So, Pegg and Jung both mentioned how they wanted to give Krall a deeper backstory, rather than just I hate the Federation and want to have my revenge (not sure this came through in the movie). https://www.trektoday.com/content/2016/11/pegg-krall-and-treks-not-taken/ and https://www.trektoday.com/content/2016/08/jung-krall-and-kirk-motivations/
So....I thought, they could have expanded the Captain's logs on the Franklin, showing a gradual disillusionment and descent into bitterness and resentment.
START:
On the Franklin, Uhura continues to review the logs, seeking to gain a better understanding into Krall.
She plays the first log. Balthazar looks happy and his uniform is slightly unbuttoned.
"Captain's log, supplemental. The war is over! There was a nice remembrance and medal ceremony, and a victory celebration party. It's a little bittersweet - we lost a lot of good men and women, and we've been told that the MACOs are being disbanded. But it's not all bad news! We're being merged into Starfleet, and I've been commissioned and given command of the Franklin! Time to serve peace, and become explorers instead of warriors. I can't wait!" Smiling, he turns of the log off.
Next log.
Balthazar looks a bit peeved. This uniform is on straight.
"We've completed our shakedown cruise. Interesting - I was unaware that the Franklin is not a first-rate ship! I mean, don't get me wrong, she's good, and it's still an honour to Captain her and represent Starfleet and the Federation, but I had hoped I'd receive command of a NX class or better? Rather than a 10 year old design? I know they've refitted her so she's not hopelessly obsolete, and we are short of ships due to the war, but still, we can't even move living beings in her transporters, only cargo? The NX class was able to do that when she launched! I only hope the Franklin can do more than warp 4 now!" He sighs. "Well, ours not to reason why. Anyhow, we picked up some scientists. Our next mission is to take them to their destination and assist them with some experiment".
Next log.
Balthazar looks dissatisfied.
"Well that was a whole week of nothing! The scientists seem ecstatic, but I felt like a bystander, actually, no, like a glorified taxi driver! I reviewed some of their results. "Twenty particles of space dust per cubic meter, 52 ultraviolet radiation spikes, and a class-2 comet."" He pauses and gives the camera a "you what?" look. "I never thought I'd miss combat this much. So many days I thought I'd die. Never thought I might prefer those to dying of boredom."
Next log.
"Well, we dropped off the scientists. However, Starfleet Command is sending the ship and me on a Diplomatic Mission? I tried to protest that this was outside my training and expertise, but apparently we're short of ships and Captains and these people are impressed by my war record? We'll have to see if this goes right."
Next log.
Balthazar looks angry.
"Well, what a surprise! Command didn't know what they were talking about! I got the etiquette wrong, and failed to slap the host across the face! The other diplomats are furious - they all talk about having to cover for MY mistake!" He pauses for a while to calm down. "Apparently a new ceremony is being convened for me to try and get this right". He angrily jabs the button to end the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks absolutely furious.
"Apparently it went wrong AGAIN! I don't know how or why! Maybe I slapped too hard, or too soft, or not quite in the right place, or it was supposed to be a backhanded slap, I don't know!" He pauses, looking bitterly at the camera. "The diplomats are even angrier than before. I have been told in no uncertain terms that I will not be used for diplomatic missions ever again. Which is fine by me, but the way Command said it it seemed like I was imposing this on them! I'm an ex-MACO! Do they not understand this! I didn't go through Starfleet Academy! There is no MACO course for Xeno-Etiquette! We only learnt about other cultures to understand them, so as to be better at fighting them!" He pauses. "I don't want to talk about this anymore." He ends the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks calmer, almost excited and happy.
"We received a priority one message, and are proceeding at maximum warp to support two of our ships currently locked in a stand-off. Finally, a chance for some action, which lets face it is what I'm best at!". With a small grin, he ends the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks disappointed.
Sarcastically, he say "Whoo-hoo. 3 hours after we got there, ready to do or die for the Federation, the other Captains managed to use Diplomacy to talk their way out of the crisis". He looks down. "So here we are. Here I am. All psyched up and no party. I shouldn't really say that, but I really wanted the chance to redeem myself, show how useful I could be. I doubt the other 2 Captain's understand. They came through the Academy and neither has much combat experience." There is a flash of bitterness "And yet somehow they both command better ships than I do. All I seem to be is hired muscle".
Next log is several months later.
Balthazar looks dejected.
"All I seem to get are cargo assignments. Edison go here, pick this up. Go there. Deliver it. I'm nothing more than a freighter captain. Apparently, this is all Starfleet thinks I'm good for. It's like all my sacrifice and losses in the Romulan and Xindi Wars are worthless now...." He looks like he could burst into tears of frustration. and he ends the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks tired.
"Captain's log, stardate....whatever. We're heading to the Gagarin Radiation Belt. Looks like Starfleet has given me an exploration mission." He brightens a bit and facetiously says "Maybe we'll get into a fight. Normally I'd hate an exploration mission but at this point anything would beat another bloody transport assignment."
Next log.
Balthazar looks injured.
