The Surprise Callback To TNG's Tasha Yar In Star Trek's New Movie, Explained

Star Trek: Section 31 has a surprising callback to Star Trek: The Next Generation's Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby). Set in Star Trek's "lost era" of the early 24th century, Section 31 follows Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) as she gets caught up in a mission to save the galaxy. Section 31 is a Star Trek movie tackling foreign ground, but it contains several connections to the greater Star Trek timeline. Not only does the film reveal more about Georgiou's backstory, but it also offers a glimpse into the early Starfleet career of Lt. Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl).

Star Trek: The Next Generation fans will remember Rachel Garrett (Tricia O'Neil) as the doomed captain of the USS Enterprise-C from TNG's excellent season 3 episode, "Yesterday's Enterprise." Even as a young lieutenant, Garrett already seems primed to be a great starship captain one day. As Starfleet's representative among the more morally questionable members of Section 31's Alpha Team, Garrett embraces the chaos of space exploration while also fighting to uphold Starfleet's ideals. Lt. Garrett may be Section 31's most obvious connection to TNG, but the film also gives a subtle shoutout to TNG's Tasha Yar.

Control Sets Up A Section 31 Mission To Tasha Yar's Home Planet

Control Sends Alpha Team To A Mission On Turkana IV

After the events of Star Trek: Section 31, Georgiou reunites with Section 31's Alpha Team at her nightclub, where its leader, Control (Jamie Lee Curtis), informs the team of a new mission. Control remains unsure if allowing Georgiou to join Section 31 is a smart choice, but she knows that the former Emperor will get things done. Control asks any of the team members if they have ever been to a planet called Turkana IV. Although Control reveals no details of the mission that awaits them on Turkana IV, the name may sound familiar to Star Trek: The Next Generation fans.

Lt. Tasha Yar of the USS Enterprise-D was born on Turkana IV in 2337 and lived there until the age of fifteen. At the time of Yar's birth, