friend of his.”
Then I had the bad luck to run into lips. A few pleasantries later, he was
you. You convinced me that the “Cyrano? Are you all right? Why back with his phaser. “Now then,
spores had commercial potential, aren’t you coming to the door?” where were we?”
with their gift of tranquility Hastings swore under his breath. “You were about to throw
and perfect health, right before “Don’t breathe a word, either of you, away the opportunity of a lifetime,
absconding with the pod and leaving while I get rid of these pests. Unless my short-sighted friend,” Jones
me in the lurch!” He waved the you want them to share your fate.” said. “Kirk is too valuable to be
phaser in Jones’ face. “So where are He headed out front, leaving disintegrated out of mere spite.
my spores?” Kirk and Jones alone in the back. The Romulans, the Klingons, the
“Well, if you must know, the “This is our chance.” Kirk tested Orions… there’s no shortage of
spacecraft I ‘borrowed’ to seek out new his bonds, which proved far too parties who will pay a fortune for
investors ran into a spot of interstellar secure. “We need to think fast, before the classified Starfleet secrets in
turbulence and the pod’s container he gets back.” Kirk’s head, assuming, that is, you
spilled open during the flight…” “But what can we do?” Jones have the connections and expertise

STAR TREK 73
THE TROUBLE WITH JONES

to properly auction him off to the

highest bidder.” He puffed out his “DON’T GIVE ME THAT ‘FRIEND’
chest. “Which, as it happens, I have HOGWASH! FRIENDS DON’T DITCH
in abundance.”
“Seriously? You’re asking me to
THEIR BUSINESS PARTNERS ON
trust you again?” A BACKWATER PLANET IN THE
“What’s past is past. You need MIDDLE OF NOWHERE – AND MAKE
to think about the future, Friend
Hastings, and the positively galactic OFF WITH THE PRODUCT!”
profits in the offing.”
Hastings appeared intrigued
despite himself. “Even if I was willing held his breath as the gas swiftly eventually. In the meantime, I’ll help
to consider this, who is going to dispersed. myself to your communicator, to
finance this endeavor? I spent my last Hasting’s face went slack, his eyes allow me a decent head start before
credit tracking you to Siduri.” glassy. you can contact the Enterprise.”
“There’s a strongbox hidden “A mild hypnotic,” Jones “I don’t understand,” Kirk said.
at the back of the pantry, holding explained, “rendering him briefly “You don’t want to get back at me
valuables in anticipation of a hasty susceptible to suggestion.” for our past run-ins, not to mention
departure. Spican flame gems, Elasian “Suggestion,” Hastings echoed everything I just called you? What
aphrodisiacs, and such. See for robotically. happened to auctioning me off to the
yourself if you don’t believe me.” Jones demonstrated the gas’s highest bidder?”
“You bet I will.” effect by having Hastings free him “Moi?” Jones clutched his heart,
Jones directed him to the from the post, then hand over as though shocked by the very
strongbox. “The pass code is his phaser, which Jones promptly notion. “Besides, I owe you one,
‘glommer,’ by the way.” employed to stun him. “Pleasant Kirk, for breaking those spores’
Greed got the better of Hastings. dreams.” abominable spell over me. You saw
Placing the box on a table, he keyed Kirk remained bound, however, what they turned me into: a guileless
in the combination, only to get a and at Jones’s mercy. To his surprise, layabout, more interested in sunsets
face full of swirling orange vapor. however, Jones loosened Kirk’s bonds than credits.”
Gasping, he staggered backwards. somewhat. “There now. You should A shudder ran through him.
A boobytrap, Kirk surmised. He be able to extricate yourself . . . “It was ghastly!”

74 STAR TREK
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO…

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO...

76 STAR TREK
 S TA R T R E K : P R O D I G Y

What’s the central essence of

Starfleet, the United Federation of
Planets and Star Trek itself? This
important question is at the heart of
the first official “children’s” Trek show
(Star Trek: The Animated Series was
essentially a hand-drawn continuation
of The Original Series, not specifically
for kids). While 21st Century
“grown-up” Star Trek often grapples
with darkness, canon, alternate
timelines and whether to serialize
or not to serialize, season one of the
franchise’s first, fully 3D-animated
series, confidently showcased the
essential nature of Star Trek for a
younger audience.
Star Trek: Prodigy is about
idealism, betterment, and hope, in it
all its multi-colored, multi-cultural,
multi-warp glory. Plus, Captain
Janeway’s back – twice! Booyah!
Yes, a hologram at first, but what a
hologram, then – SPOILER – finally
in the Vice-Admiral (CGI) flesh and
there’s no mistaking Kate Mulgrew’s
dulcet, authoritative tones.
As this issue of Star Trek Explorer
went into production, we were still
waiting for news on when, and
where, season two of the show will
air. With interest high, we felt this
was a good time for a deep dive into
the bold first season of televisual
voyages of the first U.S.S. Protostar,
from its far-flung, proto-family
beginnings to its franchise-changing,
Federation-rocking final moments.
And remember, if you only learn one
thing from Prodigy, nothing’s better
than a temporal anomaly shifting
everyone onto individual timelines
to bring a crew together… we think…
As Picard said in season three of his
own eponymous show, Starfleet is
sometimes all the family we need.

W O R D S : R I C H M AT T H E W S

STAR TREK 77
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO…

THE SHOW

„ Created by Kevin & Dan Hageman „ Six young, escaped mining training hologram… With their
„ Produced by CBC Eye Animation colony prisoners discover the imprisoner, the mysterious
„ Networks: Nickolodeon; Paramount+ seemingly derelict U.S.S. Protostar Diviner, on their tail, the ragtag
„ Premiere Date: October 28, 2021 hidden inside their asteroid wannabe crew set a course for
„ Season 1 Episodes: 20 mine. They “steal” the ship to Starfleet, adopting the alien
„ Finale Date: December 29, 2022 secure their freedom – with ideals of the Federation to find
„ Opening Theme by Michael Giacchino a little help from the ship’s hope and purpose.

THE CREW
Dal R-El
( B R E T T G R AY )

„ Human hybrid augment his augment status precluded

„ Place of birth: unknown him from joining Starfleet and
„ Parent: Nandi (surrogate) being tempted into maxing out
the genetic traits of the 20-plus
Who could have predicted that this species in his DNA, he came out of
snarky mohawked scamp would it a better leader. Plus, he takes the
become the ultimate metaphor for Kobyashi Maru dozens of times! And
the strengths of the Federation? anyone who gets to swap bodies
Especially an augment raised then with Vice-Admiral Janeway is
sold to the Diviner by a Ferengi going to learn a lot. We defy
in the Delta Quadrant! Dal’s any Star Trek fan – young
personal journey from cocky, self- or old – not to shed a tear
appointed captain of his kid crew when he finally gets to
to genuine commander with all pull on that uniform. Or
the sense of responsibility and duty when he says goodbye
commensurate with the center seat to Gwyn, who he clearly loves…
is pure Gene Roddenberry, infused we can’t wait to see their reunion.
with the optimism and potential His key moment is realizing that
that Starfleet and the Federation any contact between the U.S.S.
are designed to represent. Even Protostar and Starfleet will destroy
after finding out that he was a the Federation, so decides to get as
lab experiment, that Nandi the far away from their shared dream
Ferengi had sold into slavery, that as possible. The needs of the many…

78 STAR TREK
 S TA R T R E K : P R O D I G Y

Gwyndala or “Gwyn” Jankom Pog

(ELLA PURNELL) (JASON MANTZOUKAS)

„ Cybernetically-augmented hook-saw for a hand?) rose to the

Tellarite (right hand replaced many occasions afforded him,
with a “multi-mitt” implant) forming a great team with Zero
„ Born: Tellar Prime, 2161 and Rok.
(orphaned) His turning point came at the
„ 200 years in cyrostasis New Enda-Prize colony where he
figured out what, how and why a
Jankom’s travails contained a first crashed 23rd-century shuttle was
for Star Trek: fixing a toilet. Clumsy damaging the planet – then fixed
and brusque (and a bit annoying), it. Despite suffering significant
Jankom (who refers to himself in knock backs (not least meeting
the third person) seems an unlikely other Tellarites, who call him a runt;
fit for Starfleet – even though his and his inability to de-activate the
species were founding members Diviner’s doomsday weapon, the
of the Federation, a fact he was Living Construct), his loyalty and
delighted by. However, the U.S.S. belief in his friends shone through.
Protostar’s de facto engineer (who That, and his ability to smack
else had a hammer-grappling technology into functioning!

„ Vau N’Akat (clone)

„ Born: Tars Lamora, 2366
„ Parent (genetic template): The
Diviner

Raised on the asteroid slave colony

by the Diviner as the “Progeny of
Solum”, Gwyn always had doubts
about her father’s motives, even
while she was dutiful, learning
thousands of languages to
become interpreter in his slave
negotiations and interrogations.
Her natural empathy for the so-
called “Unwanted” on the colony is
what bonded her with Dal and once
kidnapped on the U.S.S. Protostar,
made her see through her father’s
lies and want to do the right thing.
Her mind was made up on what the
team dubbed “Murder Planet” when
her father clearly chose the U.S.S.
Protostar over saving her – from
then on Gwyn was an invaluable
crewmember, not least because
of her connection to Dal, amazing
combat skills and – crucially when
Starfleet’s universal translator
stopped working – ability to
translate virtually any alien tongue.
Once she had fully learned of her
people’s “history” (in reality their
future), Gwyn didn’t join Starfleet
with her friends, instead opting to
head to her homeworld to heal the
rifts they had previously blamed on
Starfleet.

STAR TREK 79
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO…

Zero
(ANGUS IMRIE)

„ Medusan (energy-based non-corporeal lifeform) medical officer and pilot, exploiting their species’ natural gift for
astro-navigation. During their adventures, Zero reversed Dal’s
A glowing ball of energy housed in a makeshift robotic body, foolhardy genetic boosting and cured him of toxic runoff poisoning
telepathic Zero wants to make amends for all the people they were from New Enda-Prise, connected with the Borg hive mind and
forced to “brainwash” by the Diviner while his slave, who forced single-handed defeated the Diviner. This last triumph came at a
prisoners to look upon Zero’s true form which drives corporeal price as it required Zero to reveal their true form to him, and Gwyn
entities insane. They escaped and made it their mission to free the caught a partial reflection so suffered memory loss as a result. True
slaves. A caring and curious creature, Zero became the Protostars to form, Zero wouldn’t rest until her memories were restored.

Murf
(DEE BRADLEY BAKER)

„ Mellaboid Slime Worm

Murf was found and adopted by

Rok before being accepted by the
crew as its mascot, even though it
had a habit of eating equipment
– including photon grenades! The
latter snack revealed that Murf
was nearly indestructible, which
came in handy when it ingested
the protocore to hide it from the
Diviner, then more regularly when
it exited a pupal stage with arms,
legs and stretchy body. While
Zero’s lighthouse holoprogram was
surprising enough, nothing can beat
the revelation of Murf turning jazz
singer in the Key Club holoprogram
set on 1920s Earth. It can’t speak,
but this slime worm is a whizz at
singing and dancing!

80 STAR TREK
 S TA R T R E K : P R O D I G Y

Rok-Tahk
(RYLEE ALAZRAQUI)

„ Brikar

The beating heart of the U.S.S. Protostar,

Rok’s tender, caring nature belies her
hulking, stony biology. Misunderstood
and exploited her whole life, from the
moment her true voice was revealed by the
universal translator on the U.S.S. Protostar,
her world opened up. Not only did she
acquire real friends and crewmates, but a
calling… science!
This former slave show “Monster” has
a brain big enough to match her heart.
When the team are separated into different
time streams by a temporal anomaly, time
moves incredibly slowly for Rok, and while
this made her incredibly lonely it allowed
her time to study quantum mechanics
and computer engineering - she was the
one who finally hand-crafted a new warp
matrix. Once at Starfleet her innate love of
new alien animals and close relationship
to Murf saw her set out to become a
xenobiologist.

Captain Janeway
( K AT E M U L G R E W )

„Emergency Training Hologram with Dal, Gwyn and the young

(ETH) Protostar crew, the more she became
„Mulgrew has now appeared in a new, distinct character from her
Star Trek 187 times, including Star human counterpart while preserving
Trek: Voyager (only missing the her keen intellect, deep compassion
23rd episode of Season 4, “Living and profound heroism. Her program
Witness”), Star Trek: Nemesis and was improved and upgraded
Star Trek: Prodigy numerous times by the crew – which
only posed a problem when the
Who knew this was going to be the Living Construct used her against her
Star Trek: Voyager follow-up we didn’t knowledge to trap the crew. Typically,
know we needed? Originally created she took selfless steps to rectify this.
to keep Captain Chakotay company And her last gesture was to sacrifice
on his mission to the Delta Quadrant, her program to save Starfleet, the
the more this Janeway interacted Federation and her young “cadets”.

STAR TREK 81
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO…

THE VILLAINS

The Diviner
(JOHN NOBLE)

„ Vau N’Akat Joining “The Order”, he was one of Gwyn was on board the stolen
„ Birthplace: Solum, 25th Century 100 sent across time to find the ship U.S.S. Protostar, his quest to find it
„ Died 2384 and erase first contact altogether. gradually evolves into a quest to
Stranded in the Delta Quadrant in get her back. Stripped of his
The Diviner was sent from the 2366, he eventually narrowed his memory by Zero’s reveal, his first
future through a collapsing search to the Tars Lamora planetoid thoughts are of Gwyn and his love
wormhole to the late 24th Century and established the slave mining for her becomes evident. Although
in pursuit of the U.S.S. Protostar. colony to find it. As he aged and briefly distracted by Ascencia and
His people blame Starfleet for weakened, convinced he was the the mission, in his final moments
civil war following first contact – sole survivor of his race, he cloned a onboard the U.S.S. Protostar he finds
the Federation’s unwillingness to progeny – Gwyndala – to carry on redemption by sacrificing himself to
intercede was seen as a betrayal. his mission. However, once save his daughter.

82 STAR TREK
 S TA R T R E K : P R O D I G Y

THE SHIP

Drednok
(JIMMI SIMPSON)

„ Sentient 25th-century artificial

lifeforms created by the Vau
N’Akat on Solum

Sent with the Diviner as one of 100

drednocks assigned to the Order in
pursuit of the U.S.S. Protostar. Possesses
a humanoid base form that can morph
to produce retractable tentacles and to
become a single-person spacecraft – the
latter function facilitating Asencia’s escape. U.S.S. Protostar NX-76884

The prototype Protostar-class roof and holographic viewscreens,

vessel is 139 meters long, has holographic stations displays
six decks – some accessible by and consoles, and the ability to
staircase as well as turbolifts – and “skin” the bridge with holographic
is capable of warp 9.97 from its recreations of other ships, which
twin transwarp drives. It’s Proto- makes for a valuable training tool.
warp drive uses a gravimetric More common LCARS displays
containment system to harness the are also available. The ship also
energy of a “baby star” converted has a conventional holodeck for
into a warp field by a retractable crew’s use. The U.S.S. Protostar’s
third nacelle, allowing the ship to final unique features are all
travel at incredible speeds. It is also centered on the ship’s shuttlebay,
equipped with standard impulse equipped with a devoted vehicle
Asencia engines and RCS thrusters. Tactical replicator to manufacture
(JAMEELA JAMIL) systems include dorsal and ventral bespoke shuttlecraft and auxiliary
saucer phaser arrays, ventral craft facilities on-demand, and
„ Vau N’Akat aft secondary hull array, pulse the ship’s landing strut, with the
„ Also known as The Vindicator cannons, fore and aft torpedo bays bay doubling as disembarkation
and a sophisticated auto Tactical access for planet landings.
When her own journey through time Array function. Defensive systems
brought her to the 2380s, she posed as a comprise deflector shields and „ The U.S.S. Protostar’s registry
Trill Starfleet ensign to infiltrate the U.S.S. polarized hull plating. number is apparently based on
Dauntless, while searching for the Protostar The navigational deflector writer-producer Aaron Waltke’s
or an alternative way to destroy Starfleet. array is unusually mounted on birthday
Once the U.S.S. Dauntless unwittingly the underside of the saucer, „ Initial concept work was done by
brings the Diviner onboard, she reveals her also housing the ship’s tractor franchise veteran John Eaves,
true identity to him – and her drednok –to beam. The bridge foregoes the but the final version was by Ben
restore his memory. With only the mission traditional viewscreen to instead Hibon for Nuen Studios, with
in her life, she is the real threat. incorporate a transparent domed textures by Nikie Monteleone

STAR TREK 83
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO…

GUEST STARS
Vice Admiral Janeway Thadiun Okona Commander Tysess
( K AT E M U L G R E W ) ( B I L LY C A M P B E L L ) (DAVEED DIGGS)

„ Andorian first officer on the

U.S.S. Dauntless under Vice
Admiral Janeway

Dr Noum
„ At first an unwitting adversary „ No change for Campbell’s (JASON ALEXANDER)
but never in doubt that Janeway The Next Generation interstellar
would work out the truth and fight rapscallion, although he does
for the crew of the U.S.S. Protostar. briefly help the U.S.S. Protostar
„ Worth it purely to see Mulgrew crew – until in a pinch, when the
performing as Dal inside the galactic con artist pulls his
Admiral’s body. Genuis. disappearing act.
„ Okona has appeared four times,
counting a background turn
Admiral Edward Jellico in Star Trek: Lower Decks’ “An
(RONNY COX) Embarrassment of Dooplers”
„ Tellarite chief medical officer
on the U.S.S. Dauntless
Captain Chakotay „ Seinfeld star Alexander has
( R O B E R T B E LT R A N ) previously played Kurros in Star
Trek: Voyager’s fifth season
“Think Tank”

Lieutenant Barniss Frex

(ERIC BAUZA)

„ Aka the guy who insisted on

four shift rotations on the U.S.S.
Enterprise-D while Picard was
tortured by Cardassians. He
may be no-nonsense and a „ Seen only in logs and flashbacks/ „ Sole crew-member of the CR-
little mean but he’s a darn good forward, nonetheless heartening 721 subspace relay station,
commanding officer – even if he to see how much Chakotay the U.S.S. Protostar crew’s first
didn’t know his fleet orders were has thrived post-Voyager and interaction with Starfleet.
going to cripple Starfleet. his ongoing friendship with his „ Bauza has done voicework in
„ Jellico’s double showing on former Captain. two episodes of Lower Decks,
Prodigy and The Next Generation „ The season one cliffhanger as a Tellarite bartender in “We’ll
takes the prickly officer’s tally up suggests we’ll be seeing more of Always Have Tom Paris” and
to four appearances. him in season two… conn ensign in “Moist Vessel”

84 STAR TREK
 S TA R T R E K : P R O D I G Y

THE FACTS
„Ninth spin-off series „Numerous Star Trek icons appear as “archive”
„Third animated series holograms, including Leonard Nimoy as Spock, Nichelle
„First fully 3D CGI animated series Nichols as Uhura, James Doohan as Scotty, Gates
„Nominated for Outstanding Animated Series in the McFadden as Dr Crusher and Rene Auberjonois as Odo
first ever Children’s & Family Emmy Awards „As is common in animation, key cast members voice

„The Delta Quadrant setting in the year 2383 was multiple roles, with Dee Bradley Baker providing 12
announced on First Contact Day, April 2021, along voices, Eric Bauza adding seven voices on top of Frex
with a publicity shot of the CGI Janeway and Gwyn voice artist Ella Purnell doing two extra.

LIVE LOG & PROPER!

EPISODE SPOTLIGHT: “All the World’s A Stage” Season 1, Episode 13

In a stroke of meta-Trek genius, Prodigy takes the common Star Trek: The Original Series trope of discovering an alien civilization whose
development is predicated on an old Earth culture – Nazis, Ancient Rome, etc – and posits what would happen if a red shirt from Kirk’s
U.S.S. Enterprise crashed on a planet. The result: Star-flight, James’T, Sool’U… the Enderprizians molding New Enda-Prize after the
malapropism-filled “logs” of “En Son” (Ensign) David Garrovick, whose now century-old Galileo shuttle has been leaking plasma in a cave
and poisoning the planet. Add on the double layering of Dal and crew also “playing at being Starfleet” but still trying to follow protocol to
save the Enderprizians, and it’s a beautiful, poetic comment on fandom, Treklore and the shining hope that Star Trek represents. Plus, we
get amusingly bad Shatner, Takei, Doohan and Kelley impressions, as an added bonus. Delightful.

STAR TREK 85
 COMIC
SPOTLIGHT

Great
Jupiter!
Th e Lo n g R oa d t o R e pr in t in g
Star Trek ’s Br it is h Com ic s
WORDS: RICH HANDLEY

Back in 2016, IDW launched a three-volume hardcover set reprinting the British Star Trek comic strips,
which Eaglemoss then repurposed for four volumes of its Star Trek Graphic Novel Collection. I worked
with IDW’s Library of American Comics (LOAC) imprint to get these books produced, then assisted on the
Eaglemoss iterations as well, putting forty eight long-forgotten tales in readers’ hands. Several people proved
instrumental in making that happen, but one individual’s contribution has long gone unacknowledged.
He’s journalist Hart Sastrowardoyo, and he was the catalyst for a quarter-century quest.

B
ack in 2016, IDW launched Dated February 1971, with copyright Why off-kilter? Well, the names
a three-volume hardcover information indicating it was a licensed weren’t always right (“Captain Kurt,” for
set reprinting the British product, the comic contained an original instance), the Romulans were bearded
Star Trek comic strips, Star Trek story I’d never seen. It was Number pirates clad in Roman centurion garb,
which Eaglemoss then 72, which meant at least 71 chapters had Klingon schemes were typically scientific
repurposed for four volumes preceded it – and it didn’t conclude the in nature, Spock was a Vulcanite, and
of its Star Trek Graphic Novel Collection. I arc, which meant more had followed. David Bailey was a main character. The
worked with IDW’s Library of American What the heck was this? How had I U.S.S. Enterprise interior looked like a
Comics (LOAC) imprint to get these books overlooked six dozen Star Trek comics? submarine, the shuttles resembled Gerry
produced, then assisted on the Eaglemoss Why was the cover price in British Anderson’s Supermarionation vehicles,
iterations as well, putting forty eight currency? Why was it called TV21? And and the crew wore the wrong uniform
long-forgotten tales in readers’ hands. how would that moment culminate in the colors and called Kirk “Skipper,” a British
Several people proved instrumental in entire run being republished decades later? nautical term. The “Space Federation”
making that happen, but one individual’s The road to reprinting is a fascinating repeatedly violated the never-mentioned
contribution has long gone unacknowledged. story, and it’s a fitting time to reveal it. Prime Directive, the starship routinely
He’s journalist Hart Sastrowardoyo, and he The strips reached a milestone this year, visited other galaxies, and everyone –Spock
was the catalyst for a quarter-century quest. as the series ended in December 1973, included – exclaimed frantic phrases like
Hart (or, as I know him, Ben) and making this the 50th anniversary of the “Bursting novas!” or “Great Jupiter!” or
I have been friends since college, and he final voyage. These five years’ worth of “My stars!” or “Thundering spacejets!”
was well aware of my fascination with Star material were nearly unheard of outside of Yet ridiculous though these stories
Trek comics. By 1992, I’d assumed I had Britain, yet for many who grew up in the may seem, they’re wonderfully fun and
a complete collection up to that point, so United Kingdom in the late 1960s and beautifully drawn, and it’s important to
imagine my shock when Ben handed me early 1970s, the off-kilter Star Trek tales bear in mind that they were crafted during
an oversized comic titled TV21, which presented in Joe 90: Top Secret, TV21 & the franchise’s earliest days. Star Trek had
he’d found at a convention, asking “Do Joe 90, Valiant and TV21, and TV Comic yet to debut on British television when Joe
you have… this?” I did not! were a gateway to the final frontier. 90 #1 hit stands in January 1969, which

86 STAR TREK
 COMIC SPOTLIGHT

01 02 03

01 - 03 Star
meant those working on the comic
Trek The hadn’t watched the show when crafting
Classic UK the inaugural arcs. Given Bailey’s
Comics
Graphic Novel prominence, it appears the only
Collections materials they received were from the
04 The cover episode “The Corbomite Maneuver.”
of TV21 Joe 90: Top Secret, based on
(Volume Two),
Anderson’s popular puppet show, lasted
Issue 65
for 34 issues, with Star Trek as a two-
page spread. The comic then merged
with TV21 to become TV21 & Joe 90,
gaining a third weekly Trek page and
eventually removing “& Joe 90” from
the title. After Number 105, it merged
with Valiant to become Valiant and
TV21, with Star Trek again reduced
to two-page spreads for another 118
editions. Valiant dropped Star Trek
in 1973, though the comic would
continue for three Trek-free years.
In total, Star Trek appeared in
257 weekly chapters comprising 37
serialized storylines, produced by City
Magazines, Martspress, and IPC. Eleven
supplemental tales ran in the 1969 Joe
90: Top Secret Annual (Century 21), a
trio of TV21 Annuals (City Magazines,
World Distributors, and IPC), the 1972
Valiant Summer Special (IPC), the 1978
Mighty TV Comic Annual and 1979 TV
Comic Annual (Polystyle Publications),
and a single issue of Radio Times (BBC)
in June 1970. Additionally, TV Comic
serialized seven Gold Key issues across
04 90 weekly installments.

