A New Setting For a Star Trek Series

[Navarro]

We've seen a variety of Trek series and films set aboard a starship and aside from a series set aboard a space station, there hasn't been much variety in setting. It seems to me that something new may be in order, and I wonder what ideas you might have. Personally, I'd like to see the hardships and successes that would come with forming a new colony on the outskirts of Federation space. Maybe in the early days, perhaps even before the Federation formed into existence. Maybe one of Earth's first colonies beyond Sol.

Starting out aboard ship just like most of the other series, we'd have the opportunity to witness the journey from Earth to their new home among the stars. If it's one of the first colonies, this might be a long journey, with a lot of opportunity for story telling. They might even make contact with new species themselves along the way, along with other discoveries and situations. Once they arrive, they'll be tasked with exploring their new home, and in fact building their new home. We could watch their adaption to this new, alien environment. We could witness their construction of the colony, and its development over time. We'd observe a unique society and culture in the making, who's residents will be left to rediscover themselves in their new land after adapting - after themselves changing. Being on the edge of Federation/United Earth space, they would also no doubt receive many visitors. Traders. Explorers. Pirates. Everything you can imagine the Enterprise finding, can find their colony.

What do you think? What ideas for a new setting do you have?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

How about a ship that finds itself on the other side of enemy space? Imagine if VOY had gone that route. You can get home, realistically, fairly quickly if you gun it all the way through, but you would probably get blasted out of the sky. So it's the long, hard route for you, constantly having to dodge the same enemy as well as new ones you've never met because they're also on the other side of your enemy's territory. So close, yet so far...

Or a cloaked secret base set up in enemy space.

 

[Navarro]

Who doesn't love Star Trek's battle episodes? All those colorful shining lights and the reflection off those shiny, silver hulls. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was disappointed which the Enterprise-D didn't follow the Enterprise-C back to its time in Yesterday's Enterprise. No doubt everyone loved the cat and mouse submarine tactics of TOS's Balance of Terror. To be honest though, The Dominion War turned out not to be very interesting. It seemed like the writers weren't really sure of how to represent an interstellar war in the Star Trek universe. In many episodes across the various series, it seemed like they weren't even entirely sure of how to represent a one-on-one battle. I recall an episode of Voyager where Chakotay ordered torpedoes fired "full spread," with the result being a total of two torpedoes fired, one at a time. Back to DS9, I remember several episodes which involved "battle lines," in space. Ridiculous. You could take every ship in the galaxy, for a "battle line" with them, I assure you it wouldn't be a challenge to fly over, under or around that battle line. Sisko's heroic moment where he "broke through" the enemy lines is purely absurd.

Still, I think you could pull off a war-driven series. You'd just need better writers. Decades ago the US Navy funded research into whether or not any fictional naval and space concepts could actually be made use of. The CIC that you see on BSG was on of those concepts, except the US Navy got the idea from novel, and BSG got the idea from the USN. As it turns out, there's been a lot of naval warfare theory which started out as fiction. If you'd like to pull off a War Trek, I think you'd need to find such innovative science fiction writers as those and supplement them with real retired naval officers that know surface and subsurface warfare. If anyone could keep War Trek fresh and interesting, it would be them.

 

[Jinn]

Who doesn't love Star Trek's battle episodes?

*raises hand* I just found it very... boring most of the time.

 

[φ of π]

What about an anthology series set in the Star Trek Universe? Each week can be something completely different with a new cast of characters.

 

[CJCade]

I've posted an idea I have here in the What post-Nemesis Trek SHOULD be like thread. It fits here as well as it's definitely a new setting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've had a very rough idea of what a post-Voyager/Nemesis show could be like for awhile now. Like I said, very rough, but here are my thoughts using some stuff from the Destiny novels as a springboard...

Setup

2381

The destruction of two planets is followed by a message.

“We are the Borg. You will be annihilated.”

Continuing attacks soon lead to a full scale Borg Invasion into the Alpha and Beta Quadrants resulting in the Federation entering into a multi-world alliance to battle them.

