Star Trek Explores The Staggering Cost Of War
From Gene Roddenberry's Legendary Original Series To The Poetic Power of Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Explores The Horrors of War
As our world watches horrified at the terrible events unfolding in Ukraine, we stand united on solutions to halt the soul scorching bloodshed. Thousands of civilians and troops have lost their lives. War, no matter the reason or whomever started the aggression, can never be an efficient answer to nations embroiled in conflict.
For most of us, the real impact of and cost of war remains remote - a distant tragedy halfway round the world. We watch nightly news reports. We see the war correspondents logging their coverage on a battlefield. It can seem like a nightmarish video game to more than a few - especially in the high tech manner of today’s streamlined modern war fare.
We’re a nation fascinated with pretend situations. We love to engage in role play and video games are our popular form of advanced simulation. What of Hollywood and pop culture which fuels our near universal fascination? What does entertainment make of armed conflict? Although make believe, science fiction deals in war’s impact on society. Gene Roddenberry created a science fiction universe which seriously explores the complications of real life - including the societal transforming act of war.
Star Trek fans well know how comprehensively our science fiction explores the stark horrors of war. And, let’s be honest, not all sci-fi is created equal when it comes to a serious exploration of armed conflict.
Star Wars seemingly defines war by its very name. On the surface, George Lucas’ creation may appear to weigh military impact and options strategically and socially, yet Star Trek deals far more maturely and substantively in its tales of armed conflict.
Jedi are outrageously cool. Who doesn’t love swinging a plasma sword or having a 3 foot green mentor? But those battle hardened redshirts, Worf, Odo and Tuvok corner the market on reasonable security and calculated battlefield protocols. They use demonstrable tactical strategy and employ tools to win the day or at least prevent more casualties.
From its beginning, this iconic space opera, nicknamed Wagon Train To The Stars, employed a consistent narrative from creator Gene Roddenberry which used military conflict and ravages of war to show its futile cost when waged between galactic civilizations. Klingons, Romulans, Vulcans, Cardassians and Humans engage in strategic aggression in military domination which triggers a mammoth price to their society, and ultimately, portrays how their race pays through individuals involved in the conflict.
Note: I’ve selected these as a few personal favorites among the many war themed tales from the various shows. It’s not meant to be a best of episode listing, and by no means is it a complete list for me as well.
The Original Series
Balance of Terror
Still ranking as one of the most powerful and harrowing war themed episodes of any TV show, this tale serves as our introduction to the now legendary alien race - the Romulans. For the uninitiated, these crafty aliens are the war happy cousins of the serene Vulcans. Known for their double dealing practices, a Klingon such as Worf would say, They have no honor.
This is one of the most exciting nail biters in all of the original series, as the action builds to an unforgettable crescendo. It’s notable for not only introducing actor Mark Lenard to the Star Trek family, but also the Romulans, their famous cloaking device and the submarine like battle vibe which would be repeated often in all Star Trek series and films - most famously of all the cat and mouse game Kirk and Khan play in the Mutara Nebula from Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.
Thrilling ship chase scenes are punctuated by each crew’s commanding officers wondering how or if they’ll ever get out of the conflict alive. Perhaps above all the plot points, one which sees an Enterprise crew member accuse Spock of divided loyalty because of his apparent genetic connection to these newly encountered aliens resonates powerfully
Let This Be Your Last Battlefield
Racial issues were tackled by Roddenberry’s writing staff from the beginning of his sci-fi vehicle’s launch, and this one may be the most memorable and starkly realized.
Witness a world bitterly divided over race. Enterprise encounters aliens who appear to use their differing skin color as a sort of social and political dividing line. Bele (Frank Gorshin) attempts to bring to justice a political refugee, Lokai (Lou Antonio) when both are brought aboard Captain Kirk’s starship. It’s soon explained that although the aliens seem to be of the same appearance - or in their estimation racial make-up - Bele’s people are black on the right side, white on the left. Lokai’s people sport skin colored the opposite way.
Starship Enterprise takes the feuding duo to their planet, Charon, and it’s discovered the entirety of the populace has decimated their race. In the final hour, Bele and Lokai can’t cease hostilities and looks as though they’ll simply continue to fight each other for decades or even centuries.