STAR TREK 87
A N A LY S I S

The stories mostly lacked creator

05 Joe 90: Top
credits, but Harry F. Lindfield drew Secret Issue
all of Joe 90 and 22 TV21 issues, 29
with Vicente Alcázar, Jim Baikie, 06 TV21
John Canning, Harold Johns, Mike (Volume Two)
Noble, Carlos Pino, Ron Turner, and Issue 5

John Stokes illustrating other tales, 07 - 09 Star

and Frank Bellamy contributing Trek The
Classic UK
the Radio Times strip. Alan Willow Comics The
painted many TV21 covers, while Complete
Collections
Mike Western produced all but the covers
first two Valiant covers. Sadly, the
writers’ identities remain largely
unknown, though Angus Allan wrote
several chapters, Jack Sutter penned an
annual, and Tod Sullivan is believed to
have scripted issues as well.
The above information I gleaned
over time, but in 1992 I knew none of
it. All I had was that single issue from
Ben. Since the World Wide Web was
less than a year old, I had no idea how
to research the series, let alone locate
missing issues – which, as I discovered,
numbered nearly four times the
assumed six dozen. Since I’d never
encountered even a reference to these
strips, there was a good chance few
people had them. What followed was
a frequently frustrating, yet eminently
enjoyable endeavor. 05
Like V’Ger, I set out to learn all that
is learnable, which was no easy feat since
my fellow carbon-based units seemed to
have no idea what I was talking about. I
scoured libraries, conventions, yard sales,
and early Internet groups with nothing
to show for it, and I called British comic
shops with the same result, despite the
exorbitant cost of long-distance calls back
then. I even contacted Majel Barrett-
Roddenberry via Lincoln Enterprises,
but she had never heard of the strips.
Then two websites emerged that changed
everything: eBay and a now-defunct
comic collectors page called 26pigs.
Thanks to helpful dealers at
both sites, I nailed down a total issue
count, and though it took a decade,
I compiled a complete set. That
posed a rather expensive challenge,
for the mainstream Internet was still
in diapers and I lived on a different
continent where the strips were
practically nonexistent. By 1998, I was
still missing a sizable span, yet all the
usual wells had run dry. Therefore, I
tried a new approach: crowdsourcing.
I reached out to Larry
Nemecek, then the editor of Star
Trek Communicator magazine, and 06

88 STAR TREK
 COMIC SPOTLIGHT

proposed an article on not only the British was needed. The logical next step was to which sat on my shelves.
strips, but also the American strips of convince a publisher to reprint it all, but “One of our priorities at IDW was
the early 1980s, from the L.A. Times that proved easier said than done. restoration and preservation of both comic
Syndicate, which I’d discovered while Around 2001, WildStorm had the book material and newspaper strips from
researching the British run, inspiring Star Trek comics license, and I approached the past,” Ryall explains. “Since we’re all
another years-long scavenger hunt. (It’s editor Jeff Mariotte to gauge his interest. building on the legacy of past creators, it
amazing my wife didn’t leave me.) Larry Mariotte was intrigued, but WildStorm’s felt important and worthwhile to give back
accepted the pitch, and the resultant lawyers hesitated due to the unavailability and see that the foundational material that
article was published in issue #121, in of the original contracts, and thus the led the way in the comic book industry was
early 1999. That brought me to the finish possibility of creators demanding reprint preserved in lasting editions.” The Star Trek
line, as it put me in touch with fellow royalties. I also contacted Pocket Books, strips fit the bill, so he put me in touch with
collectors, including archivist Allen Lane, whose Star Trek editor at the time, John Dean Mullaney, LOAC’s creative director,
who helped me fill the remaining gaps. J. Ordover, expressed interest as well. But who borrowed my collection to scan and
Now armed with a complete set of that publisher had its own reservations reprint, starting with the L.A. Times stories,
strips, I embarked on scanning a couple – not only regarding the contracts, but which IDW deemed more marketable.
thousand pages’ worth of material and also the cost of reproducing decades-old The resultant two-book set was Star
showing them to friends. After all, what color stories published on faded newspaper Trek: The Newspaper Comics, for which I
value is there in an unshared collection? print. When both WildStorm and Pocket provided editorial assistance and wrote all
As one of the only people to own both declined, I put on hold my hopes of supplemental materials. Dean and I made
obscure series in their entirety, I was making my collection available to fans. an effective team, and IDW eventually
determined to let others enjoy them, too. In 2011, I decided to take one approved our giving the British line the
My strips were a four-color museum, last shot. IDW had been producing same treatment. That almost didn’t happen,
and like any good curator, I welcomed impressively good Star Trek comics for four but a 2014 grassroots effort demonstrated
observers to the exhibit. years, under the leadership of Chris Ryall that fans wanted those tales as well. That
My larger goal, of course was to put the and others. Given the high quality of the campaign was supported by editor John
strips in the hands of collectors everywhere. company’s offerings, it seemed like a great Freeman, novelist Dayton Ward, and
There were genuine gems among those 48 fit for the decades-old strips, so I emailed comics historian Mark Martinez. Their
tales, and after the time I’d spent researching, Ryall. I braced for another disappointment, efforts paid off, and in 2016 – 15 years
collecting, and scanning everything, they but he wrote back that same day, revealing since I’d first tried to launch the project –
deserved a wider reading audience. My print he’d already been looking into reprinting Dean and I at last got to work on Star Trek:
magazines were not going to last forever, the strips. The only thing holding him back The Classic UK Comics.
though, so a more permanent solution had been a lack of available materials – “One of the challenges with any such

07 08 09

STAR TREK 89
A N A LY S I S

undertaking is tracking down proper

files from strips and comics that were
never preserved properly in the first
place,” Ryall says.
Bursting Novas!
“Dean and his team were adept at
finding much of the material, but at
times, we also had to rely on the kindness
of strangers, collectors, fans, and experts
This Is Star Trek?
to locate files from which we could work,
especially when trying to locate material The British strips were produced wrong, especially in the early days,
from overseas… We did all have our wish during the franchise’s infancy, even but they were entertaining enough
lists for strips we wanted to see collected if before the show had premiered to make us want to be back for
only we could find the material, but often on the BBC television, during next week’s exciting adventure.”
that list grew, along with our frustrations the same week as the first moon For Americans who didn’t read
at being unable to find all of it and landing. The comics may seem off the strips until the 21st century,
make it happen as we would’ve the mark now, but for overseas the experience differed. “It must
liked. So it was a huge thrill to be readers at the time, Captain Kurt’s have been glorious to be a kid in
contacted by Rich in regards to the weird, wonky adventures were Britain while Star Trek comics were
British Star Trek newspaper strips.” the Star Trek they knew. “In many published in weekly magazines,”
IDW had already begun ways, it’s impossible to quantify says Mark Martinez, creator of the
reprinting comics from Gold Key, the impact the British comics had Star Trek Comics Checklist. “Week
Marvel, and DC, Ryall says, “but on me and my friends,” recalls after week of sensational space
the strips were a real blind spot for Alan J. Porter, author of Star Trek: adventures featuring belligerent
us.” He adds, “Rich’s knowledge of A Comics History, who analyzed robots, giant insects, gorillas, and
and passion for that material was, in the strips for Joseph F. Berenato’s our heroes, Kurt and Spock, with
itself, enough to make us want to see New Life and New Civilizations: occasional appearances by other
the project through, but his help in Exploring Star Trek Comics. “For Enterprise crewmembers.”
actually delivering material we could it was these idiosyncratic strips As Le Vesconte describes,
work from was likewise invaluable. that first introduced us to the “It was in vivid, colorful and
The pairing of Mullaney and Handley final frontier. Star Trek debuted dynamic art, when television
helped the books see the light of day in the pages of the Joe 90 comic was still in black and white for
after [remaining] so long out of print, six months before we saw the most of Britain. I recall getting
and it doesn’t feel like hyperbole to Enterprise fly across our TV screens the Joe 90: Top Secret annual,
say that without that pairing, these on the BBC.” and the strangely drawn
strips might still be languishing and Writer and editor Shaqui characters in it, including an
yellowing in private collections.” Le Vesconte, whose work Enterprise which bizarrely had
Thundering spacejets, that’s has included Anderson its nacelles beneath the saucer
humbling praise! But Star Trek’s British Entertainment’s comic section. I still wonder if that
invasion was a team effort, and Dean anthologies, has fond childhood inspired the look of the U.S.S.
Mullaney and I were team players. memories of the strips as well. Enterprise NCC 1701-D, nearly 20
Without Hart Sastrowardoyo finding “I’m sure that for a number of years later.”
that TV21 issue, without 21pigs readers, the strips in Joe 90: Top Still, Martinez defends the
helping to complete the collection, Secret were their first exposure strips’ weirdness – and rightly
without Allen Lane’s archival assistance, to Star Trek,” he says. “For the so. “Some readers consider their
without Larry Nemecek hiring me to most part, they would have been divergence from ‘canon’ to be a
write for him, without Jeff Mariotte children like myself. This would weakness,” he says, “but I think the
and John Ordover proving the project have been Trek in bold, easy-to- only real weakness of the weekly
would appeal to publishers, without understand adventures, when the comics is the lack of an ensemble
Dayton Ward, John Freeman, and nuances of the series probably crew. Their greatest strength
Mark Martinez driving the grassroots went over our heads.” is the astonishing artwork by
campaign, and without Skipper Ryall Porter says the strips were British artists like Harry Lindfield,
giving the greenlight, that pairing drawn by some of the Britain’s Mike Noble, John Stokes, and
might never have happened. top artistic talent. “Presented in others. These artists told stories
It all started with a friend taking full-color, double-page spreads,” with unusual panel layouts,
a leap and buying a comic he had no he explains, “these stories used distinctive coloring, exotic planets,
idea if I needed or wanted. It’s been dynamic layouts to pull us into imaginative aliens, weird ships,
a long road getting from there to the action. OK, as we learned and big hair. If you enjoy reading
here, but I had a head-start with this later, they got some (many) of comics, you have to experience
particular Star Trek enterprise: I had the show’s ideas and characters British Star Trek comics.”
faith of the Hart.

90 STAR TREK
 COMPLETE YOUR STAR TREK
COLLECTION!
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TM & © 2023 CBS Studios Inc. © 2022 Paramount Pictures. STAR TREK and Related Marks are Trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 TREK
THROUGH
LIFE
FA N D O M AT T H E F I N A L F R O N T I E R ! W O R D S : J AY S T O B I E

THE IDIC
]GŘ
Honoring fans who
demonstrate Star Trek’s
01 02
idealistic values in real life.

Marina Kravchuk used

Star Trek to practice her
English after her family
moved to the United States,
but it became so much
more. Marina adores Trek’s
inherent hopefulness and
how it allows you to consider
03 04
possibilities. “We all perceive
and interpret Star Trek so

COSPLAY COLLECTIVE:
differently… yet, whatever
it is that we are looking for
- a source of inspiration, an
Assimilating knowledge and stories from our fandom’s outlet for escape, a means
finest costumers of connection, a reflection
of personal philosophy,
or just some plain good
Live Long And Prosper MACO Magic entertainment – it can all be
Vulcan culture has been explored in-depth Bonding over Star Trek: Enterprise eventually found,” elaborates Marina.
since the original Star Trek series, with morphed into crafting a group cosplay for “I would like to think
its customs, marriage practices, spiritual Kevin Bähr and his friends, with Kevin that Star Trek has taught
beliefs, philosophies, and more being focusing his attention on the MACO officer and continues to teach me
featured throughout the shows and films Mayor Hayes. “Hayes is the kind of hard thoughtfulness and patience.
which followed. For Crystal, a Trek fan and boiled, tough guy with a strong sense of duty, It is in the consideration of
cosplayer, the notion of putting together an but he has feelings too,” explains Kevin. “He what I do and say at home,
ensemble based on Vulcan clothing designs is an immensely underrated character in at work, online, and in the
ended up being an opportunity to share her Enterprise, so I felt that needed to change and ongoing effort to know how
passion for Vulcan robes and embrace her wanted to give him some attention.” to listen to other people. It is a
own heritage while assembling the ensemble. Kevin’s Major Hayes ensemble is work in progress, and I do not
“It was a joy to create my Vulcan cosplay, often presented alongside other Enterprise always succeed. But I hope to
which was inspired by the regality and elegance of officers, as portrayed by his cosplay family, better myself.”
ceremonial Vulcan robes,” reflects Crystal. “Sarek including Achim (Captain Archer), Lena-
always comes to mind when I think of this look!” Marie Samoray (Trip Tucker), Ina-Maria
As for the individual elements that make Koch (Malcolm Reed), and Walter Ernst (as
up her custom Vulcan robes, the cosplayer “Ensign Impossible Redshirt”).
explains, “It incorporated sari draping to “Hayes would always give his life to
represent my own heritage, a hooded cloak, protect the ones he was ordered to,” shares
and purchased ears.” Crystal’s dedication, as Kevin. “I also really like the dynamic between
well as her choice to show the iconic Vulcan him and the chief of security Reed, so it was
salute, would surely have earned her an fun to recreate some of the scenes from the
05
approving nod from Sarek. series with my friends.”

