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The Intriguing World Of Entertainment

Whatever Happened To Jennifer Hetrick, ‘Vash’ From Star Trek: The Next Generation?

By Nick Lee | September 6, 2023

In the vast cosmos of the Star Trek universe, many characters have come and gone, leaving indelible marks on the hearts of Trekkies worldwide.

Among these iconic figures stands Vash, portrayed by the talented Jennifer Hetrick. With her fiery spirit and adventurous nature, Vash quickly became a fan favorite, especially for her intriguing relationship with Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

But as the years have passed, one question lingers in the minds of many: Whatever happened to Jennifer Hetrick after her Star Trek days?

Join us as we embark on a journey through time and space, unraveling the mysteries surrounding the life and career of this beloved actress.

Acting Career

Squeeze play.

Hetrick’s first film role marked the beginning of her acting career with 1979’s Squeeze Play!, a comedy directed by Lloyd Kaufman. The story revolves around a group of women who, after becoming frustrated with their boyfriends who prioritize sports over romance, decide to create a softball team of their own and challenge them to a game.

The film received universally negative reviews.

In 1989, Hetrick landed a main cast role on NBC’s crime drama Unsub, a portmanteau of “unknown” and “subject.” She played Ann Madison, member of an elite FBI forensic team, for all 8 episodes of the show’s run. It was unfortunately canceled after only one season.

Following her stint on Unsub, Hetrick continued on to feature as a recurring character on NBC’s legal drama L.A. Law between 1989 and 1991. Her character, Corinne Hammond Becker, appeared in 14 episodes during a storyline that involved a divorce proceeding, and she disappeared after the plot concluded.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

In 1990, Hetrick would play Vash, a human archeologist known for shady business dealings and selling of priceless artifacts for profit, on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Picard is initially unaware of her duplicitous nature during Vash’s premiere episode, “Captain’s Holiday”, and so the two enjoy a romance while Vash simultaneously uses Picard to push her own hidden agenda.

Although the two part ways, they meet again in 1991 episode “Qpid” when the seemingly omnipotent alien entity Q places them in a Robinhood fantasy together. Q then tasks a Robinhood-donned Picard to rescue Vash’s Maid Marien before she faces certain doom. 

When Picard succeeds in his rescue, the two rekindle their romance once more before Vash chooses to join Q in his travels through the universe. This is the last we see of Vash on The Next Generation.

Fans generally did not care for Vash’s character and felt Picard, a self-identified morally upright man, should have comported himself with more dignity than to fall for the wiles of a charmer and thief. However, Hetrick was kindling a real-life romance with Picard actor Patrick Stewart, and the two were engaged at the time “Qpid” was filmed.

Just as with Picard and Vash, Hetrick and Stewart parted ways before long. The engagement did not conclude in a marriage.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

In 1993, Hetrick made an appearance in season one of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, reprising her role as Vash. The episode brings Vash aboard the titular space station to reveal that her partnership with Q has dissolved. However, Q appears before long in an attempt to woo her back.

What ensues is a competition for Vash’s attention between Q, Dr. Bashir, and Quark. Whereas Q and Bashir wish for the pleasure of her company, Quark recognizes her undeniable charm and proficiency for selling priceless goods.

At the end of the episode, Quark convinces Vash to continue with her business using Quark as a partner and financial backer for her operation. Vash agrees to the terms, but is never seen on-screen again.

Bodies of Evidence

Between 1992 and 1993, Hetrick portrayed Bonnie Caroll, wife of main character Lieutenant Ben Carroll, on the CBS police drama series Bodies of Evidence alongside Lee Horsely, George Clooney, and Kate McNeil.

Hetrick appeared on 4 of the series’ 16 total episodes. It was canceled after two seasons.

The X-Files

In 1996, Hetrick appeared on an episode of The X-Files as Sharon Skinner, wife of assistant FBI director Walter Skinner, in an episode entitled “Avatar”. During the episode, she serves Walter with divorce papers leading to him having a one night stand with a stranger. When the stranger winds up dead in the morning, Scully and Mulder investigate the unusual circumstances.

Hetrick appears in various scenes in the episode. While her character survives the episode, including a car crash that lands her in a coma, she is never seen on the show again.

In 1995, Hetrick played Caroline Fontaine on an episode of Sliders called “Last Days”. Hetrick would appear on the show once more in 2000, but as a separate character entirely. Her second appearance was as Claire LeBeau in an episode entitled “The Seer”.

Other TV Appearances

Hetrick went on to appear on numerous TV shows including Alias, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Cold Case, Prison Break, 24, and Raising the Bar.

What is Jennifer Hetrick doing now?

Jennifer Hetrick remains an actress, although her last appearance was in 2018 on an episode of CBS medical drama Code Black. Hetrick has returned to filming TV commercials as well, including a 2018 ad for Prolia alongside Blythe Danner.

In recent years, Hetrick has taken a step back from mainstream Hollywood, focusing on smaller projects and personal pursuits. She’s been involved in community theater and has also explored other artistic avenues, including writing.

Relationships and Family Life

While Jennifer Hetrick’s romance with actor Patrick Stewart fizzled before tying the knot, Hetrick went on and married someone else. However, she has not shared details of her husband, including his name or occupation.

The two have one child– a daughter named Lilly.

Related Posts:

About Nick Lee

Nick is a Senior Staff Writer for Ned Hardy. Some of his favorite subjects include sci-fi, history, and obscure facts about 90's television. When he's not writing, he's probably wondering how Frank Dux got 52 consecutive knockouts in a single tournament. More from Nick

Captain's Holiday (episode)

• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 1.7 Log entries
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Production history
• 3.2 Story and script
• 3.3 Production
• 3.4 Cast and characters
• 3.5 Continuity
• 3.6 Reception
• 3.7 Apocrypha
• 3.8 Video and DVD releases
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Guest stars
• 4.4 Co-star
• 4.5 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.6 Stand-ins
• 4.7 References
• 4.8 External links

Summary [ ]

The aliens access the resort's computer

Two aliens, a male and a female, beam to a resort on the surface of the planet Risa . The female queries the resort's computer about the location of Jean-Luc Picard 's room, only to be informed that he hasn't arrived yet. When asked when he will arrive, the computer states it has no reservation on file under that name. While the male wonders about the situation, the female simply states, " He will come. "

Elsewhere, the USS Enterprise -D is returning from a two-week mission on Gemaris V , where Picard mediated a commercial treaty between two very stubborn participants, the Gemarians and the Dachlyds . Counselor Troi was with him, and tells Commander Riker how difficult it was for the captain to come up with the agreement. Picard arrives on the bridge , orders the ship to Starbase 12 , and then goes to his ready room . Picard doesn't show any joy when Riker congratulates him on negotiating the treaty, so Troi suggests to Riker that what their captain really needs is a vacation.

Act One [ ]

Troi cheers

Doctor Crusher enters Picard's ready room as he is working with a stack of PADDs on his desk . She tells him that a crew member is working himself too hard and starts listing the symptoms that this crew member is manifesting. As Picard rubs his neck , Crusher mentions that one of the symptoms is muscle spasms, and Picard clues in to what she's doing; she ends up advising him to take a week off. Crusher says she could order Picard to take a vacation, but Picard replies that he knows she won't. He defends himself by saying that during the week-long starship maintenance on Starbase 12 he will make use of all the entertainment facilities available there. The doctor is not appeased and tells him instead to go to somewhere nice.

" He's gonna have a great time. "

In the turbolift , Riker hints to Picard that he should take a holiday, but Picard brushes him off. Upon arriving on the bridge, Troi mentions that when the Enterprise arrives at Starbase 12, her mother will be present and is looking forward to catching up with Riker and Picard. Picard asks to speak to Riker privately in his ready room, drawing a brief cheer from Troi; and asks if everyone on the ship is conspiring together to get him to go on vacation. Riker concedes but notes that two ensigns on deck 39 may not know about the plan. Picard finally gives in and starts planning to vacation somewhere Riker suggested: Risa . In his quarters , Riker notices that Picard is bringing with him to Risa some "light" reading, such as Ulysses by James Joyce and Ethics, Sophistry and the Alternate Universe by Ving Kuda . Just before Picard leaves, Riker asks him to bring back a local souvenir called a Horga'hn .

Vash kisses Picard

Picard beams down to Risa and is immediately kissed by Vash , a woman he's never met before. She is eying a Ferengi across the lobby. She claims to have mistaken Picard for someone else and walks off. " A simple handshake would've sufficed ", Picard quietly notes. As he walks across the lobby, the two aliens who inquired about Picard staying on Risa earlier watch him intently.

Act Two [ ]

Joval is baffled by Picard's behavior

Picard is reading a book on a deck chair in a public place. A local female valet, Joval , interrupts him while playing hoverball , asking if she could do something for him. Picard, annoyed, replies she is the fifth woman to ask the very same thing that day and tells her that he wants to be left alone. Joval is baffled by Picard's behavior as he says to be left alone, yet is also showing the Horga'hn. Once Picard understands the symbolic implications of the Horga'hn, Joval walks away, and Picard is quick to hide the Horga'hn under a towel to avoid further hassles.

The same Ferengi from the lobby covertly approaches Picard, telling him it is a big mistake to work with "her" and to ask "her" to return his disk immediately. Picard says that there has to be a mistake because he doesn't know what the Ferengi is talking about. The Ferengi orders Picard to talk about the business with him, and Picard replies that a Ferengi order doesn't count for him. When the Ferengi angrily replies, Picard stands up and tries to make himself clear to the Ferengi by stating again that he doesn't know this woman or about the disk, and he is on Risa only for vacation. The Ferengi goes away after declaring the disk is his.

The Vorgons scan Picard's room

As Picard returns on the deck chair, Vash arrives. As Vash talks about his encounter with the Ferengi Picard realizes that she is the woman the Ferengi was referring to, and he leaves looking for tranquility. At this very moment the Ferengi returns. Picard starts to move away towards his room, and Vash stealthily hides a disk inside his pocket.

When Picard returns in his room he finds the two aliens who were waiting for him before. They tell him they are Vorgons , and they claim to be a security team from the 27th century .

Act Three [ ]

Picard holds the disk

The Vorgons are looking for the Tox Uthat , an artifact built in the 27th century by a scientist named Kal Dano that is sought after by criminals and was hidden somewhere nearby in this time. Picard says he knows about the legend, and the Vorgons respond that history in the future indicates that Picard will find the Tox Uthat while he is on the planet. Picard says that he hasn't found the artifact yet, and the Vorgons want to know what will happen if he does. Picard simply states that he knows it belongs in the future, and the Vorgons transport out of his room. Just as the Vorgons leave Picard reaches into his pocket and finds the disk .

" Did Sovak tell you that? "

Picard arrives at Vash's door while she's cleaning up a huge mess in her room. She says that Sovak , the Ferengi, has taken to rifling through her room looking for the disk every once in a while. Picard shows her the disk and speculates it has something to do with the Tox Uthat. She is surprised, replying that the last thing she needs is a business partner. She tells Picard that she was an assistant to the late professor Samuel Estragon for the last 5 years . He was a researcher who spent half his life looking for the Tox Uthat. The disk contains new data and maps on the Tox Uthat's position. She admits that the Ferengi also sometimes worked with the professor, and now it is difficult for her to search for the artifact without Sovak noticing. Picard proposes to go after the Tox Uthat, but she wants to come as only she knows how do decode data on the disk. Picard accepts the proposal.

Sovak threatens Vash and Picard

Sovak, brandishing a pistol, stops Picard and Vash just as they're leaving the hotel. Picard asks whether he is aware that weapons are prohibited on Risa, but Sovak just demands the disk again and threatens to kill Picard. Sovak reveals that he paid Vash to steal the disk but she betrayed him and used his money to travel to Risa. Vash denies this and Sovak calls her a " perfect mate for a Ferengi " – greedy and unscrupulous. Picard declares himself quite annoyed, and Sovak says if that is so, he might as well kill Picard and then take the disk. Vash objects, saying she'll give him what he wants, and throws her large pack into Sovak's arms. While Sovak is off balance, Picard seizes the pistol and knocks him out with a punch in the face. Vash remarks to Picard that she knew they would be a wonderful team together. Picard reminds her they have a lot of ground to cover, so they leave the resort.

Act Four [ ]

The Vorgons keep an eye on Vash and Picard

Vash and Picard enter the cave that Vash says is the place they've been looking for. Halfway into the journey, they decide to camp for the night. Vash reveals she hasn't been completely truthful with him, which doesn't come as a surprise to Picard. Sovak indeed paid her for the disk and she used his money to reach Risa. Picard notices how a woman who beats a Ferengi at his own game bears watching. Vash states that this adventure is more suitable for Picard than the boring vacation he had originally planned. He does admit that he is enjoying this. After talking about how the two met and how they are similar they exchange a kiss. Vash asks if he still thinks she is trouble and he replies that she surely is.

The next day Vash and Picard arrive where the Tox Uthat is hidden. Due to the composition of the rock in the cave Vash can't get a good reading on her tricorder . Picard pulls two shovels out of his pack and advises Vash to start digging. As they prepare to begin digging the Vorgons materialize on a ledge above the pit saying they just want to watch Picard discover the Uthat. Vash is furious that Picard didn't tell her about them. Immediately after that Sovak appears with a rifle. He followed Vash and Picard thanks to a half burned copy of the disk found in Vash's room. Sovak orders Picard and Vash to start digging.

The Tox Uthat inside a Horga'hn

Picard and Vash dig a large pit. Eventually, Picard throws down his shovel and gives up after it becomes apparent that there is nothing there. Vash notes that they should have found the Tox Uthat hours ago. It seems to Picard that the professor was wrong with his data, even if he did seem to have incontrovertible evidence. The Vorgons notice that this is very strange and they disappear. Sovak, panicked, hurries to dig himself as Picard and Vash exit the cave.

Upon returning to the resort, Vash tells Picard that she wants to be alone for some time. Picard returns to his room and Riker contacts him. He advises the captain that the Enterprise is in orbit and ready to beam him back at his convenience. Picard asks him to wait a little while but stand ready to activate Transporter Code 14 . Riker asks Picard again for confirmation of code 14 and Picard sternly responds that Riker heard him correctly the first time.

Boratus stuns Vash

Vash is about to leave when Picard calls to her from a table. She claims to be on her way to say goodbye to Picard. Picard asks where she's hidden the Tox Uthat. Picard tells her that if she really wanted to keep Sovak from finding the cave she would have completely destroyed the duplicate disk. He tells her she wanted Sovak to follow them to convince him that the Tox Uthat could not be found. In reality, she recovered the Tox Uthat as soon as she arrived on Risa. Vash concedes that this is true, and opens the head of a Horga'hn she's carrying to reveal a large gemstone. As Picard picks it up the Vorgons appear. Vash claims that the professor's notes stated that two Vorgons initially tried to steal the Tox Uthat. Picard asks the Vorgons to prove their identity, and one of them draws a pistol. Vash tries to take the Tox Uthat and the Vorgon stuns her. Picard then tells the Enterprise to initiate code 14 with a two-second delay, then drops the Tox Uthat and runs. The Tox Uthat explodes, and the Vorgons say that Picard's real destiny was to destroy it; a destiny he has now fulfilled. They transport away, and Picard seems to take care of Vash.

Act Five [ ]

The Enterprise orbits Risa

Picard prepares to leave the planet. Vash asks if there might be an available position for an archeologist on the Enterprise . Picard thinks for a moment, and then comments that he doesn't believe that life on a starship would suit Vash. Vash then says she next plans to explore ruins on Sarthong V, and Picard angrily reminds her what the inhabitants (Sarthongians) do to trespassers . She claims his outburst means that he does care about her, and they share a kiss. Picard says that since the Vorgons now know where and when to look for the Uthat they may have to meet and do this all over again.

Picard, now back in uniform, returns to the Enterprise 's bridge and is welcomed back by Riker, who informs him that the repairs have been made and that the ship is now in a splendid condition. Picard tells Riker he will extend his compliments to the crew and that they need to have a chat about the Horga'hn. Troi asks him whether he had a good time on Risa. Picard turns, thinks for a moment, smiles slightly and says "uh-huh." Riker grins and says "I knew he'd have a great time!".

Log entries [ ]

• First officer's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Our captain needs a vacation. "

" So, have you decided where you're going yet? " " Yes, I have, Number One. Bridge! "

" The place is called Risa and believe me, captain, it is a paradise. Warm tropical breezes, exotic foods, nothing to do but sit around all day, enjoy the quiet and then… " (Together) " the women. "

" Have I mentioned how 'imaginative' the Risian women are, captain? " " Too often, commander. "

" The horga'hn' is the Risian symbol of sexuality. To own one is to call forth its powers. To display it is to announce you are seeking jamaharon . " " Riker. " " Do you seek jamaharon ? " " I don't even know what it means. "

" From the moment I met you, I knew you were going to be trouble. " " You look like a man who could handle trouble. "

" The more difficult the task, the sweeter the victory. "

" A simple handshake would have sufficed. "

" So! The betrayer is herself betrayed! "

" You're becoming quite annoying, Sovak. "

" Look, I don't mean to appear rude, but I am not seeking jamaharon . " " All right. But you really should try it some time. " " If I 'try it', it will be at a time of my own choosing. " " Fair enough. It's not like I was going to help you find it. "

" I prefer to be acquainted with the women that I kiss. "

" The horga'hn is for a friend. " " I see. Someone close to you. " " That's right. " " Someone you love. " " I wouldn't go that far. "

" What are your plans? " " Well I might explore the ruins on Sarthong V." " Oh! Unbelievable! You are, out of your mind! The Sarthongians are merciless to trespassers! "

" Was it a relaxing trip, captain? " (Picard stops and turns to face Troi with a smile) " Uh-huh. "

" I knew he'd have a great time. "

Background information [ ]

Production history [ ].

• Final draft script: 21 January 1990 [1]
• Premiere airdate: 2 April 1990
• First UK airdate: 11 March 1992

Story and script [ ]

• Although Ira Steven Behr had heretofore collaborated on " Yesterday's Enterprise " with the TNG writing staff, this episode represented his first opportunity to write an episode of the show himself. " When I finally got a script of my own to write, " he recalled, " I came up with this idea of this pleasure planet. " ( William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge )
• The original version of the story, which Ira Steven Behr wrote with some input from Ronald D. Moore , was very different to the finished episode. Risa was only featured as a framing device, with Picard finding a sideshow attraction which showed visitors their greatest fears, and showed Picard a future in which he was now an admiral with a dull desk job, with Captain Riker now in charge of the Enterprise . While Michael Piller liked this idea, Gene Roddenberry vetoed it on the grounds that such fears about one's age and future were not in keeping with his ideal of 24th-century Humanity. However, Roddenberry did like the concept of Risa, and encouraged Behr to come up with another story that could use the location. Elements of the original storyline would later find their way into the following season 's " Future Imperfect ". ( TNG Season 3 Blu-ray , "Technological Distinctiveness" )
• The storyline that this episode ultimately went with grew out of Patrick Stewart 's desire for more "sex and shooting" for Picard. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion , 2nd ed., p. 121) Ira Steven Behr recollected, " Patrick kept saying that the trouble with the show is there's not enough f-ing and f-ing: fighting and fornicating. " ( William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge )
• Michael Piller recalled, " Originally it was a Maltese Falcon kind of story where an old, rare thing had been lost and a bunch of people are looking for it on this island…It was originally a good script, but it could have been Magnum . Ron [Moore] was in here with the staff and said, 'Instead of it being from the past, couldn't it be from the future?' And I said, 'Which also means that the guys who are chasing it are from the future,' and that started putting a whole new spin on it. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , pp. 194–195)
• An early version of the script ended with a repeat of the opening scene in Act Two, implying that, eventually, the Vorgons will be successful in obtaining the device. ( Star Trek Chronology ,  ? ed., p. ? ) According to Piller, " We thought it was a little confusing and we cut it. It was sort of a Twilight Zone ending and it didn't quite work. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 195)
• Patrick Stewart took credit for having thought up the idea of Vash. " I said I've got a feeling our audience might like to see the captain just getting blown away by meeting somebody new, " he stated. ( William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge ) According to Ira Steven Behr, using this episode to introduce the Vash character " was an attempt to bring in a ballsy woman who's not your typical Star Trek woman, a clear thinker both in terms of what she did in her own life and sex and the whole bit. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 17)
• At first, the TNG writers were very excited by this episode, though the installment still had to be approved by Gene Roddenberry. " Rick [Berman] says, 'You've got to go in to see Gene', " Ira Steven Behr continued. " So I go in and he's very nice. " Despite liking the inclusion of the pleasure planet, something Roddenberry was keen to see in the episode, however, was copious amounts of erotic activity taking place in the background of the scenes set on Risa, particularly between same-sex partners. Remembered Behr, " He says, 'I like the idea of the pleasure planet and I want it to be a place where you see women fondling and kissing other women, and men hugging and holding hands and kissing, and we can imply that they're having sex in the background.' Huh, really?! " Behr was briefly flummoxed on how to politely tell Roddenberry that such scenes would never make it past network censors. " I'm going, 'Oh, man, I'm in the freakin' Twilight Zone .' I go back to Rick. He goes, 'Pft, pay no attention to that, just get the captain laid.' " ( William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge )

Production [ ]

Makeup Artist Jerry Quist working on pasties for the semi-nude actresses, with fellow make-up artist Doug Drexler taking his picture

• This is the first episode directed by Chip Chalmers , one of the series' two rotating first assistant directors. He helmed several more Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes. Chalmers recalled that he suffered a severe fever during filming of the scenes on Risa on Paramount Stage 16 , and was confined to a cot. " We'd come out, rehearse, I'd muster up as much energy as I could while they were lighting, I would go lay down on my cot and pass out for 15 or 20 minutes while they set up. I'd go out, say action, shoot and we made it through those two days with everybody rallying around. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 195)
• The large land mass visible in the planet view shown immediately before Picard beams down to Risa is Australia. Adelaide is situated in the middle of the bottom edge on the shores of the smaller of the two gulfs, and the nearby island is Kangaroo Island. The Gulf of Carpentaria appears next to the port side nacelle.

Cast and characters [ ]

• Max Grodénchik later plays a more famous Ferengi – Rom in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .
• Deirdre Imershein later plays Watley in " Trials and Tribble-ations ", DS9's 30th anniversary tribute to Star Trek: The Original Series .
• Jennifer Hetrick makes her first of three appearances as Vash. She appears again in TNG : " Qpid " and the Deep Space Nine episode, " Q-Less ".
• Wil Wheaton ( Wesley Crusher ) and LeVar Burton ( Geordi La Forge ) do not appear in this episode. Brent Spiner ( Data ) appears but does not have any dialogue.

