star trek alien baby

Star Trek just changed Gorn canon with an Alien -inspired twist

Writer Davy Perez gets into all the nitty-gritty details of Star Trek’s big swing at starship horror.

In the final frontier, no one can hear you scream. In the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 — “All Those Who Wander” — the crew of the Enterprise are dropped into a nail-biting starship horror story, with heavy influences from the 1979 classic Alien . Along the way, we learn a lot more about a certain alien species. Episode writer Davy Perez gave us the scoop on why these aliens are different, and what it all means for the canon of The Original Series and the future of Strange New Worlds . Spoilers ahead.

In Episode 4, “Memento Mori,” the Enterprise crew had a close encounter with the nefarious Gorn, a lizard species. No one actually saw the Gorn, but this week, while looking for survivors on the crashed USS Peregrine , our Starfleet heroes encounter horrifying Gorn babies. The big news is that these Gorn reproduce by popping out of the bodies of other lifeforms, just like the gory xenomorph chestbursters from Alien .

It’s a big change for Trek. Other than one glimpse in the Mirror Universe back in 2005 on the prequel show Enterprise , the only “adult” Gorn we’ve seen is still the classic lizard person from The Original Series episode “Arena.” So, how do these baby Gorn fit in? As with “Memento Mori,” writer Davy Perez felt that “Arena” offered a good amount of “wiggle room” in terms of what Kirk and Starfleet actually know about the Gorn.

Kirk versus the Gorn in the 1967 Star Trek episode, “Arena.”

“Kirk’s idea of the Gorn is different from what he is being told by the Metrons,” Perez tells Inverse, referring to the powerful aliens who force the two to fight . “The Gorn he’s meeting in ‘Arena,’ doesn’t sync with his expectations of them. It was a personal choice I made in my own headcanon that allowed me to have fun with the writing. Viewing it that way creates more possibilities for Gorn stories to continue.”

While the classic rubber monster suit Gorn, designed by Wah Chang in 1967, is iconic, Perez points out that it’s clear in TOS that the Gorn was a “one-off,” meaning some canon trickiness was bound to emerge. The loophole Perez points out in “Arena” is the fact that Kirk’s phrasing in the original episode is specifically vague: “Weaponless, I face the creature the Metrons called a Gorn.”

The classic episode takes place in 2267, while Strange New Worlds happens in 2259. So, if Kirk knows what Pike and the crew know, then the lizard-man Gorn doesn’t really check out with the Velociraptor meets chestburster critters in Strange New Worlds .

“Maybe Kirk has never seen them, he could even be one of those people who still doubts the stories, or maybe even he has seen them and they don’t look the same,” Perez says. “I think the safest thing to say is we have no idea what the Gorn are really like.”

Over the years, various fan theories — and material from Star Trek roleplaying games — have suggested the existence of a variety of Gorn subspecies. In “All Those Who Wander,” Dr. M’Benga discovers the Gorn are “genetic chameleons,” which is why they don’t show up on sensors. Perez points out that, even after this episode and La’an’s childhood experience with these aliens, “we quite literally don’t know very much about the Gorn at all… and that’s what makes them so hard to fight.”

The Enterprise crew investigates the crash of the USS Peregrine, echoing the crashed alien ship investigated by the crew of the Nostromo in Alien .

Outside of all the TOS canon-weeds, the obvious thrill of “All Those Who Wander” is the way in which the episode brings the flavor of Alien, and other sci-fi horror classics, to Star Trek. There’s never quite been a Trek episode like this.

“Yes, Alien was something I’ve been inspired by many times in the past, and here especially,” Perez says. “It’s hard not to draw the comparison when writing a ‘horror story in space.’ Even back when discussing Episode 4 we started talking about Alien , and not just in what we liked about it, but more how to avoid retreading it wholesale. Our story is unique and specific to Trek, similar inspirations but different in execution.”

But it’s not just Alien that Perez and the SNW team drew upon for inspiration. When Nurse Chapel is chased by the tiny Gorn we get to see the latter’s point of view, which is evocative of Predator . And Perez notes the influences run from the obvious, like John Carpenter's The Thing , to the less obvious.

“You might laugh, but Gremlins !” Perez says. “Think about it, tiny monsters that roam around wreaking havoc with these ‘rules’ that mean the difference between life and death. Baby Gorn are just more deadly Gremlins. Or more aptly put, Tribbles with teeth.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is streaming now on Paramount+.

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Published Jun 12, 2023

Children of the Delta Quadrant, Ranked

Ranking the alien kids encountered by Voyager helps us assess the Delta Quadrant’s future.

StarTrek.com

My eyes may have welled up when the U.S.S. Voyager finally burst through the Borg sphere to get back to Earth on Star Trek: Voyager — but after the initial joy wore off, I felt a certain unease. The crew was now safe at home, yet what of the alien friends and foes left behind in the Delta Quadrant ?

Fast forward 19 years and, while Star Trek: Picard filled in a few holes, we are still no closer to knowing the fates for all involved. After much deliberation, I have decided the only solution — for us and for the Federation — is a ranking of the Delta Quadrant’s alien children. Let me explain.

Children provide insight as to the fundamental qualities and values of alien cultures. Furthermore, nearly two decades after their encounters with Voyager , many of them are now in the prime of their lives, ready to take the reins from an earlier generation. In short, children are the future and one of the best indicators of the quadrant’s likely development. Plus, ranking them can help Starfleet determine which species to engage and stay away from should they ever get back to that region of space.

Before diving in, let’s talk methodology. The criteria for initial placement on the list are rather loose, but broadly speaking the ranking includes any alien children — from toddler to teenager — that interacted directly with Voyager ’s crew. Their placement, from worst to best, is determined through a subjective comparison to the objectively perfect Voyager child, Naomi Wildman . She represents all that is good — curiosity, kindness, resourcefulness, wisdom, loyalty, compassion, for a start —so it is only fair that she serves as the benchmark. In fact, all the children will be given a score of 1 to 10 “Naomis.”

