Old Earth Satellite

O is for Old Earth Satellite. The USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D encounters frozen bodies in Star Trek TNG episode of 'the neutral zone.' The strange thing is these humans died over 300 years ago on planet earth!

All is definitely not what it seems. Data the android is fascinated by the 20th century Old Earth Vessel and is itching to investigate. Blackbeard reluctantly gives his officers the green light. Together Worf and Data beam aboard only to discover three humans in a deep freeze cryogenic sleep!

The question facing Data now is what to do with them? A mystery also surrounds the destruction of Federation and Romulan outposts marking the arrival of the United Federation of Planet's secretive neighbours, the Romulans after 50 years of silence. Captain Picard's return to the USS Enterprise-D reveals the man is not a happy camper. Data's and Dr Beverly Crusher shenanigans only makes matters worse. The good doctor has little choice but to thaw out the Enterprise's new passengers, apparently. Picard is unimpressed.

I am never critical of any member of my staff being curious, but... the timing is just so...
DATA
I could not leave them there, Captain. The condition of the vehicle was deteriorating.
PICARD
But, Data -- they were already dead. I mean... what more could have happened to them?
DATA
I see your point, Captain, but at the time...

What would you have done?

Nomad

N is for Nomad but who or what is he? Nomad appears in an epic Star Trek classic episode of 'the changeling' voiced by Vic Perrin.

In 2002 this ancient space probe leaves earth on a peaceful mission, to seek out new lifeforms!...... On its interstellar journey Nomad encounters 'Tan Ru' another of its kind. Quite by accident a merging of computerized minds unites and becomes one. A new far superior device evolves from the joining with an entirely new mission. To seek out and destroy!

In a way this episode reminds me of V'ger from Star Trek The Motion Picture. Both machines are sentient however all is not what it seems. Neither Nomad or V'ger can comprehend human beings or our simple feelings! Despite Nomads vast knowledge imbedded into his data assimilation digital encoder, Earths 21th century space probe now believes humans are the enemy, imperfect in every way! We are to be exterminated! However, the machines mission of perfection soon proves to be its deadly weakness.

It mistakes Captain Kirk for his creator proving once and for all, Nomad too makes human-like errors!

CAPT. KIRK
I am the Kirk, the creator?
NOMAD
You are the creator.
CAPT. KIRK
You're wrong! Jackson Roykirk, your creator, is dead. You have mistaken me for him. You are in error. You did not discover your mistake. You have made two errors. You are flawed and imperfect and you have not corrected by sterilisation. You have made three errors.
NOMAD
Error. Error. Error. Examine.
KIRK
You are flawed and imperfect! Execute your prime function!
NOMAD
I shall analyse error. Analyse error,
KIRK
Now. Get those antigravs on it.
NOMAD
Examine error. Error.

Make It So

M is for Make it so! Watch for these signs, its easy to get hooked when Star Trek is warping through the galaxy on TV! Wide staring eyes, tingling sensation all over the body, hairs standing up on the neck, sweating hands and racing heartbeats are all logical indications that the nervous system has gone into sudden warp drive.

The mystique appeal of future space travel and seeking out strange new lifeforms keeps us on the edge of our seats. You find yourself standing up to say "MAKE IT SO and ENGAGE" during the movie. Trek adrenalin floods the bloodstream sending your buddies into an equally euphoric emotional state, momentarily stimulating everyones cosmic thought pathways. Is it possible Star Trek has engaged you? The situation is grim because now you have to explain your emotional outbursts.

You are found guilty for blurting out 'MAKE IT SO!'

All indications are.....you might be a Trekkie!

Beam me up, Scotty!

Live Long and Prosper.

L is for Live Long and Prosper!

There have been times when William Shatner's Kirk persona saved his neck just in the nick of time.. Once, scheduled to film an early morning desert scene, Shatner donned his Captain's uniform at home and drove his automobile at warp speed to make the set for the 4am deadline.

"I didn't think there would be any other traffic," he says "There was. A police car with flashing lights pulled me over."

When asked where he was going, Shatner replied "To My spaceship." The police officer sighed and sent him on his way.

"Not without telling me to "Live Long and Prosper."

Star Trek TNG Offspring

K is for Kristina Kochoff who starred as an uncredited andorian n Star Trek TNG. In this episode of "the Offspring", Commander Data transfers android daughter Lal's entire process of existence into his own positronic brain. You see Data was Lal's father, creating Lal in 2366 using his own brain as a template.