Continuity [ ]

• Ira Steven Behr later wrote the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " Let He Who Is Without Sin... ", in which Worf , Jadzia Dax , Quark , Julian Bashir and Leeta visit Risa. The script of the DS9 episode notes that Worf and Dax's room is to be similar to Picard's here. The script also tells the production staff to "please lose the ceiling fans", that were seen in this episode. [2]
• This episode marks the second and final appearance of an Andorian in the series, the first having appeared in " The Offspring ", as one of Lal 's potential android forms. The Andorians' next appearance was in ENT : " The Andorian Incident " eleven years later.
• Technology to stop all nuclear fusion within a star would later be developed by Tolian Soran in Star Trek Generations .

Reception [ ]

• Director Chip Chalmers remarked, " 'Captain's Holiday' is one of my favorites because it was the first. This episode was also terrific because Patrick is such a wonderful actor. The other thing for me is that I got a wonderful actress, Jennifer Hetrick, and we had such a good time working on the show…I can look back at that show and smile for a lot of reasons, but certainly the happiest result is that we proved Patrick Stewart is extremely funny. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 195)
• Guest star Jennifer Hetrick commented, " It seemed like a Romancing the Stone / Raiders of the Lost Ark -type story. I did use that as an example, but not specifically for my character. I just used my own imagination and what I know of myself and found her very adventurous and conniving to a degree, but also vulnerable and committed. I loved the Ferengi, Sovak. I was spared the make-up fortunately. When I saw what everyone else had to go through, I was thrilled. Thank God, I was Human. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 195)
• A mission report for this episode by Patrick Daniel O'Neill was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 13 , p. 59–61.

Apocrypha [ ]

• Miles O'Brien mentions this incident in the novel Inferno after the universe is destroyed in 2400 as a result of the Bajoran wormhole meeting and consuming a red wormhole created by the Pah-wraiths , citing Picard's encounter with time travellers from the 27th century as a means of proving to his current 'crew' – consisting of Quark, Rom, Odo and Garak – that it is possible for them to change history so that timelines where the universe didn't end in 2400 come into existence.

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 34, 20 January 1992 .
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 3.7, 4 September 2000 .
• As part of the TNG Season 3 DVD collection.
• As part of the Region 2 release of the Star Trek: The Next Generation - Jean-Luc Picard Collection .
• As part of the TNG Season 3 Blu-ray collection.

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William Riker

Also starring [ ]

• Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
• Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data

Guest stars [ ]

• Jennifer Hetrick as Vash
• Karen Landry as Ajur
• Michael Champion as Boratus
• Max Grodenchik as Sovak

Co-star [ ]

• Deirdre Imershein as Joval

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Jeremy Doyle as operations ensign
• Kristina Kochoff as Andorian on Risa
• Tim McCormack as Bennett
• John Patrick as Risian employee
• John Rice as science division officer
• Eleven Human tourists
• Female operations division officer
• Female Risian computer voice
• Four Risian employees
• Science division officer
• Security officer
• Vulcan woman

Stand-ins [ ]

• Jeffrey Deacon – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
• Lorine Mendell – stand-in for Gates McFadden

References [ ]

22nd century ; 2361 ; 27th century ; Achrady VII ; Achrady VII conference ; ailment ; alternative ; amusement ; Andorians ; Antican ; apology ; archaeologist ; archaeology ; arrival date ; associate ; Astrophysics Center ; attention ; attitude ; bag ; betrayal ; betrayer ; book ; breeze ; business ; casing ; cave ; chance ; chat ; claim ; classic case ; clothing ; clue ; " come to blows "; communication range ; compliment ; conference ; coordinates ; copy ; course ; criminal ; crystal ; cube ; Dachlyds ; Dano, Kal ; data ; data disk ; day ; Daystrom Institute ; deck 39 ; Deck 39 ensigns ; destiny ; deuterium tank ; device ; discipline ; east ; embarrassment ; Estragon, Samuel ; ethics ; Ethics, Sophistry and the Alternate Universe ; evidence ; excitement ; exhaustion ; exploration ; face ; failure ; fate ; Federation ; Ferengi ; file scan ; flattery ; food ; foolishness ; friend ; fun ; Gemarians ; Gemaris V ; gold ; greeting ; hand ; handshake ; harassment ; health ; " hello "; historical record ; history ; holiday ; holodeck ; home ; Horga'hn ; hotel ; hour ; hoverball ; Human ; hundred (number) ; Icor IX ; idea ; imagination ; individual ; information ; intention ; investment ; irritability ; jamaharon ; journey ; Joyce, James ; kilometer ; kiss ; knowledge ; Kuda, Ving ; legend ; lie ; lobby ; location ; lodging chamber ; logic ; maintenance overhaul ; maintenance technician ; map ; massage ; mate ; meaning ; mediator ; meter ; minute ; mistake ; money ; muscle spasm ; name ; neighbor ; night ; nuclear reaction ; object ; offer ; orbit ; order ; palm ; paradise ; partner ; patience ; peace ; personal assistant ; Picard interrupters ; place ; plan ; privacy ; prize ; professor ; profit ; proof ; proposal ; quantum phase inhibitor ; quest ; question ; reason ; record ; repairs ; reputation ; research ; research note ; resort ; Risa ; Risa ("suns"); Risians ; rock ; room ; ruins ; rumor ; Sarthong V ; Sarthongians ; " save your breath "; schedule ; scientist ; search ; second ; sector containing Risa ; security officer ; security team ; sextant ; sexuality ; shore leave ; sitting ; sleep ; solution ; souvenir ; star ; star cluster ; Starbase 12 ; starithium ore ; starship ; status quo ; status report ; steal ; story ; stress ; subject ; supervision ; swimming ; symbol ; symposium ; technician ; time traveler ; " to each his own "; Tox Uthat ; trade agreement ; trade dispute ; Transporter Code 14 ; treachery ; treasure ; treatment ; trespasser ; trip ; Troi, Lwaxana ; truth ; Ulysses ; week ; vacation ; visitor ; Vorgons ; wall ; weapon ; weight ; work ; year ; Zytchin III

External links [ ]

• " Captain's Holiday " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Captain's Holiday " at Wikipedia
• " Captain's Holiday " at MissionLogPodcast.com
• "Captain's Holiday" script  at Star Trek Minutiae
• " Captain's Holiday " at the Internet Movie Database
• 2 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Bell Riots

Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

• Memory Beta articles sourced from short stories
• Archaeologists
• Humans (24th century)
• 1 Biography
• 2 Alternate timelines
• 3 Appearances
• 4 Connections

Biography [ ]

Vash was an archaeologist who worked with Doctor Samuel Estragon at the Daystrom Institute Archaeological Council studying the Tox Uthat . Upon Estragon's death in 2366 , Vash defrauded Sovak in order to travel to Risa and search for the Tox Uthat .

While on Risa, Vash would encounter Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise -D while he was attempting to vacation. Vash initially used Picard as a way to hide from Sovak and later used Picard to help her hide the fact that she had already discovered the Tox Uthat . Picard discovered her deception and destroyed the artifact. During their partnership, Vash and Picard developed romantic feelings for each other. ( TNG episode : " Captain's Holiday ")

Across her career, Vash used similarly disreputable tactics numerous times. This led to Vash twice being suspended from the Daystrom Institute Archaeological Council, banned from the Royal Museum of Epsilon Hydra VII , declared persona non grata on Betazed . ( TNG episode : " Qpid ", DS9 episode : " Q-Less ")

Later, in the year 2367 , Vash would appear at a meeting of the Federation Archaeological Council aboard the Enterprise -D at which Captain Picard was to be the guest speaker. This led to a somewhat warm reunion between Vash and Picard, though she was saddened that Picard never mentioned her to his crew.

Q would appear during this time and offered to do something nice for Picard. Picard refused and Q eventually forced the Enterprise -D's crew into a Robin Hood scenario. In the scenario, Picard was forced to choose between rescuing Vash (playing Maid Marian ) or letting her die. Picard rescued Vash.

Following the incident, Q became fascinated with Vash and would ask her to travel with him. Picard advised against this, but Vash went with Q anyway. ( TNG episode : " Qpid ")

Vash would spend the next two years travelling with Q, aquiring artifacts and visiting numerous Gamma Quadrant locations including Errikand VII , Brax , and Errabus Prime . ( DS9 episode : " Q-Less ")

In 2369 , Vash encountered the Even Odds , distracting Zin Dezavrim and stealing a valuable knife Facity Sleedow had retrieved. ( DS9 novel : Rising Son )

Later in 2369, Vash ended her partnership with Q and was discovered by Jadzia Dax . Dax returned Vash To Deep Space 9 , where Vash almost immediately partnered with Quark to auction off valuables she had brought from the Gamma Quadrant.

Eventually it was discovered that one of her artifacts was interfering with the operation of the space station and the artifact was removed. Vash would later turn down offers to re-partner with Q and to return to the Daystrom Institute . Instead, Vash was convinced to continue her search for valuable artifacts with Quark as her backer. ( DS9 episode : " Q-Less ")

In 2372 , a Changeling infiltrator boarded the USS Enterprise -E and studied Picard's personal logs . The infiltrator then used this information during negotiations to state it could assume the form of any of Picard's female acquaintances, including Vash. ( TNG eBook : A Sea of Troubles )

Q would later appear to Vash several more times between 2369 and 2374 . ( DS9 novel : The Fall of Terok Nor )

In 2377 , Vash was captured by the Borg and assimilated , becoming a Borg Queen . Two weeks later, she was rescued by Q and restored to normal with no memory of what had happened. ( VOY short story : " Iridium-7-Tetrahydroxate Crystals Are a Girl's Best Friend ")

Alternate timelines [ ]

Vash later became known as the Bajoran writer Eilin after she, Picard and Nog were transported back in time from the year 2400 aboard the USS Phoenix . ( DS9 novels : The War of the Prophets , Inferno )

Appearances [ ]

• TNG episode : " Captain's Holiday "
• TNG episode : " Qpid "
• DS9 episode : " Q-Less "
• The Fall of Terok Nor
• The War of the Prophets
• " Iridium-7-Tetrahydroxate Crystals Are a Girl's Best Friend "
• " Hive, Issue 1 "
• TNG eBook : Q Are Cordially Uninvited

Connections [ ]

• Vash article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• Vash article at the Star Trek Timelines Wiki .
• Vash (Star Trek) article at Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia.
• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 Odyssey class
• 3 Typhon class

Star Trek: Picard Episode 8 - 25 Trek Easter Eggs And References

By Phil Hornshaw and Kevin Wong on March 18, 2020 at 11:28AM PDT

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We finally learn a whole lot more about the Zhat Vash, synthetic life, Soji's family, and Rios's tragic past in Star Trek: Picard 's eighth episode, "Broken Pieces." After the quick visit to Will Riker and Deanna Troi on Nepenthe, Jean-Luc and Soji are back aboard La Sirena and ready to make their way to Soji's homeworld. Everything is finally coming together, including the events on the Artifact, the Romulans' plans for synthetics, and the mystery of the Zhat Vash. And as always, there are a whole lot of references to Star Trek lore and history to give it all context.

From Seven of Nine's return to Rios's dabbling in Vulcan philosophy, we've got a whole lot of Trek Easter eggs in Episode 8. Here's everything we discovered that ties into various Trek series, including The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager.

1. Commodore Oh, The Romulan

We've been wondering what Commodore Oh's deal is since she was introduced as a Romulan operative back in Episode 1, although back then, she appeared to be a Vulcan. Turns out, she's not just working for the Zhat Vash, she's a member. We learn later that Oh is half Romulan and half Vulcan, which allowed her to attain her position as head of Starfleet Security without tipping anybody about her Romulan heritage. We know from past Star Trek series, especially The Next Generation, that Starfleet wouldn't have allowed anyone of Romulan descent into their ranks--and especially not at a high level. So Oh is more than a traitor, but a Romulan plant.

2. Vulcan Custom

On Reddit, user welcherg raised an interesting point; when Agnes describes what happens when Commander Oh touches her face, she calls it "poison" and she refers to it as "psychic." She doesn't call it by what we all know it to be: a Vulcan mindmeld. Perhaps the mindmeld is a more exclusive, private act than the multiple television series have indicated. Maybe we've only seen it used frequently because Trek crews are constantly in danger and on the cutting edge of space. To a civilian like, Agnes, however, the mindmeld would not be common knowledge. We've also often seen Vulcan telepathy used as a weapon on various series, including The Next Generation and Enterprise.

3. The Zhat Vash Secret

We kind of, sort of got a look at the overarching secret the Zhat Vash have been guarding for centuries--the one that's worth killing in order to keep. That secret is something known as the Admonition, a vision from an ancient alien society about how it somehow wiped itself out by creating synthetic life. The vision is so horrible and the destruction so profound that not everyone who witnesses the Admonition can even handle the knowledge, with Zhat Vash recruits often going mad or committing suicide immediately after learning the secret. It seems like there's more to the situation, though; another civilization creating synthetic life and then getting wiped out by it doesn't seem like much of a secret, really--and wouldn't the Zhat Vash be more apt to accomplish their anti-synth goals by sharing that information with others, rather than hiding it and doing a bunch of spy stuff? It seems like there's more here that hasn't been uncovered yet.

4. Data In The Admonition

There are a lot of quick shots hidden within the Admonition, but a key one is a look at one of the non-sentient Federation synths, whose face then transforms into the visage of Data. We know hatred of synthetics is the big thing driving the Zhat Vash, and that obviously extended to Data as one of the only sentient androids in existence, but his appearance here suggests that the Zhat Vash have been very worried about Data for a long while. Though Soji is referred to as the Destroyer by the Zhat Vash, it's probably more accurate to say that Data, as the progenitor of a new synthetic race through Bruce Maddox's work, is the real Destroyer.

5. Ramdha Killed The Borg Cube

One of the mysteries of Picard so far is the Artifact, the decommissioned Borg Cube the Romulans have been studying and salvaging for quite a while now. As Soji mentioned earlier in the season, nobody is quite sure what happened to the Artifact--it just stopped functioning one day, and the Romulans discovered it and took it over. Now we know that what really happened was Ramdha. According to Soji, Ramdha's ship was the only Romulan vessel known to ever be assimilated by the Borg. It was a Tal Shiar vessel, but it seems the crew might have been entirely Zhat Vash. Instead of becoming regular drones, it seems, the Romulans went mad when they were assimilated into the Borg race, since it combined them with synthetic life, the thing they hated the most.

Ramdha, on the other hand, had direct knowledge of the Admonition. According to Narissa, her despair about the Admonition filtered through the Collective when she was assimilated. Essentially, she hated synthetic life so much that those thoughts and feelings were sent to every other Borg in the Cube, which caused it to shut down. It sounds like a variation on what happened to the Borg on The Next Generation when Hugh returned to his Collective after discovering his individuality. When Hugh rejoined the other Borg, his individuality filtered out to all the other drones, which caused them to become individuals as well. That fractured the Collective, messing up everyone on the Cube, and giving rise to a whole separate Borg subculture that wasn't sure how to live or survive without its Collective.

