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Do we know why Pike and co are in the different uniforms?

The arrow is an upright version of the UESPA/Starfleet Command combined service logo in 2155 Coalition of Planets era Starfleet operations.

Where the long headed star came from, is another matter.
 
I think it's just to do with either the Constitution class in general, or the Enterprise in particular, being 'special' in some way. I can't think of any reason that actually makes sense as to why that may be the case, though perhaps TPTB just didn't want the Enterprise crew not to be seen in a version of the familiar TOS uniform (although if that's the case then we all know that they should be in 'Cage' style turtlenecks at this point, though I'd say the TOS 'black collar over bright primary colour' is significantly more recognisable).

Personally I think the Disco uniform style doesn't suit the TOS colour scheme. Though I am glad they went with sleeve braids for the ranks instead of the daft virtually-invisible pips on the delta badges themselves.
 
From the look of it crews of the Constitution-Class ships or possibly various deep space crews have begun using the TOS-era uniform maybe even a general transition across Starfleet as a whole. If we take canon and semi-canon accounts during the course of the 2240s and 2250s Starfleet used the DSC uniform as the standard form of dress potentially as far as 2260. At the same time during the early 2250s (semi-canon via Desperate Measures) crews of the Constitution-Class ships were wearing an alternate exploration uniform ala the original Pilot-era uniforms. Now we come to the start of DSC season 2 which takes place at the end of the 2250's (~2258). The TOS uniform as seen from TOS proper season 1 is now being cycled into service with the DSC uniform slowly being cycled out. As for why Pike is in the DSC uniform at the end of the trailer would be that he only had the one "new" uniform on, and of course with changing clothes (as we all hopefully do per good hygiene) the replicators of the Discovery are still preset to produce the phasing-out uniform versus the newer uniform that the Enterprise replicators would be programmed to make hence his wearing the DSC variant. I could very well see DSC overall switching to the re-imagined TOS uniforms by the end of Season 2 going into a probable Season 3.
 
Well these two are actually on screen at the same time.
That's a small worry tbh. Can easily be handwaved away by saying the 'split' delta goes with the Disco uniforms and the 'flat' delta goes with the Enterprise uniforms.

It's not uncommon for uniforms and signage to be phased out very slowly in large organisations. I've worked for a couple of large retail companies in my time and whenever there's a change in the design of the logo etc, the larger, busier stores get refurbed and updated first, while smaller/older stores may sometimes wait years to change over. At one point I worked for a company that had 2 stores in the same town, one new and one older. I split my time between both, and not only did the newer store have newer signage, but a completely different uniform. I had to wear the new uniform in the new store and the old (itchy) uniform in the old store.
 
It's not uncommon for uniforms and signage to be phased out very slowly in large organisations. I've worked for a couple of large retail companies in my time and whenever there's a change in the design of the logo etc, the larger, busier stores get refurbed and updated first, while smaller/older stores may sometimes wait years to change over. At one point I worked for a company that had 2 stores in the same town, one new and one older. I split my time between both, and not only did the newer store have newer signage, but a completely different uniform. I had to wear the new uniform in the new store and the old (itchy) uniform in the old store.
Though doing that makes less sense when you can just replicate the new gear in couple of seconds...
 
Only the Constitution Class undertook the 5 year mission program (TOS/ST:ID/DSC) so they're afforded an level of respect/authority no other ship or crew is. Distinguished by their unique uniforms, unified delta, sleeker starships and prestiguous captains.
 
Only the Constitution Class undertook the 5 year mission program (TOS/ST:ID/DSC) so they're afforded an level of respect/authority no other ship or crew is. Distinguished by their unique uniforms, unified delta, sleeker starships and prestiguous captains.
Basically, the assholes of Starfleet. :)
 
That's a small worry tbh. Can easily be handwaved away by saying the 'split' delta goes with the Disco uniforms and the 'flat' delta goes with the Enterprise uniforms.

