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STAR TREK ONLINE Leeta Giveaway for Console Gamers

Bob Stutzman

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July 31, 2018

TrekCore is hosting another new Star Trek Online contest to celebrate the fourth major expansion, Victory is Life, arriving on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for console gamers!

This contest has ended and winners have been notified by email.

Bring some extra help on your away missions in Star Trek Online with the photonic Leeta Tactical Bridge Officer — you can choose from Dabo-outfit Leeta or Mirror Admiral-uniform Leeta. The Holo Leeta bridge officer can be commissioned by Starfleet or Klingon captains – and can be commissioned by Romulan captains after they choose an ally faction at level 10. For this particular Bridge Officer, no additional customization options are enabled.

We are giving away 50 codes — 25 for Xbox One and 25 for PlayStation 4 — each of which will be redeemable for the Holo-Leeta Tactical Bridge Officer.

To enter the contest, just email us your name by August 14 — and on August 15, we’ll randomly select 50 names to win a Holo-Leeta Tactical Bridge Officer. All winners will be emailed the in-game code, along with instructions how to add the ship to your Star Trek Online account.

Good luck to all!

2018 STAR TREK Las Vegas Convention Schedule is Here!

TrekCore Staff

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July 30, 2018

0

2018 STAR TREK Las Vegas Convention Schedule is Here!

It’s that time of year – this week is the annual Official Star Trek Convention out in Las Vegas, and Creation Entertainment who runs the event has just released the five-day schedule of events for the big bash out west (August 1-5), including nearly the entire cast of Star Trek: Discovery making a first-time appearance.

Along with Discovery Terran Empire prop/costume exhibit which will be open for fans to explore all week, the convention will also feature headlining events like a Saturday-night concert led by Trek composers Michael Giacchino, Jeff Russo, and Dennis McCarthy, and multiple Deep Space Nine panels including a look back at “Far Beyond the Stars,” and a look ahead to the upcoming What We Left Behind series documentary!

In addition to the heavy weekend focus on Star Trek: Discovery, there will also be featured panels covering all that’s new in Trek gaming, plenty of actor and behind-the-scenes contributor Q&A sessions, costume contests and — hopefully — news on the state of Star Trek novels and comics with publisher Simon & Schuster and IDW holding sessions during the week.

Saturday and Sunday are the big Discovery days, with five separate panels featuring multiple members of the series cast and crew — with the closing Discovery event a panel with Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, and Anson Mount on Sunday.

Here’s a few other notable events from the week ahead!

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, 1PM — Inside Trek: Star Trek Authors & Their Books (Part 1)
Meet the authors and editors that are expanding the Star Trek universe with new novels and unique (and funny) views of Trek fandom. Hear about their favorite stories, writing Trek and the stories they really want to tell. Moderated by John Van Citters, Panelists: Kevin Dilmore, Star Trek Author; Robb Pearlman, Star Trek Author; Ed Schlesinger, Simon & Schuster; Ian Spelling, Star Trek Magazine

Wednesday, 4:15PM — Inside Trek: Star Trek Ship Design
Meet the Treksperts that bring Star Trek ships to life in games, collectibles and more! Moderated by John Van Citters. Panelists: Joe Beaudoin, ANOVOS; Kevin Dilmore, Hallmark; Thomas Marrone, PerfectWorld; Erin Prince, Disruptor Beam; Ben Robinson, Eaglemoss

THURSDAY

Thursday, 12PM — Replicating the Future: An Archaeological Costuming Expedition
One of the great dangers of archaeology is folklore — and the team at ANOVOS discusses, from concept to creation, how they select and recreate Star Trek’s costumes and inspired-wearable pieces. Panelists: Joe Beaudoin, John Cooley, Maegen Hensley

Thursday, 1:30PM — Inside Trek: Discovery Storytelling
Meet the minds behind Star Trek’s most popular video games, comic books and novels and hear how they develop content based on Star Trek: Discovery. Moderated by John Van Citters. Panelists: Mike Johnson, IDW Publishing; Erin Prince, Star Trek Timelines, Ed Schlesinger, Simon & Schuster

Thursday, 3:15PM — QMx presents Articulated Star Trek – Building a 1:6 Universe
The QMx 1:6 production team – including the Nanjin Tam (father of 1:6 Star Trek) – will take you behind the scenes of the production process and look back at what has gone before and maybe get a sneak peek at figures yet to come. Panel attendees will get a chance to win QMx Star Trek 1:6 items too. Panelists: Peter Gibbons, Sales & Marketing; David Stephan, Production; Nanjin Tam, Father of 1:6 Star Trek

Thursday, 4:45PM — Women of Trek
Women have always been a driving force in Star Trek fandom, and the women characters of Star Trek have served as inspirations for so many fans over the years. To celebrate the women of Trek, Mary Chieffo and Marina Sirtis will join three women who grew up watching Star Trek for a conversation about women’s roles in the series.

