Starfleet Academy’s USS Athena Reverses TNG’s Enterprise-D Saucer Separation

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 4 – “Vox in Excelso”Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s USS Athena reverses the coolest feature of Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s USS Enterprise-D. Directed by Doug Aarniokoski, and written by Gaia Violo and Eric Anthony Glover, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 4 reveals the tragedy that befell Klingon Empire because of The Burn.

Following Starfleet cadet Jay-Den Kraag’s (Karim Diané) plan, Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) led a Starfleet armada to provoke a “war” with the Klingons. This bloodless gambit was successful in allowing the Klingon Empire to “conquer” Faal Alpha as their new homeworld and satisfy their code of honor.

To lead Starfleet’s forces, the USS Athena executed a saucer separation, similar to how the USS Enterprise-D occasionally only sent its stardrive section to battle on Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, Starfleet Academy’s starship does the opposite of the Enterprise-D.

Starfleet Academy’s USS Athena Reverses Star Trek: TNG’s Enterprise-D Saucer Separation

Surprisingly, the USS Athena’s saucer section goes into battle in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 4, leaving the nacelles behind. This is the reversal of how the USS Enterprise-D’s saucer stays behind in Star Trek: The Next Generation, with the stardrive section containing the Galaxy Class ship’s warp drive and nacelles going into action.

The USS Enterprise-D’s saucer houses the one thousand-plus souls aboard the starship, including civilians, children, and families. Saucer separation is designed to keep the majority of the Enterprise’s personnel safe while the stardrive section sees action, with Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) senior staff commanding the stardrive from the battle bridge.

The USS Athena’s outer ring and nacelles presumably contain Starfleet Academy’s dorms.

However, the USS Athena’s outer ring and nacelles presumably contain Starfleet Academy’s dorms. Thus, the saucer section disattaches and goes into battle, keeping the cadets safe while Captain Ake’s senior staff commands the saucer from the USS Athena’s bridge.

The USS Athena displayed its saucer separation for the first time when it arrived on Earth in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s premiere. The Athena’s saucer section docked on Starfleet Academy’s San Francisco campus while the outer ring followed separately and surrounded the saucer when it landed.

Given the saucer and stardrive paradigm established by the USS Enterprise-D’s saucer separation, it was a surprise that the USS Athena sends its saucer into danger. Also fascinating is that the USS Athena’s saucer jumped to warp after its separation. USS Enterprise-D’s saucer only had impulse engines, but the Athena’s saucer has its own warp drive.

Starfleet Academy’s USS Athena Went To “War” With The USS Riker

Along with the USS Athena’s saucer separation, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 4 had another ode to Star Trek: The Next Generation: The USS Riker, which was the final ship to join Captain Ake’s fleet that confronted the Klingons at Faal Alpha.

The Merian Class USS Riker is, of course, named after Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes). As Commander Riker, Will was First Officer of the USS Enterprise-D and E for a total of 15 years, spanning seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation and four TNG movies.

After leaving the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek: Nemesis, Captain Will Riker commanded the USS Titan, as seen in Star Trek: Lower Decks. In Star Trek: Picard season 1, Captain Riker took command of the USS Zheng He, and Will also briefly served as the Captain of the USS Titan-A in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

Captain Will Riker is listed on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s Wall of Heroes, as is Jonathan Frakes, who was given the rank of Admiral. The USS Riker fought bravely in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 4 alongside the saucer section of Captain Ake’s USS Athena.