Star Trek SNW: Season 2, Episode Two “Ad Astra per Aspera”

Stardate: 2393.8
Original Air Date: June 22, 2023
Writer: Dana Horgan                         
Director: Valerie Weiss          

“Old fears can be hard to let go of, but we were wrong about Illyrians.”

In a flashback, a young Una/Number One has an injured leg that is glowing neon while her parents are panicking about it… Cut to the present-day. Following the events of the previous season, Starfleet is offering Una a plea deal if she pleads guilty to knowingly submitting false information and failing to disclose her genetic modification status (she is an Illyrian, a species which uses genetic modification as a cultural practice). In exchange for avoiding prison time, Una will be given a dishonorable discharge.

Meanwhile, in Captain Pike’s personal log, he describes traveling to the Vaultera Nebula (a locale where the atmosphere is unsuitable for all beings except Illyrians, hence why he wears an oxygen mask). He is intent on finding legal assistance for Una/Number One in the form of civil rights attorney Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki). He mentions the events of the prior season wherein the Enterprise investigated a supposedly abandoned Illyrian colony only to find it not entirely abandoned, and that dangerous things can happen to Illyrians who attempt to reverse their genetic modification. With this in mind, Neera decides to take on the case and serve as Una’s defense.

Upon arrival at Starfleet (in San Francisco), Una rejects the plea deal, and Starfleet (under the purview of Captain Batel and Vice Admiral Pasalk) increases the charges to dishonorable dismissal and two counts of sedition, with the punishment being twenty years in a Federation penal colony. Note that Captain Batel (who is prosecuting the case) is Pike’s love interest. And the cold, unfriendly Vulcan, Vice Admiral Pasalk, is a former colleague of Spock’s father (Spock detests Pasalk).

This sets up an intense courtroom trial –La’an privately speaks with Neera, speculating about how Starfleet found out about Una being an Illyrian. She mentions the “Starfleet vs. Wyck” case (the case was used as an example of “fruit from a poisonous tree” in the event that evidence is procured through illegal means the case could be thrown out). La’an asks Uhura to pull all personal logs for the ship, but Uhura refuses because it is illegal.

When the trial begins, Captain Batel offers the following opening comments (note the focus on the Eugenics Wars):

“The Federation’s stance on genetic engineering is clear. The practice is dangerous and illegal. The reasons for this are many, but the outcome of the Eugenics Wars on Earth speaks for itself –tens of millions of dead. Pushed to its limits, genetic engineering is nothing short of playing God. By interfering with DNA and removing genetic outliers, we endanger the very essence of natural evolution.”

Neera responds with the following opening remarks:

“Captain Batel is right. Permanent genetic modification is illegal under Federation law. Slavery was once legal. Apartheid was legal. Discrimination against people for how they worshipped, how they loved, their gender, color of their skin —all legal at one time or another. A law does not make something just. I’m not saying the Federation means to do harm. Their experience with genetic modification –the Eugenics Wars—was horrific. The pain that Earth felt, unimaginable. The Federation built a utopia in its wake, and in an effort to protect that utopia, they became blinded by a centuries-old fear, so much so, that they have –perhaps unknowingly—become persecutors. My client is only here because of who she is and because she felt she had no other choice than to hide that fact. Just like the millions before her who were forced to hide how they worshipped, how they loved, what they truly looked like, because it made other uncomfortable. Because it made others afraid. If a law is not just, then I ask, how are we to trust those who created that law to serve justice?”

Admiral April is called to the stand and Neera demonstrates that he has violated Starfleet regulations from time to time when Captain of the Enterprise. They discuss General Order One, that “no Starship with the normal development of any alien life or society” (also known as the Prime Directive). In 2246, while in command of the Enterprise he warned the Perricans, a pre-warp civilization, about an impending apocalyptic meteor shower. In 2248, he sent his science officer to the industrial age planet Na’rel to solve an extinction-level drought. And upon landing on the hostile planet Ma-us II, without a security, he chose to reveal his starship to the pre-warp civilization O-hawk. All three of these examples are violations of the Prime Directive.  

“It would seem that the rules of Starfleet only apply when a captain deems that they do.”

