Star Trek Revives Picard’s USS Enterprise-E for First Encounter with Riker’s Titan

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 10 – “The New Next Generation”

Historic Meeting in Star Trek: Lower Decks Finale

The finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks marks a significant moment by showcasing the USS Enterprise-E and the USS Titan together for the first time in a low-key yet historic encounter. The season wraps up with the USS Cerritos investigating a series of quantum fissures threatening the galaxy. As tensions rise, Lt. Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) receives an urgent communication from his transporter clone, Captain William Boimler, alerting him to an impending soliton wave that jeopardizes the Prime Universe.

Typically, a California-class starship like the Cerritos wouldn’t be tasked with such a critical mission. However, Starfleet has no other option. As Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and her crew mobilize to tackle the crisis, Starfleet informs them that the USS Enterprise-E is en route but will not arrive in time to assist. Faced with this challenge, Captain Freeman and her team rise to the occasion, successfully averting the disaster and ultimately stabilizing a wormhole to the multiverse, transforming Starbase 80 into its new strategic hub.

USS Enterprise-E and USS Titan Unite at Starbase 80

Significant Vessels Dock Together

In the climactic scenes of the finale, while the USS Enterprise-E and USS Titan arrive post-crisis, they dock at Starbase 80 to facilitate the station’s transition into a key operational location. Following their heroic efforts, Captain Freeman receives a new assignment at the Starbase, working alongside her husband, Admiral Alonzo Freeman (Phil LaMarr). Although the two iconic starships are present, the crews do not participate in the celebration at Starbase 80.

This festive gathering includes Captain William Boimler and his crew, yet the series offers only a fleeting glimpse of the festivities, leaving fans wanting more.

Missed Opportunity: Enterprise and Titan’s Crews Never Meet

Familiar Faces Absent at the Celebration

The USS Titan is no stranger to Star Trek: Lower Decks, having previously appeared in earlier seasons under Captain William Riker’s command, where it played a vital role in warding off a Pakled threat alongside the Cerritos. With Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) at Riker’s side, it was a missed opportunity not to showcase a reunion amongst the characters during the festivities at Starbase 80.

While the USS Enterprise-E made only a brief appearance in the finale, the absence of iconic characters like Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Worf leaves fans longing for a more engaging meetup. Star Trek: Lower Decks could have dynamically illustrated the mingling of the Enterprise-E and Titan crews, creating an opportunity for nostalgia that would have delighted Star Trek enthusiasts.

Contrasting Encounters in Star Trek: Picard Season 3

Enterprise-D and Titan-A Collaborate Against a Common Threat

In a different storyline, Star Trek: Picard season 3 reassembles the beloved crew of The Next Generation aboard the newly refurbished USS Enterprise-D. The narrative kicks off with Admiral Picard responding to a distress call from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), prompting a collaborative effort with Captain Riker as they commandeer the USS Titan-A to thwart a Borg/Changeling conspiracy targeting Starfleet. The climactic battle showcases both ships in action, with the Enterprise experiencing its own heroic moments.

Post-battle, the USS Enterprise-D and Titan-A rendezvous over Earth, marking a historic moment that connects two beloved vessels. As a nod to its legacy, the Titan-A is rechristened as the USS Enterprise-G under Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), embarking on a new voyage. This encounter occurs in 2401, positioning it 20 years after the finale of Lower Decks, which provided fans with their first visual crossover of the USS Enterprise-E and the Titan.

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