Star Trek: The Next Generation
Summary
An elect group of Starfleet Academy cadet pilots call Nova Squadron perform a dangerous maneuver that generate one of their squadmates shoot down onStar Trek : The Next Generation . InTNGseason 5 , episode 19 , " The First Duty , " Wesley Crusher ( Wil Wheaton ) struggles with his conscience after he lies about the circumstance of his squadmate ’s death . Wesley join fellow cadets Nicholas Locarno ( Robert Duncan McNeill ) , Sito Jaxa ( Shannon Fill ) , Jean Hajar ( Walker Brandt ) , and Joshua Albert in Nova Squadron . Locarno , the team leader , convinced his friends to attempt the dangerous Kolvoord Starburst Maneuver at commencement to shanghai the high - ups at Starfleet .
As described after the fact inStar Trek : The Next Generation ’s " The First Duty , " when Nova Squadron on the Q.T. practice the maneuver , their ship collided . The disaster destroyed all five ships , but four of the squad members were able-bodied to turn out in time . Joshua Albert was n’t so lucky . After the cataclysm , Nick convinces his friend to consist about the maneuver and claim that the crash was Josh ’s fault . Although everyone initially accord , Wesley in particular struggles to go along with the lie . After planet footage reveals the accuracy , Captain Jean - Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) face Wesley , pressuring him to make out sporty . After Wesley confesses , Nick Locarno accepts the blame for the cataclysm and is expelled .
Related : Star Trek : The Next Generation Cast & Character Guide
Why Nova Squadron’s Kolvoord Starburst Maneuver Was Banned
Locarno arrogantly believed Nova Squadron could do the Kolvoord Starburst.
The Kolvoord Starburst was not only one of the most impressive and complex flight manoeuvre , but it was also one of the most grievous . If perform correctly , the maneuver would result in a striking starburst , but even a slight miscalculation or error could result in cataclysm . The Starburst Maneuver required five little ship to cross within ten m of each other and ignite their blood plasma track . The ships would fly in a circular organisation before crossing within the band and wing off in diametric direction to create a hotshot burden . The manoeuvre required fabulously precise flying and would have been difficult for even well - school pilots , let alone Starfleet cadets , no matter how gifted .
The Kolvoord Starburst was ban at Starfleet Academy in the 2260s after an accident that resulted in the deaths of all five flight squadron member .
Believing they were the best pilots at the Academy , Nick Locarno propose the Starburst evasive action as a way for theStarfleet Academy cadet to make historyand impress significant claver guests . Because the maneuver was banned , Nova Squadron could not formally practice it , and both Wesley and Joshua expressed doubt about being capable to do it . While the cadet only wanted to dazzle their superiors , the survivors ended up with black mug on their Starfleet careers and lost a close friend .
How TNG’s Kolvoord Starburst Maneuver Tragedy Changed 5 Star Trek Characters’ Lives
Star Trek : Lower Decks’season 4 finaleflashes back to the events just before Nova Squadron ’s accident , showing Nick Locarno ’s obvious enthusiasm and Wesley and Joshua ’s reticence . The episode then picks up thirteen years afterwards , as the now shame former plebe Locarno puts his programme for revenge against Starfleet into motion . After being expel from Starfleet Academy , the resentful Nick finally develop a architectural plan to"liberate"Starfleet ’s Lower Deckers from the"soulless bureaucratic captains"and"incompetent commanders"they were ram to answer under . As Lt . Beckett Mariner ( Tawny Newsome ) and the crew member of the USS Cerritos fight to stop him , Nick ends up being down by the black-market grocery store Genesis machine he was using as leverage .
Jean Hajar is the only Nova Squadron member whose life-time after the accident remains unknown .
After Joshua ’s tragic death , Sito Jaxa unite the USS Enterprise - D , but she feel the demand to prove herself and soon lose her life to Cardassians while on a grievous delegacy . Wesley Crusher ended up leave Starfleet to fall in the Travelers , and while he never cite the accident as an prompt incident , it probably impact his conclusion . Indirectly , Beckett Mariner ’s life and career flight were also dissemble by the tragedy . While at the Academy , Mariner looked up to Sito , and she reevaluated her full perspective on Starfleet after Sito ’s death . The Nova Squadron tragedy had ramifications that continue to recall throughout theStar Trekfranchise , thirty age after theStar Trek : The Next Generationepisode aired .
Star Trek : The Next Generationis available to stream on Paramount+ .