The Next Generation
The Wounded
Chief O’Brien (Colm Meaney) must advise Captain Picard on the fragile psychology of a militaristic Starfleet commanding officer from his past who’s gone rogue and is killing as many Cardassians as he can find.
This tale is notable for several reasons. It’s the first appearance of the villainous Cardassians, who’d gone on to become the big bads of Deep Space Nine. Here, we’re first introduced to the alien race who built station Deep Space Nine aka Terok Nor and brutally subjugated and exploited the Bajorans. Also, Marc Alaimo, who’d be cast as the outrageously evil Gul Dukat is seen here as the first Cardassian - Gul Macet.
It’s clear why producers selected actor Colm Meaney to be an invaluable addition to spin-off show, DS9, as his acting here is so excellent. His emotional range cycles through embracing his own animosity for the alien race to making peace with those deep seated feelings of hate.
In the end, the title speaks to war’s physical damage while also referencing just how emotionally scared soldiers can become, including sufering the long term hatred which can arise. Sometimes, a bar can be full of more honest therapy than a dedicated medical clinic. Things come out over a drink. While socializing in Ten Forward with a Cardassian, O’Brien reveals his own past connection to the Cardassian conflict, and says to him, “It’s not you I hate, Cardassian. I hate what I became because of you.”
The High Ground
Terrorism may be the darkest, dehumanizing and most destructive element of war. Some argue that it’s not a legitimate military tactic since it often isn’t affiliated with an official governing body or recognized nation, although nations may endorse or even sponsor terrorist groups - secretly or otherwise. From domestic terrorism responsible for attacks on a nation’s own populace such as the Oklahoma bombing to the destruction of New York’s World Trade Center, terrorism can completely alter the public’s attitude or even the trajectory of a nation’s foreign policy.
Here, a high tech device is helping a terrorist group gain inroads against their target. The problem: It’s also killing those who employ it.
Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) becomes personally embroiled in an alien conflict when she’s abducted by the leader of the terrorist group, Finn. Though Crusher always keeps her professionalism and perspective, it’s well known abductees of terrorists sometimes become sympathetic or even join their abductors. Crusher tries to appeal to Finn to stop using tech which is slowly killing him and his soldiers, but he feels there’s no other way of achieving his goals. After Captain Picard himself is abducted as yet another political hostage, it all comes to a head and the youngest, most innocent of participants is offered up as both symbol and hope that the hate fueled struggle can finally cease. For years, this episode was banned in the UK.
Loud As A Whisper
Diplomats are supposed to be a kind of stabilizing presence, a negotiating filter or buffer which help to strengthen connections between nations and avoid a last resort armed conflict. They strive to serve to keep the peace.
Howie Seago, a deaf actor, pitched this story idea (brainstormed by his Star Trek fan wife) to the TNG producers and he was cast as Riva, a well known and respected mediator, whose peace keeping work is known all over the galaxy.
Riva uses a unique way to overcome his disability - a team of assistants to communicate with the world to accomplish the unifying goals for those who hire him. His team is called The Chorus - three telepaths who can read his thoughts and emotional state and convey his feelings and intentions to others. When his Chorus is killed by a member of one of the groups he’s mediating for, he must rely on Data (Brent Spiner) acting as a classic sign language interpreter to complete his mission.
This tale works on many levels. We have yet another violent conflict between groups - something Star Trek has trafficked in often - yet because of Riva’s special techniques and personality, new life is breathed into the memorable story. The disabled man’s journey - also depicted by Geordi LaForge - shares space and compliments the warring factions, who seem to be more disabled and limited than Riva could ever be.
Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine remains the go to Trek for the most complex and impressive deep dive when it comes to the complications and impact of war. After the great Dominion Federation war begins, dozens of DS9 installments are war themed, so it’s near impossible to pick out the best or most important. Here are simply two of my favorites.
The Siege of AR-558
This is perhaps the most raw, physical depiction of the permanent damage war brings in any Star Trek show, culminating in the Ferengi nephew of main character, Quark (Armin Shimerman), Nog (Aaron Eisenberg) losing his leg.
Guest star Bill Mumy - Will Robinson of Lost In Space fame - plays a Starfleet engineer desperately trying to find an answer to protecting his garrison - a woefully overworked band of soldiers who have been stationed at this site way over their standard tour of duty. He’s overworked and stressed dealing with a deadly tech nightmare attacking the Starfleet presence. Subspace mines, nicknamed Houdinis, are phasing in and out of space to pick off the troops. When Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) orders Nog to be part of an intelligence gathering party, the inexperienced Starfleet officer is critically wounded and loses a limb.
