Creating a unified Star Trek reboot

[DigificWriter]

Hi. I recently checked out what IGN had to say about JJ Abrams' new Trek movie, and, while I am now certainly more stoked to see it than I had been, I've also been inspired to try and contemplate my own Trek reboot. However, I thought I would try a different approach to the traditional one of coming up with ideas on my own and posting them for people to critique and talk about. Instead, I want to make this a 'unified' and collaborative reboot effort, with input from many people. Since this is my idea, I'll start by laying the groundwork.

The Setting
As with the original Star Trek, this reboot is set in the 23rd Century, specifically in the year 2245. As in the original series, humanity has evolved beyond petty differences, and united themselves together in a moneyless utopian society in which they work in concert with the inhabitants of other worlds as part of a coalition called the United Federation of Planets. As a primarily peaceful entity, one of the Federation's main goals - and therefore one of humanity's main pursuits - lies in exploration. However, the Federation in general and Earth specifically are not without their miliataristic side, with the bulk of humanity's explorative pursuits being overseen by a pseudo-military organization known as Starfleet.

Despite playing a key role in the formation of the Federation and the establishment of its goals and credos, humanity is nevertheless a relatively new player on the intergalactic stage, and their efforts to explore the wider galaxy and solidify their position within the Federation and the interstellar community have been fledgling at best. A concentrated effort is therefore being made to change humanity's standing within the interestellar community, all centering around the construction of a vessel capable of undertaking a prolonged mission of exploration on behalf of both Earth and the Federation.

***

Okay, now it's up to you guys to expand on this foundation.

 

[JNG]

A lot less of that "human condition" cerebral BS. Instead we need some chicks in their underwear and fuck scenes and whatnot, Vulcans who beat cadet ass on the bridge during a crisis, giant space drills penetrating planets, sword fights, tattoos, and definitely some sports cars and motorcycles—or else we won't know what an awesome rebel-with-a-destiny our main character is. Finally, the fan designs make it clear that everyone's sick of all that exploration crap for queers; the new Enterprise should be an Enhanced Heavy Strike Dreadnought with six nacelles, 88 phaser cannons, 60 torpedo launchers and a company of over eleven thousand Starfleet Death Marines, and it should spend most of its time seeking out new life forms and absolutely killing the shit out of them. Finally, everyone should wear sunglasses at all times, and rock music with vocals by whiney white dudes should be playing nonstop.


No, actually, your proposal is an interesting reminder of how the core elements of Trek have not really dated and don't really seem to need a whole lot of rejiggering. It reminds me of how they started with radical redesigns of the bridge for one of the modern Treks and ended up realizing that the original design was so solid there was no point in changing it just to change it. One thing I like in what you've written is the way Earth is not Supreme Capital of the Known Universe, as so many fans seem to assume, and it is plausible and interesting that humankind, having been in space much less time than some of the other members, would be anxious to have its representatives in the Federation Starfleet involved in ambitious missions of exploration and discovery.

 

[Admiral2]

A lot less of that "human condition" cerebral BS. Instead we need some chicks in their underwear and fuck scenes and whatnot, Vulcans who beat cadet ass on the bridge during a crisis, giant space drills penetrating planets, sword fights, tattoos, and definitely some sports cars and motorcycles—or else we won't know what an awesome rebel-with-a-destiny our main character is. Finally, the fan designs make it clear that everyone's sick of all that exploration crap for queers; the new Enterprise should be an Enhanced Heavy Strike Dreadnought with six nacelles, 88 phaser cannons, 60 torpedo launchers and a company of over eleven thousand Starfleet Death Marines, and it should spend most of its time seeking out new life forms and absolutely killing the shit out of them. Finally, everyone should wear sunglasses at all times, and rock music with vocals by whiney white dudes should be playing nonstop.


No, actually, your proposal is an interesting reminder of how the core elements of Trek have not really dated and don't really seem to need a whole lot of rejiggering. It reminds me of how they started with radical redesigns of the bridge for one of the modern Treks and ended up realizing that the original design was so solid there was no point in changing it just to change it. One thing I like in what you've written is the way Earth is not Supreme Capital of the Known Universe, as so many fans seem to assume, and it is plausible and interesting that humankind, having been in space much less time than some of the other members, would be anxious to have its representatives in the Federation Starfleet involved in ambitious missions of exploration and discovery.

