This early promotional image shows the setting of Star Trek Online in relation to the Prime Universe and Alternate Universe
Without doubt, many players are drawn to Star Trek Online because they cherish the Star Trek universe, its characters, setting and the multitude of stories told over the span of more than 700 TV episodes and thirteen movies. This article gives an overview over the canon elements of Star Trek which appear in-game (see "What is canon?" for details).
Throughout the game, many references are made to the fictional history of the Star Trek universe. The chronology articles give an overview over historic events related to Star Trek Online (see also 22nd Century, 23rd Century, and 24th Century). Almost all in-game technologies, items and abilities are references to Star Trek lore. The same applies to most races, ship classes and star systems. Their origins can easily be searched on Memory Alpha.
Note that since 2009, two story continuities of Star Trek exist. The "Prime Timeline" concerns all events from the TV-series and the first 10 films while the "Kelvin Timeline", a divergent continuity which is however still canon, concerns the motion pictures released from 2009 onward.
Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online is set nearly entirely in the Prime Universe, 30 years after the last on-screen appearance of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E ("Star Trek: Nemesis"). The 2009 Star Trek film did impact the canon of the Prime Timeline, namely the destruction of Romulus, and this is present in Star Trek Online's canon, along with Spock's disappearance being referenced several times.
Star Trek Online's internal canon extends beyond what takes place in the game. It also includes official posts made by Cryptic Studios' developers, game documentation, news updates, in-universe blogs and original fiction (e.g. those on the game's website and the novel Star Trek Online: Needs Of The Many).
As part of the Star Trek franchise, the game itself has to be considered soft-canon, as any new TV series or movie could easily contradict its stories and settings.
Chronology of Star Trek Online
| ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| In-game years | 2256 • 2257 • 2270 • 2409 • 2410 • 2411 | |
| Periods | Distant Past • 22nd Century • 23rd Century • 24th Century • 25th Century • Future | |
| See also | Chronology (overview) • Original Fiction • Path to 2409/Lore • The Needs of the Many • Lore Blogs • Tales of the War • Post War Era • Time travel • Romulan History | |
Star Trek: The Original Series
Ensign Chekov, voiced by Walter Koenig
- Star Trek: The Original Series at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Star Trek, now called Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), aired 79 episodes from 1966 to 1969. It later spawned an animated series and six movies.
Many references to original series episodes have been made throughout Star Trek Online. The first missions set in the 23rd century were “Everything Old is New” and “Night of the Comet” featuring McCoy and Scotty. Both of these actors have since passed away, but voice-over for Scotty was added by the actors son, Christopher Doohan, with Agents of Yesterday.
Agents of Yesterday notably introduced a playable 23rd century faction along with a significant quantity of TOS content.
- Main Cast
| Character | Voice Actor | In Star Trek Online |
|---|---|---|
| Pavel Chekov | Walter Koenig | “Earthward Bound” “Return to Babel” “Temporal Reckoning” “Ragnarok” “The Battle of Procyon V” |
| James T. Kirk | None | “Return to Babel”, the player gives him medical aid while he is lying face down. |
| Leonard McCoy | Voice sample | “Everything Old is New” and one other |
| Montgomery Scott | Christopher Doohan, son of the original Scotty actor James Doohan |
“Earthward Bound” “Painful Omens” “Return to Babel” “Night of the Comet” “Ragnarok” “Days of Doom” |
| Spock | Leonard Nimoy | “The Taurean Affair” “Earthward Bound” “Past Imperfect” “Empress Sela” The opening cinematic. Some sector space logs Federation level up notifications. |
| Hikaru Sulu | Voice sample | “Earthward Bound” |
| Nyota Uhura | Voice sample | “The Taurean Affair” “Earthward Bound” “Return to Babel” |
- Other Characters and References
Star Trek: The Animated Series
- Star Trek: The Animated Series at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The Animated Series (TAS) was aired for two seasons in 1973 and 1974 and featured the Enterprise crew in much the same style as the Original Series. Although canon to the game and produced by CBS, the Animated Series is not part of CBS' licence to Cryptic Studios.[1] This is one of the reasons the Kzinti were replaced by the Ferasans. The Caitians however do appear, as they were included in later movies.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Uniforms from Wrath of Khan to Undiscovered Country
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The game includes the uniforms from the film, Deltan characters and models the Unimatrix 0047 Command Ship on Vger (referencing a soft-canon connection between Vger and the Borg). The refit Constitution class and the Saurian species is also available in-game.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Uniforms from the Wrath of Khan that feature in-game include the standard and open variants of the Starfleet uniform, the Starfleet Excursion Jacket and Khan's Outfit.
pulse ship phasers and hand phasers from the film also feature along with the Miranda class.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Earth Space Dock, first featured in Search for Spock, is the primary social hub for Federation players in the game while Vulcan is modelled on elements of the planet seen at the end of the film. Search for Spock also marked the first appearance of B'rel Bird-of-Prey which is the first playable ship for Klingon players and the Oberth and Excelsior classes which are available to Federation players.