6. A Subspace Link

A long-running Star Trek communication technology is subspace communication, which is what Picard asks for to contact Starfleet for help. Subspace is a feature of regular space that allows for faster-than-light travel--basically, it allows for communications over vast distances without waiting years for something like a radio signal to arrive. Starfleet mostly uses subspace for command communications with its ships, and there are relays throughout the Federation to help get subspace signals where they need to go as quickly as possible.

7. Deep Space 12

There are a whole bunch of Starfleet starbases scattered throughout the Federation, as well as the Deep Space stations, which are positioned out toward the borders of Federation territory. The most famous is Deep Space 9, of course, which was located close to Bajor and the Cardassian border. Picard and the La Sirena are headed for Deep Space 12, which sounds like it's closer to Romulan territory.

8. A Single Neuron

Raffi calls out Picard for his commitment to Soji when the pair finally make it back to La Sirena--as Raffi puts it, Picard built an entire heroic fantasy out of "one pissant little neuron." She's referring to the "fractal cloning" technique that apparently brought Soji and Dahj into existence. According to Agnes Jurati in Episode 1, Bruce Maddox was able to use a single positronic neuron from Data to recreate an entire positronic brain. So Soji and Dahj were created from Data, and from Raffi's point of view, it's Picard's loyalty to Data that's making him so willing to risk everything for Soji.

9. The Emergency Holograms Have Names

After Rios meets Soji, he shuts himself up in his quarters and activates all his crew holograms to run the ship in his stead. We learn that the holograms are all scans of Rios, and also have some information about his past--although much of it has been blocked or deleted by Rios, it seems. We also learn that the holograms have names related to their functions: Enoch for the Emergency Navigation Hologram, Emmit for the Emergency Tactical Hologram, and Ian for the Emergency Engineering Hologram.

10. Tribute To Scotty

Rios' Emergency Engineering Hologram (EEH) has a thick, exaggerated Scottish accent. This is a homage to the Chief Engineering officer of the USS Enterprise, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, who also spoke with a Scottish accent.

11. The Conclave Of Eight Is A Place, Not People

Back in Episode 3, we saw a flashback of Raffi trying to convince Picard that the attack on Mars was the work of a Romulan conspiracy, someone she referred to as the Conclave of Eight. At the time, Raffi thought the Conclave was a group of conspirators, but with the help of Enoch, she comes around to the theory that the Conclave of Eight is an octonary star system--the place where the Romulans discovered the Admonition.

12. Regenerating The Borg Cube

The Borg are an incredibly dangerous threat throughout many Star Trek series, largely because they're so tough to kill. Borg drones are able to adapt to protect themselves against weapons like phasers and disruptors after a few shots, and their ships have a similar capacity. When a Borg Cube does take damage, it rebuilds itself, or "regenerates," since the entire ship is also a machine linked to the Collective. When Seven of Nine taps into the Cube's controls, she starts its regeneration in hopes of stealing it from the Romulans.

13. Data Vs. Humor

Picard spends some time explaining who Data was to Soji, and it becomes clear to her very quickly that Picard cared deeply for his android friend. They also had a lot in common, including the inability to express emotion well. In talking about Data, Picard also notes that he tried very hard to understand the concept of humor, but never quite got it. "Data never made anyone laugh on purpose," Picard says, although Data made a lot of attempts. In "The Outrageous Okona" in Season 4 of The Next Generation, Data even took lessons from a computer-generated comedian on the holodeck of the Enterprise, in hopes of figuring out how to make people laugh.

14. Yridian Tea

When the Emergency Hospitality Hologram explains to Raffi why his personality mirrors Rios's, he also explains that Rios deleted a lot of information and files from the holograms' database. Among the removals is the correct temperature for serving Yridian tea. The Yridians are one of the alien races in the alpha quadrant that have appeared a few times on Trek series over the years. On The Next Generation, a Yridian once tried to sell Worf information about his deceased father, Mogh. The race tends to be seen as untrustworthy, but apparently, they have a pretty decent tea.

15. Sarek And Existentialism

Rios has a bunch of books in his quarters, most of them on a philosophical theme about the meaning of life and death. Hemingway, Camus, and Kierkegaard are all represented, as well as a famous Star Trek figure: Sarek. That's the Vulcan ambassador who was father to Spock. Sarek has a history with Jean-Luc Picard, as well; during a diplomatic mission in the episode "Sarek" in Season 3 of The Next Generation, Picard and Sarek shared a mindmeld in order to help Sarek deal with a degenerative condition that was causing him to lose control of his emotions. That created a tight bond between the captain and the ambassador, which allowed Picard to later relate to Spock when he met him on Romulus in the Season 5 episode "Unification."

16. Rios's Starfleet Career

We also see the remnants of Rios's time in Starfleet in the footlocker he keeps in his quarters. Inside are Rios's uniform and the pips used to display his rank, as well as a photo of Rios with the captain of the Ibin Majid, Alonzo Vandermeer.

17. Mysterious Skull

Along with the Starfleet keepsakes Rios has in the box in his quarters is a strange skull. It looks like a boar skull, means it probably belonged to a young Targ, which is a boar-like creature native to Qo'noS, the Klingon homeworld. The spikes on the forehead don't quite match up with previous depictions of the Targ, but then again, neither do the Klingons themselves on Star Trek: Discovery. Do you have a better theory? Let us know in the comments.

18. Seven The Borg Queen

Back on the Artifact, Seven of Nine and Elnor are trying to figure out how to escape from the Romulans and liberate the Borg Cube. Seven isn't a fan of the plan, but one way they can do it is for her to take control of the Cube and create a mini-Collective, activating the remaining Borg drones on the Cube who haven't been reclaimed yet. It means, basically, re-assimilating them into the Borg, something Seven is not excited about doing; as a former Borg herself, she knows how horrific being made a slave to the Borg can be, and she's not excited about being responsible for that.

19. Rios's Old-Timey Records

When Raffi talks to Rios, she finds him listening to a vinyl record of Ella Fitzgerald's "In My Solitude." Rios had a whole bunch of vinyl records in his Starfleet footlocker. What's funny is that, at this point in history, vinyl as a medium would be more than 400 years old, so those records might be ancient--Picard would probably say they belong in a museum.

20. "We Are Borg"

It's been a long time since Seven of Nine said one of the signature phrases of the Collective, and it's definitely just as chilling as it was on Star Trek: Voyager years ago.

21. Zefram Cochran And The Warp Threshold

The Admonition suggested to the Zhat Vash that there's a point in the development of artificial intelligence that acts as a threshold, and once that threshold is passed, it's too late to stop anything that might happen--including the creation of the Destroyer. Rios likens it to the creation of warp drive. In Star Trek: First Contact, the Enterprise crew saw humanity's first warp flight, conducted by a scientist named Zefram Cochran, when they traveled to the past. Cochran is a famous figure in Star Trek lore, because his warp flight ushered in humanity's era of space exploration and led eventually to the creation of the Federation. The crew likens Cochran to Noonien Soong, the cyberneticist who created synthetic life in Data and carried the Federation through the AI threshold.

22. The Borg's Transwarp Conduits

The Borg are able to travel even faster than Warp 10, something that's generally seen as impossible (although Warp 10 has popped up in a few different ways in various Star Trek series). To do that, the Borg use a network of "transwarp conduits" that let them use a part of subspace to travel great distances relatively quickly. A transwarp conduit was what allowed Voyager to return from the Delta quadrant at the end of Star Trek: Voyager, but the Federation doesn't really have a handle on transwarp technology in general.

