Spotlighting Starfleet's Wars: A Betrayal of its True Mission

Summary

Lieutenant Mariner opines that Starfleet's participation in wars contradicts its fundamental mission of exploring and unraveling the enigmas of life. While acknowledging the occasional necessity of conflict, individuals do not join Starfleet with the intention of becoming soldiers, but rather to explore the vastness of the galaxy and acquire knowledge about diverse species and cultures.

Due to the success of DS9's Dominion War arc, Star Trek has shifted towards a more military-focused approach in storytelling. This arc raised the question of how the Federation deals with powerful galactic forces and their conflicting viewpoints. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, Lieutenant junior grade Beckett Mariner expresses strong opinions about Starfleet's involvement in wars and how it undermines the true purpose of the institution. In season 4, episode 9, titled "The Inner Fight," Mariner's backstory is explored, including her friendship with Ensign Sito Jaxa from Star Trek: The Next Generation and her service during the Dominion War. The recent history of Lower Decks is intertwined with the Dominion War from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Mariner's anger unveils a broader sentiment that Starfleet betrayed its original mission by participating in such a devastating conflict.

Lower Decks’ Mariner Calls Out How Star Trek’s Wars Betray Starfleet’s True Purpose

Majel Barrett, the acclaimed Star Trek figure, was of the opinion that the Dominion War deviated from Gene Roddenberry's original vision. This viewpoint was shared by Ronald D. Moore, writer of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who nevertheless believed that it was the appropriate narrative to present. Although Star Trek: Lower Decks acknowledges Starfleet's involvement in warfare, Deep Space Nine highlighted the unfortunate reality that conflict is sometimes inevitable. While Mariner possesses an inherent understanding of this, it does not change the fact that joining Starfleet to become a soldier was never anyone's intention.

Sharing her Dominion War trauma with her Klingon counselor/combatant Ma'ah (Jon Curry), Mariner expresses her dissatisfaction with Starfleet's involvement in military action, emphasizing that: "Starfleet's purpose is to unravel the mysteries of life, not engage in warfare!" Undoubtedly, Mariner's perspective holds true, and Star Trek: Lower Decks consistently emphasizes the scientific exploration aspects of the franchise, in all of their peculiar and captivating manifestations. As cadets of Starfleet Academy, individuals enlist to explore the galaxy and gain insights into the diverse array of species and cultures scattered throughout the cosmos, rather than enlisting as soldiers.

It's understandable, then, that Mariner feels betrayed by being thrust into the Dominion War as a young Ensign. However, in the real world, military careers are often touted as a way to better oneself and explore the world. The specter of war always looms in the background, regardless of how many advertisements and recruitment posters paint a career in the Navy or the Army as an opportunity for personal growth. Starfleet's ranking structures, which are modeled after the Navy, indicate that while Starfleet's main objective has never been warfare, they are cognizant of the possibility of future conflicts.

Why Star Trek Became More About Wars Than Exploration

Conflict ultimately carries more emotional weight than harmony, and it is this reason that led Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to push the boundaries of the conventional Gene Roddenberry Box with its Dominion War storyline. The overwhelming success of DS9's Dominion War is what likely prompted the franchise to delve further into military-focused narratives. For instance, Star Trek: Enterprise explored the Temporal Cold War and the devastating Xindi War, while Star Trek: Discovery shed light on the simmering tensions between the Federation and the Klingon Empire during the time of Star Trek: The Original Series.

The stories of war in Star Trek are a great way to maintain the freshness and intrigue of Gene Roddenberry's vision. The Dominion War in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine raises the question of how the peaceful Federation deals with a powerful galactic force that holds different beliefs. The Star Trek universe never takes war lightly, as it is necessary to protect the utopian ideals of the Federation and allow Starfleet to continue exploring and discovering. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, Ma'ah's advice to Mariner to honor friends, defeat enemies, and study plants may hold truth. Don't miss the season 4 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks streaming on Paramount+ on Thursday, November 2nd.