The split delta shield - why?

[F. King Daniel]

So, any theories as to why the Starfleet delta shield has split in Discovery? Even the re-used DS9 Starfleet patch (seen on Burnham's space suit and in a box in her quarters, in the trailer) has been modified to have it. Will it have in-universe meaning or is it likely just a unique logo for marketing?

 

[dahj]

It symbolizes how Starfleet is broken between its ideals and the demands of real interstellar politics.

Or someone in the design department thought it was cool.

One of those probably.

 

[O_Kav]

I imagined it was their way of addressing the "Each Starship has a unique badge" thing from the TOS Era, but considering the Shenzhou uniforms will probably be the same uniforms that the Discovery crew will use... Well, maybe it's just a redesign of the Delta Shield.

 

[Dukhat]

It's just another clue that DSC is not the prime universe

 

[F. King Daniel]

I imagined it was their way of addressing the "Each Starship has a unique badge" thing from the TOS Era

That would be the whole "it's okay to have Ferengi if we don't actually call them Ferengi" mindset of continuity adherence again

 

[ChristopherPike]

The badge presumably has a tech purpose and the thick side hinges or unclips open to activate certain canon violatory properties.

 

[Mirror Mirror]

Its simply a redesign. Nothing more.

Edit: its not like we have not seen it redesigned before. If starfleet vhabges uniforms like underwear, why not logo design?

 

[Timo]

...The canon violation here would be if the delta shield were used as the Starfleet logo. After all, it has not been used as such in TOS, TAS, the assorted flashbacks to the era, or the 2233 scenes of STXI. It's merely what the heroes wear on their chests.

Minor variations of the delta shield in the 2260s were suggested in TAS and some of the flashbacks already. Whether they're just as different from the thing Kirk wore as Decker's visually utterly dissimilar chest badge was, in some bureaucatic sense, or less different, we don't yet know.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mad Jack Wolfe]

The badge presumably has a tech purpose and the thick side hinges or unclips open to activate certain canon violatory properties.

A TARDIS emergency recall button.

 

[BillJ]

The badge presumably has a tech purpose and the thick side hinges or unclips open to activate certain canon violatory properties.

My thought exactly, for the most part. Probably slides apart to reveal some kind of emergency beacon in case something happens and a communicator isn't available. A predecessor to the TNG comm badge.

 

[C.E. Evans]

It's always been split. Other shows and movies just had it wrong.

 

[KennyB]

It's always been split. Other shows and movies just had it wrong.

LMAO---It's just a re-imagining. This is seriously just getting funny.

 

[tenmei]

Or the badges didn't necessarily designate the ship - but fleets or taskforces?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

It's just another clue that DSC is not the prime universe

You keep it up and someone's gonna throw a big butterfly net over you

The one that springs to mind for me is the alternate late 24th century one

 

[Timo]

Or the badges didn't necessarily designate the ship - but fleets or taskforces?

That's the simplest way to resolve the TOS usage IMHO. Whether the Delta Fleet and the Split Delta Fleet are the same thing or two subtly different things is unknown, is all. Perhaps there are split versions of Decker's knot and Tracey's rectangle, too...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[captainkirk]

My thought exactly, for the most part. Probably slides apart to reveal some kind of emergency beacon in case something happens and a communicator isn't available. A predecessor to the TNG comm badge.

I suddenly picture the badge flipping open like a tiny version of the TOS communicator.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

It symbolises unity, one of the pieces represents the Federation, the other piece represents the planet of its wearer. Like a split heart necklace, the planet takes one half, and the Federation takes the other. It was created during the Federation's romantic phase. The Axanar incident brought much discontent with the feds, prompting criticism of the split as an almost totalitarian idolization of the flawed Federation, and eventually the parts were fused together.

And they also placed a communicator in the shield a little early.

 

[Campe]

WHY ARE THE UNIFORMS BLUE?!? ARE THEY ALL SCIENCE OFFICERS?!?

WHY ARE THE CORRIDORS DARK?!? ARE THEY ALWAYS IN COMBAT MODE?!?

WHY ARE THE SPACESUITS WHITE?!? ARE THEY ADVANCED PROTOTYPES?!?

WHERE ARE THE MULTICOLORED TURTLENECKS?!? ARE WE IN A DIFFERENT BRANCH OF STARFLEET???

These are all very important questions. I demand answers!

 

[Jinn]

WHY ARE THE UNIFORMS BLUE?!? ARE THEY ALL SCIENCE OFFICERS?!?

THEY ACTUALLY ALL LOOK LIKE NORMAL THE CAGE ERA UNIFORMS, THE CAMERA IS JUST REALLY REALLY BAD!!!

WHY ARE THE CORRIDORS DARK?!? ARE THEY ALWAYS IN COMBAT MODE?!?

THE LIGHTING TECHNICIANS REALLY SUCKED!!!

WHY ARE THE SPACESUITS WHITE?!? ARE THEY ADVANCED PROTOTYPES?!?

SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY *cough* *cough* This whole screaming really doesn't do my throat a favor. I hope you don't mind if I continue talking in a normal tone. Someone accidentally spilled fresh paint over them. They actually still look like TOS era space suits.

WHERE ARE THE MULTICOLORED TURTLENECKS?!? ARE WE IN A DIFFERENT BRANCH OF STARFLEET???

I think you've got me there. I have no clue how that happened.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

WHY ARE THE UNIFORMS BLUE?!? ARE THEY ALL SCIENCE OFFICERS?!?

WHY ARE THE CORRIDORS DARK?!? ARE THEY ALWAYS IN COMBAT MODE?!?

WHY ARE THE SPACESUITS WHITE?!? ARE THEY ADVANCED PROTOTYPES?!?

WHERE ARE THE MULTICOLORED TURTLENECKS?!? ARE WE IN A DIFFERENT BRANCH OF STARFLEET???

WILL WE HEAR MORE MICHAEL BURNHAM SHOUTING?!?!??

DEFLECTORS! FULL INTENSITY!