As the Borg attack planet after planet, ships from the Federation Alliance are sent to prevent the attack and destruction of an Independent world on the fringes of Federation space.

Adelphous IV

Shortly after Voyager’s return from the Delta Quadrant, this has been the location of a top secret joint project between the Federation, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, and Cardassian Union to develop a prototype ship to use against the Borg.

Unfinished, the prototype ship is unable to assist in fending off a calculated Borg attack and the fleet is nearly destroyed.

Before the Borg cubes are able to destroy the world, an anomaly appears and the planet begins to disintegrate. The planet, surviving ships, and debris of the destroyed are sucked into the anomaly.

Unknown Galaxy

Adelphous IV reforms in orbit of a class K star in a galaxy beyond the known universe, along with ships and debris in orbit.

Some debris from wrecked ships is caught in the planets gravity as it reforms and rains down to the surface creating a ship graveyard planetside along with the one in orbit.

Surviving ships are heavily damaged and require varying amounts of repair to be operational, limiting travel to only shuttles.

For the most part, everything on the surface survived undamaged.

Series Possibilities

The mystery of the anomaly and who or what is responsible for it is at the forefront of the first season. They have hope of finding a way home but it is tempered with the realization they could be stuck there forever.

The damaged ships limit the exploration to the range of working shuttles.This instills an urgency to repair the ships. There is also the possibility of the prototype ship that is near completion in a construction facility beneath the planet's surface.

The mixture of powers on an independent world creates a possible struggle for power. What shape will a new government take? What would a new federation look like as it raises from a memory of the one that came before?

What inhabited worlds are nearby? If any, they offer a chance for assistance if not hostile. What technology may they offer and will it be accepted/traded for or will the idea of a Prime Directive survive?

Summed Up

A story about the people on this planet who've been blasted into some unknown reality and whom are struggling to decide what to do and how to survive. Let them be like the audience, wondering what the hell happened that got them there. Some characters will be trying to piece together an answer to what happened and how to get back, while others will accept the hand they've been dealt and decide they have to figure out how to live with each other in this forbidding new place. These two groups can have conflicting goals over limited resources (we have to use these ships to build a means to get home vs. we have to use these ships to build a means to defend ourselves or build a new civilization).

One World, One Ship, An Unknown Galaxy, A New Federation

 

[Navarro]

*raises hand* I just found it very... boring most of the time.

I understand. As I suggested in my post, science fiction writers aren't the best at writing battle scenes. As Jake Sisko one remarked, you've gotta write about what you know. They know science fiction drama and the Star Trek universe, but for good battle sequences, you need someone who knows naval warfare. Retired naval officers, not armchair admirals. If you can't recruit someone knowledgeable of and experienced in surface or subsurface warfare, then if you're good enough, you can always bluff your way through.

In my opinion, one of the greatest naval movies of all time was The Final Countdown, where the modern USS Nimitz nuclear aircraft carrier was transported back in time to just before Japan's WW2 attack on Pearl Harbor. Though this was a warship tasked with the defense of the United States, on the eve of America's most infamous day, there were few battle scenes, and these time travelling sailors only opened fire in one of them - a couple short bursts of the F-14 Tomcat's 20mm gun, against Japanese Zeros. The Final Countdown was made of some fine writing, even if it was just a bluff.

 

[Navarro]

What about an anthology series set in the Star Trek Universe? Each week can be something completely different with a new cast of characters.

That could be interesting. What we've seen of the Federation so far has always been from the perspective of Starfleet officers. There's an entire universe of people and things to explore, and unlike the characters who's lives we've followed on Star Trek, we don't need a starship to explore that universe. You could have an episode, or multiple episodes, about the experiences of the colonists that I suggested earlier. You could have other episodes about other things as well.