The panel will discuss their early impressions of the characters that inspired them, the way we see these characters today; and how the roles of women on Star Trek have changed over the years. In addition to our guests, the panel will feature Sarah Gulde (Nerd Camp in Portland, OR), Amy Imhoff (Shoes & Starships), Sue Kisenwether (Women at Warp: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast)

FRIDAY

Friday, 9:30 AM — Inside Trek: Star Trek Authors & Their Books (Part 2)
Meet the authors that are expanding the Star Trek comics universe, mapping the Final Frontier and exploring Trek’s impact on technology. Panelists: Mike Johnson, IDW Publishing; Larry Nemecek, Star Trek Author; Ethan Siegel, Star Trek Author; Denton Tipton, IDW Publishing

Friday, 10 AM — DS9 Tribute
Panel with Ira Steven Behr, James Darren, Nicole de Boer, Chase Masterson & Andy Robinson.

Friday, 11AM — “And the Keepsakes Shall Lead: Hallmark and Star Trek”
Join Hallmark Licensing Creative Manager Christine Taylor and Hallmark Senior Writer Kevin Dilmore for a tour through Hallmark’s 2018 Star Trek products, including Keepsake Ornaments, itty bittys® plush characters and event exclusives. Don’t be surprised if a few sneak peeks and surprises from Hallmark’s plans for 2019 show up as well.

Friday, 3PM — Inside Trek: Designing Star Trek Collectibles
Figures, badges, ships, pins, ornaments, replicas – Star Trek fans collect them all. Meet the people behind your favorite collectibles, see behind-the-scenes photos, and find out what new items are getting ready to launch. Panelists: Joe Beaudoin, ANOVOS; Matt Buss, Titan Merchandise; Peter Gibbons, QMx; Lew Halboth, FanSets; Ben Robinson, Eaglemoss; Christine Taylor, Hallmark

Friday, 4:30PM — DS9 Documentary with Ira Steven Behr & Dave Zappone
The team behind the upcoming Deep Space Nine documentary “What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” will be joining Creation Entertainment to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the series. Co-Directors Ira Steven Behr (DS9’s executive producer & showrunner) and David Zappone (producer of The Captains, Chaos on the Bridge and For The Love of Spock) will take the stage with their producing & editing team (Kai de Mello-Folsom, Luke Snailham, Joseph Kornbrodt) to answer questions and provide exciting new details about the release of the film (out later this year), along with sharing clips from the documentary and never-before-seen outtakes from the series.

SATURDAY

Saturday, 9:30AM — Behind the Scenes – Doug Drexler, Ronald B. Moore, Mike & Denise Okuda & Herman Zimmerman
Doug, Ron, Mike, Denise & Herman will be signing autographs on a complimentary basis immediately following this panel as their schedule allows.

Saturday, 11AM — Star Trek Film Academy: LAUNCH!
Boldly Go… Film! James Cawley and his team give you an in-depth look at what to expect from the upcoming Star Trek Film Academy. From the all-star Trek alumni faculty, to the Trek tailored curriculum, to the moment when students say “lights, camera, action!” on their own Trek short. Moderated by James Cawley, TOS Set Tour.

Panelists: Daren Dochterman, TOS Set Tour; Doug Drexler, Star Trek Designer; Denise Okuda, Star Trek Designer; Mike Okuda, Star Trek Designer; Marybeth Ritkouski, TOS Set Tour

Saturday, 11:50AM — Illustrating a Universe: The Art of John Eaves
Starting with his work on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Eaves has worked as a production designer, illustrator and model maker across the franchise. He has been responsible for creating many of the props and ships, and helped develop the Federation design, from the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E to the U.S.S. Discovery NCC-1031.

This discussion, hosted by John Van Citters, will give fans a unique in-depth look into Eaves’ creative vision and the wealth of his remarkable work at the centre of this spectacular franchise, and John will discuss the making of his new book out this Fall, Star Trek: The Art of John Eaves which represents the most extensive collection of designs and illustrations created by Eaves across the Star Trek Universe.

