After 60 years, Star Trek has added a new position to Starfleet, and it is a bigger deal than fans think. The exploratory and humanitarian peacekeeping branch of the Federation, Starfleet, is responsible for keeping the galaxy safe, as well as expanding the frontiers of knowledge. With a seemingly never ending supply of starships, Starfleet is a force to be reckoned with.
Starships are complex machines, and as such require personnel to run and maintain them. At the head of each vessel is the captain, as well as a first officer. These two provide leadership to the other departments. Underneath them are their senior officers, which can include the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Engineer, the Head of Security, Science Officer and so forth. And then, below them, are the rank and file Starfleet officers, who work in one of three divisions: Command, Engineering and Sciences.
Many of these positions are related to the functioning and upkeep of the physical components of the starship, but some others, particularly in medical, are concerned with maintaining the physical and mental health of the crew. These include the doctors, nurses and research personnel, as well as ship’s counselors. This latter position, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation, was especially vital as Starfleet welcomed families aboard starships. Now, at the dawn of the 25th century, a new and surprising position comes into existence.
Stardate 47988.1 · Crew AssessmentThe Final Frontier Trivia Challenge
🚀ShipsEnterprise!
⭐CrewMake it so
☠EnemiesResistance is…
⚡TechWarp speed!
📖LoreLive long…
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01
The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?
ANCC-1701-D
BNX-01
CNCC-1701
DNCC-74656
✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.
✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.
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02
Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?
AData
BSpock
CTuvok
DSarek
✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.
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03
Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?
AThe Temporal Accord
BGeneral Order One
CThe Omega Directive
DThe Prime Directive
✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.
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04
“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?
AThe Borg
BThe Dominion
CThe Romulans
DSpecies 8472
✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”
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05
Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?
AWilliam Shatner
BAvery Brooks
CPatrick Stewart
DScott Bakula
✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.
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06
Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?
✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.
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07
At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?
✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.
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08
In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?
AKhan Noonien Singh
BGeneral Chang
CQ
DGul Dukat
✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.
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After 60 Years, Starfleet Has Chaplains
The Enterprise's Chaplain Has An Intense Mission Ahead of Her
In IDW Publishing’s Star Trek #1, written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Dennis Menheere, fans are introduced to the new crew of the starship Enterprise, NCC-1701-G, last seen in the series finale of Picard. Now under the command of Captain Seven of Nine, the ship has a new mission: to explore the uncharted Epsilon Corridor. In the issue’s early pages, fans are introduced to Seven’s crew, which includes returning favorites Jack Crusher, Alexander Rozhenko and “Crash” LaForge.
And then there are new Starfleet personnel as well, including the Bajoran Rya, who is the new counselor for the Enterprise. As she works on her Counselor’s Log, fans learn that Rya is also the ship’s chaplain. After the Enterprise rescues the Romulan offshoots the Revlans, Captain Seven orders Rya to look after them.
Chaplains Have Never Been Seen in Star Trek Before
The introduction of chaplains into Starfleet is revolutionary for the Star Trek universe, as it is the first time the position has ever been mentioned. Many military organizations have chaplains, or similar positions. However, Star Trek’s creator Gene Roddenberry was a secular humanist, and this philosophy is baked into the franchise’s DNA. Star Trek’s attitude towards religion and spirituality is ambivalent at best, but in most cases is condescending. Shows like Deep Space Nine took a more balanced view, but even then, a secular attitude prevailed.
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Star Trek’s attitude towards religion and spirituality is ambivalent at best, but in most cases is condescending.
At the same time, Star Trek has shoved religion and spirituality off on other alien races. The Bajorans, of which Rya is a member, tend to be very spiritual in their outlook, venerating the Prophets. The Bajorans allowed Star Trek to take a more nuanced view of the subject. Other races, such as the Klingons, have religious beliefs, and even the Vulcans have demonstrated spiritual qualities. With this in mind, Starfleet vessels having a chaplain makes more sense.
Given the diverse range of religious beliefs present in the Federation, the logistics of a chaplain aboard a Starfleet vessel might prove difficult to navigate. Starfleet chaplains would need knowledge of the crew’s belief systems, and all the intricacies and nuances contained within. Then there are issues of cultural appropriation that must be addressed as well.
Chaplains Will Be Critical to the Enterprise's New Mission
The concept of a Starfleet chaplain may raise the ire of some Star Trek fans, and most certainly would have gotten a rise out of Gene Roddenberry. The truth is: chaplains are an essential part of the military. Even if they are not specifically preaching religious doctrine, chaplains still provide comfort and solace in heavy times. Given the intense mission the Enterprise is about to undertake, Rya may be in for quite a ride as Star Trek’s first chaplain.
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