92 STAR TREK
 FANDOM UNBOUND

SUBSPACE 01 Crystal as
Vulcan
FS4OS3
G"#\KŘ
LINKS: 02 Kevin as
Major Hayes
and Enterprise
Chronicling the creativity of Star Trek fans through art,
crafts, and more!
Establishing connections friends
and friendships via a 03 Kevin with
shared love for Star Trek friends

04 Kevin as
Major Hayes

A Timeless Trek 05 Marina

Kravchuk with
For David Majors, there’s just five Star Trek
something special about Star Trek. captains
“I’ve had experiences in several 06 David
different fandoms in my life,” recalls Majors
David, “and I can say without 07 Jake Sisko,
hesitation that the Star Trek fandom by Kristele
is the most welcoming and inclusive Pelland
by a wide margin.” David credits an 08 Wesley
07 08
assortment of Star Trek friends with Crusher,
by Kristele
helping him along the way. Heather Pelland
Kirby inspired him to continue
09 Sulu and
podcasting, which happens to be his Chekov, by
favorite hobby, while Heather Rae Katya
helped him to be more social around 10 Spock ,by
other Trekkies. Katya
David was also overjoyed to be
welcomed into the collective of Star Trek
podcasting by a host of other podcasters
who eventually became his good friends.
These Trek connections have greatly
enriched David’s convention trips in 09 10
recent years. “There had been a time
where I was worrying if I was getting too
old for fandoms and fan culture,” says
David, “but with the new Latinum Age Wonderful Whiz Kids
of Star Trek, I’ve met more people from “As I was making my way through all Star Trek spin-offs, I started to
all walks of life of all ages. My fandom is draw each crew member, one by one. I couldn’t stop,” shares Kristele
reborn, because Star Trek is timeless.” Pelland, a French Canadian illustrator who is based in Montreal.
Initially hesitant to check out Star Trek due to the language barrier,
the fan artist eventually found the courage to tackle the franchise’s
vast catalog of episodes and became enamored with the shows.
“As much as we all love a good Captain doodle, I particularly
enjoy drawing support characters, underdogs, crew members that
are not as much under the spotlight,” adds Kristele. “Wesley and
Jake are positive and caring, they deserve love and appreciation!
They were tons of fun to draw.”

Those Old Scientists

“I didn’t get into Star Trek until earlier this year,” explains fan artist
Katya, “but when I finally started watching, it was love at first sight.”
Katya found Star Trek to be packed with wonderful traits that they
could enjoy. “The action is exciting, the technobabble charming,
and each character is so unique. I love the relationships between the
characters; it’s clear that they’re friends, not just co-workers.”
Katya felt compelled to utilize their artistic skills to bring the
original series cast, or “Those Old Scientists” as Star Trek: Lower
Decks refers to Captain Kirk’s crew, to life, particularly Sulu, Chekov,
and Spock. “The dynamic between Sulu and Chekov provides a
refreshing change of pace to the (sometimes very intense) plotlines,
and I wanted to capture that here. And, of course, I drew Spock
06
playing 3D chess because he’s iconic and so is the game.”

STAR TREK 93
 TREK THROUGH LIFE

OBSERVATION LOUNGE
Star Trek cast members brief fans about their passions, projects, personal hobbies, and more

Painting a Picture with

Dorren Lee
Dorren Lee, who portrayed 32nd century Starfleet
officer Lieutenant Teemo in Star Trek: Discovery,
took some time to chat with Star Trek Explorer
about her love for painting. “[Painting] relaxes me
and makes me present in the moment. I also love
creating art for my home,” says Dorren. “I grew
up drawing and painting, and somewhere along
the way I forgot about it.” Of course, as with
many people around the world, a global health
crisis eventually intervened. “I got back into
painting because of the pandemic. I had a lot of
time on my hands and the film industry stopped,
so I went out and got art supplies. It helped me
rediscover my love for it.”
Dorren sees painting as a way for herself
to slow down and be in her own world, but it’s
actually one of many hobbies she enjoys pursuing.
What else is on that list? “Photography, especially
taking pictures of people I love and nature,”
adds Dorren. On top of that, the performer cites
an eclectic blend of favorite pastimes, ranging
from tending to her plants and watching quality
documentaries to traveling in order to experience
11 new cultures whenever she possibly can.

AWAY MISSIONS
Reporting on fan encounters with
Star Trek celebrities

Believing in Burton
“As a lifelong Trekkie and a big sci–fi geek in general,
meeting LeVar was an awesomely surreal, if brief,
experience,” recalls Ed Fanning. “Star Trek: The Next
Generation is one of my absolute favorite shows to this
12 day, and I was also a huge Reading Rainbow fan as a kid,
so LeVar’s influence on my life is nothing short of profound.
Also, he got a big kick out of my shirt, which was cool!”
11 Dorren Lee
as Lieutenant
Teemo, in Star The Best Generation
Trek: Dscovery Having watched Star Trek to make it through quarantine,
season three
Susie and her sibling Janine were thrilled to meet
12 Susie & Jonathan Frakes and Gates McFadden. “Taking the
Janine with
Gates photo [with Jonathan] was so surreal, as he towered
over us with a picture perfect smile and friendly eyes,”
13 Susie &
Janine with remembers Susie. “I was beside myself to be cosplaying
Frakes the iconic Dr. Beverly Crusher, while meeting her in
14 Ed with person!” Gates was also impressed by a stain glass
13 14
LeVar Burton portrait of Guinan that Susie made.

94 STAR TREK
 THE
COLLECTORS
GUILD
LISA HERRERA EXPLORES RARE
STAR TREK MERCHANDISE
AND RELICS…

W
What will “Earth culture” be in the Back in 1995, older Star Trek merchandise and
22nd century and beyond? Will any collectibles were not easy to get where I lived
of the well-known traditions and (they still aren’t). I had to wait until I registered
celebrations of this century, such as on a popular online auction site, where I quickly
Christmas, still be around? In Star Trek, discovered the 1991 Hallmark Enterprise ornament
the references are few and fleeting. But there may had become something of a Holy Grail for
be some Christmas parties (Star Trek: The Original collectors. Back then, the average selling price was
Series, “Dagger of the Mind”) and even some about US$300, a lot of money, especially with the
Christmas trees (Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: Canadian dollar exchange rate at the time. I had to
Voyager, “Deathwish”). Which means there may sell a number of other collectibles on the auction site
still be a place for Christmas tree ornaments! first, to raise the funds. While no longer so difficult
or pricey to get, possibly because many people no
longer have compatible miniature light strings to
plug in to, the 1991 Hallmark Enterprise is still prized
by collectors and the first ornament I place on the
tree above the many others in my collection.
Collectors who want to disguise their Romulan
Ale or Saurian Brandy during festive winter
celebrations can pour their beverage into the
1979 gold ceramic Spock decanter, pictured with
original blue satin box. The rare Oscar-like statue
can be hard to find, with price tags from US$100
to over $1000! If you can believe it, the first one
01 I won on auction came with the live long and
prosper hand shattered. It was unrepairable, but I
kept the Spock head with cork as a bottle stopper.
I got my first, what If Spock is pouring, you’ll definitely want to have
I believed was the first, an appropriate set of glasses for guests to raise a
01 Star Trek:
Captain Star Trek Hallmark toast. I have two, both recent collectibles. The Star
James T. Kirk, Christmas ornament Trek: The Next Generation Planetary Glass Set has
Mr. Spock, in 1992: the shuttlecraft Earth, Vulcan, Qo’nos and Romulus drink glasses with
Dr. Leonard 02
H. McCoy. Galileo. When plugged a bonus Borg cube shot glass (there’s a joke about
Manufacturer: into a string of drunken assimilation in there somewhere…). The Star
Hallmark, Year:
miniature Christmas tree lights, the windows Trek 4-piece Glassware set is a little more obviously
1995-1997
light up and a button on the bottom allows us to Trek-themed, with The Original Series command,
02 Star Trek:
hear the now lovingly-missed voice of Leonard sciences and operations insignia glasses, and one
Shuttlecraft
Galileo. Nimoy as Mr. Spock: “Shuttlecraft to Enterprise. stating “Property of U.S.S. Enterprise.”
Manufacturer: Shuttlecraft to Enterprise. Spock here. Happy OK, I’d never actually put liquor or anything
Hallmark,
Year: 1992 holidays. Live long and prosper.” else into my Spock decanter. I have it for display
I was thrilled to hang this ornament in a place only. But the glasses are new enough to be
03 Star Trek
Spock Gold of honor at the top of my Christmas tree and replaceable so I do take them out for guests.
Decanter. happily added more Star Trek Hallmark Christmas As long as they pledge to handle them like
Manufacturer: ornaments every year, including many others with responsible Starfleet officers!
Grenadier,
Year: 1979 lights and sound. (N.B. The Santa hats on Kirk,
Spock and McCoy are my own addition.)
04 Star
Trek 4-piece Then, to my shock, I was visited by the ghost of
Glassware Set Christmas past: in 1995, Hallmark put out a set of
Manufacturer:
three miniatures of ornaments previously issued
startrek.com,
Year: 2021 called The Ships of Star Trek and I learned that the
first Star Trek ornament, Captain Kirk’s Enterprise
05 Star Trek:
The Ships no less, had been issued in 1991 – and I had missed
of Star Trek. it! All the more galling because I had actually
Manufacturer:
Hallmark, worked in a Hallmark retail store for five years, from
Year: 1995 1985 until 1990. Oh, the irony! 03 04 05

STAR TREK 95
 PUZZLES
by Ibraheem Kazi

WOR DSEARCH
Try our STARFLEET CAPTAINS themed word search

01. Seven Of Nine

J M S I G L K T P F K T G N L P K K R A Q C Q S S
02. Burnham
M Y E P H Z A B T G H W I M T K N N V H U G K L M
03. Archer
V G V N I N W S H C J K O I X J V N R A Q V T C X
04. Sisko
N F E E H X T K A H K B K R M P S W Y R A M D Z B
05. Georgiou
B B N V Z F H V S D A T M S F X U T X C F N O D G
06. Freeman
E V O D M O K B R K W B J A R N C P F H G J G V D
07. Riker
C S F B K R K N U G V O M I G J X C K E A F E A H
08. Sulu
J Q N T T Y Y F K R R N O N O D I T B R B C O V P
09. Janeway
O V I D H S C O B S N M M S D W K N Y Z N B R Q X
10. Picard
K R N W U W V O M O R H S X P D N J L W E C G L S
11. Lorca
G N E Y M N Q S J N G V A E S G C L C P K B I H N
12. Pike
D C B L B N R P B L N V O M O D R N D K O Y O R Y
13. Kirk
A M H B A Y W S F C M X E O R B H P S H J K U E Y
14. Worf
L G Y Q C O Z I R A S T V K G V L P R Y L Q E A E
A D A N V G T S S B Q X N J J Q W N M H T R R B N
A T Q T C T F K N N D B N M T M K J R B R Z X F D
H V T Y T H S O E T V T I E A N P I C A R D B J X
V G R D G U D M E K A L O F V A L O R B I S T A F
M A I I V O V P X Q P K F E L X Z L U I Y T F P N
B S K N N N S H G H H U P I K E V R I D J M Z U V
N U H I M J W M G O B L G N R K N X P Z E X J Q A
S L J P A H A P W Q T G H L C J R T G N M J H P L
G U G B R D B N Q N R J G V J Y O L H L G P G W O
J N O V D S C L E M T O R F D R M B G V P C E C R
R S H Q M B Z D G W M E G E C S K F K Z N K X E C
T V C X G D Y B Y M A R N H F R E E M A N E H R A
E Q K C R G G R F K A Y M M D M I K D L L C F O Y
J F I Q N H W R P Y S R D Z D Y E A A C L C D J C
Z M R A O G I N H Y X Z R G O V R W G N H Z W F X
N R K H G M R I K E R X J A X T E C S F O F F R H

one day!
and [bars] as we want!" enough to make captain
hotels, pubs, [bars], saloons, cantinas,
go to as many [bars], restaurants, [bars],
17 – 27: You might be good
– "Starfleet’s gonna foot the bill for us to
me feel like a [valued] part of the team."
bean burrito
stupid mentor won’t stop trying to make and Boimler just had a big
– "Being a [lieutenant] kind of sucks. My duty aboard the Cerritos
chairs. You can’t [predict] me!" 9 – 16: You're on latrine
living on the edge of chaos. I sit weird in
– "You know me, man. I’m a wild [rogue], recruit
Spock the Difference Wordsearch To Boldly Quote 1 – 8: Better luck next time
 HOLLOW PURSUITS

SP OCK THE DI F F ERENCE TO BOLDLY

(x6 differences)
Q UOTE
We need to qualify your
listening skills, recruit.
Let's see how well you've
been paying attention to
Lieutenant Mariner.

