Part II, Chapter XLVI: "So, What Next?"
As preparations were being made for
Star Trek: The Next Generation’s eighth and final season, one question was asked more than any other by the production crew: “What’s next”. While
Deep Space Nine was being eyed up by the executives at Paramount as a potential “flagship” show for their new network, UPN, its large differences from “traditional”
Star Trek led the producers to begin working on a new show to begin airing the year after
The Next Generation’s eighth season, to take its place in syndicated television. [1]
What this new show was to be was the cause of many discussions, as writers argued back and forth over their ideas. One common theme however, was the return to a starship, as opposed to the space station that
Deep Space Nine was set on. But despite this, it was clear that the crew needed to be less united than the crew of the
Enterprise, and should be set away from the familiar regions of space.
As
Deep Space Nine had opened up the Gamma Quadrant, the decision was made that the new show would take place in the Delta Quadrant. In many
Star Trek shows before, a ship had been sent to a far off region of space, only to be miraculously returned to its origin at the end of the story. The new show was to explore what would happen if it became stranded there, and had to make its own way back.
With this new concept, the writers came up with an apt title for the show
Star Trek: Odyssey. The basic premise would be that the
USS Odyssey, an
Intrepid-class vessel, would be stranded in the Delta Quadrant, forced to make a 70 year trip back to Federation space. However, the crew needed something clear to divide them. [2]
For this, the writers decided to play off of the rivalry between the Cardassians and the Federation in the show. They would introduce a group of disgruntled colonists whose planets were ceded to the Cardassians in a border treaty, called the Maquis. The Maquis would act as a rebelling force against both the Cardassians and Federation, with many defecting Starfleet officers filling their ranks. The
Odyssey, after arriving in the Delta Quadrant, would find two disables ships, one Cardassian, and one Maquis. After they become stranded, the three crews are forced to work as one, with open distrust between the groups. [3]
While casting would come later, the rough plans for the show had been laid down, and the intention was for the show to begin airing in early 1996.
As for the cast of
The Next Generation, the success of the show meant that the producers were eager to have them involved in the film franchise, to take over from the
Original Series crew. While a full crossover had been considered, the question as to who would be the main star caused some issue, and there was concern that certain members of the cast would not get a chance to shine.
Therefore, the decision was made to split this film into two stories. Both would deal with an abandoned, but highly advanced, base within an asteroid, which the crew of the
Enterprise-E would later determine to be Iconian in origin. The story would be told in part by Spock, as he relates the events that led to the presumed death of Captain Kirk. [4]
The film would see the crew of the
Enterprise-
A discovering the asteroid, investigating it, but eventually being forced to leave Kirk and the away team behind or risk losing the ship. Spock and Scotty would later work together, having reunited in the 24th century, determining that the asteroid could be investigated once more, with the far more advanced
Enterprise-E.
The film was to be made immediately after the final season of
The Next Generation wrapped, with a planned release for November 1995. [5]
With the 1990s in full swing, it seemed like
Star Trek was going to be much bigger than ever before.
[1] No opening quote for this one.
[2] So, right now it looks like a renamed Voyager, but it will be quite different.
[3] I think that the Maquis and Federation were a little too similar to properly cause the tension that was needed on the show, so I've added a Cardassian element. It's a case of emenies having to work together towards a common goal.
[4] Once again, I'm using an idea proposed to me by @Ogrebear. I'm less familiar with the TOS crew, so I appreciate the help.
[5] Sort of like Generations. The fact that the TNG crew will only need to film about half of the scenes will help.