Could we have an alien Captain?

[Satyrquaze]

Afterall we had a female and a black captain.

Why not a Kreetassan, Karema, Vaduwaur, Bolian, Vorgon, Denobulan or a Suliban captain?

I must say that I think a Romulan Starfleet Captain is more plausable than most of your examples.

I think the Kreetassan are very plausable, but we only ever see them in the 22nd century. They may or may not be a Federation aligned species: Very plausable.

The Karemma are a Gamma quadrant species who appeared to be quite comfortable in their place within the Dominion so chances are: No.

The Vaadwaur are native to the Delta quadrant and were hostile to Voyager. So, not only are they *really* far away, but I don't think they'd fit comfortably we even a Federation allied species. So: No IMO. You'd have a better chance with the Karemma.

Wasn't Captain Rixx a Bolian? In fact wasn't he the first Bolian we ever saw? I'm sure you mean having a Bolian captain for a hypothetical show... but I'm just pointing out we've seen Bolian captains before.

The Vorgons were unfamilar to Picard as of 2366 and the only examples of their species are a pair criminals from the 27th century, so I'd have to go out on a limb and say the Vorgons are unlikely for at least a hundred years.

Denobulans are pretty plausable. It's just a question if a Denobulan would seek out command of a starship. Course, we haven't seen them on film since the 22nd century.

The Suliban are pretty neutral last I checked. But weren't they rumored to be extinct by the 23-24th century?

 

[Yevetha]

The Suliban are pretty neutral last I checked. But weren't they rumored to be extinct by the 23-24th century?

Klingons were hostile, but we still have Worf.

 

[C.E. Evans]

The Suliban are pretty neutral last I checked. But weren't they rumored to be extinct by the 23-24th century?

There was some talk by ENT's producers that we eventually would know why we don't see any Suliban in TOS and TNG, but ultimately the Suliban were an idea that was dropped much like the Kazon in VOY.

For all we know, though, the Suliban are still around in the 24th-Century, but with the Galaxy being such a big place, it's not implausible that our heroes tend to be in places the Suliban aren't. Other Starfleet crews might deal with them more regularly, however.

 

[Yevetha]

The DTI has a Suliban member.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I've got a Suliban shuttle pilot onboard the Border Cutter Silverfin.

My thoughts on the Suliban is that after the death of Silik the end of the 'temporal cold war' came to an end and the Kabal all but collapsed. Afterwards some Suliban settled on small out of the way colonies (seeing as how they ticked off a lot of species in the 22nd century), others would remain nomadic. The end of the Kabal also meant the end of the genetic engineering, so those abilities would diminish over time as each generation diluted the enhanced. The colonies would remain neutral, though some of the nomads would do whatever they wanted in order to make a living.

But then again that is just how things are in my little nook of fanficdom.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Afterall we had a female and a black captain.

Why not a Kreetassan, Karema, Vaduwaur, Bolian, Vorgon, Denobulan or a Suliban captain?

From that list I would say:

YAY
- Bolian (love Bolians for some reason)

MEH
- Denobulan (an odd species, but I could live with that)
- Kreetassan (verging on Nay, I found them annoying and over used on ENT)
- Suliban (would be interesting to see what they were up to in the 24th century)

NAY
- Karemma (they are members of the Dominion and in the GQ)
- Vaadwaur (they were still out in the DQ, plus they weren't very likable)
- Vorgon (I found them a very dull species)

 

[Yevetha]

- Karemma (they are members of the Dominion and in the GQ)

The Federation pres was a Kremma so why not?

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

- Karemma (they are members of the Dominion and in the GQ)

The Federation pres was a Kremma so why not?

The Federation Presidents we've seen on screen have been human (ST4) and Efrosian (ST6). To the best of my knowledge no other president has been seen on screen.

 

[Yevetha]

Sorry i mixed it up with the grazerite pres.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Oh crap! How could I forget Jaresh-Enyo? Duh!

I would think though that if Trek got an alien CO in the next series, it wouldn't be one with a lot of prosthetics--so as to not alienate any potential new viewers. Possibly Bajoran, Betazoid, Deltan, Trill or Vulcan.

 

[Sjaddix]

We mostly agreed earlier that to use Star Wars terminology. A near human would work fine in this case near being anything that looks almost exactly human. I could see maybe an Andorian or Klingon but past that no.

