Published Jun 12, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT
John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.
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Star Trek's most dangerous decade happened after the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Star Trek's 24th century is the most expansive and complex era of the franchise, thanks to the seven seasons and over 500 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager.
The bulk of the 24th century, as detailed in the era of Star Trek executive produced by Rick Berman, begins with Star Trek: The Next Generation in 2364, and concludes with Star Trek: Nemesis in 2379. In between, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine happened from 2369 to 2375, and Star Trek: Voyager was lost in the Delta Quadrant from 2371 to 2378.
Generally, the two greatest existential threats to the United Federation of Planets in the 2370s were the Borg and the Dominion War. Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) USS Enterprise-D and E prevented the Borg from assimilating the Federation, while Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) was instrumental in stopping the Dominion from conquering the Alpha Quadrant.
The following decade of Star Trek's timeline, however, was even more dangerous for the Federation.
Why Star Trek’s Most Dangerous Decade Happened After TNG Ended
The 2380s saw Starfleet, the Federation, and even Star Trek's entire multiverse nearly toppled. Most of what's known about the 2380s was seen in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy, as well as flashbacks in Star Trek: Picard season 1. Perhaps the 2380s' most cataclysmic event was introduced in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009)
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Part of what made the 2380s so dangerous is how relatively defenseless the Federation was. In 2381, Captain Picard and his crew, who saved the galaxy multiple times, had split apart and departed the USS Enterprise-E, which was left under Captain Worf's (Michael Dorn) command. Captain Sisko vanished in 2375, and Deep Space Nine's senior staff also departed the space station.
Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3 saw the Texas Class robot starships go rogue, while season 4 saw the return of disgraced Starfleet cadet Nicholas Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill), who obtained a Genesis Device and formed his own Starfleet called Nova Fleet. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 ended with the USS Cerritos saving the Prime Universe from multiversal collapse.
Star Trek: Prodigy's two seasons hinged on existential threats to the Federation, from the Living Construct taking over Starfleet in season 1's finale, to a multiverse nearly being eaten by the Loom, and Asencia (Jameela Jamil), the Vau N'Akat villain who also nearly succeeded in destroying Starfleet.
Star Trek: Picard season 1 took place in 2399, but flashbacks to 2385 established that Mars was attacked by rogue synthetics, killing 92,000 people and destroying the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. Worse, the Mars Attack was an inside job orchestrated by Commodore Oh (Tamlyn Tomita), a Romulan general who infiltrated the Federation and became Starfleet's Head of Security.
The first major crisis of the 2380s was seen in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009), which revealed that the Romulan sun went supernova in 2387. Despite Ambassador Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) efforts, Romulus and Remus were lost, and the Romulan Star Empire collapsed, with survivors displaced throughout the Beta Quadrant.
How The Dangerous 2380s Changed Star Trek Forever
Without the tried-and-true heroes of the USS Enterprise-E, Deep Space Nine, and the USS Voyager protecting the Federation, multiple crises piled up throughout Star Trek's 2380s. Thankfully, new defenders rose up to save the Federation, from the crew of the USS Cerritos, to the ragtag young heroes of the USS Protostar, and Admiral Kathryn Janeway's (Kate Mulgrew) USS Voyager-A.
Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment
The Final Frontier
Trivia Challenge
🚀ShipsEnterprise!
⭐CrewMake it so
☠EnemiesResistance is…
⚡TechWarp speed!
📖LoreLive long…
ENGAGE →
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?
ATranswarp Drive BWarp Drive CSlipstream Drive DSpore Drive
✓ 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?
AThe Prometheus Trial BThe Omega Simulation CThe Corbomite Maneuver DThe Kobayashi Maru
✓ 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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While Starfleet and the Federation have dealt with alternate realities before, the multiverse, and protecting the infinite parallel timelines in existence, became a priority for Starfleet. Starbase 80 was docked at a multiversal incursion point at the end of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) and the Travelers' role in protecting the multiverse was also clarified.
However, the Mars Attack of 2385 was a deciding moment that altered the course of the Federation. The loss of Mars and the thousands of starships under construction provoked the Federation to pull within its own borders, ceasing exploration and becoming more paranoid. The Federation was still recalibrating itself, and was nearly toppled again by the Borg, in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
As seen in Star Trek: Picard, and even 800 years later in Star Trek: Discovery, which saw the Federation nearly destroyed by The Burn, Starfleet's mission of space exploration was curtailed. The Federation's boundless optimism and mission to explore the galaxy was damped by the events of the 2380s, and Star Trek has not fully recovered from this tumultuous decade.
Created by Gene Roddenberry
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