With that in mind…

15. Unnamed Children (Vaadwaur)

Shortly after Voyager reactivates the Vaadwaur stasis pods in “ Dragon’s Teeth ,” we learn that their children are taught to “fall asleep each night imagining a different way to die.” Morbid!

Later in the episode, Naomi informs us that they were making cruel jokes about Neelix and Talaxians. She knows that xenophobia is wrong, and so do we. The Vaadwaur may be “resourceful” as Captain Janeway says, but judging from their children, their future is bleak. Frankly, I am glad we never got to see what the Vaadwaur kiddos looked like. 0 Naomis . Next.

14. Suspiria ( Nacene )

Though Suspiria is thousands of years old, she appears on Voyager as a terrifying young girl in “ Cold Fire .” Before Kes and a bioweapon stop her rampage, she nearly destroys the ship and hurts several of the crew with her psychokinetic abilities. Suspiria is truly the stuff of nightmares, but she did take care of a group of Ocampa for generations. And to be fair, she thought Voyager ruthlessly killed her mate — the Caretaker. Redemption is possible. ½ Naomi

13. Kar ( Kazon )

A part of me feels bad ranking Kar, the Kazon boy of “ Initiations ,” third to last. After all, he’s been raised to be a good Kazon, and they are not the friendly sort. Kar gets bonus points for not murdering Chakotay in his sleep when the two are stuck in a moon cave together. On the other hand, he did try to kill the commander earlier in the episode and never thanked him for saving his life. (Rude!) At the end of the episode, he kills First Maje Razik of the Kazon-Ogla, falling back into classic Machiavellian tactics. It seems the Kazon will never change. 1 Naomi

12. Karya (Vori)

When Chakotay crash lands in the middle of a brutal conflict between the gallant Vori and the beastly Kradin, Karya, a young Vori girl, helps nurse him back to health. Later, she valiantly defends her grandfather when he is presumably being taken to be killed. Or does she? By the end of “ Nemesis ,” we find out that Karya is actually a “photometric projection” designed to brainwash the commander into fighting an alien war. There is a lot to be said for Karya’s caring qualities, but we will never know if real Vori children are anything like her. As a result, she gets only 1½ Naomis due to her role in the mind-control program.

11. Unnamed Infant (Reptohumanoid Species)

It is nearly impossible to judge a freshly hatched baby, but we ought to try. The infant in question was encountered by Tom and Neelix on a food-gathering away mission in “ Parturition .” Not much can be said about the beaked babe, but it did allow itself to be fed and made the equivalent of reptilian cooing sounds. That alone is worth 2 Naomis .

10. Q Junior ( Q )

Q Junior makes two appearances on Voyager in “ The Q and the Grey ” and “ Q2 .” As a child, he passed the time by “starting wars among innocent species.” His mischief on Voyager — fusing shut Neelix’s mouth and redecorating engineering as a dance club, among other shenanigans — was of a smaller scale, but still disruptive. After being temporarily relieved of his powers and left behind with Captain Janeway and the crew, Q Junior eventually learns the value of hard work and accountability. I have always hoped that, like Seven, he would make up for the chaos he wrought earlier in his life. 3 Naomis

9. Azan and Rebi (Wysanti)

Twins Azan and Rebi were featured in several episodes after being rescued from the partially disabled Borg Cube in “ Collective .” The twins showed an aptitude for science and precision, but also for telepathicallty cheating at kadis-kot, and for messing with one of Tuvok’s holodeck programs under the direction of Harry Kim. They are fundamentally good boys, but not that impressive. 4 Naomis

8. Mezoti (Norcadian)

Mezoti was also rescued from the broken Borg Cube, and retained the Collective’s scientific prowess. Like the twins, she misbehaved at times. However, she developed a greater sense of individuality, affection for her friends, and appreciation of beauty. For that we award her 4½ Naomis .

7. Tressa , Corin , and Elani (Drayan)

Ok, so technically the children who camp out with Tuvok on a Drayan moon in “ Innocence ” are elderly (the Drayans age backward). They are referred to as “children,” though, making an assessment fair game. Nothing is wrong with Tressa and the others per se, but by the time we meet them, they are disobedient, fearful, and forgetful. Nevertheless, judging by the respect afforded them by First Prelate Alcia, they have each probably contributed much to Drayan society. Tressa, for example, has a grandson who reminds her of Tuvok. Major contribution indeed. 5 Naomis

6. Yun (Unnamed Species)

Yun, a young girl suffering from prolonged radiation exposure, in “ Friendship One ,” does not play a significant role in the episode but represents key Naomi values. She shows a high level of curiosity when approaching Tom and Neelix, who are her species’ captives. Yun is later one of the first of her kind to venture outside when the radiation clouds part, and joyfully implores the others to follow. High marks for optimism. 5½ Naomis

5. Latika (Unnamed Species)

Let’s be honest — Latika, the intrepid little investigator, of “ Time and Again ,” rubbed us the wrong way when we first met him. His top priority was unmasking Captain Janeway and Tom as demons. Upon further reflection, though, I believe that his brand of “speaking truth to power” was sorely needed in his world and is an admirable quality in an aspiring journalist. 7 Naomis

4. Brax ( Talaxian )

Neelix left Voyager in “ Homestead ,” partially because of his growing affection for Brax, the young Talaxian boy who could be seen as Naomi’s natural successor. Brax is quick to show commendable traits when he valiantly talks to then-prisoner Neelix for the first time. Brax later shows daring when he sneaks onto the Delta Flyer, courage when protecting his mother from the Nocona, and fearlessness when Naomi invites him to try a new holodeck program. A few negative marks for being one-dimensional and constantly nagging Neelix about keeping his promises, but he still gets 7½ Naomis

3. Unnamed Girl (Ventu)

The Ventu girl who takes a liking to Seven in “ Natural Law ” comes from one of the least developed societies encountered by Voyager , but her praiseworthy qualities shine through. While guiding Seven through the woods, she shows herself to be inquisitive, resourceful, and in awe of nature. She is also patient with Seven’s sometimes prickly attitude and saves her from starvation and the cold with gifts of food and a blanket. In another life, she and Naomi would be good friends. 8½ Naomis

