The Admiral’s Log: My Journey Through ‘Star Trek Online’ – Part LIV

Written by John Edward Betancourt

A Return to Bajor 

​Over the course of its illustrious fifty-plus year run, the Star Trek franchise as a whole has presented its fan base with some fascinating ideas and concepts. But of the many notions that this saga and its various iterations have provided us with over the years, one that has always fascinated me on a personal level is the idea that religion and faith can survive in an era when science and technology rule the day. Which is why the planet of Bajor was always a fascinating prospect in Deep Space Nine, since the franchise more or less established that those two elements of our society had gone the wayside in the 24th Century, making this proud planet quite the anomaly.
 
For the Bajorans genuinely believe that there are Prophets to obey and their writings and teachings dictate a way of life, yet they still take the time to embrace every technological benefit that the future has to offer. And seeing a world where technology and faith peacefully coexist is just an incredible prospect to say the least, one that I honestly feel the franchise never quite explored in proper fashion. But while we may not know enough about this world and its people and their incredibly powerful and detailed beliefs in the Prophets, that still didn’t stop Star Trek Online from giving the fans an opportunity to interact with this planet, by making it an accessible place within the game and I am honestly glad they did.
 
Because beaming down to Bajor is an oddly peaceful experience, primarily because there’s no drama to be found in this part of the galaxy once you’ve completed your mission arcs in this place. Instead there’s just a thriving city, filled with people going about their day and they’re surrounded by gorgeous architecture that reminds the player of some of the beautiful cathedrals that populate our world and as an added bonus, there are some supremely serene places for the player to get lost within as well. For the city squares are peaceful and tranquil, since they allow for you to just sit back and soak up the atmosphere and honestly, I was a big fan of the reflecting pool, complete with waterfall, that is pictured above because it really does offer up a little in-game Zen.
 
Yet what I truly appreciated about my visit to this world, is how well the game hammers home the fact that technology only enhances life for a people who trust in the Prophets above anything else and that just adds to the mystique surrounding this place. Because everything about this world points to a shunning of technology, especially when you think about its appearance. But as you explore a world that holds to faith over anything else, you slowly come into contact with places filled with LCARS displays and holograms and replicators and transporter pads and it’s just supremely cool to visit a planet that embraces the best of both worlds and it stands in stark contrast to Earth where technology reigns supreme.
 
If anything, Bajor is quite the lovely little oasis when all is said and done. For there are few places where one can beam down in the Alpha Quadrant. In fact, I think it’s just here, the Dilthium mining facility nearby and another station somewhere near the edge of the known galaxy and it’s quite nice to swing by Bajor and wipe away the loneliness of the Alpha Quadrant, and I hope STO eventually offers up new missions involving this world. Because it would be quite cool to explore new areas on a planet that I personally feel didn’t get enough face time during DS9’s illustrious run, and now that we are done with a quick stop at Bajor, the time has come to return to the Beta Quadrant, to explore some of the core worlds of the United Federation of Planets, starting with one chilly planet. Until next time.

---