# What Should the Next Incarnation of Trek Be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890 "2005-05-15T01:35:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/21 "2005-05-15T12:05:22Z")
That’s the Maquis. They’re named after a bunch of [French dudes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maquis_%28World_War_II%29). ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/22 "2005-05-15T12:09:15Z")
> [@SHAKES](#): > > How about one centered around the (and I caan’t even begin to spell this word) the “Maw-key”? or what ever the hell they’re called. > > I particularly like this idea because you could make the Federation look like the bad guys. They had an opportunity to do something like this with Voyager, since there were so many Maquis on the crew. In any case, the Maquis were almost completely wiped out by the Dominion, so I don’t think a show based on them now would be feasible. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/23 "2005-05-15T12:11:28Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > As the series progresses, the Borg could realize that the best way to assimilate everyone is to make assimilation more ‘attractive’ in physical terms, like the angler fish evolved a pretty glowing light in order to more effectively catch prey in the inky blackness. The implants would become less and less visible, to the point of disappearing from the skin, and they would allow more and more of the individual to remain until all that’s left is a missionary zeal and an infectious nanoparasite that hooks the brain up to something that’s still inhuman and incomprehensible but much better evolved to fish for humans. > > (On second thought, that might not be as bizarre as I’d hoped.) I like that idea for the borg. Newer and sleeker. You wouldn’t really even have to write 7 of 9 out of continuity. This is sci fi. Just make some shizzle up. Put in some meaningless techspeak to describe how they survived the loss of their queen and how they adapted to the new human enemy. They were one of my favorite villains, but only at their nigh unstoppable peak. Once they threw in Lore and the borg queen things went downhill. I’m not sure that a star fleet academy would be a good idea right now. The writers would likely try to aim it at the teen audience giving you Dawson’s Creek with phasers. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/24 "2005-05-15T12:19:04Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The Enterprise K comes back from a five year mission in relative isolation to find the Federation is destroyed. A quadrant-wide war has caused such extreme chaos that it’s extremely difficult to even discover what happened and who was at fault. You do realize that Andromeda _was_ a Trek concept at first, right? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/25 "2005-05-15T12:20:36Z")
> [@Max the Immortal](#): > > From what I recall of the Voyager finale, Voyager returned to Earth tricked out with all sorts of fancy upgrades from like that Janeway brought from the future (er, further into the future); Voyager was able to tear through Borg ships effortlessly. I’d like to see a miniseries about the repercussions of the Federation getting ahold of this technology. First they’d smack down the Borg, then, drunk with power and with the best intentions, they embark on a military campaign to unite the galaxy under the Federation’s banner. Big giant war breaks out. Actually, this one ain’t half bad. Given new technology people WILL use it. And when they use it others will learn it. So given the Federation (and it’s agressive elements) a 3-5 year lead on supertech and then watch the Klingons and such adapt and strike back. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/26 "2005-05-15T13:41:58Z")
**Harborwolf** : They aren’t necessarily ‘newer and sleeker’: This isn’t just a cosmetic change. The Borg, in my scenario, have adapted to human free will the same way they adapt to phaser settings. For all the weapons and technology and inhuman persistence, it’s their adaptability that makes the Borg truly effective in my mind. I suppose if the Borg decided to make a go of the new tactic, they would set themselves up as something between a religion and a bearer of a new technology: “Never be alone! Never be scared! Never lack a purpose in life! Join the Borg, and become one with a pan-Galactic multi-species entity!” Then the Federation would be faced with a moral quandary: Is it _wrong_ to willingly submerge your individuality in the Borg of your own free will? Is this a military ploy intent on finally assimilating the Federation or a valid option made possible by a newly-friendly race? I don’t think the current crop of writers is up to the challenge, though. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/27 "2005-05-15T14:08:37Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > You do realize that Andromeda _was_ a Trek concept at first, right? Drat. No. I didn’t watch it, because it looked like shite. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/28 "2005-05-15T14:12:27Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Drat. No. I didn’t watch it, because it looked like shite. It looked like shite for a very good reason… ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/29 "2005-05-15T14:22:33Z")
A rag tag StarFleet looking for the missing 13th series. A crew of microscopic amphibians. A giant, time travelling Vulcan saves nine. Slaver weapons are found on a planet and a warlike predatory species goes to war with Humans. A galaxy wide holy war (Jihad) An antimatter universe where time flows backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/30 "2005-05-15T14:35:55Z")