Which means, of course, that it's exactly what we've already got forty years of, which makes this yet another reboot proposal thread that doesn't actually reboot anything. Perfect.

 

[DigificWriter]

^ That comment right there shows just how little you know or understand about what a reboot is or involves. I've also realized that this whole collaboration idea is probably not going to work like I was hoping, so, mods, please lock and/or delete the thread.

 

[RobertScorpio]

A lot less of that "human condition" cerebral BS. Instead we need some chicks in their underwear and fuck scenes and whatnot, Vulcans who beat cadet ass on the bridge during a crisis, giant space drills penetrating planets, sword fights, tattoos, and definitely some sports cars and motorcycles—or else we won't know what an awesome rebel-with-a-destiny our main character is. Finally, the fan designs make it clear that everyone's sick of all that exploration crap for queers; the new Enterprise should be an Enhanced Heavy Strike Dreadnought with six nacelles, 88 phaser cannons, 60 torpedo launchers and a company of over eleven thousand Starfleet Death Marines, and it should spend most of its time seeking out new life forms and absolutely killing the shit out of them. Finally, everyone should wear sunglasses at all times, and rock music with vocals by whiney white dudes should be playing nonstop.


No, actually, your proposal is an interesting reminder of how the core elements of Trek have not really dated and don't really seem to need a whole lot of rejiggering. It reminds me of how they started with radical redesigns of the bridge for one of the modern Treks and ended up realizing that the original design was so solid there was no point in changing it just to change it. One thing I like in what you've written is the way Earth is not Supreme Capital of the Known Universe, as so many fans seem to assume, and it is plausible and interesting that humankind, having been in space much less time than some of the other members, would be anxious to have its representatives in the Federation Starfleet involved in ambitious missions of exploration and discovery.

I actually see the opposite way. We kind of got this with season one of TNG, and would have gotten more of the gooey TREK with phase-one. No one is going to watch a G-rated Star Trek with a utopian future with guys running around in skirts. Ain't gonna happen.

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Not sure I get this. What you wrote seems consistent with Star Trek as it is today, except for this:

As with the original Star Trek, this reboot is set in the 23rd Century, specifically in the year 2245. As in the original series, humanity has evolved beyond petty differences, and united themselves together in a moneyless utopian society in which they work in concert with the inhabitants of other worlds as part of a coalition called the United Federation of Planets.

The 23rd C doesn't seem moneyless or anti-capitalistic; that evolves by the 24th C, tho. I don't see the purpose of placing the 24th C milieu in the 23rd and it's a fine point anyway.

Despite playing a key role in the formation of the Federation and the establishment of its goals and credos, humanity is nevertheless a relatively new player on the intergalactic stage, and their efforts to explore the wider galaxy and solidify their position within the Federation and the interstellar community have been fledgling at best. A concentrated effort is therefore being made to change humanity's standing within the interestellar community, all centering around the construction of a vessel capable of undertaking a prolonged mission of exploration on behalf of both Earth and the Federation.

Isn't this pretty much Starfleet's mission now? To continually expand the power of the Federation through exploration while discovering new threats that need to be fought before they make it to the Federation's borders...or to rile up aliens and create threats if you're being cynical.

And why wouldn't Starfleet already have vessels on prolonged missions, maybe even one-way missions, into the far reaches of space? Or colonization vessels from the Federation that had no intent of ever returning home. (Which is one reason why VOY's premise didnt work for me; why wouldn't there already be some Starfleet explorers or Federation colonists in the DQ?)

The story of such a vessel could be good - VOY in reverse - but it's not a reboot.

 

[captcalhoun]

i thought when it said 'unified trek reboot' you meant like...

Captain Jonathon Archer of the Enterprise 1701
Commander James Kirk, first officer.
Lt. Commander Julian Bashir, CMO
Lt. Commander Data, android science officer.
Lieutenant Tom Paris, helm.
Commander Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineer.
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, security chief

etc.

 

[DigificWriter]

I was just gonna let this thread die, but when I saw your post, CaptainCalhoun, I had to respond. One of the ideas that I've had pop into my head in the past about how to 'redo' ST was to use a combination of characters from the various incarnations of the franchise, but I wasn't ever able to come up with a satisfactory way of doing it. Would you mind giving me more details?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

...we need some chicks in their underwear and fuck scenes and whatnot, Vulcans who beat cadet ass on the bridge during a crisis, giant space drills penetrating planets, sword fights, tattoos, and definitely some sports cars and motorcycles...

