Continue reading »]]> “In 2011 … the Future Returns!”

That’s the motto of one of the newest—and one of the best—independent Trek productions. Star Trek: Phoenix is “rising out of the ashes of time” with its first episode, entitled “Cloak and Dagger”.

Phoenix is the brainchild of Leo Roberts, who assembled a cast and crew in the Seattle, Wash., area to give us a look at what the Trek universe could be more than two decades after the destruction of the Romulans’ home world in Star Trek X.

The 30-minute story gets underway with the revelation that the Romulans have adopted a new home on a planet they call Rihannsu, a name for the race created by author Diane Duane in several Star Trek novels she wrote dealing with the Vulcans’ pointy-eared relatives.

Elsewhere in the quadrant, the Phoenix has been seriously damaged in a major battle. The destruction is so extensive that Captain Bryce Avari (played by Ben Andrews) must wait several weeks until his bridge is rebuilt.

That situation aggravates the captain even more since his huge vessel is a “city in space” that makes Starfleet officers (many of whom were chosen by politicians, admirals and the leaders of several Federation worlds and not Avari) share the starship with slimy ambassadors, an overzealous special ops team and individuals from previously unknown planets.

Nevertheless, the NCX-101138 attempts to locate and rescue a shuttle containing Commander Jaryn (the first officer as portrayed by Ben Johnson), Ambassador T’Von (a Romulan raised as a Vulcan and played by Roy Stanton) and Lieutenant Commander Yamora Vu’Shan (the ship’s science officer, who’s portrayed by Nicole Santora).

The shuttle was on a diplomatic mission until the officers onboard received a distress call from Katrassi Prime in the Neutral Zone and rushed to offer assistance. Instead, they were attacked by big plant-covered critters..

As if the situation wasn’t already bad enough, the power for the trio’s phasers, tricorders and communicators fluctuated wildly. In the ensuing struggle, Vu’Shan was injured, forcing the other officers to take positions to protect her.

When the Phoenix arrives at the planet, Avari gathers an away team that includes Doctor Thomas Alden (played snarkily by James Lyle) and Security Chief Arca Niran (S. Joe Downing).

During the ensuing battle, Avari literally runs into a cloaked Romulan named Commander Telek, who is played by Wes Hurley. He tells the captain that the entire incident—including the faked distress signal—had been planned to bring him out into the open.

Avari asks why someone would go to all that trouble to get to “little old me,” so Telek tells him the objective is to gain the knowledge he has of something called “Project Labyrinth,” and the Romulan can obtain that regardless of whether the captain is dead or alive.

So, let’s recap a moment. The captain is about to be skewered by a Romulan with big ginsu knives. Several crew members with unreliable weapons are surrounded by hulking alien creatures. And the Phoenix is heavily damaged and probably unable to survive a battle with a Romulan Warbird if one shows up.

One other thing I should mention is that the episode contains several “flashbacks” that show how some characters met and why other individuals are on the Phoenix. Don’t worry; these sequences are brief so you won’t get “lost” in them.

I recommend you watch this fan-made Star Trek show pilot right now, and better yet in HD. The whole thing has been in the making for 3 years. The quality shows – and rest assured, I’d buy this one on Blu-Ray. For one because of the quality, and for another because of the work those fans put into the show. Actually building the interior of the ship is something unheard of in fan-made productions. The new wormhole-based transporter is seriously jaw-dropping, I also liked the upgraded gun-fire.

All in all. You better watch this now. Seeing is believing eh?