For instance: An episode about the Federation President's struggle for re-election, and simultaneous struggle to maintain his Federation values and to overcome the temptation to win by an act of corruption, instead surrendering to defeat, retaining his integrity. An episode about the Federation diplomat in charge of talks between the Klingon and Federation, just prior to the Federation-Klingon War. An episode where we watch as relations rapidly deteriorate, and this diplomat struggles to find peace with honor, knowing that if he fails, it will mean a devastating war where billions may die. As we all know, he does fail, and so the episode leaves us looking upon a defeated and broken man, and a shattered peace resting at his feat. An episode from the Klingon's perspective during The Great Trible Hunt. An episode from a Romulan perspective during the battle which took place in Balance of Terror. An episode about anything at all, so long as it's from the perspective of Kor, the Dahar Master.

I see a lot of opportunity in your idea.

 

[Navarro]

I've posted an idea I have here in the What post-Nemesis Trek SHOULD be like thread. It fits here as well as it's definitely a new setting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've had a very rough idea of what a post-Voyager/Nemesis show could be like for awhile now. Like I said, very rough, but here are my thoughts using some stuff from the Destiny novels as a springboard...

Setup

2381

The destruction of two planets is followed by a message.

“We are the Borg. You will be annihilated.”

Continuing attacks soon lead to a full scale Borg Invasion into the Alpha and Beta Quadrants resulting in the Federation entering into a multi-world alliance to battle them.

As the Borg attack planet after planet, ships from the Federation Alliance are sent to prevent the attack and destruction of an Independent world on the fringes of Federation space.

Adelphous IV

Shortly after Voyager’s return from the Delta Quadrant, this has been the location of a top secret joint project between the Federation, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, and Cardassian Union to develop a prototype ship to use against the Borg.

Unfinished, the prototype ship is unable to assist in fending off a calculated Borg attack and the fleet is nearly destroyed.

Before the Borg cubes are able to destroy the world, an anomaly appears and the planet begins to disintegrate. The planet, surviving ships, and debris of the destroyed are sucked into the anomaly.

Unknown Galaxy

Adelphous IV reforms in orbit of a class K star in a galaxy beyond the known universe, along with ships and debris in orbit.

Some debris from wrecked ships is caught in the planets gravity as it reforms and rains down to the surface creating a ship graveyard planetside along with the one in orbit.

Surviving ships are heavily damaged and require varying amounts of repair to be operational, limiting travel to only shuttles.

For the most part, everything on the surface survived undamaged.

Series Possibilities

The mystery of the anomaly and who or what is responsible for it is at the forefront of the first season. They have hope of finding a way home but it is tempered with the realization they could be stuck there forever.

The damaged ships limit the exploration to the range of working shuttles.This instills an urgency to repair the ships. There is also the possibility of the prototype ship that is near completion in a construction facility beneath the planet's surface.

The mixture of powers on an independent world creates a possible struggle for power. What shape will a new government take? What would a new federation look like as it raises from a memory of the one that came before?

What inhabited worlds are nearby? If any, they offer a chance for assistance if not hostile. What technology may they offer and will it be accepted/traded for or will the idea of a Prime Directive survive?

Summed Up

A story about the people on this planet who've been blasted into some unknown reality and whom are struggling to decide what to do and how to survive. Let them be like the audience, wondering what the hell happened that got them there. Some characters will be trying to piece together an answer to what happened and how to get back, while others will accept the hand they've been dealt and decide they have to figure out how to live with each other in this forbidding new place. These two groups can have conflicting goals over limited resources (we have to use these ships to build a means to get home vs. we have to use these ships to build a means to defend ourselves or build a new civilization).

One World, One Ship, An Unknown Galaxy, A New Federation

Absolutely brilliant. I love it. At the beginning of your post, I was skeptical. When your post came to an end, I wanted more. I think if your idea were to be produced, the result would be the best Trek yet by far. Have you considered actually writing a script or pitching the idea to CBS/Paramount? I think it's that good.

 

[David.Blue]

The challenge is finding a setting with the crucial advantages of a space ship-or-station.
Offhand I think an alien planet sounds good, but you need built-in adventure elements that "feel" akin to being aboard a starship.
So how about an all-but-dead planet what thousands of years past suffered some kind of catastrophe, which among other things left most of the atmosphere gone or unusable. Yet the civilization here was very advanced. This planet--let us call it Drogon III because I like Game of Thrones--is way out in the middle of nowhere. Subspace communication unreliable. Regular visits by Starfleet few and far between. Yet a contingent of Starfleet officers are there and in charge, along with a bunch of civilians (some of whom may be ex-Starfleet). Along with maybe some guests from a not-entirely-trusted species who have been uneasy allies of the Federation in some recent conflict. Some hope to build upon this temporary alliance into something real. Others see this as a threat and/or opportunity.
On top of all this, the remnants of the Drogonites are strange, capable of bizarre reactions to things. Well, bizarre to our way of thinking. Perhaps some sleeping Drogonites are found, and turn out to be dangerous criminals. Or maybe primitive survivors of the species dwell in the deepest caves, slowly building a new culture. Desdendants of a Drogonite colony might show up, in search of their holy Homeworld or the like.
Build all this around a core of really compelling characters, and yeah it might work very well.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Maybe they can populate/re-purpose an abandoned, possibly vandalized on the way out underground/domed community?

 

[CJCade]

Absolutely brilliant. I love it. At the beginning of your post, I was skeptical. When your post came to an end, I wanted more. I think if your idea were to be produced, the result would be the best Trek yet by far. Have you considered actually writing a script or pitching the idea to CBS/Paramount? I think it's that good.

Thank you for the kind words. The idea, I believe, has potential but there still needs to be a lot of fleshing out done. I originally intended to do this concept as a Fan Film Series, before the new guidelines from CBS dropped. As of now it is what I look at as a could have been.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

IIRC there was once an idea bounced around in the 70s for a Starfleet Academy series. I think that could be fun. Probably would work best as a season of an anthology series, because I'm not sure you could do, say, 7 seasons of Starfleet Academy.

 

[Andrews]

That was a really interesting concept CJCade, that does leave me wanting to read more and find out where that series would go.

 

[BillJ]

"Star" "Trek"

Seems pretty self-explanatory to me that it should be about trekking among the stars.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

"Star" "Trek"

Seems pretty self-explanatory to me that it should be about trekking among the stars.

Not that you wouldn't travel between systems, but hasn't it become more than that?

 

[BillJ]

Not that you wouldn't travel between systems, but hasn't it become more than that?

Why does it need to be more than that? Why can't it have its niche that it does well? Instead everyone tries to turn it into something it isn't. It would be like making a Star Wars movie/series about a sleepy little town where nothing happens.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Okay. So if you could set it on a different kind of Starfleet ship with a different atmosphere, what would you do?

 

[Tenacity]

*raises hand* I just found it very... boring most of the time.

Add me too. The Xindi war arc was far too long, the whole thing should have been wrapped up in half dozen episodes. The same with the Dominion arc, slightly longer than the Xindi, but not season after season of the same subject.

See a ship head towards a combat situation, cut to commercial, return and it's the conclusion of the multi-day long combat showing the crew celebrating victory and picking up the pieces.

and these time travelling sailors only opened fire in one of them - a couple short bursts of the F-14 Tomcat's 20mm gun, against Japanese Zeros

One Zero was "splashed" that way, the other was brought down with a sidewinder missile into it's engine exhaust.

 

[BillJ]

Okay. So if you could set it on a different kind of Starfleet ship with a different atmosphere, what would you do?

Put Starfleet in the position of not being superior, put them in the position of an advanced society pushing their own version of the Prime Directive on them (much more advanced than the Vulcans we see on Enterprise). All mixed in a big bag of fun, where the heroes are encountering a universe of the weird, wild and unexpected.

Make a show about a Starfleet crew facing the next step in human evolution. The wonders and horrors they face as a whole new level of the universe is exposed to them.