Can't hurt at this point.

 

[trekkerguy]

...we need some chicks in their underwear and fuck scenes and whatnot, Vulcans who beat cadet ass on the bridge during a crisis, giant space drills penetrating planets, sword fights, tattoos, and definitely some sports cars and motorcycles...

Can't hurt at this point.

Most interesting Trek idea since 1999.

 

[uniderth]

Never!!!

Sorry. If you couldn't guess I don't like trek reboots.

 

[trekkerguy]

Never!!!

Sorry. If you couldn't guess I don't like trek reboots.

Sorry bout TMP.

 

[uniderth]

Never!!!

Sorry. If you couldn't guess I don't like trek reboots.

Sorry bout TMP.

What to you mean sorry about TMP?

 

[trekkerguy]

Never!!!

Sorry. If you couldn't guess I don't like trek reboots.

Sorry bout TMP.

What to you mean sorry about TMP?

It was very much like a reboot of TOS.
Changed the looks and alot of the style from the series.

 

[uniderth]

Yes, it is similar. But there is a slight difference. They weren't changing what had already been done.

 

[Wowbagger]

TMP was in continuity.

TNG, as originally conceived? Not quite so much. That's my model for a reboot.

Except without the year of suck first. I would avoid that.

 

[abm]

All Star Trek concepts these days seem to be reboots. Why is that? I just watched the first season of Enterprise. I really wanted to like it, but I'm quite sorry to say I wasn't impressed.

I must admit I'm quite excited about the new film. However I must admit to thinking another reboot?

I think star trek could do wonderfull things going on from voyager. I've got this idea about a united 'scramble for the delta quadrant' between humans and cardassians. Any interest in such an idea?

Please excuse misspellings and poor grammar I am not a native english speaker

 

[trekkerguy]

All Star Trek concepts these days seem to be reboots. Why is that? I just watched the first season of Enterprise. I really wanted to like it, but I'm quite sorry to say I wasn't impressed.

I must admit I'm quite excited about the new film. However I must admit to thinking another reboot?

I think star trek could do wonderfull things going on from voyager. I've got this idea about a united 'scramble for the delta quadrant' between humans and cardassians. Any interest in such an idea?

Please excuse misspellings and poor grammar I am not a native english speaker

I agree that Trek could do wonderful things beyond VOY and NEM.

And in the novels they have, infact in some regards I've come to enjoy
reading the novels more. But they may explore beyond the TNG era on
television again one day if Trek is seen as viable again.

When it comes to the movie series, I think a back to basics reboot is best.

 

[RobertScorpio]

All Star Trek concepts these days seem to be reboots. Why is that? I just watched the first season of Enterprise. I really wanted to like it, but I'm quite sorry to say I wasn't impressed.

I must admit I'm quite excited about the new film. However I must admit to thinking another reboot?

I think star trek could do wonderfull things going on from voyager. I've got this idea about a united 'scramble for the delta quadrant' between humans and cardassians. Any interest in such an idea?

Please excuse misspellings and poor grammar I am not a native english speaker

A reboot, to me, is what nuBSG did. Nothing at all connected with the old show, so that you are starting over in a new direction. In my own fanfic, scorpio's Star Trek, that is what i have done. taken the entire TREK story, from Kirk to Janeway, and seeded my story with aspects of that legacy in a whole new vision...

TMP wasn't a reboot, neither were any of the modern Trek shows. Oh, did they muck up some aspects of continuity? Heck yeah, its those muck ups that have fueled sites such as this one...

Rob

 

[Admiral_Young]

Actually just to nitpick I would classify Battlestar Galactica as a re-imagining of the original series since they took the basic concept and characters from the original and just changed around the plot. A reboot IMO would be to start the franchise over from scratch and use only the simple themes that Star Trek would use. The upcoming movie could be seen as an attempt to restart the franchise from the start using new updated motion picture visual effects, new actors, etc. This is how I categorize the terms.

The books are a example that we can move on from Post Nemesis, Post DS9, Post Endgame, etc and still tell good and interesting stories. Reboots are fine, but normally come from writers running out of ideas for new stories IMO.