Saturday, 1:30PM — Eaglemoss: Hero Collector Into the Future
Ben Robinson reveals Eaglemoss’s plans for the next year and provides a sneak peek at some upcoming products, including a new line of books, collaborations with Star Trek Online and of course, the ongoing collection and Star Trek: Discovery.

Saturday, 1:30 PM — Behind the Music
Panel with composers Michael Giacchino, Dennis McCarthy, and Jeff Russo

Saturday, 2:15PM — Discovery Panel – Part 1
Guest include Discovery’s Emily Coutts, Sarah Mitich, Oyin Oladejo, Rekha Sharma & Sam Vartholomeos. Hosted by Matt Mira.

Saturday, 3PM — Discovery Panel – Part 2
Guests include Jayne Brook, Mary Chieffo, Clint Howard & Kenneth Mitchell. Hosted by Matt Mira.

Saturday, 9PM — Creation Entertainment Presents: The Saturday Night Gala
The fabulous Nevada Pops Orchestra returns to headline with the incredible Maestro Richard McGee at the helm. With never before heard selections, Creation is proud to present three special guest conductors: Michael Giacchino (Star Trek Into Darkness, and Beyond Suite), Dennis McCarthy (Deep Space Nine Suite) and Jeff Russo (world premiere orchestral performance of Star Trek: Discovery score).

SUNDAY

Sunday, 12:15 PM — Discovery – Part 3
Guest include Wilson Cruz, Shazad Latif, Anthony Rapp & Mary Wiseman. Hosted by Matt Mira.

Sunday, 1:45 PM –Discovery – Part 4
Guests include Glenn Hetrick and Gersha Phillips. Hosted by Matt Mira.

Sunday, 3:15 PM — Discovery – Part 5
Guests include Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, and Anson Mount. Hosted by Matt Mira.

Sunday, 5PM — Far Beyond the Stars After-Panel
Following a screening of the episode, with guests Ira Steven Behr, Marc Zicree, Cirroc Lofton, Aron Eisenberg, Jeffrey Combs, JG Hertzler, Terry Farrell, Marc Alaimo, Rene Auberjonois, Armin Shimerman & Nana Visitor!

UNOFFICIAL EVENTS

Outside of the official events, there are also a few after-hours festivities scheduled throughout the week, hosted by fan groups not affiliated with Creation Entertainment.

Larry Nemecek’s Portal 47 returns for the 9th Annual Landing Party on Tuesday, July 31 at 9PM at the Rio’s Masquerade Bar for early convention arrivals.

The two-hour trivia contest will feature prizes from the Roddenberry Podcast Network, TrekRadio.net, Bye Bye Robot, Geek Nation Tours, and more to help kick off the week-long event in Las Vegas.

Nemecek will also be hosting a Portal 47 meetup on Saturday at 5PM, and a “Con of Wrath” meetup at 8PM.

FanSets will be hosting their second annual STLV convention party on Friday, August 3 at The Otheroom inside the Caesar’s Palace mall on the Las Vegas strip, in partnership with the Trek Geeks podcast team. The party will run from 8PM – 11PM without cover charge, but all attendees must have STLV credentials to gain entry.

FanSets will also be doing several giveaways during the event — from framed Star Trek pin sets, to autographed Trek artwork from John Eaves, to signed books by Trek novelist Dayton Ward.

Fan-run podcast network The Tricorder Transmissions will host their the inaugural “Night of Diversity” Celebration on Saturday, August 4 from 8PM – 12AM at the KISS Mini Golf Course inside the Rio Hotel. The event will be a safe space for all to attend and celebrate infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

Night of Diversity is free to attend, and all proceeds from the evening’s raffles will benefit The LGBTQ Center of Las Vegas and The Night Ministry’s Crib LGBT Homeless Shelter in Chicago, IL; prizes donated for raffle giveaways include “Star Trek: Discovery” artwork from artist Laz Marquez, FanSets pin sets, original “Star Trek” art by Lee Sargent, “Star Trek Online” prize packs, and a Captain Kirk duty tunic signed by William Shatner.

LGBTQ+ fan group Gaaays in Spaaace hosts their “Live Long & Be Fabulous” event on Saturday, August 4 at the Piranha Nightclub in Las Vegas starting at 7PM. It will be another unforgettable gathering of fans and celebrities alike.

Approximately 10 minutes away from the Rio Hotel (by car), the third annual party expects to host several “Star Trek” celebrities at the nightclub, and the group will also be providing a free shuttle service to the venue. Tickets for entry are $30 online and $40 at the door.