"We....plunged through a wormhole and crash-landed on an M-class planet. Many crew are dead or injured, and we don't recognise the stars, so we are probably hundreds of light years or more off-course. We also can't seem to raise Starfleet - our transmissions seem to be getting blocked...." He closes his eyes. "I wanted excitement, but not like this...."
Next log.
Balthazar looks injured.
"We lost two more crew members today. One die in an accident while searching for resources. Another succumbed to their injuries. The....rational half of my mind keeps trying to tell me that the Federation cares about me, about us, is searching as hard as they can for us. But....these words do not feel true to me anymore. The Federation, Starfleet, they started turning their back on me a long time ago, ever since the Wars ended. Giving me a ship command and missions below my stature and outside of my competence, and blaming me when it went wrong. Telling an old warrior like me to magically become a Starfleet Captain without the necessary support or training, then letting me waste away as a taxi driver and freight hauler" he shakes his head, sounding defeated.
Next log (this is adapted from the movie - it is not the last log)
"I don't remember the Stardate. Our distress calls are unnoticed. Of the crew, few remain. I'll die here. The indigenous species abandoned this planet long ago. They left behind sophisticated mining equipment
and a drone workforce. They have some sort of technology... that prolongs life. I'll do whatever it takes for me and my crew. The Federation do not care about us. Probably you will never see me again. But if we do,
be ready."
Next log.
Balthazar looks - different?.Like a mixture of 2 races?
"I....feel...different. We finally worked out how the life prolonging machine worked. Only seems to work on intelligent life, so obviously it was a waste sticking all those animals through it!" He grins and chuckles "One of my crew was dying - there was nothing to be done for them. So, with their permission, we used the machine on them, and I was plugged into the other end. " He touches his forehead with his hand "I...appear to have taken on some of their physical characteristics. And I have become seemingly 10 years younger! My science officer does warn me there could be unexpected side effects, particularly mental ones, but since she's also volunteered to go next, I think even she prefers the risk of side effects to the certainty dying of old age!" He laughs - it is an unpleasant, slightly unhinged laugh.
Final log
Balthazar looks - more different?.Like a mixture of many races?
"A successful test of our drone soldiers and their spacecraft! With so many prisoners to drain, we can make ourselves decades younger! In fact, we can make ourselves stronger than we ever were!" He pauses and smiles. "One of the prisoners tried to resist, and I slew him with a blade. A waste of life force I know, but we won't be having any more resistance from them. As the dying man reached up towards me with his hand, he seemed to gurgle something with his last breath "KRR-aallllll....". Krall. The last words of a dying man, describing what killed him. A fitting name for myself, and one I intend to make more utter before I die!
Uhura stares at the log, her feelings a mix of pity, revulsion and horror, at how a man once so noble could have fallen so far.
So....I thought, they could have expanded the Captain's logs on the Franklin, showing a gradual disillusionment and descent into bitterness and resentment.
START:
On the Franklin, Uhura continues to review the logs, seeking to gain a better understanding into Krall.
She plays the first log. Balthazar looks happy and his uniform is slightly unbuttoned.
"Captain's log, supplemental. The war is over! There was a nice remembrance and medal ceremony, and a victory celebration party. It's a little bittersweet - we lost a lot of good men and women, and we've been told that the MACOs are being disbanded. But it's not all bad news! We're being merged into Starfleet, and I've been commissioned and given command of the Franklin! Time to serve peace, and become explorers instead of warriors. I can't wait!" Smiling, he turns of the log off.
Next log.
Balthazar looks a bit peeved. This uniform is on straight.
"We've completed our shakedown cruise. Interesting - I was unaware that the Franklin is not a first-rate ship! I mean, don't get me wrong, she's good, and it's still an honour to Captain her and represent Starfleet and the Federation, but I had hoped I'd receive command of a NX class or better? Rather than a 10 year old design? I know they've refitted her so she's not hopelessly obsolete, and we are short of ships due to the war, but still, we can't even move living beings in her transporters, only cargo? The NX class was able to do that when she launched! I only hope the Franklin can do more than warp 4 now!" He sighs. "Well, ours not to reason why. Anyhow, we picked up some scientists. Our next mission is to take them to their destination and assist them with some experiment".
Next log.
Balthazar looks dissatisfied.
"Well that was a whole week of nothing! The scientists seem ecstatic, but I felt like a bystander, actually, no, like a glorified taxi driver! I reviewed some of their results. "Twenty particles of space dust per cubic meter, 52 ultraviolet radiation spikes, and a class-2 comet."" He pauses and gives the camera a "you what?" look. "I never thought I'd miss combat this much. So many days I thought I'd die. Never thought I might prefer those to dying of boredom."
Next log.
"Well, we dropped off the scientists. However, Starfleet Command is sending the ship and me on a Diplomatic Mission? I tried to protest that this was outside my training and expertise, but apparently we're short of ships and Captains and these people are impressed by my war record? We'll have to see if this goes right."
Next log.
Balthazar looks angry.
