Star Trek’s Multiverse Revealed A Voyager Story I’d Like To See

The USS Voyager spent seven years stranded in the Delta Quadrant before it was finally able to return to Earth at the end of Star Trek: Voyager. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, episode 9, "Fissure Quest," however, reveals in at least one universe, that return to Earth never happened. When the USS Voyager was initially stranded in the Delta quadrant, it was the first time Star Trek took the concept of being lost in space and made it the premise for an entire show. At the time, it was unclear whether or not this premise would pan out.

Nevertheless, being stranded in the Delta Quadrant, with no assistance or guidance from Starfleet, was precisely what made Star Trek: Voyager episodes so interesting to begin with. It meant that when the crew faced tight situations - from battles for their survival to nuances of the Prime Directive - they faced those dangers entirely alone. But when Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) led the USS Voyager out of the Borg transwarp corridors back to Earth, both the adventures of her starship and Star Trek: Voyager, the series, came to a conclusive finale.

A Star Trek Universe Where USS Voyager Stayed In The Delta Quadrant Is A Cool Idea

It Makes Sense Based On What We Know From The Prime Universe

Having a universe where the USS Voyager settled in the Delta Quadrant lets Star Trek explore all kinds of storylines, and we already have hints about what that could look like. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, one of many versions of Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) from the multiverse revealed that his version of Voyager stayed in the Delta Quadrant forever. In the Prime Universe, Voyager encountered humans who settled in the Delta Quadrant after being stranded centuries earlier, left behind clones, and a copy of the Doctor (Robert Picardo) was stranded in "Living Witness." Clearly, it would have been possible for Voyager to make a life in the Delta Quadrant permanently.

Species that only appeared in single episodes of Star Trek: Voyager might have become important allies or enemies. Threats we never saw on screen because they thought the USS Voyager was just passing through might decide that a permanent settlement was a threat. Outside the show, the fact that Voyager made it home contributed to the fact that Star Trek: Voyager never got a movie, unlike Star Trek: The Next Generation. A version of the USS Voyager that is still in the Delta Quadrant is a version of Voyager that still has stories to tell.

What Could Have Happened If USS Voyager Stayed In The Delta Quadrant

A New Set Of Allies And Enemies

Quadrant wears a different uniform than the rest of the Kims. It’s possible that this change was driven by issues with the replicators on his USS Voyager, and long-term equipment maintenance would certainly be a concern if Voyager had stayed. The Sikarians were hospitable in Star Trek: Voyager season 1 and might have become allies if Voyager stayed. Similarly, if Voyager had stayed and become a generational ship, they might have joined up with the Varro from season 5. Suffice to say, they would have had an interesting array of potential allies.

In the multiverse, only one version of Harry Kim was promoted to Lieutenant, and he made it back to Earth. So, staying in the Delta Quadrant would not be good for perpetual-Ensign Kim.

Of course, the USS Voyager would also have had many enemies if they had stayed in the Delta Quadrant. Threats Voyager only encountered once before flying away might suddenly become much more present dangers. Perhaps most dramatically, Voyager only escaped the Borg by crossing tens of thousands of lightyears and collapsing the transwarp corridors behind them. If Voyager had to stay in the Delta Quadrant, there would be no escape from the Borg. These enemies would provide an endless set of narratives for a version of Star Trek: Voyager that had stayed in the Delta Quadrant.