How about a series set aboard a non-federation ship, say a freighter? You could still have Starfleet turning up every now and again, the ship visiting different races and space stations, lots of different races on the crew, some smuggling, etc., etc. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/31 "2005-05-15T15:16:02Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Just make some shizzle up. Put in some meaningless techspeak to describe how they survived the loss of their queen and how they adapted to the new human enemy. You realize that the use of meaningless techspeak to resolve issues is one of the worst things about Star Trek, right? Especially when they come up with some radical techspeak that should change the way things operate but never end up using it ever again. Out of all the ideas I’ve heard I think a series centered around Star Fleet Academy would be a terrible idea. I sure don’t want to watch a program centered around San Francisco with students struggling to pass their finals or learn very special after school lessons. Not when there’s a whole universe out there to explore. What might be cool would be to follow the adventures of recent Star Fleet graduates. The main cast members would lower level officers and we’d have an opportunity to see how one starts their career in Star Fleet. Also, let’s cut down the number of main characters from the traditional 7 to 4 or 5 instead. This should allow the writers to focus on developing stronger characters then they have in the past. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/32 "2005-05-15T15:37:05Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Because the novels suck. > [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I haven’t read any of the novels, but I understand that a few don’t suck. > [@Kyla](#): > > How about something at Starfleet Academy? That could be cool. Or it could suck rocks. > [@Spudo](#): > > but if they have a poor writing staff it won’t matter, it’ll still suck. Fellatio on everybody’s mind? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/33 "2005-05-15T15:44:19Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Fellatio on everybody’s mind? That’s another thing the next series should have more of. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/34 "2005-05-15T15:55:06Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > That’s another thing the next series should have more of. > > 😃 _Star Trek: The Red Holodeck Diaries_ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/35 "2005-05-15T16:41:31Z")
The Maquis and a freighter; recreate Firefly for Trek. Pit them against the Federation and the Cardassians. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/36 "2005-05-15T16:46:03Z")
_Captain Sulu of the Excelsior_ James Kirk is dead(-ish), the Klingon Empire is in ruins and Hikaru Sulu has at his command the most powerful starship yet built. Will Klingon war technology be sold to the highest bidder? Will breakaway Klingon colonies wage civil war against the Empire, or each other? Will planets formerly conquered by the Klingons be able to handle their newfound freedom? Will Ensign Slater pump up the volume? It practically writes itself. I’m a bit leery of an Academy series. We have enough whiny, oversexed teenagers on TV already. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/37 "2005-05-15T17:03:56Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > _Captain Sulu of the Excelsior_ Too late. Takei is too old. They should have done this instead of Voyager. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/38 "2005-05-15T17:22:11Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > _Wesley’s Planetoid._ Are the Harlem Globetrotters going to visit? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/39 "2005-05-15T17:30:07Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I’m a bit leery of an Academy series. We have enough whiny, oversexed teenagers on TV already. Agreed. It’ll be Dawson’s creek in Space. Though It would be quite amusing if they showed “Red Shirt Training”, where Red Shirts are prepared to meet their deaths on unfamilar planets. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890/40 "2005-05-15T17:32:26Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Agreed. It’ll be Dawson’s creek in Space. > > Though It would be quite amusing if they showed “Red Shirt Training”, where Red Shirts are prepared to meet their deaths on unfamilar planets. Kirk: “The Academy needs a security officer to speak to a class. I’m sending you, Ensign Ricky.” Ensign Ricky: “Oh, crap!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-next-incarnation-of-trek-be/303890.md?page=3)