2. Tebbis (Dinaali)

Tebbis’s story in “ Critical Care ” is one of the most tragic of the series. A young miner, Tebbis ends up in a hospital from hell with a chromoviral infection. His talent for and love of medicine was matched only by his selfless care for fellow patients. Tebbis inspired The Doctor to creatively obtain several unauthorized cytoglobin injections with which to treat him. Unfortunately, the Doc’s subterfuge was discovered, and the young man died after exceeding his pharmaceutical allocation. Rest in peace, Tebbis. 9 Naomis

1. Icheb (Brunali)

Like the other children rescued from the Borg Cube in “ Collective ,” Icheb was not perfect. He showed himself to be timid, disobedient, and awkward at times. Yet, his good qualities far outweigh his flaws. Of all the children listed, he was the most naturally precocious and the quickest learner, becoming an expert in fields as disparate as astrophysics and genetics. He used his brilliance to assist Voyager in several capacities and received high praise from several of the senior staff. Icheb also cared deeply for the younger children, taught Q Junior wholesome values, kept Chakotay’s secret about a stash of cider, nearly sacrificed his own life to save Seven, and even empathized with his parents — who had tried to kill him. Through all that, he remained the humblest member of the crew. It is no wonder that Icheb and Naomi were fast friends, even in an alternative timeline where we saw them as adults (“ Shattered ”). 10 Naomis

This article was originally published on May 19, 2020.

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Daniil Davydoff (he/him) is Director, Research Management and Operations at Eurasia Group and a Carnegie New Leader with the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. He has written for Security Magazine, Risk Management Magazine, Disaster Recovery Journal, Foreign Policy, and The National Interest, among other publications. Intrepid readers should connect with him on LinkedIn, the Delta Quadrant of social media networks.

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The Alien Baby

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The Alien Baby is the sixteenth episode of the fourth season of Star Trek: The New Adventures . It aired on the 15th of April, 2022.

• 1 Description
• 3.1 Starring
• 3.2 Also starring
• 3.3 Guest stars
• 3.4 Special guest star
• 3.5 Co-star
• 3.6 Uncredited co-star

Description [ ]

Jeffers finds out that a scientist is hardly what he imagined her to be. Meanwhile, they must work together to save the child of a space-born alien the Valentine has accidentally killed.

Summary [ ]

The USS Valentine is en route to Starbase 912 in order to pick up some equipment to transport to the Halekon system . Captain Jeffery Johnson informs Gregory Jeffers that Dr. Natalia Steele will be coming on board at the starbase, to study the engine modifications Jeffers has made. Dr. Steele was responsible for most of the engine design on the Valentine when the ship was constructed at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards , Jeffers previously met Dr. Steele in a holodeck simulation, in order to get the ship out of trouble, and had a romantic experience with the computer-simulated engineer.

Johnson asks Jeffers to greet the doctor on the Valentine' s behalf, Jeffers is more than happy, convinced that he and the real "Steele" will be good friends. Later, in talking to Jeremiah Carver in The Bar , he insists that he is not expecting anything more than friendship from Steele.

But once Ensign Marsh beams Dr. Steele aboard, she skips the greeting and immediately insults Jeffers by accusing him of having "fouled up the engine designs". (more to come)

Starring [ ]

• Nicholas Herbert as Captain Jeffery Johnson
• William D. Alexander as Commander Adam Williams

Also starring [ ]

• Louisa Baxter as Doctor Amy Green
• Greg Aguilar as Lt. Lopac
• Simon Cowell as Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Jeffers
• Paula Hughes as Counselor Nelan Decker
• Russell Crowe as Lt. Cmdr. Paul Schmidt

Guest stars [ ]

• Natalia Steele
• Natalia Steele (hologram)
• Carla Allison as Carpenter
• Valerie Knapp as DeLeon

Special guest star [ ]

• Aaron K. Adams as Jeremiah Carver

Co-star [ ]

• Rylee Bright as Ensign Marsh

Uncredited co-star [ ]

• Warren Booker as command division officer
• 1 Invincible class
• 2 William V of the United Kingdom
• 3 George VII of the United Kingdom

15 of the Most Bizarre Alien Species Featured in 'Star Trek'

"star trek" aliens.

"Star Trek" is filled with unusual aliens, ranging from the humanoid to the crystalloid to the god-like. Here are some of the more unique species from the live-action "Star Trek" series. Please note: We deliberately exclude the more well-known alien races, and limit each of the series to three entries to try to include samples from across the canon. If we missed anything bizarre, tell us in the comments!

1. Salt vampire ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969)

The very first episode of "Star Trek" showed promise when it came to weird aliens. An old flame of one of the crew members, Nancy Crater, turns out to be a projection of a sort of salt vampire that soon runs amok on the USS Enterprise. This alien species cannot live long without salt, so it attacks crew members and sucks them dry of essential salts. The creature is eventually stopped in part by a sort of mouse trap that — of course — uses salt. [ What I Learned by Watching Every 'Star Trek' Show and Movie ]

2. Horta ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969)

This is a species of silicon-based life (humans, by comparison, are carbon-based) that prefers to feed on rocks. In a moving episode, "The Devil In The Dark," the crew discovers that the aliens are actually intelligent and very loyal to their offspring — but only after the Vulcan alien Spock does a mind-meld with one of the creatures, which is being persecuted by miners angry at the destruction it has caused.

3. Gorn ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969)

A member of this extremely strong (but intelligent) reptilian species engages in famous hand-to-hand combat with Capt. James T. Kirk in the episode "Arena." The only way Kirk manages to overpower him is by finding the ingredients for gunpowder on the alien planet on which he is trapped, using his own uniform to help with the ignition. As an honorary mention, we should also include The Metrons, a species that can manipulate energy and matter at will — these are the aliens that set up the fight in the first place, because they are mad at their space being invaded.