"YOU KNOW ME, MAN. I’M

A WILD _____, LIVING ON
THE EDGE OF CHAOS. I SIT
WEIRD IN CHAIRS. YOU CAN’T
_______ ME!"

"BEING A __________ KIND

OF SUCKS. MY STUPID
MENTOR WON’T STOP TRYING
TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A
_______ PART OF THE TEAM."

"STARFLEET’S GONNA FOOT

THE BILL FOR US TO GO TO AS
Welcome to coordination training, recruit. Lieutenant Boimler MANY ____, RESTAURANTS,
has tasked you with finding the imposters aboard this ____, HOTELS, PUBS, ____,
Excelsior-class Starship. Do you have what it takes to come SALOONS, CANTINAS, AND
aboard the U.S.S. Cerritos ? ____ AS WE WANT!"
 Next Issue
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Editor
 FICTION

E XC LU S I V E F I C T I O N

Sundering
S T O R Y : D AV I D M A C K
I L L U S T R AT I O N : WA M B E R T O N I C O M E D E S

VULCAN while there was still something of their world and

421 C.E. (Earth Calendar) culture to be salvaged from its cinders. At their
feet sat their year-old son, Kevok. He had Suvok’s

S
o many lives wasted, Suvok lamented. features but L’Naal’s hair, and his complexion was a
So much destruction. compromise between his father’s pale skin with olive
The mathematician squinted to undertones and his mother’s rich umber skin.
guard his eyes from a searing wind Too young yet for language or appreciation of
laced with radioactive dust. Deadly anything beyond his own immediate needs, Kevok
gusts plagued the surface of Vulcan, and would do had no understanding of the events transpiring
so for decades to come – just one consequence of a around him. Suvok suppressed a momentary pang of
world ravaged by decades of civil war. To the south, envy of his son’s lack of conscious awareness. There
the ruined city of K’lan-ne spewed black smoke into would be many – himself among them – who would
the ruddy morning sky. It and dozens more cities had later wish they could excise from their minds the
been left to smolder like the ancient grudges Suvok memory of this somber day.
blamed for their annihilation. For several kilometers to either side of Suvok and
Steep is the price of ignorance wedded to pride and anger. his kin stood more people than Suvok could easily
Memories of Vulcan’s brutal civil war evoked intense count. Families, couples, and individuals had gathered
emotions for Suvok. During the war he had found along the length of a tall barrier of wire mesh topped
it a challenge to hold fast to the teachings of Surak; with sharp coils. It ran parallel to the contours of the
controlling his reactions in the face of wanton savagery northwest shore of the island continent of Xir’tan,
had tested his hard-won mental discipline, but the with guarded gates located every few kilometers along
future of his world and people had depended upon it. its span.
A culture ravaged by passion devoid of reason On the other side of the barrier, the sea tore
would be one doomed to self-extermination – as itself into ragged blankets of foam with each wave
would be one that failed to expunge itself of toxic that crashed upon the rocky shore. On the sand,
elements. Consequently, with this breaking dawn, the just beyond the reach of the high tide, hundreds of
exodus of Vulcan’s irrational ones had begun. interstellar colony-transport ships stood parked like
A strong desert breeze fluttered Suvok’s robes great leviathans of the deep.
and tousled his short hair but had no effect on the Crowding the narrow strip of beach between
wrapped garment or braided coiffure of his wife, the transports and the wire-mesh barrier were tens
L’Naal. She had been stoic and unwavering in her of thousands of people who had been sentenced to
support of all he had done to end Vulcan’s civil war permanent exile for swearing allegiance to anarchy

STAR TREK 5
SUNDERING

rather than order. Cast out with

them were entire families, including
adolescents and young children. Every
one of them banished in the name of
Logic and Reason.
Suvok watched exiles straggle past
on the other side of the fence. He eyed
their ragged, weary ranks and hoped
he had not come too late. None of
Vulcan’s outcasts returned his attention.
In defiance of Surak’s profound and
liberating dictums of logic, the apostates
were awash in emotions. Visages
clenched in rage traveled beside those
drawn in fear or contorted by sorrow.
Their ranks susurrated with vows of
revenge and sobs of regret. Tears fell only
to be swallowed by the sand, or trampled
beneath the procession of shuffling feet.
From amid the legion of dusty faces,
Suvok found the one he sought, the one
he knew as well as his own, because in
a sense it was his own. Suvok’s identical
twin brother Sokor held his wife, T’Vala,
close to his side. Her long black hair,
now dirty and tangled, danced in the
ceaseless wind while she cradled their
baby daughter, Taavik, in her bare,
scarred arms.
They all seemed oblivious of Suvok “Then why are you here? Did you at the transport ships. “But the fact that
and his family until he called to them a come to say you’re sorry you sided with you’re putting millions of us onto ships
second time: “Sokor! T’Vala! Wait!” authoritarians who banished us for no and launching us into deep space with no
Sokor and T’Vala stopped and faced greater crime than existing as nature made preset destination betrays the lie behind
Suvok. Dressed in filthy tatters and us? Or maybe you came to witness our your logic. You’ve won the war. Taken
scraps, they looked as if they had been expulsion in person so you can rest assured our weapons and our homes. Corralled
dredged from the depths of a nightmare. that you’ve finished what you started.” us into camps. Sentenced us to exile.”
Other exiles coursed past them like a “It was not the disciples of Surak He clenched the wire mesh of the fence
slow river. The young couple forded who instigated this conflict, brother. It between them. “But even now, you’re still
the sluggish current of the dispossessed was your own agents of anarchy who afraid of us. For all your talk of logic, your
on their way to the fence. By the time first resorted to violence. Who chose to path to peace is paved with fear.”
they stood on the other side of the topple our cities and set our world aflame
barrier from Suvok and L’Naal, they had rather than accept our only viable road * * *
changed their expressions from blank to peace.”
masks into portraits of contempt. “Your only road to peace. The rest of us L’Naal was unwilling to remain
Sokor bristled with resentment. should not have to suffer because your ilk silent any longer. “It is not fear of what
“Come to gloat, Suvok?” lacks the will to master your passions by any you represent that led to your kind’s
The accusation would have been means short of psychological castration.” expulsion, Sokor. It is a rational desire for
insulting coming from anyone, but “We who put aside emotion and stability. Order. Peace.”
Suvok found it galling coming from his embrace logic should not have to Her interjection stoked Sokor’s
twin. “A most illogical query, brother. risk the extinction of our species and temper. “You speak of those things as if
Nothing would be gained by indulging the destruction of our world because they are unique to the followers of Surak
such a selfish emotion.” your kind are too weak or too selfish and alien to his critics. Such sophistry is
The angry young poet clenched his to overcome the primitive aspects of beneath you, L’Naal.”
hands into fists. “If I could reach through our shared nature, in the name of the “It is not sophistry to conclude
this fence, I’d show you how satisfying a common good.” one cannot trust compacts made with
negative emotion can be. For one of us, Sokor shook his head. “There is no those who reject reason and logic. Your
anyway.” common good. Not any more. There is self-interest is driven by factors beyond
“I did not come to prolong our only what is good for us, and what is good the rational. You let your pride and
conflict, Sokor.” for you.” He glanced over his shoulder your resentments color your decision-

6 STAR TREK
 FICTION

A CULTURE RAVAGED BY PASSION DEVOID OF REASON

WOULD BE ONE DOOMED TO SELF-EXTERMINATION…

making. That is a recipe for bad-faith by committing grievous acts of lethal cycle – or else be consumed by it.”
negotiation and, as your confederates violence and mass destruction?” Sokor’s features hardened with
have demonstrated, betrayal.” Before T’Vala could answer, Sokor anger and resentment. “Noble words
Sokor’s wife, T’Vala, put herself edged in front of her to confront from one whose ideology gets to
between him and L’Naal. It was a L’Naal. “No, it was you and the other flourish – while mine is forced to
telling action; it suggested to L’Naal zealots of Surak who fired the figurative scrape for survival, pilgrims cast
that her argument had provoked the first shot of this conflict, when you out without a plan, left to fend for
woman to the point that she felt it condemned all who did not blindly themselves while they wander the
necessary to defend her mate physically accept your cold-hearted prophet’s cosmic darkness.”
as well as rhetorically. “Do you hear call to reject thousands of years of our “There are other habitable worlds,
yourself, L’Naal? You invoke logic as if history and traditions, in order to forge brother. Many within a decade’s travel.
it were a totem against suffering and a future of bland conformity.” You and those who share your ethos
the only foundation upon which trust will find the right one to colonize. You
can be built. But trust is never about * * * will rebuild – and live freely.”
logic, it is about faith.” “But we will always know we were
L’Naal folded her hands together “Not conformity, brother – unity.” refugees. As will our offspring, and
in front of her waist. “No loyalty is Suvok saw his twin’s hands curl theirs after them. We will never forget
perfect, T’Vala. But an agreement into fists. Rather than mirror him, that Surak’s children banished us from
grounded in logic accounts for rational Suvok focused on his sense of calm our ancestral home.”
self-interest and takes into account and balance. “Without a unifying “What would you have had us do
a need for equitable balance and philosophy, our civilization was instead, Sokor?”
accountability. None of which your trapped in an endless cycle of struggle. “We could have kept this
kind can be trusted to respect. Need I Our conflict perpetuated itself for its continent and surrendered the other
remind you it was your side that made own sake, just as a flame seeks fuel to two to your control.”
the unilateral decision to escalate our sustain its burning. For the survival of Suvok had heard that idea before.
philosophical disagreement into war our species, Sokor, we must break the “Such a peace would not last. Proximity

STAR TREK 7
SUNDERING

would invite contact, and contact

would reignite the conflict. We need
“SURAK’S WAY ROBS YOU OF THE
to be one world, one people, one law. BEST PARTS OF YOURSELVES TO
To rebuild and advance, we must
overcome our biology, and our history.”
SAVE YOU FROM THE WORST –
T’Vala fixed Suvok with a glare AND BY TAKING EVERYTHING, IT
as unforgiving as the fires of Vulcan’s
Forge. “You profess to accept and LEAVES YOU EMPTY.”
celebrate an infinite diversity of life
and ideas – all except ours. And when
it comes to your own true nature, you were chaotic, but also spontaneous. could banish your own twin brother
live in denial.” Imaginative. and not shed a single tear of regret?”
“Not denial, T’Vala – mastery.” “Surak’s way robs you of the best Suvok weighed his words with
Her voice darkened with parts of yourselves to save you from care. “I do not deny the existence of
contempt. “You are masters of nothing the worst – and by taking everything, my emotions. They are still there,
but lies. You preach pacifism but it leaves you empty. Tell me, brother: as powerful as they ever were. But I
continue to practice arts of war. You What is the point of a life lived embraced Surak’s teachings so that I
extol the virtue of logic devoid of without joy? Without love?” could master my own mind, and act
passion even as the fires of our blood Suvok replied, “What is the out of reason for the greater good
burn within you. You claim to venerate value of a life lived in constant fear rather than out of passion to serve my
the arts, but you cut yourselves off from of violence, injustice, and suffering? own desires. I have lost nothing of
the true wellsprings of inspiration.” Our passions must be mastered if our myself, brother. What I have gained is
L’Naal struck a pose of cool society is to thrive.” the serenity of reason.”
defiance. “Our mutual history is “Mastered, yes, but not crushed! “Wrong. You’ve lost more than
one of savage violence, T’Vala. Not denied! Not suppressed to the you know – starting with me, your
Cruelty. Mayhem. Left unchecked, point of self-harm. Don’t you see what only brother. As for what you’ve
our passions would have led us into your ethos has done to you? Done gained? Many years from now, this
extinction. The path of Surak is our to our world?” He gestured toward moment will become a memory that
way to a better, sustainable future.” T’Vala and Taavik. “To us? You’ve won haunts you. You and your fellow
Sokor’s anger withered into the war – but can’t you see what you’ve travelers are like primitive surgeons
disappointment. “You see the evils of lost? If you would let yourself feel this hacking at a patient with stone tools.
our past, but not the virtues. Yes, we moment, really feel it, would you be To save the Vulcan body politic …
were violent – but we were also tender. so quick to sanction putting millions you’ve torn out its heart.”
We were capable of cruelty, but we of fellow Vulcans onto prison ships?
had an equal capacity for kindness. We Could you still be so callous that you * * *

