DS9’s Garak Imagines A Starfleet Career Just Like Seven of Nine’s in Star Trek: Picard
Garak Wants To “Go Straight To Commander” Just To Outrank Worf
The career trajectory thatStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Garak imagines for himself as a Starfleet officer is surprisingly similar toSeven of Nine’s Starfleet careerinStar Trek: Picard. After using Worf and Nog as examples of non-Federation citizens who successfully joined Starfleet, Worf reluctantly admits a Cardassian in Starfleet might not be that unusual. Satisfied with that answer,Garak goes on to suggest that he might “skip the lower ranks and go straight to Commander”,which is exactly how Commander Seven of Nine became First Officer of the USS Titan-A.
Star Trek Predicted Worf 20 Years Before The Next Generation
Star Trek’s first Klingon episode laid the groundwork for Lt. Worf to join Starfleet by the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Of course, Garak is only kidding about wanting to join Starfleet, whereas Seven of Nine’s intention was genuine. Garak is good enough at mixing lies with truth that Worf really believes Garak wants to join Starfleet, until Garak admits he’s just messing with Worf. It’s just feasible enough thatGarak’s years of experience with the Cardassian Obsidian Order might actually qualify Garak for an advanced rank in Starfleet, if Garak were actually being honest about wanting to join. The fact that Seven of Nine’s years with the Fenris Rangers let her skip several Starfleet ranks supports that.
Why Seven Of Nine’s Starfleet Career Was So Unusual
Events Between DS9 And Star Trek: Picard Made Seven Of Nine’s Starfleet Career Possible
Seven of Nine’s Starfleet career inStar Trek: Picardwas an unusual one due to the way Starfleet changed before Seven received her Starfleet commission in 2401.Garak’s suggestion of skipping all the lower ranks sounded ridiculous in 2373,duringDS9’s fifth season.Star Trek: First Contact’s Borg attack was still fresh, andDS9’s Dominion Warwas about to kick off. Even after sustaining heavy losses fighting the Dominion, Starfleet still had enough officers to staff their fleet for the next decade. Like Worf judging Garak, Starfleet was understandably skeptical about an ex-Borg joining after the USS Voyager’s 2378 return.
2373–2375
2374
Seven of Nine is de-assimilated
Star Trek: Voyagerseason 4, episode 2, “The Gift”
2378
Star Trek: Voyagerseason 7, episodes 25 & 26, “Endgame”
2379
2385
2397-2399
2400
2401