4. Q ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," 1987-1994)

Simultaneously terrifying and witty, Q is a seemingly supernatural being who pops up on the USS Enterprise periodically to play tricks on the crew. Some of his memorable actions include giving Q-like powers to a member of the Enterprise (arguing that humans always love learning), and putting humanity on trial for its past crimes while wearing period uniforms from over the centuries. Q, however, isn't all trickster. Alongside his antics, he does warn humanity about the approach of the Borg, which is trying to assimilate all species into a collective. [ The Evolution of 'Star Trek' (Infographic) ]

5. Tamarian ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," 1987-1994)

This species is a tongue-twister for the usual translators that Starfleet officers carry. While the translators can literally tell us what the Tamarians are saying, it's hard to understand what is going on because the species is speaking in metaphors. (Some examples from Memory Alpha: "Temba, his arms wide/open," which means a gift, or "the river Temarc in winter," which refers to the need for silence.) In the episode "Darmok," Capt. Jean-Luc Picard must learn to communicate with a Tamarian quickly before they are both killed by a hostile beast.

6. Crystalline Entity ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," 1987-1994)

This alien goes in the "beautiful but deadly" category, as the crystalline entity was breathtaking to watch in space — it looked a bit like a snowflake, or small and shiny diamonds. However, the entity had a nasty side to it: It could quickly devour all life in its wake. The USS Enterprise finally defeated the entity by sending graviton pulses that eventually broke it into pieces. But sadly, the crew couldn't stop the pulses in time when they realized the creature might be trying to communicate with them.

7. Changeling ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," 1993-1999)

Fans of the series will instantly remember changelings, as their numbers included one of the series' main characters — Odo, the sarcastic security officer aboard the space station Deep Space 9. Changelings were made up of an orange liquid that in the "Star Trek" universe is technically referred to as a "morphogenic matrix." Changelings were able to morph into pretty much anything they wanted to, including inanimate objects or even to resemble humans. [ Love of 'Star Trek' Inspires Highly Illogical Careers ]

8. Jem'Hadar ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," 1993-1999)

Jem'Hadar were one of a few "Star Trek" aliens with very different life cycles than humans. In their case, they were created in "birthing chambers" and were able to reach maturity in just three days. They also fed on a drug called Ketracel-white, which contained an enzyme they needed to survive. That enzyme was deliberately withheld during birthing by the Vorta, who created the Jem'Hadar; this gave the Vorta power over the Jem'Hadar and a captive economy for distributing the drug.

9. Trill ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," 1993-1999)

A main character on "Deep Space Nine" was from the Trill species — Jadzia Dax. Most of the Trill were fairly unremarkable, but there were a small number (including Dax) who lived with a symbiont inside their bodies. This symbiont was intelligent, but required a host organism to survive; it was common to transfer symbionts to young bodies when the older host organism was close to death. This meant that in the case of Dax, the symbiont transferred from an older man to a younger woman, prompting surprise from an old friend, Capt. Benjamin Sisko, the first time he met the younger Dax on Deep Space 9.

10. Hirogen ("Star Trek: Voyager," 1995-2001)

This alien was a brutal enemy of anything in the "Star Trek" universe, simply because the Hirogen consider themselves the dominant species and anything they run across as prey. Their entire culture was focused on hunting down other species, and they had the ability (if required) to break down bones and muscle tissue to eat the prey. Not someone you'd want to invite to dinner.

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Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, " Why Am I Taller ?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

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Michael Dorn (right) played the Klingon Worf in the Star Trek franchise.

What ‘Star Trek’ May Have Right—and Wrong—About Alien Life

Will we ever salute Vulcans or cuddle tribbles? An astrobiologist explores the latest thinking on the forms alien life might really take.

Over an illustrious 50-year history, Star Trek TV shows and movies have introduced audiences to some of the most famous fictional aliens. Be they Klingons, Cardassians, Vulcans, or tribbles, the Trek universe abounds with distinct and diverse extraterrestrials.

For now, such exotic civilizations remain in the realm of science fiction. But scientists have plenty of ideas about what real alien life might be like, and what our chances are of ever discovering whether we are alone in the universe .

In the past few decades, scientists have developed exquisitely sensitive equipment to search for other habitable worlds and to hunt for greetings from across the cosmos. To date, astronomers have found more than 3,500 planets beyond our solar system, and they calculate that many more remain undiscovered. (See how aliens might contact us using giant laser doodles .)

Even more exciting, we’ve found handfuls of planets that seem to be in the so-called habitable zone —the region around a star where the temperature is just right for liquid water to exist on a planetary surface. Water is a key ingredient for life as we know it, and its presence seems to have driven biological development right from the start.

“The fact that on Earth life emerged quickly just after conditions became habitable suggests that this could happen often in other systems, too,” says Daniel Apai , an astronomy and astrobiology researcher at the University of Arizona and the NASA Astrobiology Institute.

“Life persisted for about four billion years on Earth and survived a variety of planetary challenges, suggesting that it is very difficult to ‘sterilize’ a planet once it’s taken a foothold,” he adds. “So chances are good that life is relatively common in the galaxy.”

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Spreading seeds.

If we ever do find aliens, would they be anything like the beings that populate Star Trek ? While the show writers have imagined some highly unique creatures, from non-corporeal energy beings to intelligent clouds, most aliens encountered by the Enterprise crew have been carbon-based life-forms that are all too often humanoid.

The striking similarity between humans and the show’s most famous aliens, including Romulans, Vulcans, and Andorians, has been a point of contention with many fans over the years. In Star Trek: The Next Generation , the franchise writers attempted to explain this convenient lack of biological diversity using a real scientific theory called panspermia .

Captain Kirk deals with troublesome tribbles in Star Trek.

Proponents of this theory argue that life on Earth may have been seeded by hardy microbes—or at least, by raw ingredients such as amino acids—that traveled here via comets or asteroids. While there’s no direct evidence to back up this claim, missions such as the Rosetta orbiter have found the building blocks of life on comets, and we know tough organisms such as tardigrades can survive unprotected in space.