Protomatter, referenced by David as the major flaw in the Genesis Device, is also a key element of the Lukari and Tzenkethi arc of Star Trek Online.
Finally, Search for Spock is the first time the Klingon make-up seen throughout the 24th century, and Star Trek Online is used (their appearance in Motion Picture is slightly different from standard).
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
There is a plaque at Starfleet Academy which references the whales in San Francisco bay.
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Nimbus III from Final Frontier is the focus of the Wasteland arc; the bar on Nimbus III still has the broken TV screen from where Kirk threw the cat dancer into it.
Scotty's Engineer's Vest and the phasers from the film are also available to players.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
The Khitomer conference hall from Undiscovered Country
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Rura Penthe, and an escape therefrom, features for Klingon players and includes Jackal Mastiffs while Khitomer features in “Turning Point” and the Khitomer Accords feature heavily in lore.
In addition;
- The Gorkon Science Battlecruiser (T6) and the I.K.S. Azetbur are named for the Chancellor and his daughter.
- The environment suits used by the assassins can be purchased by players.
- Referencing the Klingon's claim on Shakespere, a doff assignment to put on a production of Hamlet and a Klingon Hamlet doff.
- Ability: Emission-Seeking Photon Torpedo referencing the Enterprise's defeat of Chang.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
La Forge, voiced by LeVar Burton
- Star Trek: The Next Generation at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The Next Generation (TNG) was the first Star Trek not to feature any of the original cast. It aired 176 episodes from 1987 to 1994. The era of The Next Generation is shared with Deep Space Nine and Voyager, all of which is just thirty years before Star Trek Online so most of the feel of the game, including the LCARS interface, is derived from The Next Generation.
The uniforms from the series, including the season 1, Admirals, Troi and Skant versions, have all appeared in game along with most species, equipment, phasers, ships and shuttlecraft.
- Main Cast
| Character | Voice Actor | In Star Trek Online |
|---|---|---|
| Data | No voiceover | He is seen from behind in “Survivor” |
| Geordi La Forge | LeVar Burton | “Hide and Seek” “Stop the Signal” “Diplomatic Orders” “Temporal Ambassador” “Beyond the Nexus” “Melting Pot” |
| Natasha Yar | Denise Crosby | “Temporal Ambassador” “Survivor” |
| Worf | Michael Dorn | “Friend or Foe” “Bringing Down the House” “The House Always Wins” “Destiny” “Tournament on Forcas” “Sphere of Influence” “Surface Tension” “Brushfire” |
- Other Characters and References
Star Trek: Generations
- Star Trek: Generations at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The Excelsior class variant featured on the U.S.S. Enterprise-B features along with Trilithium, Kirk's Captain's Vest and the Nexus which is the focus of “Beyond the Nexus”.
Star Trek: First Contact
- Star Trek: First Contact at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The Borg Queen from First Contact
First Contact introduced several new elements of the Borg which feature heavily in Star Trek Online, including the Borg Queen and Borg Spheres. It also introduced several ships in game including the Sovereign class, Akira class, Steamrunner class, Saber class and the Norway class.
The events of the film are celebrated each year with a First Contact Day event, including from 2017 a “First Contact Day Re-Enactment” featuring the building of a Phoenix model in Montana.
The uniforms, phasers and style of the Borg have all been featured in-game.
Star Trek: Insurrection
- Star Trek: Insurrection at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The Son'a, their starships and the Briar Patch featured in Template:Main and the Ba'ku have been included with duty officers.
Star Trek: Nemesis
- Star Trek: Nemesis at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
A lot of lore from Nemesis regarding the Remans, starships (Mogai Warbirds the Scimitar and Scorpion Fighters), Thalaron weapons and Romulan politics (including Donatra) feature heavily in Star Trek Online's backstory and its Romulan storylines.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine featuring heavily in game
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Deep Space Nine (DS9) was the first spinn-off from TNG and aired along side its final seasons with 173 episodes from 1993 to 1999. Some cast members from TNG moved to DS9 and it built on a lot of the universe created by TNG; for example Cardassians and the occupation of Bajor.
