So I heard that there were dolphin crew members on the Enterprise D.

[The Rock]

They were sentient dolphins in tanks who were actual crew members, but of course it was just one of the parts of the Enterprise-D that was never seen on screen due to budget constraints.

So I have two questions:

1) Do you think there were other unconventional (non-humanoid) crew members serving on the Enterprise-D?

2) Do you think the dolphin crewmembers wore Starfleet uniforms inside their tanks? I think dolphins wearing uniforms would be really adorable.

 

[NCC-73515]

All we know is they had their own OPS and escape pods XD

 

[Therin of Andor]

They were sentient dolphins in tanks who were actual crew members, but of course it was just one of the parts of the Enterprise-D that was never seen on screen due to budget constraints.

A sentient cetacean was aboard the USS Enterprise-D in the hardcover novel, "Dark Mirror", but the Star Trek Office, when vetting the manuscript, discouraged the author (Diane Duane) of stating the crew member was an Earth-origin dolphin. (EDITED for accuracy.)

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

1. Nope. The carpets over the deckplates were too clean to reveal the calling cards of amorphous blob species or other things, especially bird species as the droppings would be a biological hazard every time one got plopped every half-hour or so... And the fact said carpets weren't burnt to a searing crisp means there were no Horta there either. May as well get my pet mouse to don a uniform and perform some cheesy experiment in Dr Crusher's TARDIS-inspired lab...

2. I always thought that was some folklore mythological tale as told by stoned drunks who just got done watching SeaQuest DSV marathons where they mistook the genius kid in that one as being Wesley Crusher's stunt double? Besides, there's something fishy about aquatic creatures wearing tailored clothing and it would affect their ability to swim properly... especially if the uniforms are that tight, it's amazing all the humans didn't speak soprano after being sewn into them...

 

[Therin of Andor]

1. Nope. The carpets over the deckplates were too clean to reveal the calling cards of amorphous blob species or other things, especially bird species as the droppings would be a biological hazard every time one got plopped every half-hour or so...

Hey, I resemble that!


Ian as an Aurelian by Ian McLean, on Flickr

 

[AntonyF]

This stems from the Technical Manual, which has an area called Cetacean Ops. Which would in theory support such lifeforms. it's not a budget constraints thing... well no more than you don't see all 36+ decks built fully. The technical manual is full of weird and wonderful theories and 'what if's to flesh out the universe.

So there was never canon use of them. I think in an episode they may have mentioned Cetacean Ops on an voiceover or something, as s small nod to it. and I think Enterprise E didn't have one, so what the hell happened to them?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

IIRC, a Mirror Universe sentient cetacean was aboard the ISS Enterprise-D in the hardcover novel, "Dark Mirror"

Actually the dolphin was from the prime universe and was on the prime Ent-D.

As for Cetacean Ops: I can only assume that since the alternate Enterprise (from "Yesterday's Enterprise") had one, the normal version must have it as well. I mean, if a full-out warship had dolphins...

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

Hey, I resemble that!


Ian as an Aurelian by Ian McLean, on Flickr

I found an old betamax video of myself at the prom, I'm on the right:

 

[NCC-73515]

They also had orcas, IIRC

 

[The Gatekeeper]

There was reference to Cetacean Ops in a PA announcement in Yesterday's Enterprise and Geordi makes a reference to "the dolphins" in The Perfect Mate.

 

[Relayer1]

Ridiculous.

A species of limited intelligence that plays with and tortures its food and which kills it's own has no place amongst civilised huma...

Yeah, there's dolphins in Starfleet.

 

[somebuddyX]

I heard they had their own ship in the 23rd century.

 

[The Rock]

What do you all think of this uniform on dolphins?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Why would a dolphin need to wear a uniform? Underwater, it would seem to be of little value.

 

[The Rock]

Why would a dolphin need to wear a uniform? Underwater, it would seem to be of little value.

Oh, I seriously wouldn't have them wear a uniform. But it's just a cute image if they did.

 

[somebuddyX]

After what Enterprise brought to the universe I like the idea of Federation ships being built to different races specifications. The Vulcan ships might all be hot, the Andorian ships are cold, the Xindi-Aquatic ship is full of water, the Tholian ships are really, really hot. Maybe the Horta ship is just a bunch of tunnels and the ship of the Elaysians, the one that's run by the same species as Melora from DS9, has them just flying around the ship in low gravity. And so with this in mind it can be a nice retcon on why we never saw heaps of aliens on the TOS Enterprise or the TNG Enterprise. I thought this could be a neat cheat to have different species pop up on view screens or holo-communicators to imply a broader Starfleet just lurking offscreen beyond the borders of what budgets or production necessities might allow.

 

[Therin of Andor]

so what the hell happened to them?

"So long, and thanks for all the fish."

Maybe the Horta ship is just a bunch of tunnels...

See the novel "Dyson Sphere".
https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/USS_Darwin

 

[somebuddyX]

 

[Orphalesion]

Well there might be a chance that we see Cetacean Ops in the future. I certainly hope so

After what Enterprise brought to the universe I like the idea of Federation ships being built to different races specifications. The Vulcan ships might all be hot, the Andorian ships are cold, the Xindi-Aquatic ship is full of water, the Tholian ships are really, really hot. Maybe the Horta ship is just a bunch of tunnels and the ship of the Elaysians, the one that's run by the same species as Melora from DS9, has them just flying around the ship in low gravity. And so with this in mind it can be a nice retcon on why we never saw heaps of aliens on the TOS Enterprise or the TNG Enterprise. I thought this could be a neat cheat to have different species pop up on view screens or holo-communicators to imply a broader Starfleet just lurking offscreen beyond the borders of what budgets or production necessities might allow.

I will be honest, I don't like that idea for humanoids. I prefer the Federation ships to be as mixed as possible. And we saw a reasonable amount of humanoid Aliens in TNG and its movies, even more on DS9 and Voyager seemed to have quite a few Vulcans on board.
For very specific species, such as aquatics I can understand it, but with the bulk of humanoids I prefer them to share ships.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Why would a dolphin need to wear a uniform? Underwater, it would seem to be of little value.

Can humans be naked too? On a climate controlled ship and a world without pockets, they're of little value.