EAS Today

"Axanar: The Gathering Storm":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFpTiIHNTJ0

Thanks for the replies, and thanks for leaving space for my saltiness to run free, like the dinos in Cretaceous Park...........
But, the question begs to be asked so I will.......why do you think this inane, simplistic,derivative, unoriginal trash ISN'T written by AI?

I will consider the "all surface" point when I rewatch it. I too noticed awkward dialogues, gags that didn't land, dinos that are comic relief rather than threatening and Martians with silly costumes. But I think the core of the story is intact even if it's bad science. I knew this episode would become divisive, but this time it's mostly because they did something really big and daring. Let me put it this way: they should be allowed to do something like this every now and then, if they also give us regular, sensible and profound episodes (of the kind that were mostly absent from season 3).

Ok either AI slop----as in, written by an AI that was prompted by someone with a rudimentary knowledge of Trek----or, alternately, written by a 12 year-old with too much sugar and too many bad ideas. Honestly now Bernd since you bring it up-----you are currently re-reviewing Enterprise, correct? Can you honestly tell me that the writing on SNW stands up in comparison? Really? A human, any human, could do better than this. All surface; no, or very little, depth, ridiculously contorted plot telling a pointless story.
NoT that some episodes of Enterprise werent awful, because they were, and some s1 episodes of SNW showed promise, and some talent in the writers' room, when they weren't limping around on the timey-wimey crutch, that is.......As for those "Martians", the look was pure AI scifi slop---YouTube is full of it. i've legit seen better alien looks on Drag Race.
Also, the Vulcan cadet and the Cretaceous Park segment at the end were both completely unnecessary. Slop, slop, slop. Death to the machines.
Sorry for the saltiness, Bernd, but 8/10 is faaaaar too generous imo.

I still don't know when the outro could have taken place. They were running back to the shuttle.

The first couple of episodes of any of these nu-trek seasons always compare favourably to what comes after.
It seems to be a way of trying to reel the punters in.

The heat and disrupt options on the phaser can always be used on things other than people.
In TNG, I think they tried to maket the look of the phaser match what they intended it to be, which was futuristic swiss army knife and weapon all-in-one.

Why do think it's AI slop?

As an afterthought - yes, Voth would have been great. But I didn't miss them while I was watching, so I'm fine with the story as it is.

I hold "The Chase" in high regard because of its outcome, while the path to the resolution is admittedly a bit bumpy. It's just two different ways of getting the big reveal across.

Sorry B, but “The Chase” is not a particularly good episode, so comparing this to that, and unfavourably to boot, just because TNG was (on average - it had its share of stinkers) a good show and this… not always so much … just feels a bit disingenuous. Overall I thought this was a good episode, certainly superior to most of season 3. The resolution - the fifth planet becoming the asteroid belt - wasn’t much of a surprise, but how they got there was.

One thing that confused me: making a big thing of “Our phasers disintegrate now”. I thought they already did, I’m sure someone was vaporised with a Starfleet phaser in DSC, or maybe I’m misremembering. I don’t know if anyone has ever asked the question “If Starfleet is a peaceful organisation, why do they carry weapons capable of turning living beings into a cloud of subatomic particles?”, but maybe this is them quietly addressing that…

Model by

CaptainWhitmire

The tiny Starfleet Blackbird-class scout is a mere 104-meters long and dwarfed even by starships from 100-years ago. Far smaller than famous cruisers like the refit-Constitution-class USS Enterprise, these 22-man vessels scout ahead of Starfleet task groups, conduct months-long sector patrols from local Starfleet Starbases and Federation planets, and conduct anti-piracy patrols along Federation shipping lanes, responding to distress calls from any Federation craft, and performing search & rescue missions throughout the Federation to fill in the gaps left by larger and more capable Starfleet ships.

The Blackbird-class was created by Bernd Schneider in 1996 and is featured on Ex-Astris Scientia (https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/my_ships/blackbird.htm)

Exterior views by Bernd Schneider, updated by myself. Cross-sectional views and Deck plans by me.

The comet had no name yet, only a string of catalog numbers arrayed on the Astrometric LCARS. But to Lt. Alexa Wolff it felt personal, almost whimsical too. A point of light threading the dark, illuminating their way.