8 STAR TREK
 FICTION

Sirens keened and echoed; the Taavik and Kevok each tightened which they were being expelled.
launch of the transport ships was only their hold on the other’s fingers. The Sokor stole a final glance over his
minutes away. On Sokor’s side of the guard pulled harder. Taavik shrieked in shoulder at his kin. Suvok and L’Naal
fence, armed guards approached to take defiant rage and refused to let go. stood together, faces downcast, as if
him, T’Vala, and Taavik to their assigned In that moment when everyone’s they could not bring themselves to bear
vessel. Suvok and L’Naal looked back at eyes were on his and T’Vala’s willful witness. But their son Kevok remained at
Sokor and his family through the mesh, daughter, Sokor chanced to note his the fence, hands pressed to the wire, his
their visages blank and cold. It was like brother’s reaction. It was momentary, the gaze locked inextricably with Taavik’s.
staring into the gears of a machine and very definition of ephemeral, but Sokor Hot winds whipped up funnels
expecting to find pity. was certain he saw Suvok’s emotionless of dust that roamed the beach dunes.
Tears fell from Sokor’s eyes as he façade slip to betray an upswell of pity Climbing the ramp into a transport
made a final effort to elicit a response and sorrow at the sight of their children ship, Sokor knew his people had an
from his twin. “They’re coming for us, fighting so valiantly to resist this cruel arduous journey ahead of them, one they
Suvok. Coming to haul us away like and arbitrary sundering. For just that would not all survive. He suspected his
garbage.” fleeting instant, Sokor was certain he saw descendants and those of the disciples
Suvok arched an eyebrow. “Your the shimmer of tears in Suvok’s eyes. of Surak would meet again someday,
situation is dire enough that exaggeration Sokor brushed the guard’s hand most likely as enemies, to reignite this
seems unnecessary.” from his arm and stepped toward the pointless struggle anew.
“And yet you do nothing. Feel one wrestling in vain with his daughter. If only we could learn from our
nothing. Say nothing to help us, or “Stop. You’re scaring her. Let me help.” mistakes rather than repeating them, he
comfort us, or even tell us you care what The guard at the fence released lamented.
is happening.” Taavik and stepped back to make way for As the transport’s engines rumbled,
“Your side chose war and lost. Now Sokor. He kneeled beside his daughter Sokor pulled T’Vala close so they could
the consequences come due. What more and whispered to her. hug Taavik between them. Looking into
is there to say?” “No more tears, Taavik. Say good- his daughter’s tear-stained eyes, and
“That we’re still family? That you bye to Kevok. It’s time to go.” remembering how adamantly she and
wish it hadn’t come to this?” Reluctantly, Taavik and Kevok Kevok had clung to each other, Sokor
“The desires of one individual are disentangled their fingers. Sokor picked dared to hope there might come a day
irrelevant at times such as this. Whatever up his daughter and nodded at T’Vala. when the scorned orphans of Vulcan
I might consider to be a more desirable They fell in behind the guards who led would be welcomed home and called
outcome no longer matters. This is the them to their assigned transport ship. family once more.
world we have made, brother.” As they walked, Taavik perched with My brother would call such hope
A guard wearing an emblem of teary eyes on Sokor’s shoulder, facing illogical. Maybe someday he’ll understand
Surak set his hand on T’Vala’s shoulder. backward toward the life and world from … hope always is.
Another grasped Sokor’s arm. Sokor
heard other soldiers behind him. There
was nothing to be gained from resisting
now; even without the benefit of
Surakian logical education, he knew that
to be true. Tears in Sokor’s eyes softened
his brother’s uncaring image. “Good-bye,
Suvok.”
“Good-bye, Sokor.”
The guards pulled Sokor and T’Vala
toward the transports – and then they
stopped. They, as well as Suvok and
L’Naal, all looked toward the bottom of
the fence.
Taavik and Kevok stood facing each
other, both pressed against the wire
barrier. The toddler cousins had each
snaked a couple of tiny digits through
gaps in the mesh and entwined them
with the other’s. Locked together, the
children looked into each other’s eyes
with the far-seeing focus of touch-
telepaths who had just forged their first
instinctual mind-meld.
A third guard took hold of Taavik and
tried to pull her away from the fence.

STAR TREK 9
 IN MEMAMORIAM

STAR TREK’S FINEST

REMEMBERING MARK LENARD
WO R D S : PA U L T R AV E R S

M
ark Lenard (1924- flashback sequence in Star Trek V:
1996) was the The Final Frontier. On television, the
actor who brought character featured again in the Star
wonderful life to the Trek: The Next Generation episodes
character of Sarek, the "Sarek" and "Reunification".
Vulcan father of Spock, Lenard also held the distinction of
played by Leonard Nimoy, although being the first actor to play a member
his first Star Trek role was that of of each of the three major alien races:
a Romulan Commander in The a Vulcan, a Romulan and a Klingon.
Original Series episode, "Balance of His role in The Original Series spisode,
Terror", marking the first appearance "Balance of Terror", as the Romulan
of that race. Commander, marked the first appearance
“Mark never wanted to leave of that race. He also portrayed an 01
New York. He wanted to be a ill-fated Klingon captain in Star Trek:
Broadway actor,” recalled his wife, The Motion Picture, and, separately, was
Ann, in an interview for Myeloma chosen to narrate CD-ROM Star Trek
Today, published after his death from Omnipedia, first released in 1995.
the disease, in 1996. “For two years His other television credits
running in the mid-1960s, there was included the gorilla, Urko, in Planet
only one dramatic play mounted. of the Apes, and three appearances
Prospects did not look bright for a in the spy series, Mission: Impossible,
serious actor, so we decided to move. produced side-by-side with Star Trek at
Mark was born in the country and Desilu Studios in the 1960s.
thought Los Angeles would be like Lenard was also an accomplished
moving to the country, so we moved stage actor. In 1957, he made his
to Los Angeles. We thought it would Broadway debut in Carson McCuller’s
be fun for a year or two. Then, one Square Root of Wonderful. He starred
02
month later, Mark was offered the role in Much Ado About Nothing alongside
of the Romulan commander in the John Gielgud and had pivotal roles in
original Star Trek series.” productions of Ibsen’s Little Eyolf and
He gained many other roles, Rosmersholm, and Chekov’s Country
too, in film and on television, before Scandal. His film credits include The 01 Sarek, good for you, and it’s good for your
Star Trek: The
gaining the role of Sarek in his Greatest Story Every Told, Hang ‘Em ego; it’s good for your career and it’s
Search for
second year in California, becoming High and Annie Hall. Spock good for your pocketbook and it also,
a recurring character that was one His many fans regard him as a y’know, opens other avenues for you.
02 Sarek, Star
of the all-time favorites in the Star genuinely open and friendly man who Trek: the Next [Playing Urko] is awfully hard work
Trek universe. He first played the role shared many convention appearances Generation, and I’m much busier than I thought
"Sarek"
in the The Original Series episode, with his ‘son’, Leonard Nimoy. I’d be, as I said before, so I don’t have
"Journey to Babel", and provided the As an actor, it seems he was, the time I wanted to do everything,
voice of Sarek in the Star Trek: The in the main, happy with his fame. but otherwise there’s nothing wrong.”
Animated Series episode, "Yesteryear." Interviewed about his role as Urko Lenard, who lived in Manhattan,
The character was revived for in an interview for Planet of the Apes who had been ill for some time, passed
the feature films, Star Trek III: The magazine, published in 1973, Lenard away on 22nd November 1996 at New
Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The commented on being associated with York University hospital of multiple
Voyage Home and Star Trek VI: The two popular franchises. myeloma, a form of cancer, aged 68.
Undiscovered Country, and provided “Being in a series – in a popular He was survived by his wife, Ann, and
the voice of young Sarek in a brief series – is very good,” he felt. “It’s two daughters, Roberta and Catherine.

STAR TREK 11
 F E A T U R E
An in-depth look at a classic
Star Trek episode

S TA R T R E K : V OYA G E R ’ S

“ENDGAME”
WO R D S : F R A N K GA R C I A

I
f there were two episodes crucial years an opportunity to see whether Captain
to a series’ success, it is the first Kathryn Janeway and her crew would return home
and last episodes. The first after being stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Like
is most important, naturally, the two previous series before it, Voyager had the
because if you don’t attract luxury of cancelling themselves.
an audience out the gate, there’s During her long journey, Janeway battled
no series. The final episode is the second most against a seemingly never-ending variety of aliens,
crucial because it must conclude the saga for the who would stop at nothing in order to destroy the
captivated audience. And, since many TV series are Little Starship that crossed their path.
notorious for going off the air without an ending, To prepare for the ending of their television
often leaving unresolved plots and characters, series, executive producers Rick Berman and
there’s added pressure to create a final chapter that Kenneth Biller began thinking about the finale
is exciting and satisfying. right from the beginning of the season, knowing
In the case of Star Trek: Voyager, the two-hour that it was the series’ final year. Together, they
“Endgame” aired on the American UPN network crafted a story with Brannon Braga, one of the
on May 23, 2001. It was, finally, after seven long series’ producers.

12 STAR TREK
STAR TREK 13
01

One of the primary goals was to 01 Admiral

Janeway and
create a story that would be “epic” the Borg
in scope. Very quickly it was decided Queen in the
that time travel would be an integral Star Trek:
Voyager
component. season
One of their first decisions was seven story,
to have Neelix depart from the U.S.S. "Engame"

Voyager and settle in with a group of 02 Admiral

fellow Talaxians in the penultimate Janeway and
Tuvok
episode, “Homestead.” Next, was a
decision on whether the ship would,
if at all, go home? This was quickly
reversed once the story developed. The
seeds of a romance between Seven of
Nine and Chakotay were also planted
in the second to last episode, “Natural
Law” although this wasn’t immediately
obvious until the final episode.
The final story, credited to Rick
Berman, Kenneth Biller and Brannon
Braga was translated to the screen by
02
Kenneth Biller and Robert Doherty.

14 STAR TREK
 A N A LY S I S

03 Tom Paris,
the Doctor and
THE STORY
a pregnant “Endgame” begins with a shot of
B'Elanna
Torres
U.S.S. Voyager flying over fireworks
by the San Francisco Golden Gate
04 The Borg
Queen
Bridge. It’s 26 years in the future
and the starship crew are celebrating
the 10th anniversary of their arrival
on Earth. Some crewmembers have
lived to be starship captains (Kim) or
holonovelists (Paris) while others have
died. Tuvok is in a mental institution,
because of a Vulcan neurological
disease. Acting secretly, Admiral
Janeway is determined to break the
Temporal Prime Directive by going
back in time and help U.S.S. Voyager
defeat the Borg and expedite the
journey home.
Meanwhile, back in time, aboard
the U.S.S. Voyager, Seven of Nine
has begun dating Chakotay. Paris
and Torres are anxiously awaiting the
birth of their first child and Tuvok is
concerned about the beginnings of a
Vulcan illness.

03 04

STAR TREK 15
ENDGAME

05

" T H E R E ’ S A P O W E R F U L M E L A N C H O LY I N T H E A I R , I T P E R V A D E S T H E
E N T I R E S H O O T, A S W E P R O G R E S S I V E LY ‘ W R A P ’ S E T S , E V E N P R O P S , A N D
F I N A L LY R E T I R E C H A R A C T E R S W H O W I L L N E V E R B E S E E N A G A I N . ”
ALLAN KROEKER

When a temporal rift appears 05 Admiral

Janeway
before them, a futuristic shuttle and Captain
appears and the U.S.S. Voyager crew Janeway
are astonished to discover Admiral 06 Admiral
Janeway greet them. Janeway's
In a meeting aboard the ship, the shuttle
approaches
Admiral convinces Captain Janeway U.S.S. Voyager
that Seven of Nine and Chakotay
will die on the voyage home unless
they take advantage of a shortcut via
a Borg Transwarp Hub hidden inside
a neighboring nebula. Accepting
her future self ’s advice, Captain
Janeway modifies the U.S.S. Voyager
with futuristic tech defensive devices
supplied by the Admiral, and they 06