If you’re heading out to Las Vegas, have a great time — and if you haven’t bought tickets yet, there are still a number of highly-discounted purchase options available for last-minute buyers over at Goldstar Events, some up to half-off the Creation price!

if you can’t make it this year, be sure to follow our team on Twitter and Facebook as we’ll be covering the whole convention all week with news, photos, and all the latest info from the Rio Hotel from Tuesday through Sunday evening!

Eaglemoss Reveals Crossfield-Class USS GLENN for STLV

TrekCore Staff

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July 30, 2018

7

Eaglemoss Reveals Crossfield-Class USS GLENN for STLV

Five months after Eaglemoss’ USS Discovery hero model was released to collectors, the company announced today that their first variant of the Crossfield-class starship design will be making its way to fans attending this week’s STLV convention in Las Vegas.

The Crossfield-class USS Glenn (NCC-1030), the sister ship of the Discovery destroyed after a terrible spore drive mishap in “Context is For Kings,” was revealed by the model licensee in a surprise announcement today, as Eaglemoss shared its plans for the Las Vegas Star Trek convention, beginning this Tuesday evening.

Celebrating the tremendous success of Season 1 of “Star Trek: Discovery” and gearing up for the launch of Season 2, Eaglemoss will unveil and offer for sale for the first time anywhere the limited edition U.S.S. Glenn NCC-1030 variant from the “Star Trek: Discovery” Official Starships Collection. The sister ship to the Crossfield-class U.S.S. Discovery NCC-1031, the Glenn was destroyed by Captain Lorca early in the series after a disastrous test of the experimental spore drive.

Like all ships in the collection, this larger scale model is made of die-cast metal and ABS materials, then hand painted with reference to the actual CG models used in production. Strictly limited to only 500 ships worldwide, each comes with a collector’s magazine, display stand and numbered certificate of authenticity.

The limited-release Glenn model is set to be finalized with only 500pc available worldwide, and while pricing was not announced in the official release, we expect it to be higher than the $54.95 price point of the original Discovery model released in February due to the exclusivity.

If you’re not coming to the Las Vegas convention, Eaglemoss director Ben Robinson shared on Twitter his expectation that the ship may also be available at October’s New York Comic Con and Destination Star Trek – Birmingham conventions this fall.

Robinson has also shared these photos of the company’s upcoming “Ripper” tardigrade miniature, which is expected to roll out to Star Trek: Discovery starship model subscribers as a free gift later this year.

In addition to the Glenn, Eaglemoss will also be showcasing a number of upcoming releases, including the same lineup of ships and busts we told you about ahead of San Diego Comic Con earlier in July.

Watch for more Star Trek product news — and our close-up look at the USS Glenn model — when the STLV convention kicks off starting Tuesday, July 31!

INTERVIEW: Anthony Rapp on Life in DISCOVERY Comics

John Kirk

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July 29, 2018

10

INTERVIEW: Anthony Rapp on Life in DISCOVERY Comics

While intergalactic mycologist Paul Stamets generally has a one-track mind, focused on intergalactic spores and fungi, his 21st century counterpart Anthony Rapp has a few more down-to-Earth interests, like his love for comic books.

“I grew up reading comic books like a fiend,” the actor told me at San Diego Comic Con last week. “When I was on tour as a little acting kid, I would find the local comic book shop [in each city] and cart my comic books around the country.”

Rapp’s character served as the focal point of this spring’s Star Trek: Discovery Annual comic from IDW Publishing; the story was set in the years before the television series, illustrating how Stamets met his future romantic partner Hugh Culber, and how he discovered the mycelial network behind Discovery’s spore drive technology.

“When it was revealed that I would be in a comic book – it blew my mind. I mean, every aspect of this is unbelievable,” Rapp said. “It’s so cool. I mean, it’s one thing to see yourself on television, but in a comic book? No, that’s cool. I’m a huge comic geek.”

In addition to his love of acting and comic books, Rapp is also a major fantasy literature and gaming fan. He is an active PlayStation gamer, and if you follow him on Goodreads, you’ll often see him posting updates on his most recent literary adventures, including the works of classic fantasists Anne McCaffrey, H.G. Wells, and Ursula K. LeGuin.

I asked him about the freedom that comics and ancillary fiction like novels can offer in extending the characters stories for Discovery, and he nodded vigorously at this — and continued to express his delight with the notion of being recreated in graphic form.

