BAD NEWS for the USS Enterpise-E!
If you were hoping to see it in the upcoming third season of Star Trek: Picard,
those hopes have been smashed by Showrunner Terry Matalas.
As we know, Terry is very vocal in communicating with the Trekkies via Twitter and other social media.
As such, we’ve got a fair bit of information for the last season of Jean-Luc’s adventures.
Look, we know there is at least ONE Enterprise in Star Trek: Picard Season 3.
Others, such as the Enterprise-D, have been rumoured and also some teased by Sir Patrick Stewart himself.
Therefore, it’s obvious to wonder where your favourite ship is, right? Is it the D, the E, or the F?
A Star Trek fan on Twitter asked Terry if the Enterprise-E would be in Star Trek: Picard? Sadly, Terry’s replies crushed a few Trekkie dreams.
The reply states, “No, but the Sovereign-class is”.
Therefore, it’s confirmation that the USS Enterprise-E will NOT appear in the upcoming third season.
Now, while this is a shame, it raises the question.
Where is the ship during the events of Star Trek: Picard?
We’ve seen a tease of the Odyssey-class Enterprise-F. Terry does elaborate further in his tweets.
Thanks to those tweets, we might be able to theorise what has actually happened to the USS Enterprise-E based on previous book lore and what Terry said.
Let’s go!
SPOILER WARNING, we’ll be theorising about Picard Season 3 content, so be warned, but join us if you like some juicy lore!
With the introduction of Enteprise-F originally in Star Trek: Online, a reason for the new generation of Enterprise had to be made.
It was also the case of explaining away the Enterprise-E and why Data was not going to command the next vessel.
Well, there was a short story that explained this.
“Star Trek Online: Unexpected Honor” and “The Path to 2409” explained the deal with the Enterprise-E.
In 2408, one year before the events of Star Trek Online, the Enterprise-E was dispatched under the command of Captain Data to investigate.
The ship eventually ended up in Fluidic Space and came under attack from the Undine.
Otherwise known as Species 8472. You know, the ones who had those cool-ass bio-ships in Star Trek: Voyager who could destroy planets if they fancied it. Cool guys, right?
Anyway, Enterprise-E’s involvement against the Undine stopped the war with them.
The story states the crew returned home, but this was E’s last mission.
While the novel does not specify the details of their encounter, it does state that the Enterprise-E was, in fact, destroyed by the Undine.
However, most of the crew, including Captain Data, survived. In 2409, which is where Star Trek Online takes place, the Enterprise-E was eventually succeeded by the newly launched and commissioned Odyssey-class Enterise-F.
aka the Next Enterprise!
This is the same ship we see in the Star Trek: Picard trailer.
The IDW comic, Star Trek Picard: Countdown, reveals that the Enterprise-E was still active following the departure of Captain Picard.
It is even referenced in the 1st issue, which takes place in 2385.
While Admiral Picard is conversing with Geordi La-Forge, they reference that the new Enterprise Captain is unlikely to give up the Captain’s chair easily.
The Star Trek: Picard tie-in novel, The Last Best Hope, tells us that Worf was made the Captain of the USS Enterprise E. T
There is pushback from the admirals about placing Worf in command of the flagship of Starfleet, especially due to his reprimand during the dominion war by prioritising the life of Jadzia Dax over that of a Cardassian Defector.
So at least from between 2381 and 2385, we have a clear idea that Worf was captain of the Enterprise, but it is unclear what happens after that.
We’ve got additional information and videos speculating and talking about Captain Worf, as well as how another book confirms and ties in with the story.
Check those out here on the Trek Central YouTube Channel and our comic book reviews on TrekCentral.net.
Though, with the arrival of Season 3 and our new look at Mr Worf, I would not be surprised if his journey was altered in the timeline.
A popular fan theory. Based on Terry's comments, one that might make sense is that the Sovereign-class Enterprise-E would be decommissioned by the year 2399
when Picard Season One takes the place.
However, I think this might have happened earlier in the Star Trek timeline. Terry says it’s about the ships getting in the mileage rather than the years they are in service.
Though would it make sense to decommission the Enterprise?
The ship would have been in service for nearly 25 to 30 years at the time of Picard, sure, it still could be updated and refitted to work in a modern setting,
but it does depend on that being a viable option.
The original Enterprise itself was in service from 2245 until its destruction in 2285 for around 40 years.
Obviously, the ship had extensive refits and updates to serve modern times, so it would make sense that a newer and modern Sovereign class could survive for long.
Regardless of the refits and updates, the Enterprise-E likely took some major structural damage over time.
She was active during the Borg Invasion shown in Star Trek: First Contact, as well as skirmishes in The Dominion War and, of course, the head-to-head with the Scimitar in Star Trek: Nemesis.
I think of ships that have experienced things like this as similar to the Battlestar Galactica from that series.
After so much time fighting and years of abuse to the structural integrity, a ship eventually gives out. You can do only so many refits and repairs before it eventually means retiring the ship.
Hopefully, the Enteprirse-E was just retired for the sake of being old and broken. However, if not, it marks another Enterprise lost quickly.
We know that Jean-Luc Picard was not the final Captain of the USS Enterrise-E.
However, Picard Season 3 lore may change that.
Terry also mentioned that the Enterprise-F is getting up there in terms of mileage for a flagship.
Hopefully, Terry is not hinting that we’re about to see the Enteroprise-F destroyed in Picard Season 3, as will riot.
But the takeaway from this comment is that the new Federation flagship might not be as new as we think it is.
Thanks to Star Trek comics from IDW Publishing, we know Jean-Luc was commanding the USS Verity, which was an Odyssey-class starship.
Therefore, with Picard commanding the Verity, it means the actual Odyssey class was active in Starfleet long before it was introduced in the timeline of Star Trek Online.
As such, it further explains how the Enterprise-F would have some high mileage over this time.
For all we know, the F was launched in 2390 or somewhere around there, for example. Then it would explain how by the time of Star Trek: Picard, the ship has such a high mileage count for what it is.
Ultimately, I think it’s going to be the case that the Enterprise-E is long decommissioned by the time of Star Trek: Picard Season 3.
We’ll have to pay close attention to what is said and shown in the third season.
Terry has mentioned, which is quite obvious, there isn’t an entire episode where the writers and producers dissect the ins and outs of Starfleet flagship commissions.
As such, we, as fans, must watch very closely and carefully to understand the context clues.
Personally, I’m fine with this. I love watching shows and working out the details behind it, so we’ll need to wait and see what happens.
I mean it does mean we can give you guys another video on the USS Enterprise E.
On that note, I hope the ship isn’t destroyed whatsoever.
It would be a shame to get a brand new flashy Enterprise only for it to be destroyed within the season. However, that would mean a brand new original USS Enterprise for the Star Trek franchise. Freeing them of anything tied to the ENT-F.
Alright, what do you think of today’s news? Star Trek: Picard Season 3 lands on February 16th, 2023! While we’re ending the year right now, we’re slowly getting more and more information about the third season.
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For now, I’ve been Jack, thanks for watching and we’ll see you next time! Live Long and prosper my friends!