16 STAR TREK
A “HOMECOMING” INVITATION
“Endgame” may have been the conclusion of Star Trek: things would happen. I thought about where people would
Voyager’s journey on the television screen, but author Christie logically go, and tried to put them there.
Golden continues the storyline in two novels: Homecoming “I didn’t want to just start out a whole new series of
(June 2003) and The Farther Shore (July 2003). adventures on the ship, I wanted to have a story here on
In the first book, we follow the Voyager characters Earth, about what had happened while the crew of the
as they acclimate to their return home on Earth, but a U.S.S. Voyager were gone and how they would reintegrate
cybernetic plague strikes the planet, transforming everyone themselves. The two newest books, Old Wounds
into Borg. The entire planet faces assimilation and Voyager (November 2004) and Enemy of My Enemy (December
may be to blame. In the second, Janeway reconstitutes the 2004), really represent the ‘relaunching’ of the ship itself.
ship’s crew, and with help from the U.S.S. Enterprise, they On the show, some characters were the focus in some
race against time to defeat the cybernetic contagion. episodes and not in others. There were some episodes in
Discussing her decision-making process in figuring which certain cast members didn’t appear at all.
out how to continue the story, Golden said: “I knew from That’s what I want to do with these books.
the last movie that Janeway was going to be promoted Characters who are not physically on U.S.S. Voyager, such
to Admiral, so that was something I had to consider. as Janeway, Tuvok, the Doctor and Seven, and B’Elanna,
I wanted to keep everyone involved in the storyline still will figure into either the main story or a subplot to
somehow, but realistically, let’s face it — the crew would one extent or another. So I hope there’s some variety
go their separate ways. Some would have had enough there for the readers.”
of a Starfleet career and retired, or request non-ship
assignments. Some would get promotions. All kinds of This feature was first presented in Star Trek Magazine #121

engage combat with the Borg. As part of PRODUCTION NOTES this one was delayed because it had to
a frontal assault against the Borg Queen, To direct the proceedings, Rick Berman be decided how the series would end,”
the Admiral shuttles to a Borg Cube and company chose Allan Kroeker, he says.
and transmits a “neurolytic pathogen” who filmed Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s It was during lunch when Biller told
directly into the Queen, but she is killed finale “What You Leave Behind”. He the story to Kroeker and the First A.D.,
in the process. was a veteran of directing over a dozen Jerry Fleck. “When the script arrived,
On Earth, Admiral Paris detects episodes each of Voyager, Star Trek: Deep we were duly impressed because the
the transwarp aperture and prepares Space Nine and Star Trek: Enterprise, plus script followed – down to a tee – every
defenses. When a Borg sphere blasts its many other SF genre television shows beat Ken had described to us. Ken is a
way out of the aperture, and is fired upon like Roswell and Jake 2.0. solid writer. He tells a good story, no
by Starfleet vessels, U.S.S. Voyager emerges When he arrived to begin his pre- nonsense, and this is what he delivered
triumphant out of the destruction of the production on the episode, Kroeker was to us.
sphere. At about the same time, Torres surprised that no script was yet available. “I was glad for the direction the
gives birth to Tom’s first child. Free of the “Ken Biller, who was running the show script of the finale took: the story finally
Borg’s clutches, U.S.S. Voyager has finally in its last season was generally diligent took our characters home, but also
arrived safely at home. about delivering scripts on time, but provided a glimpse of our heroes in

STAR TREK 17
 07
the future, even if that future never
happened – it was like an alternate
history – and that the finale didn’t
waste any time having the characters
say goodbye to each other after seven
years. I thought Ken wrapped it up
pretty well.”
Filmed over 15 days, Kroeker
says that the atmosphere on the set
was quite emotionally charged, with
everyone well aware these were the final
moments ticking down. “It’s always
emotional, even for those who seem
otherwise detached from the show. It’s
been home for seven years, that’s longer
than most of us spend in any given
school. There’s a powerful melancholy
in the air, it pervades the entire shoot,
as we progressively ‘wrap’ sets, even
props, and finally retire characters who
will never be seen again.”

“THE PRODUCERS,
C A S T, A N D C R E W
OF VOYAGER WERE
E X E M P L A R Y. . . T H E Y
WERE FINE PEOPLE
TO BE ENGAGED
WITH OVER SEVEN
YEARS."
ALLAN KROEKER

Just as Voyager was winding down,

elsewhere on the lot, Enterprise was
gearing up. “There was a big push for
me to finish the scenes quickly so they
could start tearing down the sets,” says
Kroeker. This was tough for the actors,
he says. “Imagine trying to rehearse
a scene amidst the sounds of de-
construction, watching walls of your
home being carried off the stage as you
are trying to find your lines.”
And there was a lot of work to
be done, to conjure up the epic aspects
of the production. For example,
special effects.
One of the most startling scenes
in this story was watching the white-
haired Admiral Janeway acting with
her younger self. This proved to be
arduous for actress Kate Mulgrew,
who had to memorize the dialogue
and timings for both sides of the
conversation. The process of filming
these scenes proved to be time-
consuming and technically tricky.

18 STAR TREK
 A N A LY S I S

07 The Borg
“The process of filming her tell the story.’ Dan Curry and Ron Queen
and see how Admiral Janeway hands the
interacting with ‘herself ’ was feasible Moore would then figure out how Captain a coffee cup. “This was Kate
08 Admiral
firstly because of Kate’s discipline and to transpose my choreography into Janeway and
Mulgrew’s idea,” notes Kroeker. “As we
precision as an actress, and also thanks motion control. an older Harry were blocking the scene, she suggested
to our world-class Visual Effects Team, “I was able to have the actors move Kim she do this, because it was kind of a
namely Dan Curry and Ron Moore,” around the set, cross each other, even Janeway thing, the ever-present cup of
says Kroeker. touch each other. This would require coffee in her ready room, and it would
“We used extensive motion- a lot of meticulous frame-by-frame be nice to transfer it from one Janeway
control technology. When I was rotoscoping, because we didn’t have the to the other, kind of like a Talisman.
planning my shots, Dan Curry urged time to shoot it on a green-screen stage, “The producers, cast, and crew
me to stage the choreography of adding motion-control plates of the set of Voyager were exemplary,” notes
the two Janeways, as if there were afterwards. It all had to be accomplished Kroeker. “They were fine people to be
two actresses in the scene. He said, on a set with no green screen.” engaged with over seven years. Many
‘Just think of how you would want To illustrate the quality of this of them worked on Enterprise as well
to shoot it, how you would want to “double-image” effects, watch this scene and I will miss them.”

08

STAR TREK 19
 DESIGNING
S T A R T R E K
Behind the scenes production
secrets revealed

UNIQUE DESIGNS
Star Trek: Voyager designer Tim Earls reveals the secrets of creating all-new spacecraft
and alien locations on demand, scenery used in just one story never to be seen again –
including the series’ finale, "Endgame"…

T H I S F E AT U R E WA S F I R S T P R E S E N T E D I N S TA R T R E K M A G A Z I N E # 1 2 1 I N 20 0 5

nlike many television entire episode can be shot on standing

U
01 Star Trek:
series which rely Voyager sets – mainly on the ship. “Q2” is a good have required extensive blue-screen work,
heavily on standing Season 7 example. The second way to keep the the sides were built up and incorporated
"Engame"
(permanent) sets switch panel
costs down was to design and build the a pivoting gangplank instead. The
or locations which design for new set in such a way that it could be underside of the deck was curved to
can be readily found, Admiral “recycled” in the following episodes. allow an on-screen rocking motion.
Janeway's
Star Trek was almost apartment Earlier, I mentioned a collaboration Interestingly enough, the actors did not
like designing a feature film every between the producers, writers and know this, and were a bit surprised at
02 Janeway's
two weeks. Like Star Trek: The Next shuttle interior the art department. In order to meet the start of rehearsal and the deck began
Generation, Star Trek: Voyager was concept the cost requirements of an ambitious to pitch!
rather demanding with regards to 03 One Small storyline, the next episode or two
creating “new worlds, new civilisations” Step" shuttle would be rewritten in a way as to take ONE SMALL STEP
control
on this biweekly schedule. Naturally, advantage of the new set. Often, the art I personally think that for “One Small
module
to achieve this, quite a bit of design, interior department would get advanced notice Step”, the Mars One command module
construction and money was invested design, seen of the next few episode storylines. This was everyone’s pride and joy. Quite
in Star Trek:
in many episodes to bring about Voyager
allowed us to incorporate flexibility into a bit of research was done by the art
something new and fresh. season six the design, so the new set could be easily department to make it a convincing
We were often asked to build 04 Star Trek:
and economically reconfigured. extension of current trends in space
something “we’ve never seen before.” Voyager Of course, this wasn’t always the case. exploration. Unlike most ships shown
Some episodes, due to an ambitious "Barge of the Besides being three of the most satisfying in Star Trek, this one was designed
Dead" Klingon
script requiring new and elaborate sets, Barge interior episodes on which to work, “Barge of specifically for zero g. Although, the
would bring in high cost estimates, not design the Dead,” “Unimatrix Zero” and “One surface upon which the pilots’ seats were
only in terms of material. Overtime for Small Step” are also three examples of mounted could be considered the “floor”,
the art department and construction crew shows which required elaborate new sets the intention was to imply that there was
was sometimes required, in order to be which were never recycled. no up or down. Actually, the main reason
finished in time for scheduled shooting. that surface contained panels for storage
However, due to the fact that BARGE OF THE DEAD compartments and remained relatively
this was television and not a feature, The Klingon Barge of the Dead, had flat, was to allow the cast and crew the
ways were found to bring the cost it been built in its entirety, would ability to walk around without tripping.
of new sets down. In most cases this have taken up a large part of Stage 16, It was by far one of our most
goal was reached with a collaboration which held many of our ‘swing,’ or detailed sets as well. Almost every
between the producers, the writers temporary, sets. And we didn’t quite surface contained control panels,
and the art department. Therefore, have that much room. Instead, it was equipment or storage lockers. The set
in order to provide these sets without decided that only half would be built. was so detailed that even the forward
compromising quality in design and To differentiate between the bow and viewports had degree markings
construction, the costs were sometimes stern, the ship’s wheel was designed to applied to give the pilot visual cues
spread over subsequent episodes. be “wild” or removable. Originally, the for docking manoeuvres. The hatches
There were one of two ways to do sides were built low like a Viking ship were based on those used on the
this. The first was to follow the expensive (from which it drew inspiration) as to International Space Station. (And
episode by what was called a “bottle” allow the characters to debark when they I noticed they were re-used in the
show, a show that’s one in which the arrived at Stoval Cor. Since this would engine room on Star Trek: Enterprise.)

20 STAR TREK
 02

01
03

04
05

Rick Sternbach’s job was to design

the exterior of the module, so he and
I worked closely to make the interior
and exterior features matched.
Rick Sternbach, Designer and
Senior Illustrator on Star Trek: Voyager,
had to design the exterior of the module,
so he and I worked closely to make the
interior and exterior features matched.

UNIMATRIX ZERO
The Central Plexus in Unimatrix Zero
was supposed to be located within the
very heart of the Borg Collective. The
interesting aspect of this set was that we 06
wanted to show that set was merely a
very small section of a massive maze of
corridors. We accomplished this with a
clever triangular plan and an extensive
use of mirrored surfaces. No matter
which way you looked, it appeared as
if there were several layers of corridors 05 "Unimatrix which graphics and video would be controls remained but the elements
Zero" Borg
in every direction. The 30-60 degree projected, marking a development were updated and streamlined, more
central nexus
angle at every junction guaranteed that concept, much like how cathode ray tubes have integrated to give a unified look to the
the camera would never see itself. The develped for been replaced by LCD screens today. interior. I also wanted to add details
Star Trek:
actual device in the core was made to Voyager
One of the details we included in which are often overlooked in cockpit
resemble a Borg cube and was originally season six Janeway’s apartment was a small wall sets and are common in real cockpits –
designed to be mounted at a 45 degree 06 "Engame"
console which one could control and reading lights and directional airvents
angle. However, cost and time restraints nav monitor monitor the lights, HVAC (heating, – which can be seen above the pilot and
dictated otherwise. concept ventilation, and air conditioning) system co-pilot positions.
and security. The logic is that although
ENDGAME everything in Star Trek: Voyager’s era can Tim Earls is an artist and illustrator
The challenge with "Endgame" was be controlled with voice commands, who worked as a set designer on
trying to project the design and there would be times when this would Star Trek: Voyager. In addition, he
technological advances of Star Trek: not be desirable or appropriate. The illustrated the Starfleet Technical
Voyager’s time period by a few years into bits of wood finish also add a bit of Database articles, the Star Trek:
the future. Projecting advances by a few residential feel. (If you watch the episode The Starfleet Survival Guide, and
centuries is a little easier because almost closely, you can see the special effects assisted in the illustrations for Star
anything is possible. Future Janeway’s crew added a note of authenticity – Trek: Star Charts and New Worlds,
apartment, her desktop monitor and when her front door is opened one of New Civilizations. Since working on
Starfleet shuttle were three of the the LEDs on the panel blinks to indicate Star Trek: Voyager, he has gone on to
elements I worked on for that episode. that the security system is active.) work on many TV shows, including
The biggest change to the We approached the design of Firefly, For All Mankind and The
standard desktop monitor was to Janeway’s shuttle cockpit in the same Mandalorian; and a wide range
eliminate the thick backlit screen way one would update the interior of a of feature films, including several
and use semi-transparent plex upon new car model. The locations of primary Marvel superhero movies

