10 No-Win Scenarios In Star Trek (And How They Were Resolved)

3. The Battle Of Narendra III

Enterprise C Star Trek
CBS

Scenario: Returning to the past means certain death for the crew and destruction for the Enterprise-C. Remaining in the present means eventual defeat by the Klingon Empire, with little to no chance of affecting the outcome.

Resolution: Captain Rachael Garrett elects to bring her ship back in time to fight the Romulan Warbirds once more. She asks for, though is refused, modern weapons technology so that the Enterprise-C can stand a better chance against the stronger force. Captain Picard reasons that if that technology was to fall into Romulan hands, it could affect the outcome of history more drastically still.

The sacrifice of the Enterprise-C is one of the triggering factors in peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Though neither party were allied at the time, the Starfleet vessels response to the Klingons' distress call was an act of selfless heroism, costing the ship and the lives of its crew.

Though Garrett's crew never stood a chance in either scenario, their legacy became one of lasting peace in the Alpha Quadrant, with both sides winning in the long run.

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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"