10 Greatest Fleet Arrivals In Star Trek

1. Cali Class To The Rescue

Star Trek Lower Decks The Stars At Night
CBS Media Ventures

Star Trek: Lower Decks was a firmly tongue-in-cheek show, though that is not to suggest that it didn't pack a punch. While the Cerritos and her crew may have been animated, that didn't stop the emotional punches. In a time where AI is dominating every news feed and is replacing so many talented artists in the world, a fleet working together to battle an AI-controlled starship seems perfectly timed.

Where Picard's fleet of Inquiry class ships disappointed, the arrival of every California class ship in the fleet was the punchline to The Stars At Night. These were ships that were often discarded and certainly discounted. Suddenly, they were the most important class of ship that Starfleet had on offer, proving that just because something is a little older, it is by no means obsolete.

The destruction of the USS Aledo was a reminder that there is no substitute for a human crew, something many companies in 2026 would do well to remember. Are they the sexiest ship out there? Well, that may be a question best answered by Billups, Rutherford, and Livick, but for now, the fleet of California class ships warping in to save life as we know it is one of the most enjoyable, fist-pumping arrivals in Star Trek's long and storied history. 

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"