23. "Annika Still Has Work To Do"

With the Cube liberated, Seven of Nine has full power over the small Borg collective she's created. A nervous Elnor asks if she's about to assimilate him, but Seven responds that "Annika still has work to do." Annika Hansen was Seven's human name before she was assimilated--despite being connected to her own Collective, Seven's human side is still asserting itself.

24. Ensign Picard And The Reliant

We've known a fair bit about Picard's past Starfleet assignments, especially his time on the Stargazer, the first ship he served on as captain. On the way to the transwarp conduit, Picard mentions the Reliant, the first ship he served on as an ensign.

25. Captain Marta Batanides

Before Alonzo Vandermeer was captain of the Ibin Majid, he served as first officer to Captain Marta Batanides. She was one of Picard's best friends in Starfleet Academy, and was present with him during the bar fight in which Picard was stabbed, which resulted in him receiving an artificial heart. Picard and Batanides actually even had romantic feelings for each other that they never explored, which we learned about in the Next Generation episode "Tapestry."

• Leave Blank

Star Trek: Picard Has A Secret Tribute To Late Borg Queen Actress Annie Wersching

L ongtime "Star Trek" fans got a huge treat in the Easter egg-packed ten-episode final season of "Star Trek: Picard," particularly in the Starfleet History Museum, which, among other things, preserves both Starfleet and non-Starfleet vessels of historical importance.

For eagle-eyed viewers with a desire to look closely at the details housed inside the storied museum, it's a veritable treasure trove of "Star Trek" references and hidden bonuses. Included among them is an Akira-class vessel with the hull number NCC-63328, formally named the USS Wersching — a worthy tribute to the late Annie Wersching, who appeared as the Borg Queen in "Picard" Season 2. In a  post on X  (formerly Twitter), "Picard" production designer Dave Blass drew attention to the ship, writing, "On Display now on the lower level, replacing the USS Pioneer, we have a special treat. The USS Wersching. A very, very, special ship, that we hope visitors will appreciate.#StarTrekPicard."

Wersching's role as the Borg Queen marked her second appearance in the franchise. Her first Trek role was in the "Star Trek: Enterprise" episode "Oasis," where she played Liana, a Kantare woman who had been marooned on an unknown planet since childhood.  In a 2019 X post following René Auberjonois' death, Wersching would reveal that this was also her first time stepping on a soundstage. She concluded her anecdote by praising the late actor, saying, "He could not have been more warm & welcoming." Wersching returned to the franchise in 2022 with the "Picard" episode, "Penance." Heartbreakingly, this also marked the actor's final performance, with Wersching ultimately beginning and ending her career on the series after succumbing to cancer in 2023 at just 45 years old.

Read more: Star Trek Stories That Are Actually Horrifying

The USS Wersching Is A Powerful Ship

To the world of "Star Trek," the Starfleet History Museum is nothing new, with several 24th-century Starfleet officers fondly recalling visits to it in "Star Trek Enterprise," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and "Star Trek: Lower Decks." But the "Picard" episode, "The Bounty," actually gives viewers a chance to get a look at the storied museum and its collection of ships. As Dave Blass would note in another X post , the Wersching was on display on the museum's lower level near the a Romulan warbird, the USS Defiant , and the Saber Class USS Argo. "Being repaired at the moment is the USS Pioneer, which eagle eyed viewers might have caught in the end credit sequence," Blass tweeted. The ship would remain on display as a temporary exhibit, with the Pioneer back in its usual place three episodes later in "Vox."

It seems appropriate that a ship named for Wersching, who put so much work into her performance as the Borg Queen, would be an Akira class vessel, one of the more formidable ships to bear the prefix USS in the "Star Trek" universe. A fixture in many 24th-century battles, the powerful Akira class would regularly participate in armadas and on the front line in wartime, as seen in both "Star Trek: First Contact" and many episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

A self-professed sci-fi fan who loved "Quantum Leap" growing up, Wersching adored being a part of the "Star Trek" franchise. As the actor told Star Trek Explorer , "[I]t's trippy, but exciting, super exciting. Even just when the audition came in for Picard, I was like 'Ooh, this could be a cool, iconic show and role to be a part of.'"

Read the original article on Looper .

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Star Trek: Picard

Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life. Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life. Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life.

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• The second season features a Borg ship, a wormhole and hourglass, and the Borg Queen's silhouette.
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Published Aug 13, 2024

Striving to Create Our Own 'Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel'

The Next Generation's 'Darmok' has lessons to teach us, still.

StarTrek.com

In the second episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's fifth season, " Darmok ," the Enterprise is on-route to the El-Adrel system to make contact with a race called the Children of Tama. Although the race has been peaceful, a failure to communicate pervades — the Children of Tama's language is seemingly indecipherable.

"But are they truly incomprehensible," Picard asks the officers on the bridge as they set a course for the El-Adrel system. "In my experience, communication is a matter of patience, imagination. I would like to believe that these are qualities that we have in sufficient measure."

It is this attitude that separates the Enterprise crew from the " first contact " stories between European explorers and the native inhabitants of North and South Americas in the 15th and 16th Centuries here on Earth. Instead, Spanish Conquistadors such as Hernán Cortés entered these "new worlds" with the intent to conquer rather than communicate.

"Darmok"

At first, the Enterprise believes this may be the case with the Tamarians. After the Enterprise hails the Tamarian ship and the two captains attempt to communicate, Picard's mouth straightens into a line, his signature "this-is-not-going-well" expression. The Tamarian captain argues with his bridge crew, takes a dagger from one of his officers, and, now holding a weapon in each hand, addresses the  crew with, "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra." Abruptly, the two captains are beamed to the surface of the planet El-Adrel IV below the ships.

Unable to transport Captain Picard back due to a particle scattering field on the planet's ionosphere created by the Tamarian ship, Commander Riker asks Security Officer Worf his read of the situation. "It is a contest between champions, perhaps," Worf replies, channeling his Klingon sensibilities. In his culture, this is how an analogous situation would play out.

Meanwhile, the two captains struggle to understand one another on the plant. Picard thinks the Tamarian captain wants him to take the knife for a fight and keeps refusing it even as the Tamarian continue to insist he take it. Night falls and no progress has been made.

The first moment of clarity, when Picard begins to understand, happens when the Tamarian captain, seeing Picard cold that night on El-Adrel IV's surface, tosses Picard a flaming branch for warmth. He pairs the gift with the phrase, "Temba, his arms wide."

"Temba is a person," Picard realizes. "His arms wide because he's holding them apart, in generosity. In giving. In taking.”

It's a genuine moment of language exchange and acquisition, part of the Tamarian captain's plan all along — through shared experiences, the two races would be able to gain a common vocabulary. Picard's words serve as a metaphor for the process of language learning, and also hint at the key to understanding the Tamarian language — metaphor.

It is also a moment of charity — of gift-giving to aid Picard in an unfamiliar, foreign place. This scene is pivotal; isn't generosity just the culmination of the characteristics Picard referred to before — patience and imagination?

During the 1527 Narváez expedition, Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca spent eight years traveling across the U.S. Southwest, interacting with different native cultures and even acting as a faith healer and trader. His generosity and attitude toward the native populations was an outlier among the Spanish explorers who tended to be conquistadors, entering with the intent to claim, rather than explore. One of these seminal conquistadors was Hernán Cortés.

Shortly before de Vaca, Hernán Cortés marched into Mexico in 1519 and laid claim to everything. Instead of bothering to learn the language of the land, he used a shipwrecked priest and took an indigenous mistress to facilitate all of his orders.

