Star Trek: Everything We NOW Know About The 25th Century

2. Solosos III Can Support Life Again And What This Will Mean

Star Trek Deep Space Nine For The Uniform Defiant
CBS Media Ventures/Paramount A Skydance Corporation

Deep Space Nine went hard. That is perhaps the understatement of the century, but it does bear mention, as here we discuss one of Captain Sisko's war crimes of the week. In For The Uniform, Sisko's obsession with catching Michael Eddington, former security chief of Deep Space Nine and then-current head of the Maquis, leads him to poison the atmosphere of Solosos III. 

Though there were plenty of mitigating circumstances that led to Ben's decision, the fact is that Solosos III was unable to maintain life for fifty years, with that half-century coming to a close in 2423. The entire geography of the Alpha Quadrant has changed in the meantime.

When Sisko ordered those trilithium-loaded torpedoes into the planet's atmosphere, it was a colony used by displaced Federation citizens. Though the path to war was already paved by that point, the Dominion War had not truly erupted. This changed quickly. Dukat's deal to link the Cardassian Union and the Dominion is followed by the extermination of the Maquis and the annexation of the demilitarised zone.

Solosos III, being poisoned, didn't present any kind of target to their forces, but it was very much in their line of sight. With the cessation of hostilities and the redrawing of maps, Solosos III may find itself an untapped beacon in the 25th Century. Though the Maquis are long-gone at that point, there is no guarantee that the planet finds itself in Federation territory. It was a pawn in a Starfleet officer's gamble. Could this become a symbol of separation from that same organisation that tossed it aside? 

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"