Scientists also believe early Earth was bombarded by meteors, which could have delivered a “starter kit” for life from elsewhere in the galaxy.

Building on the panspermia concept, Star Trek suggested that an ancient humanoid life-form intentionally seeded worlds around the Milky Way, creating new species that assumed their basic shape. While each of these species may have split off on its own evolutionary path, they are all essentially long-lost relatives. (Find out how Star Trek is right about almost everything .)

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While there is a case for panspermia, chances are slim that we will encounter humanoid life-forms in the real universe, Apai argues. Some theories suggest that local environmental conditions and evolutionary events left to chance will most likely shape the future of any life-form, making it totally unique.

“While there are examples for parallel evolution in the terrestrial biosphere—for example, similar eyes evolving in very different, unrelated species—it seems unlikely to me that we would encounter alien life that would be humanoid,” says Apai.

It’s a Small Galaxy?

Instead, given the only example we have, some researchers suggest that the most common form of life across the galaxy may be what’s most abundant here on Earth: microbes.

“On Earth, it took only a relatively brief period for life to emerge and reach the capability to photosynthesize, but it took billions of years for complex animals to emerge, and intelligence and technical civilization have only been present for about 0.000001 percent of Earth’s past,” says Apai. In other words, our planet’s history has been dominated by a wide array of microscopic life.

There’s also a good chance that the basic molecular building blocks we see on our world will be common throughout the universe.

The horta was a silicon-based life form in Star Trek.

“Given the availability and its chemical properties, it is a good guess that carbon may often be the key species that provides the backbone, the molecular scaffolding, for biomolecules,” says Apai.

Still, astrobiologists are trying not to be too Earth-centric in their theories about alien life—there’s always the chance that if we do manage to find extraterrestrials, we’ll stumble upon silicon-based creatures like the horta or sentient minerals like the crystalline entity.

“We are looking for everything we can find and trying to exclude no possibilities that we can conceive,” says Apai. “Of course, I am still certain that we will be surprised when we will first be able to study extraterrestrial life.”

Follow Andrew Fazekas on Twitter , Facebook , and his website .

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Screen Rant

8 new details star trek: discovery revealed about ds9’s breen.

Star Trek: Discovery reveals such a dizzying amount of information about DS9's Breen that it's hard to keep track. Here's what "Mirrors" revealed.

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery, season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors".

• The Breen from Star Trek: DS9 make a proper return in Discovery, revealing their secrets and motivations.
• L'ak is a unique Breen who fell in love with Moll, breaking the standard mold of his species.
• Discovery reveals the Breen have two faces, one translucent and one solid, hinting at a deeper evolution storyline.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors" reveals a raft of new details about the Breen from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . The Breen are the latest DS9 aliens to appear in Discovery , making their proper return in the flashback sequences that fill viewers in on the backstory of Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis). Written by Johanna Lee & Carlos Cisco, and directed by Jen McGowan , "Mirrors" finds Moll and L'ak stranded in interdimensional space with Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala).

With the four treasure hunters forced to work together, there's a chance to reveal more about Moll and L'ak's motivations in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5 . The bombshell reveal that L'ak is actually Breen is the first of many revelations about the enigmatic Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aliens in the episode. The flashbacks to Moll and L'ak's burgeoning romance shed light on a number of aspects of Breen culture in the 32nd century , including just what sits underneath those helmets.

Star Trek: Discovery Vs. DS9's Breen Is Now Inevitable

8 l'ak is a breen, but he doesn't fit the mold of a traditional breen..

As Burnham and Book try to reason with Moll and L'ak, the couple reveal that they're trying to outrun an Erigah, a Breen blood bounty. This confirms to Burnham that L'ak is a Breen, albeit without the helmet and refrigeration suit . The flashbacks to how Moll and L'ak met reveal that L'ak was a member of the Breen royal family, but he didn't fit the mold . Demoted from his royal duties, L'ak was assigned to shuttle bay duty, where he met and fell in love with Moll.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) once stated that nobody had seen a Breen without their helmet and lived to tell the tale. The revelations about L'ak's origins mean that half the cast of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 have managed to do just that. However, as the flashbacks show, the Breen are still incredibly secretive about showing their faces, which makes L'ak a unique member of his species .

7 Moll Used To Sell Dilithium To The Breen Imperium

It's how she made her living during the burn.

During the time of scarcity following The Burn, Moll supplied the Breen with dilithium for use in their starships. However, Moll was cutting her dilithium supply with " impurities " , meaning that the Breen's supply was considerably watered down. Confronted about this by L'ak, Moll offered to go into business with the mold-breaking Breen to make things go smoothly. L'ak agreed, partly due to his desire to get payback for his demotion, and partly due to his immediate attraction to Moll.

Moll and L'ak became a courier couple like Burnham and Booker, giving Book hope that he could get through to his new "sister".

Moll and L'ak were eventually found out for their scam, for which the punishment was execution. However, as L'ak couldn't bring himself to kill the woman he loved, he turned on his own people, instead. In response, the Breen placed an " Erigah " on L'ak, a blood bounty that could never be cleared . While Burnham and Booker offered Federation protection from the Breen, Moll and L'ak were unconvinced that they could truly help erase the Erigah.

Star Trek: Discovery Stars Eve Harlow & Elias Toufexis Break Down Their Villainous Romance

6 the breen placed a blood bounty on moll and l'ak, "can they erase an erigah".

Although the Erigah was placed on L'ak, Moll refused to leave his side, meaning that the Breen blood bounty was placed on them both. This explains Booker's assessment that the couple were having fun and engaging in " cliffs-edge kind of stuff ". Moll and L'ak's devil may care attitude so far in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is likely driven by the fact that they're on the run for their very lives . Moll and L'ak are so committed to each other that the Breen tells Burnham that he'd " rather die " than be separated from Moll in a Federation prison.

