The Lost Era

The Lost Era

An era in the Star Trek timeline I would personally really like to see explored is the Lost Era, the 70-odd years between Star Trek VI/first act of Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek TNG.  Very little has been told on screen of this period in trek history, and it seems to me that it is ripe for exploration.  And yes, I know the Section 31 streaming movie is set in the Lost Era, although honestly the only thing tying to that era specifically is the presence of Lt. Rachel Garrett, future captain of the USS Enterprise-C.  Everything else in Section 31 visually and storywise could have been set in any time period.  There is a lot of material that could be covered here to provide backstory or further development to characters/plots already established in Trek canon.  

To name a few: 

The Cardassian occupation of Bajor

Lots to establish here.  We've seen a few flashbacks to the occupation on Terok Nor (DS9) in episodes of DS9 (Necessary Evil, Things Past, Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night), and various other references and allusions, but there's a lot more that could be explored.  The building of Terok Nor, the Bajoran Resistance, Dukat's early career and rise to power, even the beginning of the occupation itself.

The voyages and fate of the Enterprise-B and the voyages of the Enterprise-C

There's two whole Enterprises that we know almost nothing about.  There are plenty of years worth of missions of the Excelsior class Enterprise-B under captain Harriman to explore, and possibly other captains.  In beta canon Harriman commanded the 1701-B until 2311 and the Tomed Incident, following which Demora Sulu took command.  In some stories The Enterprise-B was lost in 2329, scuttled to prevent the spread of a disease.  Beta canon says the Ambassador class 1701-C was launched in 2332 under captain Garrett.  We do know from "Yesterday's Enterprise" that the Enterprise-C was destroyed at the battle of Narendra III in 2344.  This is something else that could be explored.

The Tomed Incident

In 2311 the oft referred to but never seen or fully explored Tomed Incident cost thousands of presumably Federation and Romulan lives and led to the Treaty of Algeron and the withdrawal of the Romulans from galactic politics for more that half a century (also the ban on federation cloaking technology).  It would definitely be interesting to explore this incident and its ramifications.

The road to the Federation-Klingon Alliance (the Khitomer Accords)

Much to explore here, the diplomatic process, negotiations (great opportunity to explore characters like Sarek and Curon Dax), the signing of the treaty of alliance, the Khitomer Massacre in which Worf's parents was killed.  Star Trek VI showed us the first steps.

The USS Stargazer

Jean-Luc Picard commanded the USS Stargazer for 22 years from 2333 to 2355.  It would be great to learn more about Picard's first command, his service alongside Jack Crusher, and ultimately the Battle of Maxia.

The Cardassian Border Wars

The years long conflict between the Federation and the Cardassians.  The Setlik III Massacre (which was developed as a major piece of Miles O'Brien's backstory, the armistice at the end of the conflict, the ramifications of the conflict long term on the major players involved.

The ultimate fates/earlier lives/later lives of established characters

Sulu after the Excelsior was decommissioned (in Beta Canon he became an admiral and later the Federation President) Chekov (in Beta Canon he commanded the USS Potemkin and ultimately became the Starfleet C-in-C), Uhura, McCoy, Harriman, and even more minor characters like Saavik.  Lots to explore here.  Also the early careers of Jean-Luc Picard and Ben Sisko, among others.