"Well, what a surprise! Command didn't know what they were talking about! I got the etiquette wrong, and failed to slap the host across the face! The other diplomats are furious - they all talk about having to cover for MY mistake!" He pauses for a while to calm down. "Apparently a new ceremony is being convened for me to try and get this right". He angrily jabs the button to end the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks absolutely furious.
"Apparently it went wrong AGAIN! I don't know how or why! Maybe I slapped too hard, or too soft, or not quite in the right place, or it was supposed to be a backhanded slap, I don't know!" He pauses, looking bitterly at the camera. "The diplomats are even angrier than before. I have been told in no uncertain terms that I will not be used for diplomatic missions ever again. Which is fine by me, but the way Command said it it seemed like I was imposing this on them! I'm an ex-MACO! Do they not understand this! I didn't go through Starfleet Academy! There is no MACO course for Xeno-Etiquette! We only learnt about other cultures to understand them, so as to be better at fighting them!" He pauses. "I don't want to talk about this anymore." He ends the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks calmer, almost excited and happy.
"We received a priority one message, and are proceeding at maximum warp to support two of our ships currently locked in a stand-off. Finally, a chance for some action, which lets face it is what I'm best at!". With a small grin, he ends the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks disappointed.
Sarcastically, he say "Whoo-hoo. 3 hours after we got there, ready to do or die for the Federation, the other Captains managed to use Diplomacy to talk their way out of the crisis". He looks down. "So here we are. Here I am. All psyched up and no party. I shouldn't really say that, but I really wanted the chance to redeem myself, show how useful I could be. I doubt the other 2 Captain's understand. They came through the Academy and neither has much combat experience." There is a flash of bitterness "And yet somehow they both command better ships than I do. All I seem to be is hired muscle".
Next log is several months later.
Balthazar looks dejected.
"All I seem to get are cargo assignments. Edison go here, pick this up. Go there. Deliver it. I'm nothing more than a freighter captain. Apparently, this is all Starfleet thinks I'm good for. It's like all my sacrifice and losses in the Romulan and Xindi Wars are worthless now...." He looks like he could burst into tears of frustration. and he ends the log.
Next log.
Balthazar looks tired.
"Captain's log, stardate....whatever. We're heading to the Gagarin Radiation Belt. Looks like Starfleet has given me an exploration mission." He brightens a bit and facetiously says "Maybe we'll get into a fight. Normally I'd hate an exploration mission but at this point anything would beat another bloody transport assignment."
Next log.
Balthazar looks injured.
"We....plunged through a wormhole and crash-landed on an M-class planet. Many crew are dead or injured, and we don't recognise the stars, so we are probably hundreds of light years or more off-course. We also can't seem to raise Starfleet - our transmissions seem to be getting blocked...." He closes his eyes. "I wanted excitement, but not like this...."
Next log.
Balthazar looks injured.
"We lost two more crew members today. One die in an accident while searching for resources. Another succumbed to their injuries. The....rational half of my mind keeps trying to tell me that the Federation cares about me, about us, is searching as hard as they can for us. But....these words do not feel true to me anymore. The Federation, Starfleet, they started turning their back on me a long time ago, ever since the Wars ended. Giving me a ship command and missions below my stature and outside of my competence, and blaming me when it went wrong. Telling an old warrior like me to magically become a Starfleet Captain without the necessary support or training, then letting me waste away as a taxi driver and freight hauler" he shakes his head, sounding defeated.
Next log (this is adapted from the movie - it is not the last log)
"I don't remember the Stardate. Our distress calls are unnoticed. Of the crew, few remain. I'll die here. The indigenous species abandoned this planet long ago. They left behind sophisticated mining equipment
and a drone workforce. They have some sort of technology... that prolongs life. I'll do whatever it takes for me and my crew. The Federation do not care about us. Probably you will never see me again. But if we do,
be ready."
Next log.
Balthazar looks - different?.Like a mixture of 2 races?
"I....feel...different. We finally worked out how the life prolonging machine worked. Only seems to work on intelligent life, so obviously it was a waste sticking all those animals through it!" He grins and chuckles "One of my crew was dying - there was nothing to be done for them. So, with their permission, we used the machine on them, and I was plugged into the other end. " He touches his forehead with his hand "I...appear to have taken on some of their physical characteristics. And I have become seemingly 10 years younger! My science officer does warn me there could be unexpected side effects, particularly mental ones, but since she's also volunteered to go next, I think even she prefers the risk of side effects to the certainty dying of old age!" He laughs - it is an unpleasant, slightly unhinged laugh.
Final log
Balthazar looks - more different?.Like a mixture of many races?
"A successful test of our drone soldiers and their spacecraft! With so many prisoners to drain, we can make ourselves decades younger! In fact, we can make ourselves stronger than we ever were!" He pauses and smiles. "One of the prisoners tried to resist, and I slew him with a blade. A waste of life force I know, but we won't be having any more resistance from them. As the dying man reached up towards me with his hand, he seemed to gurgle something with his last breath "KRR-aallllll....". Krall. The last words of a dying man, describing what killed him. A fitting name for myself, and one I intend to make more utter before I die!
Uhura stares at the log, her feelings a mix of pity, revulsion and horror, at how a man once so noble could have fallen so far.
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