An Erigah is an aspect of Breen culture that wasn't previously mentioned in the species' multiple appearances in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . It's therefore unclear how one collects a blood bounty, but Moll, L'ak, Burnham, and Book all seem troubled by the mention of the name. Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7 is titled "Erigah", so it will presumably shed further light on the blood bounty placed on Moll and L'ak's heads, and who will attempt to collect it.

5 The Breen Atmosphere Is "Quite Comfortable"

Just as ds9's weyoun said it was..

It's long been speculated that the Breen lived in sub-zero temperatures, with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters like Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) and Quark (Armin Shimerman) referring to their planet as a frozen wasteland. While Moll doesn't visit the Breen homeworld in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, she is in their territory and doesn't need to wear any protective clothing to cope with the temperatures. This, therefore, confirms something that Weyoun (Jeffrey Combs) said in DS9 season 7, episode 20, "The Changing Face of Evil".

The Breen were also said to wear refrigeration suits to cope with the higher temperatures of other planets, something which is also seemingly contradicted by Star Trek: Discovery .

The Breen were powerful allies of the Dominion in the latter stages of their war with the Federation Alliance in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . After the Breen and the Dominion had signed their alliance, Weyoun reflected that the temperature on Breen was "quite comfortable". It was always possible that this was wry sarcasm on Weyoun's part. However, the atmosphere inside Star Trek: Discovery 's huge Imperium spaceport appears to confirm Weyoun's assessment of the temperature on Breen .

Star Trek: The Dominion War Timeline, Explained

4 the breen primarch is l'ak's uncle, part of the yod-thot royal caste..

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 1, "Red Directive" revealed that the Breen Confederacy had become the Breen Imperium in the 800 years since the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Not much was known about the inner workings of the Breen Confederacy in DS9 , other than negotiations with the Dominion were led by Thot Gor (Todd Slayton). In the 32nd century, the Breen Imperium is run by the Yod-Thot royal caste, suggesting an ancestral link with DS9 's Breen .

One of the key members of the Breen Imperium is Primarch Ruhn (Tony Nappa), the uncle of L'ak in Star Trek: Discovery season 5. The Primarch is disgusted by L'ak's relationship with Moll and his insistence on denying his heritage . L'ak stopped short of murdering his uncle while escaping with Moll, meaning that Primarch Ruhn may return later in Discovery season 5. Especially if Moll and L'ak open negotiations with the Breen Imperium to provide them with the Progenitors' powerful technology .

3 The Breen Imperium Destroy The Federation In An Alternate Future

They're the "wrong hands" that the progenitors' technology must not fall into..

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange" revealed that the Breen took possession of the Progenitors' technology in a timeline where the USS Discovery never defeated the time bug . The Krenim chronophage, left over from the Temporal Wars, was supposed to keep Discovery out of the treasure hunt until Moll and L'ak could secure the Progenitors' technology. The Breen Imperium then used the powers of the Progenitors to destroy the entire Federation in one of the most striking scenes from Discovery season 5, episode 4 .

The Breen previously launched an attack on Federation Headquarters in Star Trek: Discovery season 7, episode 20, "The Changing Face of Evil".

At the opening of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors", Burnham and Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) reflected on the stakes of their mission. "Mirrors" also revealed that Moll and L'ak are still determined to use the Progenitors' technology to bargain for their lives with the Breen Imperium. As Moll and L'ak escape the ISS Enterprise at the end of "Mirrors", they are more desperate than ever, making Discovery 's bleak future look like a serious possibility.

Star Trek: Discovery Reveals A Voyager Enemy Played A Big Role In The Temporal Wars

2 the breen do bleed, or leak, at the very least..

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5, episode 14, "In Purgatory's Shadow", Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) confidently states that the Breen have no liquid circulatory system . Conducting blood screenings to root out Changeling infiltrators in the Dominion prison camp, Bashir says everyone bar the Breen prisoner has been tested because they have " No blood ". Star Trek: Discovery appears to reveal that this isn't the case, as L'ak appears to bleed after falling on his own knife during the fight with Burnham .

Given the revelations about the Breens' physiology in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, there are some possible explanations for the contradiction. Firstly, the Breen are an incredibly secretive race, who were largely unknown to the Federation in the 24th century. The Breen prisoner in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could, therefore, have just been lying to Bashir about not having any blood . The other explanation is that L'ak isn't bleeding, rather he's leaking the gelatinous organic material that constitutes a Breen body.

1 The Breen Have Two Faces

One solid face, one translucent face, both green..

The biggest reveal about the Breen in Star Trek: Discovery is what they keep underneath their helmets. It's stated that a Breen has two faces; one which is translucent and gelatinous, and another which is solid and firmly humanoid. This revelation is delivered as if the viewer was already aware of such a fact, which means that Discovery doesn't dive deeper into the reasons for the Breen having two faces . Primarch Ruhn tells L'ak that the Breen have evolved past their solid forms, and that their translucent form is a sign of strength.

Star Trek: Discovery doesn't reveal what role the Breen's armor plays in maintaining their form, translucent or otherwise. Still, the idea that the Breen's softer, more vulnerable face is stronger than the hard shell is a decent sci-fi concept that will hopefully get further exploration later in Discovery season 5. However, both faces are very clearly humanoid, which heavily implies that they may also originate from the Progenitors. Whether this information will lead to peace between the Breen and the Federation remains to be seen as Star Trek: Discovery season 5 continues.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Streams Thursdays On Paramount+

Star Trek: Discovery

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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.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

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Friday's Child

• Episode aired Dec 1, 1967

The Federation clashes with the Klingon Empire over mining rights to Capella IV. A sudden coup between its warrior-minded inhabitants forces Kirk's party to flee with the now dead leader's p... Read all The Federation clashes with the Klingon Empire over mining rights to Capella IV. A sudden coup between its warrior-minded inhabitants forces Kirk's party to flee with the now dead leader's pregnant wife. The Federation clashes with the Klingon Empire over mining rights to Capella IV. A sudden coup between its warrior-minded inhabitants forces Kirk's party to flee with the now dead leader's pregnant wife.