“If you told the 12 year old me that I was going to be in a comic book, I would have looked at you and said, ‘Whaaaat?!'” Rapp exclaimed.

“I mean, I LIKE these things, but it’s not like [I thought that] I’m going to be a part of it. It’s truly incredible and joyful.”

It’s clear that Rapp sees magic that comics can offer in telling the story of Discovery — and hopefully this coming second season will extend Paul Stamets’ life on the comic page!

Anthony Rapp is making his first-ever visit to Star Trek‘s annual Las Vegas convention this week.

Trek Comics Review: “TNG — Terra Incognita” #1

John Kirk

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July 28, 2018

0

Trek Comics Review: “TNG — Terra Incognita” #1

It’s amazing that after all the hubbub about comics and Star Trek at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, I actually have time to sit down and read a Star Trek comic!

But Star Trek: TNG — Terra Incognita #1 was well worth the wait and this story provides a true taste of television accuracy.

Terra Incognita takes off where Mirror Broken left off back in May. The doubles from the Mirror Universe found their plans thwarted and had to return to their dimension… with the exception of Lt. Barclay, who managed to slip away, unseen and remain in the prime universe.

Sure enough, we find the “good” Barclay taken captive in his own quarters, force to listen to the archtypical villainous diatribe of the “evil” Barclay. It’s a good choice of characters for writers Scott and David Tipton to pick as the focus for this story.

Barclay has always had a lot to offer: technological acumen, comic relief, and the fact that he is played by veteran and fan-favourite actor Dwight Schultz has always given this character a great deal of range to play with for story writing.

In this case, Reg not only gets to play victim, but also villain. It’s a great combination of character expression for the Tiptons to display and adds an authentic Next Generation flavour for this story.

Speaking of authenticity, there is a great sense of relaxation in the way that the Tiptons portray the characters. It comes across in the nuances of character presentation like dialogue, mannerisms and even the sarcastic disdain that Mirror Barclay has for his counterparts in this universe is so evocative of Schultz’s acting style that this story could easily find its place in a television rerun.

Riker’s easy-going sense of loyalty to his captain — and his closeness with Troi — are perennial features of these characters’ personalities, and they are well-represented and placed in the story. I also have to point out that the even phrases like Data’s response to Wesley about refusing to replace his components (something his Mirror double did) for fear of losing his identity are very consistent with the types of character issues we saw on the show. Data’s concern for discovering his own nature is very much a part of the show and it comes out clearly in this comic.

But in terms of visual consistency, IDW made the right choice in getting Tony Shasteen on penciling duties. I’ve been on record for saying this in the past, but there’s no one who can pencil likenesses like Shasteen. His version of Ensign Sonya Gomez is perfect, as are his representations of other members of the crew. In terms of adding to the authenticity this book projects, Shasteen has a lot to contribute in this regard.

(Getting some personal work commissioned from this incredibly talented artist is on my to-do list!)

Cover “A” is by Tony Shasteen himself, and it’s a dramatically wonderful lead-in to the story. Barclay’s reflection in the Terran dagger’s blade is not only completely apt for the story, but it’s also a clever thematic interpretation. After all, it’s the reflection that’s in control of the situation here, and as “our” Barclay is in peril for his life, it’s a perfect choice of covers. Shasteen deserves extra credit for dreaming this one up.
Cover “B” is a photo cover, which I’m not a fan of normally — but there’s something odd about this one. The background is a stock image of the Enterprise-D bridge, but the full-portrait render of Captain Picard is an attempted photo-real illustration of Patrick Stewart’s character. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite hit the mark, as the likeness seems off in more than a few areas — it’s definitely not my favorite.
The retailer-incentive “A” cover is a lovely romantic interlude between Deanna Troi and Will Riker by Elizabeth Beals. It veers a little too “cutesy” for my tastes, but I like the accuracy of the moment it’s portraying. It definitely captures the mid-series closeness we saw the two characters find in each other during The Next Generation.
Finally, we get to the retailer-incentive “B” cover by J.K. Woodward. This is a hard choice for me, as I have to put Shasteen up against Woodward’s work and decide which cover I like the most. Woodward’s accuracy with a brush is uncanny, and speaks to a talent that I don’t think I’ll be able to properly comprehend.

In this cover, we see an imposed Barclay’s head hanging menacingly over the crew of the Enterprise like a cloud of dark malevolence. It’s a striking cover and I’m sure that Tony Shasteen would forgive me if I named this one my favourite of the bunch.

