In the early seasons ofStar Trek: Discovery,ships in Starfleet use an interesting technology that rarely appears elsewhere inStar Trek. In the twenty-third century, when ships in Starfleet need to communicate with each other or with the Federation, they do so using holographic communicators. Throughout seasons 1 and 2 ofDiscovery,transparent semi-colored holograms flash into existence on the bridges of various starships - even Klingon vessels communicate with colorless holograms inDiscovery. Nevertheless,after theUSS Discoveryjumps forward to the thirty-second century, the holographic communicators never appear again onDiscovery.
Holographic communicators have a long history inStar Trek. In thetimeline of everyStar Trekseries, Starfleet first encounters holograms inStar Trek: Enterprise. Holodecks, however, don’t appear untilStar Trek: The Next Generation, and in our world, the first appearance of holographic communicators came inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, where they are framed as new technology.So, betweenDiscoveryandDeep Space Nine,Star Fleet seems to have completely abandoned the technology for holographic communicators. There is, of course, a good reason for this disappearance: Captain Chris Pike (Anson Mount) got rid of them.
Removing Holograms From Star Trek Ships Showed Captain Pike’s True Starfleet Power
Where Enterprise Leads, The Federation Follows
Early in season 2 ofDiscovery, theUSS Enterprisesuffers a cascading systems failure brought on by theadvanced technology of holographic communicators. Captain Pike has the whole system removed and says,“from now on, we’ll communicate using good old-fashioned viewscreens.“Indeed, when theEnterprisereturns later in season 2 ofDiscovery, Captain Pike confirms thatthere will never again be holographic communicators on theEnterprise. With this simple declaration,Captain Pike banished holographic communicators for the Federation for a century.
16 episodes across three seasons
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In theory,when Captain Pike had his engineers strip the holographic communicators out of theEnterprise, he was only speaking for himself. Indeed, Captain Pike would not be made Fleet Captain until season two ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, and most of his honors and accolades were earned in the years betweenDiscoveryandStar Trek: The Original Series. With that in mind, it does not necessarily follow that a single decision from Captain Pike would make a technology effectively disappear from the Federation.
The fact that Captain Pike is in the position to make these decisions reveals the deep respect that Starfleet leadership has for him.
Nevertheless, Captain Pike was the leader of theEnterprise, and the choices that he made in that role led the rest of Starfleet.If the flagship of the Federation decides that holographic communicators are not worth the effort, then they are not worth the effort for any other ship. The fact that Captain Pike is in the position to make these decisions reveals the deep respect that Starfleet leadership has for him. Even before he is highly decorated, Captain Pike is a powerful leader.
Holographic Communications Returned In Star Trek: DS9’s 24th Century
Of course, when Captain Pike got rid of holographic communicators in Star Fleet, he did not get rid of holograms. At the start ofThe Next Generation, Commander Riker (William Frakes) and Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) explore the holodecks on theEnterprise andare clearly impressed with the new technology.Star Trek: Voyagermade another leap in technology with the EMH (Robert Picardo), an increasingly independent crew member. And finally, two years after the EMH,Deep Space Ninebrought back holographic communicators on theUSS Defiant,among othernew holographic technologies on theDefiant.
Strange New Worlds Is Wasting A Perfect Star Trek Legacy Guest Star
After popping up on Star Trek: Discovery, this Trek legacy character should definitely make an appearance on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Given the progression of holographic technology acrossStar Trek,it makes a lot of sense that holographic communicators would return. Indeed, writer and producer Ronald D. Moore said as much:
That’s something I had been pushing for because I just think it’s so absurd that in the twenty-fourth century they have holodeck technology that allows them to recreate Ancient Rome, but everybody talks to each other on television monitors.
By the time of season 5 ofDeep Space Nine, it really made no sense for holographic communicators to still be out of use in Starfleet. And indeed, all the technological advancements from earlierStar Trekmeant thatDeep Space Nine’s holographic communicators had full color and caused none of the issues that Captain Pike struggled with inDiscovery.
Strange New Worlds Already Set Up Pike’s Starfleet Influence
Respect For Pike Is More Than Just Holographic Communicators
It goes without saying thatthe return of holographic communicators did nothing to tarnish Captain Pike’s reputation in Starfleet. So even if getting rid of holographic communicators from the entire fleet proves Captain Pike’s influence, it is not the only way in which the Federation honors him. In season 2, episode 6 ofStrange New Worlds, Captain Pike is temporarily made Fleet Captain, and we know from laterTreksthat, after Christ Pike leaves theEnterprise, Fleet Captain will become his permanent rank.
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Even long after his accident, Captain Pike’s position of respect in Starfleet lived on. InDeep Space Nine,Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) earns the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor. This makes it clear thatCaptain Pike has been immortalized in Federation history, above and beyond his opinions on communication. So even if Captain Pike’s holographic communicator ban fromStar Trek: Discoverydidn’t stick, Captain Pike’s legacy is eternal.
Star Trek: Discovery
Cast
Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.