• Joseph Pevney
• Gene Roddenberry
• D.C. Fontana
• William Shatner
• Leonard Nimoy
• DeForest Kelley
• 24 User reviews
• 14 Critic reviews

• Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk

• Mister Spock

• (as Kirk Raymone)
• (as Robert Bralver)
• Lieutenant Hadley
• (uncredited)

• Capellan Warrior

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia This is the only episode in which Uhura and Sulu call Scotty by his nickname. Otherwise, they call him "Mr. Scott."
• Goofs While Akaar is fighting with one of Maab's men, the man's uniform changes from blue to red.

McCoy : [speaking of Eleen] Representing the High Tier, Leonard James Akaar!

Spock : The child was named Leonard James Akaar?

McCoy : Has a kind of a ring to it, don't you think, James?

Captain James T. Kirk : Yes, I think it's a name destined to go down in galactic history, Leonard. What do you think, Spock?

Spock : I think you're both gonna be insufferably pleased with yourselves for at least a month... sir.

• Alternate versions Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
• Connections Featured in William Shatner's Star Trek Memories (1995)
• Soundtracks Theme Music credited to Alexander Courage Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

User reviews 24

• Jun 25, 2016
• December 1, 1967 (United States)
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• Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA
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Star Trek Discovery Cancellation Ruins Strange New Worlds Crossover?

Posted: April 29, 2024 | Last updated: April 29, 2024

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery has been filled with fan service, including the entire season’s mystery arc being based on the beloved TNG episode “The Chase.” We’ve gotten callbacks to the Dominion War and a cameo by a Soong-type android. But one of the most ambitious bits of fan service was Discovery encountering the abandoned hulk of the Mirror Universe vessel ISS Enterprise.

We later found out its crew rebelled from the Terran Empire and escaped into the Prime Universe, but it’s my belief this episode was meant to set up a Strange New Worlds crossover we will never get.

Star Trek: Discovery Setting Up Strange New Worlds?

How, exactly, could Star Trek: Discovery have been setting up a crossover with Strange New Worlds? It may seem unlikely, especially with SNW taking place in the 23rd century and DSC now taking place in the 32nd century.

However, there are various ways for the show to explain how a vessel could time-travel to the future (something that the Discovery crew knows all about) or just get stuck in a timey-wimey space phenomenon.

Star Trek: Discovery “Mirrors”

In the Star Trek: Discovery episode “Mirrors,” Captain Burnham and Booker board the ISS Enterprise in search of the criminals Moll and L’ak as well as clues about the Progenitors. These ancient aliens who created many major races in the galaxy and whose technology could be used as a superweapon.

Our heroes eventually discover that this ship fled the Mirror Universe after Spock became the Terran Emperor and was executed for trying to usher progressive reforms into a regressive empire.  We later find out they safely made it into the Prime universe despite the ISS Enterprise getting stuck in the wormhole.

Didn’t Know Fifth Was Last

Here’s my speculation: we know that the Star Trek: Discovery cast and crew did not originally know the fifth season would be their last. After the show’s surprise cancellation, however, Paramount allowed new scenes to be shot to help wrap the season up and make it feel more like a finale. 

Many fans (myself included) assumed these new scenes would mostly be added to the season finale to help wrap up the series. However, seeing the ISS Enterprise makes me think the show had an ambitious Strange New Worlds crossover planned for a future season and a new scene was added to quickly resolve things.

Trying To Find Clues

In Star Trek: Discovery, we learn that the ISS Enterprise crew rebelled against the Terran Empire and fled to the Prime Universe, with the ship getting stuck in a wormhole.

At first, what happened to the Mirror crew was a mystery. Later, though, Captain Burnham happily reveals that everyone safely made it to the Prime Universe in the 23rd century. The one fleeing Terran, Dr. Cho, became a Starfleet branch admiral who researched the Progenitors and left the clue Burnham and Book are trying to find.

Strange New Worlds Mirror Universe?

My theory is that Star Trek: Discovery was originally going to leave the fate of that crew as a mystery so that in future seasons, we could find out they escaped into the future and get cameos from Mirror Universe versions of Strange New Worlds characters.

Mirror Pike, for example, could basically be an anti-Lorca: a captain from the evil universe who is actually a good guy and not just putting on an act. The crossover between Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks proved very popular, and this would have been a chance for Paramount to engage in more of that sweet, sweet brand synergy.

Adding New Scenes?

Furthermore, I believe that after Star Trek: Discovery was canceled, the conversation where Burnham tells Booker the crew all survived and settled in the Prime Universe was later added as a new scene.

Think about it: that scene is just two characters talking on a very small set. That’s not exactly a smoking phaser when it comes to my theory, but this would have been a lot easier to add as a new scene compared to something like a major ensemble scene on the Discovery’s bridge.

Future Crossovers Could Still Happen?

We may never definitively know if Star Trek: Discovery was setting up a Strange New Worlds crossover, but I’m trying to embody what Burnham said about the rebel Enterprise crew. “They had hope…despite impossible odds.”

In my case, I hope that Paramount hasn’t fully given up on ambitious plans like crossovers in favor of just playing it safe with Starfleet Academy, an upcoming show aimed at teens so aggressively that it might as well be called Stardate 90210.

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• View history

A species or race was any class of lifeform that had common attributes and were designated by a common name .

• 1 Observations
• 2.1.1 By location
• 2.1.2 By evolution
• 2.1.3 By association
• 2.2 Noncorporeal
• 2.3 Artificial
• 2.4 Trans-dimensional
• 4 External links

Observations [ ]

According to Data , " in the game of military brinksmanship , individual physical prowess is less important than the perception of a species as a whole. " However, according to Worf , if " no one is willing to test that perception in combat [..] then the reputation means nothing. " ( TNG : " Peak Performance ")

Data also " observed that in most species, there is a primal instinct to perpetuate themselves. " ( TNG : " The Offspring ")

Classifications [ ]

Corporeal [ ].