In addition, La’an, Spock, and Dr. M’Benga are all called to the stand (Pike is not called to testify because it might incriminate him since he knew about Una being an Illyrian). La’an admits she is related to Khan Noonien Singh, and that she fears what she may have inherited from him. Then Una, herself, is called to testify. She describes growing up in fear of Federation prejudice, children lobbed accusations against “augments” amidst the anti-augmentation laws (Illyrians were often called “augment,” “moddie,” and “freak”). She reflects on the story of how she broke her leg as a child and managed to be treated by a covert Illyrian officer (the scene from the beginning of the episode). As she grew up, she was inspired by Starfleet as an optimistic organization welcoming beings from all manner of different planets working together toward a common good. In a twist, Una reveals that it was actually she who turned herself into Starfleet for being an Illyrian. She wanted to stop living a lie.   

From here, Vice Admiral Pasalk attempts to build a case of conspiracy and fraud against Una, as well as Captain Pike. However, Neera does not fall for it. She cleverly introduces Starfleet Code 8514, which states that “in extraordinary and extreme circumstances if the following conditions are met, any person fleeing persecution or fearing for their life due to political or religious beliefs cultural engagement or biological truths may 2) seek safety in Starfleet and 3) upon revealing themselves to authorities may be granted asylum. Starfleet captains must exercise discretion and judgment when offering asylum. Status is confirmed by a Starfleet tribunal or designated authority.”

Neera requests that the judges grant Una’s request for asylum, a request which was made to Pike. In the end, while the court does not embrace genetically modified beings like Illyrians, they decide to grant Una’s request for asylum. She is let off on a technicality, but as Neera notes, at least it is a “start.” Una is returned to the Enterprise in a celebration ceremony.

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My Thoughts on “Ad Astra per Aspera”

A most timely episode, SNW brings back the return of the courtroom drama! Una’s trial is reminiscent of classic Trek episodes like “Court Martial” and the fascinating examination of genetic engineering contra oppressive cultural prejudice echoes themes in the DS9 episode “Doctor Bashir, I Presume.” Keeping in mind the era of Khan and the Eugenics Wars, however, what should Starfleet do with the Illyrians, a race who uses genetic modification as a long-standing cultural practice? Exactly how much genetic engineering does a typical Illyrian undergo? How can Starfleet/the Federation regulate such a practice? While Starfleet is portrayed as a somewhat prejudicial and discriminatory arbiter in this episode, there is still a nuanced moral discussion here. Notably, the attorney Neera espouses a theory of law which suggests law is “a beacon to remind us of our better selves.”  

This episode takes the issue of genetic modification very seriously, acknowledging that modified DNA has been the cause of horrifying atrocities during the Eugenics Wars, and yet there is also room to embrace some alien cultures like the Illyrians whose practice of genetic modification has been the subject of cultural discrimination. I appreciated that this episode did not end with a gratifying “Hollywood” moment of complete forgiveness for all Illyrians, even if it did end with Una somehow being reinstated aboard the Enterprise –how does an application for asylum equate to being appointed second in command aboard a starship? And while there were a few sappy, cliché, “modern trek” tropes in this episode, it still stands out as a terrific installment in SNW in my view –inspiring, thought-provoking, and complex.

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Star Trek Trivia:

• Pike claims he first met Una at the Academy class after a test mission he had flown. Una pointed out a mistake he made in re-entry.
• The Vulcan game of Kal-toh is mentioned in this episode.
• Una/Number One is charged with violating Starfleet regulations 614-617 in this episode.
• Admiral April mentions that he promoted Una/Number One faster than any other officer, and recommended her for the Medal of Gallantry after the “Marcel Disaster” in 2248.
• Spock first met Una on his first day as an ensign aboard the Enterprise.
• La’an graduated at the top of her class, has been promoted each year in Starfleet, and has also been in consideration for the Starfleet Medal of Gallantry.
• La’an admits she is related to Khan Noonien Singh in this episode.
• It takes six months for a request from Starfleet to acquire personal logs.
• “Ad Astra per Aspera” was the Starfleet motto before the advent of the Federation. It means “to the stars through hardship.”
• Una grew up in a Federation colony in the Vaultera Nebula which was given provisional membership the year before Una was born.
• The same types of tapes used in TOS can be briefly spotted in this episode.
• The word “augment” being used as a pejorative is a reference to Khan as well as Star Trek Enterprise.  
• The three judges at the trial are named Javas, Zus Tlaggul, and Commander Chiv.
• Spock’s mention of Gilbert & Sullivan is an allusion to the Short Treks episode “Q & A.”