9 Ups & 1 Down From Star Trek: Lower Decks 5.5 — Starbase 80?!

This one's a little on the beak, but at least we've now moved away from the cloaca. We've all heard of the Great Bird of the Galaxy; in (and on) Starbase 80?!, there was Gene with the southern accent and the big bat(s). The nod rather tips its hat to itself. Upon the 60th anniversary of (the writing and filming of) The Cage, an homage was fitting to the omnipresent originator of it all. "Star Trek is…" deliciously this.

As a gag, it was also a good one. Great Scott! It's Gene again, or Star Trek LXXX: The Search for Lieutenant Jakobowski. Not unlike Spock, the chief engineer of Starbase 80 was hiding in plain sight, or, rather, Gene wasn't exactly the 'real' McCoy. There must have been more of those fireman's poles about too. Before Freeman and Ransom could take a breath from the turbolift and the stairs, Gene, aka Chief Engineer Gene Jakobowski, was already there.

Naturally, in the arcade, they had Gene (Jakobowski/Roddenberry) playing for the Romulan Star Empire against a fleet of Constitution-class vessels. On the side of that arcade game (though not in the game itself) can be seen what best resembles a Vastam-class Tactical Command Warbird from Star Trek Online. Now, say "howdy" to the Koala and pick up a broom. It's time to clear out the bats!