She leaned forward towards the console, taking all the readings in. Data points left and right, immaculate scans of the surface and ejecta. This was exactly what she imagined as a child beneath the domes of Tycho City. Peering through her first telescope, reading stories of daring captains. Batel, Kirk, Saavik, the golden years. Now she was here, at the very same forefront.

“Helm, bring us two hundred kilometers closer.” came Captain Han Lo’s voice over the comm. The visual lenses adjusted, Alexa noticing the Rooivalk was moving in closer, thrusters gliding her on. The hull catching faint reflections of the comet’s glow. The captain had not questioned her request, not even hesitated. The confidence in her expertise had startled her more than any formal commendation. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a younger version of herself smiling gleefully.

Enhanced scans blossomed with new detail. Ice and dust resolved into layers. Ancient volatiles trapped since the dawn of time, now shedding themselves in delicate arcs. Alexa adjusted the filters, isolating elements, mapping a 3d simulation, simulcast to the bridge. “It’s beautiful.” she whispered to herself. Obscure beauty indeed. The kind that required patience, curiosity and faith that meaning existed in the far corners of space.

“Careful, Lieutenant...” Captain Lo said, with a trace of amusement. “At this distance, we might inspire it. Give it a few million years and it could start its own civilization, studying us in return.”

Alexa laughed softly, though her eyes never left the display. “Then we’d better make a good impression, sir.” She paused, recording another data stream. “If they ever ask how it all began, I hope it starts like this. With someone choosing to come a little closer.”

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3ds Max / Photoshop

Vesper Class from ST: Online

My Links: https://linktr.ee/jetfreak

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The Kumari Battlecruiser (2)

I've watched all of my favourite #StarTrek episodes with my friends in the last four weeks since my Mum's passing, especially the ones that always make me cry. Tonight, I finally managed to watch "The Bonding"... and I don't regret it! What would I do without #StarTrek in my life? I have no effing clue! 😭🖖

Content warning:#StarTrekSNW "Valles Marineris" spoilers

Here are graphics of the Dol'drm, the insectoid species that lived on (then) Sol V, 65 million years ago, as seen in #StarTrekSNW's "Valles Marineris". Interestingly, the graphic names them as an "arachnoid species".

For some time in late #StarTrekTNG season 4, the button to the right of the starboard Observation Lounge wall display had been missing ("Redemption I"⬇️). Between seasons, it was returned to its rightful place ("Redemption II"⬆️)... :-)

Content warning:#StarTrekSNW "Valles Marineris" spoilers

Here are two bridge graphics from #StarTrekSNW's "Valles Marineris", showing the photon torpedos, hand phaser pistols and rifles stored in the USS Enterprise's armory. You can also make out the location of the torpedo bay.

#StarTrekDS9's "Second Skin" features a second appearance of the Bajoran emblem: it's part of Kira's (fake) DNA scan, linking her to Iliana Ghemor in the episode.

Content warning:#StarTrekSNW "Valles Marineris" spoilers

Here's a good look at the Martian's "semi-pointed ears" in #StarTrekSNW's "Valles Marineris" (1st pic) and the description of Spock in Gene Roddenberry's earliest #StarTrek pitch, when Spok was still decribed as half-Martian with "semi-pointed" ears (2nd pic). I love this callback! :-)

Content warning:#StarTrekSNW "Valles Marineris" spoilers

At the end of #StarTrekSNW's "Valles Marineris", Captain Pike quotes a line from chapter V ("I elude my watch dog") of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "A Princess of Mars". "I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone." 😊

Here's a comparison of the Klinogn transporter effect, as seen in the original ⬅️ and remastered ➡️ versions of #StarTrekTNG's "Redemption II", used during Kursa and B'Etor's big getaway.

Content warning:#StarTrekSNW "Valles Marineris" spoilers

One of the many insectoid species that the Federazion has encountered until 2262 is called Bael'Tuc or Gael'Tuc. A graphic of a member of the species can be seen in the science lab in #StarTrekSNW's "Valles Marineris". :-)

#StarTrekDS9's "Second Skin" finally gives us a new look at the Bajoran emblem, early in the episode. It is seen (next to a Cardassian emblem) in files from the Elemspur Detention Centre. The graphic also features some Bajoran writing and some more illegible text about Kira.