Corporeal lifeforms have a physical body , usually composed of carbon- - or silicon-based cellular structures . Most corporeal species metabolize energy by consuming food or by photosynthesis , and have a finite life cycle consisting of distinct periods of growth, maturity, and senescence. Intelligent corporeal species frequently enhance their capabilities with technology .

By location [ ]

• Alpha and Beta Quadrant species
• Gamma Quadrant species
• Delta Quadrant species
• Extra-galactic species
• Spaceborne species

By evolution [ ]

• Anthropomorphic species
• Humanoid species
• Non-humanoid species
• Omnicordial lifeform

By association [ ]

• Borg species
• Dominion species
• Starfleet species

Noncorporeal [ ]

Non-corporeal species were composed of various forms of coherent gas or energy . Most noncorporeal species absorb and utilize energy directly from their environment. Generally, noncorporeal species do not utilize technology, compensating with intrinsic physiological capabilities. Some noncorporeal species have evolved beyond the need for sustenance, and wield substantial control over space and time .

Artificial [ ]

Artificial lifeforms were usually created by another species, and can be sentient by design or have attained sentience spontaneously. There are two general types of artificial life: The first is a machine constructed from mechanical components. The second is a software program, which is reliant on a suitable computer in which to exist. These programs may manifest themselves physically in the form of holograms , which sometimes developed self-awareness .

Trans-dimensional [ ]

Trans-dimensional beings were lifeforms originating from a reality outside the normal space-time continuum. They can take a variety of forms which may or may not be comparable to those in this universe, depending on the nature of their native realm. Some trans-dimensional species are unable to survive in this universe without assistance.

See also [ ]

• Civilization
• Joined species
• Master race
• Race (species subclassification)
• Shapeshifting species
• Species reassignment protocol
• Telepathic species

External links [ ]

• Species at Wikipedia
• Race at Wikipedia
• 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Fans on mission. To seek out autographs from Star Trek icon William Shatner

LAKE TWP. − For many, it was a final frontier.

To boldly go where they had never gone before — into the presence of Star Trek actor William Shatner .

Several hundred people flocked Saturday to Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market to get autographs and pictures with the 93-year-old man known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the original 1960s television series Star Trek. Those 79 episodes spawned a decades-long influential cultural franchise and phenomenon.

The crowd loudly cheered when Shatner appeared at 10:50 a.m. in an area by the food court cordoned off for his appearance that was arranged by Prime Time Sports and Framing of Kent. Fans, several arriving in wheelchairs, brought Star Trek uniforms, promotional pictures from the TV series and Star Trek films, a model of the U.S.S. Enterprise and sketches to be marked with his coveted signature.

Related: 'Star Trek' legend William Shatner to appear at Hartville MarketPlace

The cost of each autograph or picture with him was $149. If you wanted both, the cost was $275. For him to write three words or less with the autograph cost $79 more. Several also paid $100 for a VIP pass to skip the line.

Shatner could be seen for the next 74 minutes signing autographs, smiling and engaging in light banter with fans. After everyone who had paid for an autograph had been served, he got onto a scooter with balloons tied to it and going nowhere close to as fast as warp speed went to All Star Sports Gallery.

Someone wearing an elaborate costume as Bumblebee the Transformer led the procession. Then, Shatner switched from the scooter to sitting on a stool to take pictures with people, with the line of those waiting for pictures stretching back to the food court area.

Dave Bell, 74, of Lake Township, who watches the classic Star Trek episodes every night, said he wasn't willing to pay $149 for an autograph. But he came to Hartville Marketplace to get a glimpse and picture of Shatner.

"I'm a Trekkie. But this is ridiculous," Bell said about the crowd. "I'm not surprised. He's a very popular guy."

Jann Henthorn drove an hour from Orrville to see the man who played the beloved Star Trek captain.

"Is William Shatner here?" she said as she tried to spot him through the autograph seekers blocking her view. "I see him! ... All of us baby boomers are all excited!"

Henthorn recalled watching Star Trek when it first aired in the 1960s long before it achieved massive cult status in syndication.

"He looks good," she said about Shatner.

Cassedy Brennan, 28, of Wadsworth stood by one of the barricades snapping pictures of Shatner. Her father, a big Star Trek fan, was in line waiting for an autograph on a poster.

"He is like a kid in a candy store today. He is so excited. It's like Star Wars, Star Trek paraphernalia in the basement. ... Unopen toys. This is his jam," she said. "I think it's cool. Not exactly my thing. But here to support my dad. It's cool to see, too."

Brennan was one of the few people in their 20s in the crowd.

"I probably wouldn't know William Shatner out of context if it weren't for my dad," she said, adding that she saw classic Star Trek episodes with her father. "There's probably some millennials that are fans. But I'm not a sci-fi kind of girl."

Michael Rothman, 38, of Lake Township said Shatner autographed his set of Star Trek DVDs.

He said the actor said to him, "'Thank you very much.' That's all he said."

His wife Shandi Rothman clarified that, "He (also) said, 'Pleasure to see you.'"

Stacy Klotz of Massillon got Shatner to autograph her Captain James T. Kirk poster. She considered the $149 cost a "once in a lifetime type of thing." A sci-fi fan, she first started seeing Star Trek in syndication in the late 1970s.

Matt Merew, 56, of Zanesville got Shatner to sign his model of the Enterprise and his picture depicting the scene where Captain Kirk fights an alien captain known as a Gorn. The picture already had the autograph of the actor who played the Gorn that Merew got at a past Star Trek convention.

Cameron Blakey, 46, of Mogadore, who watched Star Trek in the 1980s with his uncle and mother, got Shatner to autograph his sketch of Captain Kirk that Blakey drew.

"He asked me how I was. And he asked me if I drew this. I told him I did. And I told him that we basically thank you for everything and he made my day," he said. "He made my life. Awesome, awesome experience!"

Karen Isaiah of Mogadore said she watched the original Star Trek in 1967.

"I'm ecstatic. I didn't want to miss him for anything," she said. "I met (singer) Johnny Mathis. I talked to William Shatner. My life is complete."

Reach Robert at [email protected]. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.