I was most fortunate to sit down with both the Tiptons and J.K. Woodward at IDW Publishing’s booth at Comic Con, and Scott Tipton tells me that progress is coming along quite nicely with the series — I’m very sure that readers are going to enjoy what they’ve got in store for us next.

The Tiptons are fans, and their writing not only reflects quality but a love of the subject they’re writing about. Writers like that are clearly devoted to it, and that adds to the enjoyment of the reader. When you add quality artwork like that by Shasteen, Woodward and Beals, you get a comic of unbeatable entertainment that will undoubtedly be a standard for other Star Trek comic creators.

Meeting up with David Tipton and Scott Tipton (seated pair) and artist J.K. Woodward (right).

Next week is the annual Las Vegas Star Trek convention, where we’ll once again hear from the creative minds at IDW Publishing about the future of the Trek comic line — check back to TrekCore later in the week for all the news from their presentation!

INTERVIEW: Anson Mount on Finding Pike in DISCOVERY

John Kirk

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July 28, 2018

7

INTERVIEW: Anson Mount on Finding Pike in DISCOVERY

Making his way down the press line at San Diego Comic Con, the newest member of the Star Trek: Discovery cast hears my name and laughs with pleasant surprise.

“Your name is really Kirk?,” says actor Anson Mount, who takes over the role of Christopher Pike in the upcoming season of Discovery. “Wow! You got lucky, man.”

We both laugh as this Kirk speaks with ‘Pike,’ both of us happy to explore the legacy that Star Trek: Discovery is upholding with the re-introduction of Captain Pike to the television side of the Trek franchise.

In a gracious gesture during the Discovery Hall H panel last week, Mount made a point to acknowledge that Chris Hunter — the son of original Pike actor Jeffrey Hunter — was in attendance.

Mount with Chris Hunter, son of original “Pike” actor Jeffrey Hunter. (CBS)

“Handsome Anson,” as he’s been nicknamed by his fellow Discovery castmastes, is very relaxed but clearly aware of the responsibility that’s been placed upon his shoulders to successfully play this character. I asked him if he’s channeled any of Hunter’s performance from “The Cage” into his take on the Enterprise captain.

“You know, I’m completely open to the fact that I like to steal from other actors,” Mount said. “But, for some reason, I didn’t feel right about [doing] that for this role. I’m figuring this character out as I go, but we’re all going to figure him out as we go.”

Discovery is set a few years after the events of “The Cage,” where viewers first met the world-weary captain; little is known about Pike’s time aboard the Enterprise after that point.

“He serves in the larger scope of the Federation,” the actor continued. “We are going to get to know this character better, but we’re all working in the dark a little bit. With each episode, he gets fleshed out more and more for me. It’s going to be fully fleshed out more than it ever has been in the past, and I can say that for sure.”

Captain Pike (Mount) in command of Discovery — and a landing party. (CBS)

The importance of taking a character who quite literally launched the Star Trek saga and bringing him into the modern franchise isn’t lost on Mount, who started watching the world of Starfleet at a young age.

“It’s not lost on me,” he said. “I’ve been watching the show since I was eight years old. It feels like he HAS to have a great part. He’s Roddenberry’s original face of Star Trek, so he has to be the embodiment of optimism and the gut instinct for the greater good.”

I agreed emphatically with Mount, sharing with him my own thoughts about Pike, a character I always found to be tough, but possessed with the right ideals to represent the Federation.

Mount nodded back and added to my comments with a slight smile: “…and that’s Discovery.”

If you’ll be at the big Las Vegas Star Trek convention starting this week, Anson Mount will be appearing on Sunday with the bulk of the Star Trek: Discovery cast. Hope to see you there!

Rebecca Romijn Reacts to Being DISCOVERY’s Number One

TrekCore Staff

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July 27, 2018

39

One of the surprise announcement at last Friday’s Star Trek: Discovery panel at San Diego Comic Con was the word that actor Rebecca Romijn had been cast as the new Number One — the first officer of the USS Enterprise under Captain Pike — and a role originated by Majel Barrett in 1964.

She wasn’t at the Discovery panel herself, but she did comment briefly to MTR Network about the announcement, from elsewhere in the San Diego convention:

Today, however, Romijn shared some more of her reaction to taking on the Trek role with Entertainment Tonight, describing how the opportunity was described to her:

“I didn’t know the full story. I was asked if I’d be interested in a somewhat iconic role in the series and I jumped at the chance. I was a Trekkie as a kid with the original series. After I was filled in with all the details — after I said ‘yes’ — oh man, I was floored. It was amazing.