The battle scenes hold little back and remain some of the most jarring and realistically filmed for Trek or most any other dramatic TV series. After many casualties are suffered, a Federation Starship arrives to lend assistance and finally give the troops much needed relief. Here is some delightful trivia: Bill Mumy, friends with Ira Behr, writer/producer of the episode, said his DS9 creative buddy took special glee in killing off that beloved sci-fi pop culture icon, Will Robinson.
It's Only a Paper Moon
Watch this episode after The Siege of AR-558 as we follow-up on the battle weary Ferengi Starfleet officer. Nog must somehow face a new kind of life now that he’s missing his leg. However, it’s soon apparent to all around him that he doesn’t want to face life at all.
Nog’s been patched up courtesy of the medical magic of the 24th century. He’s been given an artificial replacement limb, but for him, it’s simply not the same. Couple that hardship with the nightmare slaughter during his time on AR-558 and things look bleak.
Nog’s battlefield injury has made him reconsider everything - even his very existence. Under Dr. Bashir’s loving care, he’s healing and appears to be improving, but the emotional and even spiritual elements to his convalescence is anything but steady or sure. What remedy if anything will effectively help out our young Ferengi?
Bring in some holographic healing from lounge singer Vic Fontaine, played by James Darren.
On its surface, the story direction appears somewhat surface or even flip, but consider: If you suffered a severe physical injury, felt wholly damaged and sought to hide away from the stress of the real world, what better option than taking part in the convincing reality of a fake life which could never truly hurt you physically nor emotionally. As our own society immerses itself more into computer games and virtual reality devices, a tale such as Nog’s holographic life choice doesn’t seem too far fetched at all.
Voyager
Memorial
The destabilizing affliction of PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - is explored through a chilling mystery.
The members of an away team now back on Voyager experience bizarre and similar thoughts and memories. These are violent, war flashbacks. It’s as if they’re all traumatized soldiers who fought in the same army or unit. Paris, Neelix, Ensign Kim and Commander Chakotay need answers as their stress levels keep mounting.
Through exhaustive analysis it’s determined the away team was affected by an alien device which implanted realistic war memories that never happened to the men directly. Soon, the entire crew starts experiencing similar nightmarish flashbacks. It’s decided they must track down the source of the debilitating affliction.
When Voyager returns to the planet hosting the alien memorial, it’s found the device’s power cells are nearly drained. In time, the machine won’t operate at all and will eventually go silent. Though some of the crew strongly disagree with her, Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) ensures that it will have the necessary energy to continue broadcasting its unique interactive tribute to the lives lost in the planetary conflict.
Alliances
War and politics go hand in hand. Politics make strange bedfellows. Thankfully, the Kazon are as strange as they come. Like a band of cosmic gangbangers, their gargantuan headdress alone tells us these guys groove to a special beat only they can hear.
Starship Voyager has weathered a lot in the Delta Quadrant. It is tired of being targeted by the technologically primitive, yet ultra persistent Kazon. After repeated attacks on her starship, Captain Janeway realizes she must bend the rules - or at least drastically change them.
First officer, Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran), argues that behaving like a Starfleet starship so far from home makes little strategic sense. There have been too many attacks, too many crew fatalities. They must think and act and defend themselves differently. Janeway accepts the logic of his pitch and feelers are sent out to various Kazon factions - including the Nistrum - now advised by none other than the manipulative former Voyager crew member, Seska (Martha Hackett).
Neelix (Ethan Phillips) is given the green light by Janeway to make contact with his associates who connect him with the Trabe - a race who’s been warring with the Kazon for decades. Janeway decides an alliance with the enemy of her enemy may be just the kind of security her lone Federation vessel requires.
A peace conference is arranged where the heads of the factions can negotiate a lasting peace, but it’s shattered when a Trabe fighter swoops in to assassinate the Kazon. Ultimately, stemming from the Trabe’s betrayal, Captain Janeway feels any alliance in this part of space is fraught with too much risk to her Starfleet family. She dissolves all attempts at securing cooperation with any of the divided forces. Peace at any cost? For Janeway, the price is apparently way too expensive.