22 STAR TREK
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 FICTION

E XC LU S I V E F I C T I O N

Academy
Acquisition
STORY: JAKE BLACK
I L L U S T R AT I O N : A N DY WA L K E R

C
lass dismissal tone rang out, and a “He just wants to cheat off your homework,”
group of first year cadets exited to Schenck said. “It’s what they do.”
the beautiful grounds of Starfleet “I would never – ” Nog began to protest, angrily,
Academy. It was a perfect day in San but Schenck stepped toward him, pointing at the
Francisco, the sun shining down on Ferengi, as if he was in a court room.
the well-manicured grass and trees, birds chirping, “Yeah, right,” Schenck countered. “What’s that
and the cadets laughing and having a good time. saying your people have? ‘You can’t free a fish from
All of them, except the Ferengi, Nog, who was water’?” Then he turned, and pulled Whitaker away..
trailing behind his classmates. Devastated, Nog walked slowly back to his
Nog had found the first weeks at the Academy quarters.
to be a difficult adjustment compared to life on Deep Maybe Uncle Quark was right, he thought. Maybe
Space 9. For one thing, he was the only Ferengi this was a huge mistake.
on Earth – a fact his fellow cadets rarely let him
forget. For another, classes were harder than he’d * * *
expected – but he was determined to make it through
the Academy and achieve his dream of becoming a A short time later, Nog hoped to find some
decorated officer, making friends along the way. respite from the crushing experience he’d had with his
“Hey! Wait up!” Nog called out, picking up his classmates. Struggling to get to sleep, his eyes getting
pace, drawing the attention of some of the cadets. heavy, he lay on his bunk, staring at the ceiling,
“What do you want, Nog?” an annoyed Andorian replaying the incident with Whitaker and Schenck
named Schenck asked. over and over in his mind.
“Anybody want to study with me for Lt. Why are they so cruel? He wondered.
Commander Dillon’s xenobiology class later?” Starfleet was supposed to represent the best of
Most of the group scoffed at the offer, but Cadet the best and be infinitely inclusive. But so far, Nog
Whitaker, a human woman, crouched to be eye-to-eye knew, Deep Space 9, with all its conflict and danger,
with the Ferengi. ironically seemed to be more welcoming than Starfleet
“I might be able to,” Whitaker said. Academy.
Nog grinned, hopeful that he’d found his first Sleep was approaching, yet he still couldn’t shake
friend. “Really?” the awful experience he’d just had. Then, as he was
Schenck stepped forward, pulling Whitaker to about to drift off, a computer voice rang out.
her feet. “Priority message for Cadet Nog,” the computer

STAR TREK 25
SEE & SEEN

said. eliminated and removed from the

Nog was startled fully awake. He simulation. The last cadet standing * * *
moved to his personal terminal. Who will receive the highest marks on the
would send him a priority message? exam.” Nog sat on a bench on the
Captain Sisko? His father Rom? Nog looked around at his Academy grounds, reading over
“Computer, open message, classmates, listening. They were Commander Runnels’ phaser tactics
authorization code Nog Gamma 7-9- anxious about the test. report on his PADD. In the distance,
9-7,” he said. “I’ve never even touched a his sensitive hearing picked up a
The screen flashed four simple phaser!” conversation between a couple of
words from an anonymous sender: “I heard that cave simulation is his classmates, Cadets Ford and
“Go back to Ferenginar.” Nog buried brutal.” Thompson.
his head in his hands. He had, in “That’s why they call Runnels the “This combat test is going to be
fact, made a terrible mistake. ‘Starfleet Nightmare.’” our ticket to Red Squad,” Ford said.
“It’s going to be great!” Nog “Absolutely. You up for another
* * * exclaimed, silencing the room. practice round tonight?” Thompson
Every eye in class focused their full replied.
“Cadets, in seven days you will attention on him. The words “practice round”
face your first test in close quarters “I mean, it will maybe be great,” piqued Nog’s interest. He liked Ford
combat,” Academy Tactical Instructor Nog stammered nervously. and Thompson. Two of the most
Commander Runnels said. “You “It is not logical that, for you, it popular cadets in their class, he felt
will each be issued a point-five type ‘will be great,’” a Vulcan named J’Nas like they could be his friends. And if
phaser and a targeting sensor vest. said. “Your size and speed will make they were getting in some practice….
You will be placed in a cave-like you an easy target for the rest of us.” Nog chased down Ford and
holodeck simulation. If your sensor “An easy target…” Nog muttered Thompson, “Hey guys! I hope you
is hit by phaser fire, you will be to himself. don’t mind, I overheard you talking
about the combat test.”
“You overheard?” Ford asked.
Nog motioned to his ears.
“Of course. The seventh Rule of
Acquisition: ‘Keep your ears open.’
What’s that about some extra practice
tonight? Do you mind if I join in? I
could really use it!”
Ford and Thompson looked at
each other and smiled.
“Sure, you can train with us,”
Thompson said, with a laugh.
“And can you tell me about Red
Squad?” Nog continued.
“Of course,” Cadet Ford said,
causing the Ferengi’s eyes to get wide.
“Red Squad is the most elite group
the Academy has to offer. I’m sure
you could get in.”
Nog’s eyes grew wide, “Wow,
really?”
“Oh, for sure! I mean all you’d
have to do is buy your way in with
latinum. That’s how you Ferengi
ever do anything, right? Buying
opportunity?” Thompson said, his
smile turning to a sneer. “That’s how
you got into the Academy, right?”
Nog’s heart fell into his stomach.
“That’s not fair,” he said.
“Well, life’s not fair,” Ford
replied. “By the way, did you get my
message the other night?”
Ford and Thompson walked
away, laughing.

26 STAR TREK
 FICTION

“THE BIGGER THE SMILE, THE SHARPER THE KNIFE,”

NOG MUTTERED, HIS VOICE CRACKING.

“The bigger the smile, the “I’m Boothby, the groundskeeper instead handing Nog a small
sharper the knife,” Nog muttered, his here.” handheld rake. “Drag this through
voice cracking. “Well, leave me alone, Booth- the soil over here. You’ll feel some
Nog slumped down beneath a by,” Nog returned, shoulders resistance. That’s the weeds’ roots.
large elm tree and began to cry. And slumped. He was not in the mood for Keep pulling them with the rake
then he cried harder. And harder. It company. until they surface.”
was clear he was going to let everyone Nodding, Boothby began Nog obediently followed the
down. His father, Captain Sisko, even pulling weeds in a nearby flowerbed. groundskeeper’s instructions, tugging
Uncle Quark. And it seemed like Nog watched in a mix of curiosity on clusters of roots beneath the soil.
his fellow cadets refused to see him and frustration, as the masterful He could feel the roots break, causing
as anything other than a stereotype. groundskeeper tended to his work. It them to rise through the soil.
Tears cut a path down his cheeks, was a fascinating display; an odd mix “I don’t have time for this. I need
dripping to the ground. of aggression and care. to prepare for a combat test,” Nog
“If you’re going to water that “Nog, come here and help me a complained. Again, Boothby ignored
tree, best not to use salt water,” a minute,” Boothby asked, motioning the comment, gathering the roots
man’s voice said from above Nog. to Nog toward him with his trowel, Nog had dug up and setting them
Nog rubbed his eyes, wiping the though not looking at him, too aside.
moisture from them with his sleeve, focused on the noxious plants “Now, take this and dig some
“What?” sprouting between to his prized small holes in the dirt where the roots
“Your tears. The salt in them will flowers. were,” Boothby said, handing Nog
kill this tree, and I can’t have that. “How did you…” Nog began. the trowel.
It has to live for another thousand “Oh, right. The token Ferengi. The Nog, again, did as he was asked.
years, at least!” the man said word’s spread, then. Are you going to Boothby nodded approvingly and
impatiently. insult me, too?” filled each hole with seeds.
“Who are you?” Nog asked. Boothby ignored the question, “We can send signals across

STAR TREK 27
SEE & SEEN

you might be the first Ferengi in

Starfleet, but don’t let yourself be the
last.”
“Thank you, Boothby,” Nog
whispered.
“It’s the advantage of a long
tail view of all this,” Boothby said
before leaving Nog for another of his
flowerbeds.

* * *

That night, Nog felt the weight

of Boothby’s words.
I’ve never been ashamed of being a
Ferengi, he thought. Why should I be?
My ears, my size, they are assets. They’re
the best part of me.
He glanced at the flower
Boothby had given him, feeling
his confidence grow. I am going to
bloom! He thought. And generations of
Ferengi will, too.

* * *

Clad in their target vests, phasers

in hand, Nog and his classmates
entered the training holodeck. A
sprawling cave stood before them.
time and space, deconstruct and Academy experience must have been The combatants had 90 seconds to
reconstruct matter, but we can’t have like. find their initial positions. Nog stood
weed-free flowerbeds,” Boothby said. Nog looked on, lost in thought, behind a corner on the west side of
“And every few years, we have to as Boothby carefully placed more the cave.
replant the seeds for new flowers to seeds into the ground. “Not even Holding his phaser at the
grow in place of the weeds.” having his adoptive human brother ready, Nog could hear footsteps
“Boothby, I really need to…” here prevented him from being approaching a long distance away.
Nog began. bullied.” It was obvious the individual was
“You know, you’re not the only “That’s unbelievable. Who would trying to tip-toe toward his hiding
cadet to ever experience what you are be foolish enough to pick a fight with spot. Nog swung around the corner,
going through,” Boothby interrupted Worf?” firing a blast that hit Cadet Schenck
curtly. Nog stared at him quizzingly. “Fools is the right word,” directly on his targeting sensor.
“What do you –?” Boothby said, looking up from his “How did you –” he started to
Boothby patted the soil over the plants and meeting Nog’s gaze for say.
seeds and looked Nog in the eye. the first time. “Only fools bully you, “It’s what I do!” Nog gleefully
“The first member of every species to Nog.” replied.
join Starfleet faces the same suspicion “It certainly doesn’t feel like Phaser fire was everywhere!
and doubt from their fellow cadets.” that,” Nog said quietly. Nog heard targets beep their Hit
Boothby cleaned up the excess “You’ve just been planted in the notification and fellow cadets
dirt and weeds as he continued, “You soil, Nog. But soon, you’re going to complaining about losing. He
know Commander Worf? He was bloom into something beautiful,” couldn’t help but laugh when he
the first Klingon. Imagine what he Boothby said, pointing first to the heard Ford eliminate Thompson.
went through thanks to centuries of freshly planted seeds and then to the From a platform above, J’Nas
conflict between the Federation and large elm tree, “and strong.” fired toward Nog, who dodged the
the Empire.” “But how can I? Everyone here blast by rolling inside a tiny crevasse
Nog was caught off guard by either doesn’t trust me or, worse, in the cave wall. From his protected
Boothby’s comment. Though he hates me,” Nog countered. location, he fired his red beam at
hadn’t gotten to know Worf very Boothby clipped a yellow flower J’Nas, eliminating the Vulcan.
well before leaving the station for from the bed and handed it to Nog. Soon, Nog and Ford were the
the Academy, he deeply respected “All those things they mock you for final cadets in the exercise. They
him. He’d never considered what his are your greatest assets. Remember, exchanged countless blasts of phaser

28 STAR TREK
 “THAT’S UNBELIEVABLE. WHO WOULD BE FOOLISH
ENOUGH TO PICK A FIGHT WITH WORF?”

energy, each missing the others’ room, into the waiting corridor. There, me is as valuable as latinum,” Nog
target. Nog climbed on a high he saw most of the other cadets glaring declared. “Even more valuable!”
pedestal that reminded him of the at him. But, for the first time since he Boothby nodded as Nog
Promenade on DS9. From that arrived on Earth, their looks of disdain continued, “I know the other cadets
vantage point, he saw Ford walking didn’t bother him, and there were even won’t accept me overnight, but
tentatively along a cliff’s edge below. a couple, like Whitaker, who were they will eventually. It’s what makes
Nog called out, “Hey Ford, here’s actually smiling! Starfleet, Starfleet!”
a note for you!” He pressed the trigger Nog noticed Boothby shifting
on his phaser, landing a direct hit on * * * his watering to a bed of the
Ford. “I’m not going anywhere!” yellow flowers like the one the
The cave disintegrated into the The following day, Nog found groundskeeper had given him a few
yellow and black grid pattern of the Boothby watering the seeds they’d days earlier.
holodeck as Commander Runnels’ planted together. “By the way, what are those
voice boomed over the holodeck “Booth-by!” he called. “I have flowers called?” he asked. “They
comms system, “Congratulations, wonderful news!” bloom so quickly.”
Cadet Nog! You are the sole survivor Boothby grunted an Boothby turned to face him, and
and have received the highest points acknowledgement before Nog regaled said, simply, “Daylily Ferengi Gold.”
in this exam.” him with the events of the test. “Ferengi Gold,” Nog said with a
Nog strode out of the simulation “You were right! Every part of grin. “I like that.”

STAR TREK 29
 TM

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