Star Trek: 10 Times Canon Got In The Way
8. That'll Buff Out
One of Star Trek Generations most memorable scenes is the crash-landing of the USS Enterprise-D saucer section following the battle with the Duras sisters above Veridian III.
Over 30 years later, the non-networked D saucer, now bolted on to the secondary hull of the USS Syracuse, is unveiled as being the Big Secret holed up in Hangar 12 at the Fleet Museum. Fans rejoiced, producers clapped with elation and full knowledge that merchandise sales would be back up once more.
But hold that thought because we need to rewind to Captain Jean-Luc Picard's final log entry aboard the Enterprise-D which stated that she "...cannot be salvaged."
It's well worth taking two minutes to watch the recent Roddenberry Archive video 765784 which shows the recovery of the saucer (and something else). While Picard does say that it isn't salvageable, it is equally likely that he meant there was too much damage for Starfleet to consider a repair and refit - that does not take into account the obsession of a former Chief Engineer. The lack of a star drive section probably made this even less appealing to Starfleet.
This falls into a bit of a could go either way argument - yes, Picard was right. Also, this was a passion project. Plus Commodore La Forge learned exactly how to work miracles after meeting Captain Scott.