The remaining Bridge crew, unable to understand the Tamarians but unwilling to throw out all attempts and take the forceful Cortés route, instead try to find ways to bring Picard back onboard the ship. The Tamarian vessel thwarts each of the Enterprise 's efforts because the crew understands "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra." They know what the captain is attempting to do.

Picard begins to understand the Tamarian captain is using allusions or references to communicate. The metaphors serve as analogous situations and insinuate the next move that should be made. The generosity of the Tamarian captain has facilitated the beginning of understanding. This comes to a head the following day after a common foe emerges in a creature native to El-Adrel IV.

Just as Picard figures out the Tamarian speaks by "citing example," the Enterprise attempts to beam out Picard, causing the Tamarian captain to face the beast alone. Subsequently, he is gravely injured. After Picard is released from the grasp of the teleportation beam, he cares for the wounded Tamarian who still works to teach Picard his language. As he lies dying, the Tamarian captain is more concerned at bridging the language barrier than conserving his energy. For him, the ability to communicate supersedes life itself.

He urges Picard to share a story from his culture.

Perceptive as always, Picard deduces "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" must be the myth of a friendship forged by two people poised as adversaries. He shares the 1800 BC Sumerian myth of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. In the Sumerian myth, the two enemies Gilgamesh and Enkidu come together to fight a common foe and become brothers in arms. When Enkidu is eventually killed in battle, Gilgamesh mourns. The parallels between not only the Tamarian myth but the current situation are not lost on either the Tamarian captain nor Picard.

An oft overlooked aspect of Earth mythologies are their commonalities. In the Gilgamesh epic, Gilgamesh encounters Atrahasis, the lone survivor of a great flood the gods inflicted to restart humanity. To survive, Atrahasis built a large ship. If this sounds familiar, it's a story that also appears in the Bible, of Noah and his ark. But it also appears in Greek mythology as Deucalion, the son of Prometheus, sailing in a chest or ark for nine days to survive a flood that destroyed humanity. Ancient Aztec myths told of a couple that survives a large deluge by hiding in a hollow vessel. In the Incan mythology of South America, a great flood Unu Pachakuti kills the first creations of their creator god after he has deemed them inadequate. His second attempt was humanity. One version of this tale has a man and woman escaping Unu Pachakuti by floating in a wooden box.

This is only one salient commonality among Earth mythologies and religions — a flood myth 'rebooting' humanity. Instead of using the commonalities among their cultures as a bridge to understanding, Spanish Conquistadors insisted their version of events were the gospel truth. Hernán Cortés forced the indigenous people he encountered to convert to his system of belief. What could have been a shortcut to understanding was instead used as a tool of oppression.

By the end of the "Darmok" episode, Picard returns to the Enterprise and is able to communicate to the Tamarian crew what happened on the planet's surface, including the demise of their captain. After making religious gestures akin to last rites, the Tamarian first officer says, "Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel." The tale of Picard and the Tamarian captain crossing the language barrier is now part of the Children of Tama's lexicon.

Nearly all of Earth's religions and mythologies contain stories of male friendship, travels into the underworld, deluge myths, and analogous gods and goddesses. If cultures looked at their commonalities as bridges instead of focusing on the differences, a connection such as the one forged by the end of "Darmok" may be possible.

As Picard points out to Commander Riker at the episode's end, "Now the door is open between our peoples. That commitment meant more to [the Tamarian captain] than his own life." We too, here in the 21st Century, could stand to be that committed to communication across cultures.

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This article was originally published on September 30, 2021.

Brooke Knisley (she/her) teaches writing at Emerson College and has written for Playboy, VICE, McSweeney's, The Boston Globe Magazine, and others. She has balance issues. Find her on Twitter @BrookeKnisley.

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Picard & riker both got stuck with romulans after star trek: nemesis.

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Star Trek: DS9 Writer “Begged, Insisted, Screamed, Pleaded” For A Big Romulan Change

Recasting star trek: the next generation for a movie reboot, kevin costner’s horizon 3 reportedly stalls as chapter 2 release looks uncertain.

• Picard & Riker led Romulan missions post-Nemesis, strengthening Federation-Romulan relations after thwarting a coup by Shinzon.
• Riker's successful Romulan task force mission contrasted with Picard's failed rescue efforts, leading to his resignation from Starfleet.
• Starfleet chose Picard and Riker for Romulan diplomacy due to their previous interactions with the Romulans, setting the stage for future relations.

Both Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) had to assist the Romulans in cleaning up the mess left by Star Trek Nemesis . Having been enemies for centuries, the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire embarked on a temporary alliance in the 24th century. The alliance between the Romulans and the Federation was in response to the threat posed by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Dominion. Nemesis took place four years after the Dominion War ended, and presented a new threat to the fragile peace with the Romulan Star Empire.

In the final movie to feature the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation , the crew of the USS Enterprise-E prevented Praetor Shinzon (Tom Hardy) from assuming control of the Romulan Star Empire. The Enterprise crew's valiant efforts in Star Trek Nemesis further strengthened relations between the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation. In the years after the end of Nemesis , both Picard and Riker were deployed to maintain diplomatic relations with the Romulans. While Riker's Romulan mission was presumably a success, Picard's own Romulan mission ultimately led to him resigning from Starfleet.

DS9 brought Star Trek's Romulans and the Federation closer than ever before as they united to fight the Dominion, but that wasn't the only big change.

Picard & Riker Both Got Romulan Missions After Star Trek: Nemesis

At the end of Star Trek Nemesis , the newly promoted Captain Riker takes command of the USS Titan, and his first mission is to go back to the Neutral Zone. Captain Riker was placed in charge of a task force that is spearheading discussions with the Romulans in the wake of Shinzon's coup . Star Trek has never shown Riker's Romulan mission on-screen, as the next time viewers see him is a year later, in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1, in which the USS Titan is dealing with the Pakleds. The outcome of Riker's Romulan mission has never been revealed.

Presumably, Captain Riker's Romulan mission was a success, as six years later, in 2385, Admiral Picard was leading efforts to resettle refugees from the doomed planet Romulus . Star Trek: Picard revealed that Jean-Luc and Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) played a key role leading the evacuation efforts when it became clear that the Romulans' homeworld would be destroyed by a supernova in a matter of years. Tragically, the Attack on Mars in 2385 devastated the rescue armada and forced Starfleet to pull out of its mission of mercy. Picard was horrified by this dereliction of duty and handed in his resignation.

Star Trek: Picard

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Why Starfleet Assigns Picard & Riker To Deal With Romulans

Captain Riker is presumably sent to the Romulan Neutral Zone after Star Trek Nemesis because he and Picard had already established a rapport with Commander Donatra (Dina Meyer). After Shinzon is defeated, Donatra tells the crew of the Enterprise that they have earned a friend in the Romulan Star Empire. Donatra also dispatched shuttles which provided the Enterprise crew with medical assistance and supplies after the ship was severely damaged by Shinzon's Scimitar ship. Therefore, Picard and Riker were perfect envoys for Starfleet after the Romulans decided to talk with the Federation.

It's also worth remembering that Picard and Riker were the first Starfleet officers to communicate with the Romulan Star Empire in decades. In Star Trek: The Next Generation 's season 1 finale, "The Neutral Zone", the USS Enterprise-D is sent to investigate attacks on Federation colonies, under the mistaken belief the attackers were Romulans. Picard negotiates cooperation with the Romulans, the first step in establishing diplomatic relations with the Romulans and setting him on a course for his final Starfleet mission in the years following Star Trek Nemesis .

Star Trek: Nemesis

Star trek: the next generation.