Star Trek: Section 31 introduces a new Deltan character, but the bald aliens still can't catch a break. Star Trek's first made-for-streaming film, Section 31 brings back Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, as she gets caught up in a hunt for a dangerous weapon with connections to her past. Georgiou teams up with an eclectic team of Section 31 agents that includes the genetically enhanced leader Alok Sahar (Omari Hardwick), a brilliant Chameloid named Quasi (Sam Richardson), and a captivating Deltan named Melle (Humberly González).
The Deltans were introduced in Star Trek: The Motion Picture through Lt. Ilia (Persis Khambatta), the navigator aboard the newly retrofitted USS Enterprise. Originally intended to be part of the scrapped Star Trek: Phase II television series, Deltans had extra sensory abilities and a strong sexual attraction that could be distracting to other humanoids. Over the course of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, V'Ger absorbs Ilia and creates a robotic duplicate of her to act as a probe. At the film's climax, V'Ger merges with Ilia's former lover, Captain Will Decker (Stephen Collins), bringing a tragic end to Star Trek's first Deltan.
Star Trek’s Deltans Are Still Tragic In Section 31 Movie
Sadly, Section 31's Melle Didn't Last Very Long
Star Trek: Section 31 introduced Melle as an important member of Alok Sahar's Alpha Team, but she ultimately gets very little to do before her Star Trek story is cut tragically short. While Deltans wishing to join Starfleet, like Ilia, had to swear an oath of celibacy, Melle had no such limitations. Her magnetism was to be a vital asset to her team, as she could suitably distract almost anyone. However, Melle does not get much chance to use her abilities before Section 31's mysterious villain kills her.
As Alok and Section 31 attempt to acquire a weapon known as the Godsend, a masked intruder shows up to steal it. In the ensuing scuffle, Melle takes on the attacker, who quickly vaporizes her with his phaser. While Melle's Star Trek: Section 31 death illustrates the dangerous nature of Alpha Team's mission, the story quickly moves on. Like Ilia before her, Melle had the potential to be a fascinating character, but Section 31 does not give viewers the chance to get to know her. Despite being the most significant Deltan character since Ilia, Melle does not reveal anything new about the species and continues their tendency toward tragedy.
Why Star Trek Keeps Making Deltans Victims
Star Trek Keeps Killing Off Its Deltan Characters
Lieutenant Ilia and Melle are the most prominent Deltans that Star Trek has introduced, but both supporting Deltan characters have met tragic fates. In Star Trek: Picard season 3, a Vucaln/Deltan hybrid named Lt. T'Veen (Stephanie Czajkowski) served as a science officer aboard the USS Titan-A under the command of Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick). Despite being a bridge officer, T'Veen gets almost no character development before she is killed by the Changeling Vadic (Amanda Plummer). Star Trek: Section 31 has another Deltan in weapons dealer Dada Noe (Joe Pingue), who is killed in an explosion while being interrogated by Alok and Emperor Georgiou.
Deltans also appeared in Star Trek: Picard season 2's premiere. Surprisingly, none of them died.
It's unclear why Star Trek keeps creating Deltans whose lives end in tragedy, rather than exploring their species further. Perhaps it's because many of the elements originally intended for the Deltans were later incorporated into the character of Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) and the Betazoids on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Still, Deltans have many attributes that make them unique, and Star Trek could always add new characteristics to the species. Melle, Ilia, and T'Veen were all characters with great potential, and it's unfortunate that Star Trek: Section 31 became the latest Trek story to underuse its Deltan character.
