# What was the deal with Star Trek Nemesis? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835 "2003-11-18T03:35:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/21 "2003-11-20T20:18:34Z")
They never said she was dead, let along all of the Maquis. Captured, yes. Not dead. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/22 "2003-11-20T20:28:25Z")
It was a Voyager episode, when they establish communication with the Federation. Torres discovers that all the Maquis are dead. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/23 "2003-11-20T22:02:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\*It was a Voyager episode, when they establish communication with the Federation. Torres discovers that all the Maquis are dead. \*\* Does she? That could just mean “decimated”, which offers more than enough wiggle room for an individual like Ro Laren to survive. ---
**Author:** ![drewcosten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@drewcosten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewcosten)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/24 "2003-11-21T01:31:11Z")
Sisko himself said that there may be a few Maquis remaining in the episode in question (“Blaze of Glory”), and Ro’s survival now confirms this. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/25 "2003-11-21T01:45:37Z")
“Decimated” means 10% killed. Romans did it to offending villages; line the guys up and pull every tenth guy out for the axe. She’s jumping up and down in front of Chakotay, screaming “They’re all DEAD!” ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/26 "2003-11-21T01:47:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drewcosten \* > Also interesting is new side character Gul Macet, a cousin of the late Gul Dukat, who may or may not be evil. \*\* That’s actually Marc Alaimo’s first Cardassian character from TNG episode _The Wounded_ ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/27 "2003-11-21T02:58:50Z")
Ah, Gul Dukat who really was evil. The only flaw in DS9. He made such an excellent good bad guy. ---
**Author:** ![Call\_me\_Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Call\_me\_Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Call_me_Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/28 "2003-11-21T03:20:22Z")
Actually, **carnivorousplant** , the Romans would occasionally decimate a unti that lost a battle. Something of an incentive to fight to the death, I should think… ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/29 "2003-11-21T03:21:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > “Decimated” means 10% killed. Romans did it to offending villages; line the guys up and pull every tenth guy out for the axe. That’s the _original_ meaning, but Merriem-Webster recognizes possible definitions of “to reduce drastically especially in number” and “to destroy a large part of”. I daresay this has become the common use of the word. > [@](#): > > She’s jumping up and down in front of Chakotay, screaming “They’re all DEAD!” Gosh, Torres wouldn’t _exaggerate_, would she? The character was always so sensible and calm. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/30 "2003-11-21T03:24:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Call me Frank \* > \*\* Something of an incentive to fight to the death, I should think… \*\* As the British shot Admiral Byng, “To encourage the others.” 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/31 "2003-11-21T03:37:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\* I daresay this has become the common use of the word. > > Gosh, Torres wouldn’t _exaggerate_, would she? The character was always so sensible and calm. \*\* As Chaucer is, shall Dryden be. Besides, my Webster’s says “To select and kill every tenth man.” Just because others can’t talk good doesn’t mean that you have to. 🙂 I’ll quit being a geek about this, but the DS9 thing was during the War, the Voyager episode after the war, I particularly remember arguing about it on the board because I wanted Ro to caome back, even though the actress wasn’t interested in doing more Trek. I hope she survived too, but I abhor the Trek books for the most part. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/32 "2003-11-21T19:39:38Z")
Heck, after the weekend I’ll put up a link to my fan fiction including one story in which Ro staggers onto Deep Space Nine, all burnt-out and alcoholic and hunted by other Maquis members. Natch, this creates a conflict between Sisko, who wants to arrest her, and Kira, who wants to repatriate her to Bajor. Heck, I _love_ writing stories in which the main characters get all all bummed out and start turning on each other. None of that Mary Sue/Marty Stu crap for _me_. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/33 "2003-11-22T01:09:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by One And Only Wanderers \* > **well he was fairly well placed to become the ambassador to the Klingons, him being the adopted brother of the Chancellor and all…** Well, I guess this proves that nepotism still exists in the 25th century 🙂 > [@](#): > > \*\*…as to him being on Enterprise for Nemesis, they probably had some lame plot device to get him there, same as when they had to pick him up off of the Defiant \*\* No explanation. No plot device. His presence on the Enterprise is taken as a given. And he’s back in the tactical officer’s seat, so it would seem that Worf’s ambassadorship has fallen into the same plot hole that swallowed Riker’s field promotion from “The Best of Both Worlds.” (A field promotion is every bit as real and permanent as a normal one. Riker should have been Captain Riker from that moment on, but after that episode he was back to being a commander. Worf seems to have gotten a simlar deal.) ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/34 "2003-11-22T01:27:58Z")
Worf was on the Enterprise for Deanna and Will’s marriage. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/35 "2003-11-22T01:28:09Z")
Drunkeness. Martok wanted Worf to hunt targ and drink blood wine with him. Mrs. Martok probably took exception to Worf hurling gack or grack or whatever those live worms they eat are. It’s a bitch chasing after them and catching them. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/36 "2003-11-22T01:31:46Z")
Oh yes, Troi’s marriage. Don’t you think Worf would be a teensy bit hacked off about that? Most guys in that situation would discover something very important they had to do rather than show up for their ex-girlfriend’s wedding. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/37 "2003-11-22T07:46:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > \*\*Deux e machina (sp) and the reason entire 🙂 > > The Founders restore his humanity and send him back to save the Federation in its most deadly peril. He would gather the dispersed crew and hurry to the rescue, be it to resurrect Kirk, kill Wesley or make sure that Archer’s parents never meet. > > snip\*\* I wasn’t aware that Archer had a mother. The way he blabs on about his father all the time, you’d think Mom didn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/38 "2003-11-22T08:46:40Z")
They also seemed to have forgotten that, after forging an alliance with the Romulans during the Dominion War, the Romulan Neutral Zone was abolished, and the ban on Romulan Ale lifted. Plus, there was the possibility of having a starfleet-controlled mole being made ruler of the Romulan empire. (_Sweeet…_) ---
**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:** [November 22, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/39 "2003-11-22T18:15:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vivalostwages \* > \*\*I wasn’t aware that Archer had a mother. \*\* Damn, you’re right. OK, he has to make sure that a certain wet rock isn’t turned over. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835/40 "2003-11-22T18:45:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carnivorousplant \* > Oh yes, Troi’s marriage. Don’t you think Worf would be a teensy bit hacked off about that? Most guys in that situation would discover something very important they had to do rather than show up for their ex-girlfriend’s wedding. > 🙂 Worf got _married_ after Deanna. You’d think he’d be over her by that point. And these were two of his best friends of seven years. He just wouldn’t show up? Nah, this plot device actually made sense. The one from _First Contact_ even made a little sense. The one from _Insurrection_, though, I have no intention of defending. 🙂 “Ah, Mr. Worf. Glad to see you. Want to join us for the film?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-deal-with-star-trek-nemesis/213835.md?page=3)