It's not uncommon for uniforms and signage to be phased out very slowly in large organisations. I've worked for a couple of large retail companies in my time and whenever there's a change in the design of the logo etc, the larger, busier stores get refurbed and updated first, while smaller/older stores may sometimes wait years to change over. At one point I worked for a company that had 2 stores in the same town, one new and one older. I split my time between both, and not only did the newer store have newer signage, but a completely different uniform. I had to wear the new uniform in the new store and the old (itchy) uniform in the old store.
Organizations can also run multiple uniforms at the same time.
 
Seems like that one became canon, as everyone in both the Abramsverse and Discoverse wear arrowhead badges well before TOS.
There were episodes of TOS (First Season) that had all members of Star Fleet wearing the Delta. TOS - "Court martial" comes to mind. Everyone in uniform in the bar has a Delta, and there are those there who aren't 1701 crew, like Kirk's Academy classmates at the bar who question him about what really happen to Finny.

So, the 'alternate badge' wasn't a constant in every TOS episode as far back as TOS Season 1.
 
Indeed, the one interpretation consistent with what was shown would have been "Starfleet has a number of badges, each appropriate for a number of ships and installations and/or branches". Where one goes from there is open to debate: we know different Constitution class ships can get different badges, but OTOH they can also get the same badge (as, despite the valiant effort of the director, we see the arrowhead on the Defiant crew in "Tholian Web"). Separate insignia for separate Fleets within Starfleet might be nice. But separate insignia for assorted branches, from Command to Exploration to Defense to Logistics, would also work fine - the Constitutions seem to do all the jobs anyway, being the jacks of all trades.

As for the uniforms, I don't think we have a problem of special Discovery uniforms spilling over to Starfleet Command - but vice versa, with the most formal and decorative uniform type being insisted upon by the tough guy Lorca just like Picard once insisted on the tight formal spandex (also worn by Starfleet Command at San Francisco) over the baggy coveralls the more relaxed Sisko and Janeway allowed.

During this economy-sized warlet, Starfleet would insist on pomp and decor on ships like the Gagarin, too. Once the closing ceremonies for that event were held, though, Pike at least would return to the classic style. Just like Sisko swapped back to the coveralls once departing San Francisco...

So, Rationalization #47656 and counting, pending canon approval. Not that one would be desperately needed: changing uniforms are as much a key feature of Star Trek as changing Klingons.

Timo Saloniemi
 
In the DISCOverse, all of Starfleet except the Enterprise wear the split delta. Even Section 31.

In the Kelvinverse, all of Starfleet wear the arrowhead or variations thereof.

In the TOS movies, Next Gen and everything else, everyone wears the arrowhead.

In some of TOS (when they remembered/had the budget) and ENT, everyone has different mission patches.
 
Singling out the "split delta" seems unnecessary, as "variations thereof" have always been common and cover it all. We don't often see variations in simultaneous use, but logically there must be times of transition. We may be seeing one in DSC, quite possibly from what Lorca was wearing to what Pike is wearing; less probably the opposite way; and perhaps a situation we need to interpret as a failed attempt at introduction.

Timo Saloniemi
 
The arrow is an upright version of the UESPA/Starfleet Command combined service logo in 2155 Coalition of Planets era Starfleet operations.

Where the long headed star came from, is another matter.
The UESPA logos were a retcon for Voyager and Enterprise were they not? If you go by in-universe then the long headed star was on the MACO uniform rank shoulder patches so one can assume it was originally a Military symbol that was then adopted for the command wing of Starfleet (and then eventually all of SF during the movie era).
 
Out-universe, the UESPA had no known logo until "Friendship One"; in-universe, it must have had a logo the day it was born. It's thus "retcon" in the sense that Sarek being Spock's father is a retcon, or the Klingons existing is a retcon.

As for the star, it may also have been a general Command symbol in all of Earth's fighting arms in the immediate pre-Federation era: the Military would have it, the Starfleet would have it, and both would also have the Sciences atomic model, the Services spiral and whatnot.

But stars and arrowheads both are extremely generic symbols that have little to do with either Starfleet or Star Trek.

Timo Saloniemi
 
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