B’Elanna Torres has an awesome new role in the Star Trek universe, completing her Voyager arc. Torres, the half-human, half-Klingon engineer of Voyager, was integral to IDW’s Star Trek: Defiant, where she joined Worf’s ragtag crew aboard the titular ship. Now, in a first look at Star Trek: Defiant #22, Torres has ascended to the captain’s chair, but it might come at a huge cost.
IDW shared their solicitations for December and January, including Star Trek: Defiant #22. The book will be written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Angel Unzueta, and is the first part of the “No Old Warriors” story arc. IDW’s solicitation for the issue reads as follows:
B'Elanna Torres is in the captain's chair of the Defiant, and she has a choice to make: return home and report for duty as the mother Miral needs or continue saving the universe with her crew. With her disavowed status from Starfleet command and all that she's been through-from bounty hunting to parasite infestations-B'Elanna isn't sure she's strong enough for either task. Luckily, O'Brien proposes a detour adventure to dismantle minefields in the Alpha Quadrant, and B'Elanna jumps at the chance to forestall a final decision... for now.
Defiant, as well as the flagship Star Trek title, which stars Torres’ husband Tom Paris, have explored her struggles to balance family and career.
Furthermore, Defiant has shown the dark side of Chief O’Brien’s actions during the Dominion War, namely the replicating mines that fended off a Dominion attack.
B'Elanna Torres' Star Trek Arc Explained
Torres Returned Just in Time for the God War
B'Elanna Torres was played by Roxann Dawson.
B’Elanna Torres’ arc throughout the Star Trek universe took from her Starfleet Academy washout to the chief engineer’s spot on Voyager. Initially a member of the Maquis, a band of freedom fighters opposing the Cardassians, Torres was thrown 75,000 light years across the galaxy, to the Delta Quadrant in Voyager’s series premiere. After Voyager’s first engineer was killed, Captain Janeway appointed Torres to the position, and thus began her journey. Torres did not trust her new crewmates at first, but thankfully grew into the role. After marrying Tom Paris, Torres gave birth to a daughter, Miral, in Voyager’s finale.
Torres would return to the franchise in the first issue of Star Trek: Defiant, released in early 2023. After Voyager’s return, Torres and Tom try to settle down and begin building a life together in the Alpha Quadrant. Unfortunately, Kahless II began a genocidal campaign against the gods themselves, and both Torres and Paris became caught up in it. Tom joined Captain Sisko on the Theseus, which was tasked with stopping Kahless. Meanwhile, Torres threw her lot in with Worf, who had broken away from Sisko and was now heading up his own ship.
Finally, B'Elanna Torres is a Starfleet Captain
But Torres' New Promotion Might Cost Her Everything
Now, deep into her mission on board the Defiant, Torres has at last become a captain of her own ship, which would seem to indicate a new phase in her Starfleet career. It is a well-deserved promotion. Torres served admirably aboard Voyager and has proven loyal to Worf as well. Despite being drummed out of the Academy early on for insubordination, Torres has grown into a highly competent Starfleet officer as well as a loving wife and mother. B’Elanna Torres’ growth and development as a character was a highlight of Star Trek: Voyager.
B’Elanna Torres’ rise to the rank of captain has been a long time coming, but it may cost her dearly. Torres and Tom have been taking turns watching their daughter, but eventually they must reunite as a family. Unfortunately, The Lore War is on the horizon, meaning both Torres and Tom will barely have time to catch their breaths. The Lore War promises to be a huge event, one that will have repercussions for B’Elanna Torres. B’Elanna Torres’ promotion to captain in the Star Trek universe may end up being a Pyrrhic victory, despite completing her Voyager arc.