DS9 ships, uniforms and aliens (including the Dominion and Breen) are common throughout Star Trek Online.
- Main Cast
| Character | Voice Actor | In Star Trek Online |
|---|---|---|
| Worf | Michael Dorn | “Friend or Foe” “Bringing Down the House” “The House Always Wins” “Destiny” “Tournament on Forcas” “Sphere of Influence” “Surface Tension” “Brushfire” |
- Other Characters and References
Star Trek: Voyager
Dust to Dust is a sequel to both Ashes to Ashes and Deadlock
- Star Trek: Voyager at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Voyager began during DS9's run and aired 168 episodes from 1995 to 2001. But by being in the Delta Quadrant for the entire series its content is far more segregated than DS9 was from TNG. Nevertheless, Voyager still had a large impact on Star Trek Online early on via its portrayal of the Borg, the Hirogen and advanced technologies from the series finale.
With the Delta Rising expansion, the amount of Voyager content increased drastically. Every system and species encountered in the Delta Quadrant sectors is a canon reference from a Voyager episode.
- Main Cast
| Character | Voice Actor | In Star Trek Online |
|---|---|---|
| The Doctor | Robert Picardo | “Mindscape” “All That Glitters” “Alliances” “Takedown” “What's Left Behind” |
| Harry Kim | Garrett Wang | “The Kobali Front” and 13 other missions |
| Neelix | Ethan Phillips | Reunion “All That Glitters” “Alliances” “Takedown” |
| Seven of Nine | Jeri Ryan | “Mindscape” “Revelations” “Alliances” “Revolution” “Takedown” “What's Left Behind” “Broken Circle” |
| Tom Paris | Robert Duncan McNeill | “Blood of Ancients” “Delta Flight” “Broken Circle” “Midnight” |
| B'Elanna Torres | Small clip by Lani Minella | “Dust to Dust” |
| Tuvok | Tim Russ | “Fluid Dynamics” and 14 other missions |
- Other Characters and References
| Character/Reference | Episode | In Star Trek Online |
|---|---|---|
| U.S.S. Al-Batani | Caretaker | Based at Earth Space Dock |
| Lindsay Ballard/Jhet'leya Voiced by Kim Rhodes |
Ashes to Ashes | “Dust to Dust” |
| The Baxial | Caretaker | “Alliances” |
| U.S.S. Challenger | Timeless | “Beyond the Nexus” |
| The Cooperative | Unity | 9 missions |
| Dexa | Homestead | “Reunion” |
| Fluidic Space | Scorpion | “Fluid Dynamics” “Viscous Cycle” “Mindscape” |
| Gaul | Dragon's Teeth | “All That Glitters” “Revolution” “Takedown” |
| Icheb | 11 episodes | Based on Deep Space K-7 |
| Jal Karden | Initiations | “Takedown” |
| Miral Paris Voiced by Lisa LoCicero |
Endgame | “The Kuvah'Magh” “City on the Edge of Never” “Delta Flight” “Midnight” |
| Naomi Wildman | 19 episodes | The Commander of Deep Space K-7 |
| Q Junior | Q2 | Q's Winter Wonderland |
| U.S.S. Rhode Island | Endgame | “Alliances” “Takedown” “Dust to Dust” “Ragnarok” |
| Sessen | Maneuvers | “Alliances” “Takedown” |
| Underspace | Dragon's Teeth | “Wyanti System Patrol” “Takedown” |
| U.S.S. Voyager | Whole series | “Mindscape” Playable ship and interior |
Star Trek: Enterprise
The NX-01 in Vorgon Conclusions
- Star Trek: Enterprise at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Enterprise began in 2001, after Voyager concluded, and aired 97 episodes. Much of its lore contributed to the time travel related storyline which lead to the release of Agents Of Yesterday. It also contributed a great many species, such as the Suliban and Xindi, and to a new look of species such as Andorians and Tellarites.