He nurtures and brings a unique sentient android (played by Hallie Todd) to life so he could have an offspring. All seemed jolly fine on the surface, once Lal chose her own appearance she was able to emulate humans and their odd behaviour, use verbal contractions and eventually exceed even the parameters of her own fathers sophisticated programming... Lal was able to FEEL......EMOTIONS! How could this happen?

Starfleet's Patriarch Admiral Haftel beams aboard the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D to take control of the Lal situation. Apparently he wants to acquire android Lal like you would a piece of technology, to study her. Haftel is a hard nosed, cold hearted brute who crushes Lal's emotional happiness. The cruel beast declares her the property of Starfleet without so much as considering Lal's personal needs. Captain Picard is horrified and objects but Admiral Haftel is adamant. 'I am Starfleet, Captain' growls Haftel at Picard through gritted teeth. Poor Lal. She never stood a chance and experiences extreme fear and confusion. The situation is grim. Lal returns to Datas lab just before the end of her life and then finally we understand why.

                                                     "It just wasn't meant to be."

A cascade failure in her neural net has caused irreparable, permanent positronic systems failure. Lal's neural net is slowly shutting down from emotional overload. Despite being capable of 60 trillion operations per second even her father Data cannot save her.

Star Trek's 'The Offspring' really is a heart breaking episode. I believe Lal died because she was heartbroken!

Data: "Lal? I am unable to correct the system failure."
Lal: "I know."
Data: "We must say goodbye now."
Lal: "I  F-E-E-L"
Data: "What do you feel, Lal?

Lal: I love you, Father."

Data: I wish I could feel it with you."

Lal: "I will feel it for both of us. Thank you for my life. Flirting. Laughter. Painting. Family. Female.

H--U--M--A--N."

Jellico

J is for Jellic remember him? He completes a short stint in Star Trek TNG. In 2369 Captain Jellico is assigned to command the USS Enterprise NCC 1701 while Picard, Beverly and Worf get reassigned to a special black ops mission on Cestris III.

Commander Riker tries to communicate the crews concerns abouts Jellicos latest crew restructuring but its no dice. Jellico never raises his voice, but his tone becomes far colder and harder.


You will tell the department heads that as of now, the Enterprise is on a four shift rotation.

I don't want to talk about it. Get it done!

Ilia

I is for Ilia but who is she? In Star Trek The Motion Picture we see a few brief glimpses of the beautiful Persis Khambatta who died tragically at only 47. Shes plays the first female officer to declare an 'Oath of Celibacy' aboard a Federation starship touching us with her empathic powers.

We know from Ilia's chat with Captain Kirk that Deltan culture is dominated by sexuality in stark contrast to Khambatta's emotionless V'ger mechanism. V'Ger beams android "Ilia" aboard the Enterprise to communicate and learn about the humans "infesting" the USS Enterprise 1701 and planet earth.

Ilia speaks for V'Ger now: "I have been programmed by V'ger to observe and record normal functioning of the carbon-based units infesting USS ENTERPRISE."

Kirk: Who is...'V'ger'...?

Ilia: "V'ger is that which programmed me."

Kirk: "Is V'ger the Captain of the alien vessel?"
Bones: "Jim, what the blazes...."

Ilia: "V'ger is that which seeks the Creator."

Bones: "Jim, this is a mechanism...!"

Kirk: "Where is Lt. Ilia?"

Ilia: "That unit no longer functions. I have been given its form to more readily communicate with the carbon-based units infesting Enterprise."

Security Guard: "Carbon-based units"...?

McCoy: "Humans, Ensign Lang, us!"

Kirk: "Why does V'ger travel to the third planet of the solar system directly ahead?"

Ilia: "V'ger travels to the third planet to find the Creator."

The women of Star Trek have rather more significant roles than those in other Tv shows watched by young audiences, like say Daisy in the Dukes of Hazzard. We had to wait until Star Trek Voyager arrived in 1995 before a woman took command aboard a starship. Its only fitting I suppose, that Star Trek is one of the first TV shows to deploy leading women on the front lines of Science Fiction.

Who would you prefer to serve under, Captain Kathryn Janeway (ST) or Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica?

Dr Ira Graves

G is for Graves but who is he? Dr Ira Graves is one of the greatest intellects ever to grace the 24th Century Universe. In Star Treks TNG we discover 'The Schizoid Man' doesn't enjoy the company of humans especially authority figures or sneaky doctors. Graves is a scientist consumed with molecular cybernetics attempting to bridge the gap between machine and man. His simple philosophy is women are not people!....

