The Joy of Trek

"Twilight" by AldaratheAlbatross, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/45084574

"After Marritza's death, Kira can't get a full night's sleep, but that's not unusual. She's dealing with it.

Jadzia and Julian are worried about the Major, and if she won't see a therapist, they'll just have to find other ways to help."

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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Khaki and Greg share an important announcement regarding the release schedule for the Joy of Trek for the rest of the year.

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Duet (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S1 E19) was recommended by Oasus Plainview (He/Him), who said: You know the story of Major Kira, about how she grew up in the Bajoran Resistance. That episode identifies that it was her Resistance Cells that freed the prisoners of the Gallitep Mining Facility. So when she thought this guy was "The Butcher of Gallitep" who was responsible for so many Bajoran deaths, it was easy for her to hate him.

But when she, with the help of Commander Sisko and Doctor Bashir, realizes who he actually is, her character undergoes such a fundamental change. She's been hating Cardassians all her life. She had never known that the Cardassian system had made victims of its own people. And this was her first exposure to one such person. This episode defines her character in ways that are unrecognizable by the end. From Cardassian Killer to Prominent figure in the Cardassian Liberation Front.

Duet first aired on June 13, 1993, written by story by Lisa Rich & Jeanne Carrigan-Fauci, teleplay by Peter Allan Fields, and directed by James L. Conway

A visiting Cardassian, Marritza, may in fact be the notorious war criminal Gul Darhe'el, butcher of Gallitep labor camp, and Kira is determined to bring him down.

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"Meet Qute" by SelkiePrime, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/25011217

"Q meets Spot circa "Deja Q". Talk of cats and captains ensues."

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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Deja Q (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S3 E13) was recommended by Kyle Anderson (he/him), who said: I feel like this episode is TNG doing comedy right. It's one of my go-to episodes, and Data's laugh seals the deal. I love that Q gave Data that emotion to feel. It shows hidden depths to that character. And it's just a riot.

Deja Q first aired on February 5, 1990, written by Richard Danus, and directed by Les Landau

The Q Continuum strips Q (John De Lancie) of his powers, and dumps him aboard the Enterprise.

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"And Free My Soul" by Penny_P, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/19717084

"In the season 6 episode “Survival Instinct,” the ship encounters three former members of Seven’s unimatrix with the Borg. While they were unconscious, she made the decision to have their remaining Borg implants removed, meaning they would return to individuality but have only a month to live. One of the three, a Bajoran woman named Marika Wilkara, made the decision to spend that month on Voyager. This is her story, as told by Harry Kim."

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Survival Instinct (Star Trek: Voyager, S6 E2) was recommended by Tonks (they/them) , who said: I had hoped to break the streak of serious Voyager episodes by revisiting some of my old favourites, but this episode called to me.

I resonate strongly with Seven in this episode. She as an individual chose actions motivated by fear that impacted the lives of other people and hurt them deeply.

What little she can do to correct it now, and get some closure on her repressed memories is often something I wish I could have, but this episode emphasises that some wounds cannot be healed no matter what you do.

I do not remember this episode hitting as hard as it does now on prior viewings, but possibly due to a recent diagnosis of ADHD I'm in a more reflective mindset.

This is overall a great exploration of Seven's relationships with her past and her found family on Voyager.

Survival Instinct first aired on September 29, 1999, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Terry Windell

Three Borg from Seven's past appear, and ask to be completely separated from the Collective.

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"The Ultimate Computer: My Heroes Have Always Been..." by Cheree_Cargill, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/14558007

"Spock had grown up admiring Dr. Richard Daystrom, but the outcome of the M-5 wargames has been devastating."

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The Ultimate Computer (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S2 E24) was recommended by Tana he/they, who said: Tana here again. In my quest to submit one recommendation from each of my formative Trek series (TNG, Voy, DS9, and TOS) the original series one has eluded me the most.

For me TOS was a show I mostly watched after knowing the other ones. It wasn't being re run on TV much if at all where I was, while I eagerly recorded TNG, Voyager, and DS9 on the vcr and could watch and rewatch them endlessly.

I did, however, buy a few individual episodes of TOS on VHS at my local big box electronics store. I only got four, because they were expensive for me as a teen, but they definitely wetted my appetite for the show that started it all.

Of them, The Ultimate Computer stuck with me the most, and I don't hear It brought up a ton. It has a bit of everything that I love about classic Trek.

You have Kirk and the others struggling with their love of technological progress running into the possibility of their lives being upended by such an advance.

You have diversity in super genius scientist played by a black man in the 1960's.

Kirk using his brains over brawn approach to talk a computer to death.

You even get some space combat!

The entire main cast does a fantastic job in this one as well. I'll give a special nod to Shatner, Kelley, and Marshall.

All around it's a fantastically well balanced example of Original Star Trek. It has great interpersonal drama woven around an age old tale of man vs machine.

As for the specifics of the plot, I leave that for you to discuss and enjoy.

The Ultimate Computer first aired on March 8, 1968, written by story by Laurence N. Wolfe, teleplay by D. C. Fontana, and directed by John Meredyth Lucas

A new computer system causes havoc while being tested aboard the Enterprise. With most of the Enterprise crew deboarded, a new M5 multitronic system is installed to test if it can control the Enterprise and manage operations aboard. Dr. Richard Daystrom has built this M5 unit and will oversee the test. Everything goes as planned as the M5 unit completes the demonstration tasks, but somehow the machine begins gaining too much control of the Enterprise, which starts to worry Spock and Kirk. When Kirk says he wants the M5 to let go of some of the controls the machine begins to see that as a threat and starts locking out all manual controls. This becomes a problem because the next task is a mock battle with three starships, which the M5 thinks are actual attacks. The M5 loads the torpedoes, destroys the USS Excalibur and seriously damages the USS Lexington. Dr. Daystrom tries to talk to the M5 but becomes mentally unstable, so Spock puts him to rest. Then Kirk talks to the M5 and makes it understand that it was designed not to harm humans, a rule the M5 has broken by attacking the USS Lexington and Excalibur. The M5 realizes that its understanding is still weak and destroys itself. Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Scotty and Chekov retake control of the ship and return safely to base.[2]

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""I'll still be here when you're ready."" by lauraschiller, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/38775672

"Counselor Troi senses a dark place in the Captain's mind."

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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