She also described what it was like to first put on that 23rd century Starfleet uniform for he first time — and her thoughts on the classic Trek-inspired costume and set designs of the ‘new’ Enterprise.

“When they fit me [for the uniform], they fit me in the original gold uniform from [the classic] Enterprise because “Discovery” takes place 10 years before the Original Series. But when they fit me for that uniform, I was teary-eyed.

Because [classic “Trek” with the] Enterprise was shot in the ‘60s, we’ve gone with a little bit of a ‘60s flair, which is great — and being there on set, there’s a ‘60s vibe on set. The production is amazing. Just walking through the stages up there, it’s gorgeous — really, really beautiful sets.”

Just call me “Number One!” Honored to play such an iconic character in #StarTrek Canon originally played by the First Lady of Star Trek, Majel Barrett-Roddeberry! #StarTrekDiscovery pic.twitter.com/rdpWOxBYAk

— Rebecca Romijn (@RebeccaRomijn) July 20, 2018

Romijn’s first tweet on the subject showcased a small glimpse at her Starfleet look, wearing the same golden uniform as Captain Pike, with official service-issue pants, boots, and Starfleet delta badge in tow.

She would not tell ET how many episodes she’ll be appearing in — though she noted that she’s expecting to head back to Toronto for additional filming — but Romjin did reveal that she and Anson Mount’s Captain Pike have spent time talking about their missing Mr. Spock.

“I’m working with Anson Mount, who plays an amazing Captain Pike, and we have discussed Mr. Spock. Mr. Spock has been a topic of conversation.”

We didn’t get a chance to see Romijn’s new Number One in last week’s Season 2 trailer, so hopefully CBS will share some of the actor’s performance with us soon as we get closer to the new season, expected to kick off in January 2019.

Keep checking back to TrekCore for all the latest Star Trek: Discovery news!

INTERVIEW: Shazad Latif on Addressing Ash Tyler’s Trauma in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Season 2

John Kirk

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July 27, 2018

24

INTERVIEW: Shazad Latif on Addressing Ash Tyler’s Trauma in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Season 2

Shazad Latif is a lot taller than I realized when I first see him walking up the red carpet. His body language is also relaxed and gentle, almost a mirror image of his on-screen counterpart — the stressed-out former Klingon, Ash Tyler, a character who will be working through much of his Season 1 trauma when Star Trek: Discovery returns next year.

What kind of emotions might we expect to see him experience in the upcoming story, I wondered, following Tyler’s self-realization of his true identity as Voq — and the aftermath of his time spent as a human in L’Rell’s capture, where the Klingon forced the then-unknowing Tyler into her bed?

“Well, for Tyler it’s big,” said Latif. “But there’s a bigger picture to sexual assault that just doesn’t include the victim — it affects everyone around him, including friends, loved ones and that’s something that needs to be addressed in our society.”

Ash Tyler (Latif) tries to resist L’Rell’s (Mary Chieffo) mind control. (CBS)

It’s a serious issue, and while victims’ rights are of paramount importance, those connected to the victim can also be affected in significant ways — relationships are strained, friendships are tested, and the experience can irrevocably alter the lives of those involved.

“Well, it’s messy, isn’t it?” he said, after a bit of reflection. “Life gets messy.”

There is always a messy dimension to life, and life on board Discovery will be no different. It’s an issue that requires serious consideration, and with the appropriate amount of gravity in his voice, Latif assures me that the topic handled with the consideration it requires.

“All of that is going to be addressed,” he promised. “It will bring more conflict and will add a lot of drama to the show, that’s for sure… It’s important to Tyler, and to me.”

Free of Voq’s influence, the ‘new’ Ash Tyler must find his place in the galaxy. (CBS)

Finally, on to the arrival of Captain Pike and the USS Enterprise, I was curious to hear the actor’s thoughts on this collision with Trek history. While it’s a welcome crossover to many viewers of the show, the brush with the Original Series elements won’t just be impacting life aboard the Discovery, but it seems Tyler will have a role to play as well in its story.

“It’ll have a rippling effect – an ocean effect,” Latif told me. “It’ll affect all the relationships and going to have a decided one on my character. It’s good for drama, it’s good for conflict and it’s going to be fantastic.”

If you’re headed out to Las Vegas next week, the British actor will be appearing at the annual Star Trek convention on August 4 and 5 — watch for our week-long coverage of the STLV convention to begin next Tuesday!

