Dolphin Crew Members as Show Regulars?

[SG-17]

We know that by 2367 Dolphins were serving as crew members aboard Federation starships, notably as Navigational Specialists on the Enterprise-D.

Having a dolphin as a regular or semi-regular cast member would clear up some questions, such as can we only communicate with them through telepathy or have we managed to adapt the UT?

Do you think that a dolphin regular would be a good idea? Or do you think that an episode or two would cover everything?

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Do you think that a dolphin regular would be a good idea? Or do you think that an episode or two would cover everything?

Talking dolphins was a silly gimmick on seaQuest, and it would be even sillier for Star Trek. I'd rather leave hyper-intelligent dolphins to Hitchhiker's Guide where they belong.

 

[NIUPonyBoy]

I think not ever seeing something gimmicky and silly like that would be best.

 

[ChristopherPike]

That would be down to that single "Cetacean Ops" line we heard during Yesterday's Enterprise then...? Possibly it was a bit of satire, because of the military applications Dolphins were put to use on? That alternate timeline Federation were getting pretty desperate in their war against the Klingons.

On the otherhand, maybe they just had a bunch of Xindi-Aquatic crewmembers someplace.

 

[SG-17]

It is mentioned in "Perfect Mate" as well.

 

[Dane_Whitman]

On the otherhand, maybe they just had a bunch of Xindi-Aquatic crewmembers someplace.

I like it!

 

[ChristopherPike]

It is mentioned in "Perfect Mate" as well.

Cheers. Nobody ever mentions that one.

Wasn't there something like this done in one of novels? One those early TNG giants? Maybe it was some vast space aboard the D adapted for a visiting Ambassador from an oceanic world though? I forget...

 

[plynch]

I would like to see non humanoid crewmembers.

 

[Misfit Toy]

Was it author Diane Duane who wrote of a Horta crew member?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Was it author Diane Duane who wrote of a Horta crew member?

Yep, Mr Naraht. He's appeared in numerous ST novels and comics.

Wasn't there something like this done in one of novels? One those early TNG giants?

Yep. Diane Duane again. She featured an alien dolphin crewmember of the Enterprise-D in her TNG hardcover novel, "Dark Mirror".

 

[Myasishchev]

In the tech forum, I once speculated that the foremost purpose of "cetacean ops" is to sequester a very large amount of water to serve as the Enterprise's neutrino antenna. Utilization as an aquarium or marine quarters for marine sapients is really just a bonus...

 

[T'Girl]

Yep. Diane Duane again. She featured an alien dolphin crewmember of the Enterprise-D in her TNG hardcover novel, "Dark Mirror".

.

It was this crew-persons reaction that lead captain Picard to the knowledge that they had changed to the mirror universe.

Picard: "Ensign Flipper what happen?"

Ensign Flipper: "Uh hu hu hu, tah at at at."

 

[Timo]

Outside the novels, there's no need to assume the dolphins are "superintelligent". Perhaps they have the intelligence of a clever kitten? Doesn't mean they wouldn't make for good crew members. An open-minded future defense and exploration organization will no doubt find roles for people even if they are disabled, retarded, or otherwise not quite people as current militaries would define them.

It does stretch credibility a bit that the UT isn't used more for communicating with animals. Surely Data would have tried to apply it on Spot until something gave?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[The Wormhole]

That would be down to that single "Cetacean Ops" line we heard during Yesterday's Enterprise then...? Possibly it was a bit of satire, because of the military applications Dolphins were put to use on? That alternate timeline Federation were getting pretty desperate in their war against the Klingons.

Dolphin strategists could be a bit badass.

But really, who wouldn't want to see Worf spar with Darwin? Is that a pin dropping?

 

[JB2005]

^ Well as someone said

"Why Dolphins? Bees move in three dimensions, and they make honey...then we could have the story where Riker eats all the honey and gets stuck in Rabbit's house..."

 

[Myasishchev]

I never got that--since when do people not move in three dimensions? We're not A. Square.

 

[The Wormhole]

^ Well as someone said

"Why Dolphins? Bees move in three dimensions, and they make honey...then we could have the story where Riker eats all the honey and gets stuck in Rabbit's house..."

I love it! Tell me when you got this fan fic done.

 

[T'Girl]

.


Counselor Troi: "Worf, how did you find Ensign Flipper?"

Lt. Commander Worf: "Delicious."

.

 

[SeerSGB]

On the otherhand, maybe they just had a bunch of Xindi-Aquatic crewmembers someplace.

Not a bad idea. Even before "Enterprise" gave us the Xindi-Aquatic, I've always assumed that Cet-Ops referred to something for some water dwelling crew member, but not necessarily Crewman Flipper.

 

[TenLubak]

I remember the dolphin in Dark Mirror. His name was w'ii or something similar in dolphin language one translated in to human language english.