Sadly Ira deteoriates in early 2365. Sweetheart Kareen sends word to the Federation requesting medical treatment but time is running out. Meanwhile, Gravesworld provides the perfect isolation for reclusive Graves until Data turns up with USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D asking questions. The androids curiosity with the preeminent scientist lights up a dying mans eyes. Data immediately takes to the ol' coot calling him Grandpa but the sly dog has concocted a devious plan. All is not what it seems. The mans brilliance has unlocked the secret of transferring his vast intellect and knowledge into a computer!

Can you guess what happens next?

After Datas touching reunion with Grandpa, Graves is beamed aboard the USS Enterprise-D for a fine send off. The enigma deepens when Commander Data steps up to the transporter pad and gives an overblown eulogy at Graves funeral.

It doesn't take a genius to realise something is definitely amiss.

Just look at that face,
The face of a thinker, a warrior!
A Man for all seasons,
Yes, Ira Graves was all that and more but he was not perfect.
Perhaps his greatest flaw was that he was too selfless.
He cared too much for his fellow man with nary a thought for himself!
A man of limitless accomplishments and unbridled modesty.
I can safely say that to know him was to love him,
and to love him was to know him.
Those who knew him loved him,
while those who did not know him loved him from afar!

Friendly Angel Gorgan

F is for friendly angel but who or what is he? The Friendly Angel is a mind controlling Star Trek entity who brainwashes a group of children to take over the USS Enterprise NCC 1701. We find out later his name is Gorgan. Apparently, Angel eyes preys off the negative emotions of his unsuspecting victims corrupting them to do his bidding.

Listen to Melvin Belli's magnificent voice (below). This man gained Legendary fame in the United States legal profession as the 'King of Tort.' His appearance in the classic series episode "And the Children Shall Lead" as our Friendly Angel, Gorgan is a surprise. When Gorgan's masterplan is exposed, he warns his following that their 'operation' has been discovered but have no fear, call and I will appear!

Friends we have reached a moment of crises!
The enemy have discovered our operation but they are too late.
They no-longer control the ship.
We do, we shall prevail!
They will take us anyplace we desire.
So back to your stations,
maintain your controls.
If resistance mounts,
call upon their beast.
Their beast will serve us well.
The fear in each one of them is the fear which which will consume him.
Remember how it was on Triacus?
If they resist, so shall it be on the Enterprise!
If you need me call and I will appear,
our new goal is Marcos12.
It is our new beginning, we must not fold!

Only love and happiness can stop the Friendly Angel.

Is it time to summon the Friendly Angel?

Hail, hail, fire and snow,
Call the angel, we will go.
Far away, for to see,
Friendly angel come to me!

Edith Keeler

E is for Edith but who is she? Edith Keeler is played by Joan Collins caught at the center of a temporal accident in Star Trek's City on the Edge of Forever.

Her 21st Street Mission helps scores of unemployed people who have reached the end of their rope. 1930's planet earth is a gloomy, primitive culture rocked by hunger, suffering and homelessness. Fighting oppression with hope and encouragement, Edith preaches from her mission's soup kitchen feeding lost unhappy souls wandering in from the streets, inspiring them to believe in a bright future.

Keelers optimism insists life is worth living but its a tough job converting hungry stomachs dying for some food. 'I don't pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love when each day is a struggle to survive.'

The Guardian of Forever identifies itself to Kirk and Spock summarizing their predicament.

"Your vessel, your beginning. All that you knew is gone."

'Little ms Goodie two-shoes' soon realizes Kirk and Spock are not what they seem. The Mission's angel of mercy is curious about Kirk and Spock who hides his ears under a beanie hood. Trust is the cornerstone of all friendships however Edith soon falls for quiet Kirk and a romance follows.

We know from Spock's chat with Captain Kirk that if Edith lives, Earths history will be irrevocably contaminated tipping the balance of power into evil Nazis hands. Imagine the Third Reich winning World War II erasing the United Federation of Planets from cosmic history! How is this possible? Spock jumpstarts his tricorder and discovers shocking timeline displacements.

1) Keelers pacifist peace movement convinces Franklin D. Roosevelt to delay the United States entry into World War II with disasterous consequences.
2) Has Dr McCoy's meddling damaged time beyond repair?
3) What if Edith Keeler must die?

What would you do?