Unveiling the Mind-Blowing Plot Twist in Star Trek Strange New Worlds: The Epic Journey to Number One!
Number One's trial takes an unexpected turn in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but the solution only addresses her issue, not the larger problem faced by the Illyrians
The court-martial of Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 2 - "Ad Astra Per Aspera" takes an unexpected turn as the identity of the person who reported Number One to Starfleet is revealed. Arrested by Starfleet Security, led by Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano), at the conclusion of the first season, Number One faced charges of various offenses, including misleading information about her species on her application. Being an Illyrian, a race prohibited by the United Federation of Planets due to their involvement in genetic engineering, added to the severity of her situation.
Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) enlisted Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki) as Number One's legal counsel. Neera, also an Illyrian who grew up with Una, harbored resentment towards Starfleet and the Federation, feeling personally betrayed by Una's decision to join their ranks. With her defense strategy, Neera attempted to turn Commander Chin-Riley's court-martial into a condemnation of the Federation's strict policies regarding genetically enhanced individuals. When the prosecution tried to implicate Captain Pike and the USS Enterprise crew in a conspiracy to protect Una, Neera skillfully redirected the focus, making Una's testimony center around seeking asylum from Starfleet, a legally recognized option. However, at the core of Number One's trial lay the question of who was responsible for her entry into Starfleet in the first place.
Who Turned Number One In To Starfleet Explained
In the finale of Strange New Worlds season 1, Number One made the decision to surrender herself to Starfleet. Her motivation was simple - she no longer wanted to hide her true identity as Illyrian. In a pivotal moment during episode 3, "Ghosts of Illyria," she confided in Captain Pike, Dr. Joseph M'Benga, and her close friend Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh. While La'an initially felt betrayed and angry about Una's deception, she eventually came to terms with it. Captain Pike, on the other hand, vowed to protect Una's secret from Starfleet and even threatened to fight them if necessary. Unfortunately, Una's secret was eventually discovered by Starfleet, leading to her arrest. Throughout these events, Una found solace in the acceptance she received from her friends aboard the Enterprise, and she hoped that the rest of Starfleet would come to accept her as well.
Strange New Worlds Only Solved Number One's Problem, Not The Illyrians'
However, while Una's testimony successfully led to her being granted asylum and the restoration of her rank and position as First Officer, it fell short of addressing Neera's larger goal of challenging the Federation's ban on Augments. It was a significant achievement for Una on a personal level, but it only marked the beginning of a larger battle.
In reality, the resolution of Number One's legal troubles and her return to the USS Enterprise was the most that could be accomplished in the context of Strange New Worlds. The Federation's ban on Augments is a complex issue that will persist in the Star Trek canon well into the late 24th century, resurfacing with characters like Dr. Julian Bashir on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Dal R'El on Star Trek: Prodigy. The Federation's apprehension towards genetic engineering remains an ongoing and prominent theme throughout the Star Trek universe. Nonetheless, by voluntarily surrendering herself, Number One was able to bring her personal truth to light in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.
