Star Trek Lower Decks: Every Easter Egg & Hidden Reference From 'Second Contact'

Following the resolution of the whole rage virus turning the Cerritos crew into flesh-eating zombies, the Lower Decks gang celebrates in the Bar.

Mariner promises to take the ambitious, less experienced Boimler under her wing, telling him she's his cha'DIch. This is yet another indication of Mariner's Klingon fascination and a reference to TNG's third season episode "Sins of the Father" in which Captain Picard served as Worf's cha'DIch.

As the episode wraps up, Mariner proves her encyclopedic knowledge of the events of the Star Trek features and Star Trek: The Next Generation, referencing:

• The time Spock came back from the dead in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, calling it getting "Genesis-ed".

• Spock fighting Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and fighting "some space whales" in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

• Gary Mitchell from TOS' second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

• Worf, again, but this time: "My man Worf".

• Mariner suggests Boimler become the new sword guy – referring to Sulu's fencing in "The Naked Time"

• And, finally, Mariner refers to Deanna Troi's "bangin" body and her infamous jumpsuits.

This end of the episode reference dump is the most meta the Star Trek Franchise has ever gotten, but Mariner's enthusiasm about Kirk and Spock and Worf and Troi say a lot about the character: She's a Star Trek fan living in the Star Trek Universe. Lucky her.