- Main Cast
| Character | Voice Actor | In Star Trek Online |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Archer | None | “The Temporal Front” (mentioned only) |
- Other Characters and References
| Character/Reference | Episode | In Star Trek Online |
|---|---|---|
| Archer System | Strange New World | “Archer System Patrol” |
| Daniels Voiced by Matt Winston |
8 episodes | 12 missions |
| Enterprise | Whole series | “Vorgon Conclusions” |
| U.S.S. Enterprise-J | Azati Prime (episode) | “Ragnarok” |
| Kal Dano & timeship |
Future Tense | “Vorgon Conclusions” “Sunrise” “Stormbound” |
| P'Jem | The Andorian Incident | “Diplomatic Orders” |
| Temporal Cold War | Cold Front | “Sunrise” “Stormbound” “Time and Tide” |
| Vosk | Stormfront | “Stormbound” |
Kelvin Timeline Films
Science Officer 0718 from Into Darkness
- Main article: Kelvin Timeline
The Kelvin Timeline refers to the film series produced by Paramount from 2009 onward. It includes three films which exist in a different continuity of Star Trek called the Kelvin Timeline (also referred to as the "Alternate Universe"). Despite being a different timeline, they are linked and both are considered canon. The below three feature films (and any soft-canon stories derived from them) are the only elements to exist in the Kelvin Timeline.
Star Trek (2009)
- Star Trek (film) at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The rebooted Star Trek film came out in 2009, during the initial development of Star Trek Online. Writing had to be change to account for changes from the film to Star Trek's Prime Timeline, namely the destruction of Romulus, and the game features an intro voiced by Leonard Nimoy recounting those events. A single, special item based on the film, the Red Matter Capacitor (developed in the Prime Timeline), was also introduced but nothing from within the Kelvin Timeline featured in-game.
As a nod to the recently released film, actor Zachary Quinto (who played Spock in the Kelvin Timeline) appeared in-game as the voice of an EMH during the tutorial.
The Agents of Yesterday expansion was the first opportunity Cryptic had to introduce content from the first two Kelvin Timeline films around the time the third was being released. The game set “Terminal Expanse” in the Kelvin Timeline and released the Kelvin Timeline Lock Box (plus some Lobi items) which introduced an array of elements from the films.
Elements the story and lock box featured included uniforms, weapons, the Kelvin Constitution Class, a Romulan mining drill console and several other themed items.
Star Trek Into Darkness
- Star Trek Into Darkness at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
The Kelvin Timeline Lock Box, and associated store items, released in 2016 included elements common to both Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. It also introduced elements specific to Into Darkness. These include many Klingon elements such as the Kelvin Timeline D4x Pilot Bird-of-Prey, uniforms, head ridges and weapons including the powerful Boolean Heavy Assault Cannon.
Finally, the mission “Terminal Expanse” featured 0718, voiced by Joseph Gatt, who is also available as a bridge officer via the Temporal Agent Starter Pack and Temporal Special Agent Pack.
Star Trek: Beyond
- Star Trek: Beyond at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Although canon to the game, Cryptic Studios does not (as of November 2017) have a license for the content from Beyond, although it is possible it will be introduced at a later date.[2]
Star Trek: Discovery
- Star Trek: Discovery at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
Star Trek: Discovery is a TV series released in late 2017. It is produced by CBS and set in the Prime Timeline. As a promotion for Discovery's September 2017 premiere, the Discovery Uniform set was provided as a free C-Store Giveaway. However, no ships, characters, or other items have been added as of November 2017.
Soft-Canon
For Star Trek, canon is defined as anything that has appeared "on screen" - either in one of the six television series or in one of the twelve Star Trek movies.
Anything besides TV shows and movies is part of the expanded universe, sometimes also referred to as "soft-canon". This includes novels, reference books, video games, and related materials. These stories tend to contradict each other from time to time, and have often been contradicted by television episodes and films.
Star Trek Online has made use of some soft-canon as the basis of generating its own lore. Early examples include Mackenzie Calhoun, and the Vesta-class line of science vessels. However it diverges significantly in order to establish Star Trek Online's own chronology. Much of the Romulan backstory introduced with Season Seven and Legacy of Romulus draws from the Rihannsu line of novels.
Another instance of soft-canon is sector space; when it was was first designed, and especially when it was overhauled to bring about a single Alpha and Beta Quadrant, the developers took canon locations as closely as possible from Star Trek: Star Charts, which is an atlas of all Star Trek locations. Once again however they did diverge slightly where they needed to for the game, and the Star Charts themselves clash with some on-screen canon.
References
See also
- List of canon characters
- List of canon starships
- List of canon locations
- Voice acting
- Guide: Uniform colors
- Guide: Canon alien race builds
- Chronology
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