STAR TREK ONLINE’s “Victory is Life” Now on Consoles

Bob Stutzman

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July 26, 2018

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STAR TREK ONLINE’s “Victory is Life” Now on Consoles

The newest expansion to Star Trek Online, the Deep Space Nine-themed “Victory is Life” storyline, launched for PC players back in June — but this week the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant opens up for console gamers as well.

Star Trek Online console players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can now embark on a mission to save station Deep Space 9 in the game’s fourth official expansion, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine by sending Captains to Gamma Quadrant, where they will team up with some of their favorite crew members.

This includes familiar characters — played by the original DS9 series actors — like Quark (Armin Shimerman), Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Odo (René Auberjonois), Doctor Bashir (Alexander Siddig), Rom (Max Grodénchik), Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson) and more.

“Victory is Life” also features Deep Space Nine-inspired content that is brand new to consoles, including seven featured episodes, a new Jem’Hadar playable faction, an expansive Gamma Quadrant Battlezone and a total revamp of the original DS9 space station’s interior.

In addition, the game also includes a new level cap of 65, a five-player co-op space queue and the new Gamma Task Force Reputation.

Have you been playing “Victory is Life” yet? Tell us your thoughts on the DS9 expansion in the comments below!

INTERVIEW: Mary Chieffo on Using Shakespeare to Bring STAR TREK: DISCOVERY’s L’Rell to Life

John Kirk

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July 26, 2018

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INTERVIEW: Mary Chieffo on Using Shakespeare to Bring STAR TREK: DISCOVERY’s L’Rell to Life

Star Trek: Discovery‘s L’Rell, the newly-minted Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, became one of the most powerful members of the warrior race after the events of last season — and we caught up with the actor behind the alien prosthetics, Mary Chieffo, this past weekend at San Diego Comic Con.

Storytelling about the struggles of royalty might be right out of Shakespeare, and Chieffo told us last Friday how she leans on her theatrical training to master her Klingon character.

L’Rell looks over her new domain as Chancellor of the Klingon Empire.

“Well, on a very technical level, I have always said that breaking down [the Klingon language], I have leaned on my skills on breaking down Shakespeare. Obviously, those who are familiar with Shakespeare know that it’s the amount of time it takes to break down the sentence – where you put the inflection to portray the meaning. It’s the repetition.

What I love about working on Shakespeare, and with Klingon, is that while you are truly figuring out how to portray the meaning, it gets memorized faster — as opposed to how we kinda take English for granted. Like, yeah, yeah, I have it all inside my head, and then it gets all jumbled up inside my head. It’s so precise, and you can’t say it any other way.

Beyond that, it comes down to speech, and voice training, and how to create a dialect for L’Rell when she speaks English.”

I brought up the fact that L’Rell is a female of power, and she shared some of the classic characters on which she modeled her performance this past season.

“I was lucky to play characters in school like Queen Elizabeth, to characters in Richard the III, Macbeth… there’s something about these archetypes that fuels so much [of it.]”

In this upcoming season, Discovery comes even closer to the era of the classic Star Trek series, and since she’s back on Qo’noS leading the Empire, I wondered what role the ‘mother of all Klingons’ will play in the new storyline.

“I’m very excited to discover that myself,” said Chieffo. “We are in such good hands in that regard. I know that the writers have had so many brilliant ideas on portraying that — you will all be surprised! [L’Rell] will be part of moments that will make you go ‘Ohhh!’ I mean, we don’t hear about L’Rell [in the future Trek shows]… Why is that?”

Mirror L’Rell leads the rebellion against the Terran Empire.

I brought up how a lot of the character’s personality has been explored through L’Rell’s Mirror Universe counterpart, in the ongoing Star Trek: Discovery — Succession comic tale from IDW Publishing.

“I love the mirror L’Rell,” Chieffo laughed. “I mean, didn’t just want to be hear, I wanted the outfits! I geek out about all of that stuff.”

Part of the joy of classical theatre training is in the keeping of secrets from the audience, until they can be revealed at just the right moment, so I took a chance and asked the actor what new Discovery secrets we might be able to look forward to in Season 2.

“It’s been a real pleasure to meet you,” she said, with a coy smile — keeping all those secrets to herself.

Mary Chieffo will be returning to her second Star Trek Las Vegas convention next week — so keep an eye on TrekCore as we continue our coverage Star Trek: Discovery throughout the summer!