10 Crazy Ideas For Seasons 4 & 5 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
2. An Accident At The Academy
The Kolvoord Starburst was a spectacle to behold, one that was the dream of many Starfleet Academy pilots for years to achieve. Picard's disappointment and dressing down of Cadet Crusher in The First Duty reveal that the last time the manoeuvre was attempted was in the 2260s and that all five participating cadets lost their lives.
The actual Starbust involved five ships flying in close formation, within ten metres of each other's hulls. Then they would ignite their plasma trails. Picard described it as one of the most magnificent and dangerous things to attempt in precision flying.
The fate of some of the Enterprise's crew under Pike remains a mystery. While characters like Spock and Uhura, of course, go on to serve under Kirk, what of La'an, Una, and Ortegas?
Ortegas is both a mystery and a free spirit. She is an enthusiastic pilot, one who aims to be the best in her field. She consistently shows great prowess at the helm, piloting the Enterprise out of many hairy situations. If the final season of Strange New Worlds sees various crew members being reassigned off the ship, Ortegas could easily secure a position as a pilot instructor at Starfleet Academy.
Though we wouldn't like to suggest that she was responsible for the accident that saw all five lose their lives, we must also consider that, according to the Wall of Heroes in Starfleet Academy, Erika Ortegas either leaves the service at the rank of lieutenant or was never able to advance further in her career.
While we're on that topic...