 

[Rachet]

Denobulan Captain, with a Cardassian C.M.O. and a Klingon Tactical Officer/Chief of Security, Human helmperson.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

My ideal characters for the next series:

CO - Captain - A Bolian woman, early-mid 40s
XO - Commander - A Caucasian human man, mid 30s, his boyfriend is a non-com aboard
Sci - Lt. Commander - A Middle Eastern (possibly Muslim) human woman, mid 30s
CMO - Lt. Commander - A Vulcan female, appears to be mid-30s (actually far older)
CEO - Lieutenant - A human male, late 20s
Sec/Tac - Lieutenant - Human, late 20s
Ops - Lieutenant - An Orion male, late 20s
Counsellor - Lieutenant JG - A new (or previous 'guest') alien male, mid-20s
Conn - Ensign - A Cardassian female, early 20s
NCO - Chief Petty Officer - A Betazoid male, mid 30s, the partner of the XO

 

[Sjaddix]

Not sure u need a Caucasian male the betazoid will look like one anyway.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Not sure u need a Caucasian male the betazoid will look like one anyway.

Why have Deanna Troi half Betazoid, she just looked human? It's for the diversity. I think the next series should have lots of aliens (even the human-looking ones).

 

[Sjaddix]

she was half because it gave her an empathy ability that proved useful.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

And a full-blooded Betazoid security specialist wouldn't be useful?

Besides, I never said the Betazoid had to be Caucasian.

 

[Tribble puncher]

Modern Star Trek has gotten away from the Alien = Rubber Forehead formula. So you could have an alien captain that fit the normal lead actor looks stereotypes and wouldn't have scabies on his face.

Don't forget Superman is an alien, but still fulfills the all-american boy type character. You could imagine a typical Captain character which also has psychic abilities or incredible strength.

Supes looks completely human. Star Trek doesn't really do completely human looking aliens. Last time I checked, they were firmly in the rubber forehead mold. When did they change? I'd love to think that there's some new Star Trek out there that somehow escaped my eagle eye.

But howabout this - an android captain!!! Or maybe an augment or a hologram? Those are the three main ways to have a human-looking but "alien" character in Star Trek.

How about a navigator with down syndrome and a dwarf as the engineering officer while we are at it?

Hey, a dwarf would fit into the Jeffreys tubes much better...wow, would that be un-PC.

Too many people would be wondering why a robot captain even bothers walking around when he could just plug directly into the ship. Don't even get me started on holographic captains and crew. I don't see holographic factory workers on automated production lines. so why on a ship? the ship would be running itself in effect. so why bother with interiors and fake humans running around. The doctor in Voyager was kind've a silly concept to begin with. The only reason he wasn't laughed off the show was because Robert Picardo did a good job playing him, and you quit thinking about the fact he was a hologram.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I understand the concept on an EMH, on ships with a small medical staff they would need back up if faced with a major crisis. But when he started wanting to be more than the ship's doctor I just didn't buy it, especially that whole "ECH" thing. Why not just turn command over to the computer, as that is all a hologram is.

In the next series they should do everything possible to distance themselves from the holographic rights crap that VOY tried to ram down our throat. A hologram, even one as sophisticated as the Doctor, is still a mass market computer programme. Data's status as a sentient being is different in that he is pretty unique, but after holograms it's be the phaser banks, then the warp reactor, then the toaster all looking to be recognised (ok a bit fanciful that, but there I see little difference between a hologram and any other ship system, its a tool).

I could understand a crew member being cyberised following the war, in order to repair serious injuries, but I think that Trek can leave androids/robots and holograms alone for the time being.

 

[T'Girl]

How about a navigator with down syndrome and a dwarf as the engineering officer while we are at it?

Hey, a dwarf would fit into the Jeffreys tubes much better...wow, would that be un-PC.

Giggles aside, a dwarf regular would be a good idea.

I've also considered a actor/actress who was a child, six to nine years old, with facial makeup to make them appear in their twenties or thirties. Dub the voice probably too. You could use them in a story arc, then by necessary get rid of them before they grew out of the role.

Get some basketball player sized folks in there too, as long as they reasonable can walk down the corridors. Slight bowing perhaps through the doorways.

Not everyone in the Federation is going to be "normal" sized.

(The seven foot four woman, can have a romance, with the four foot one man)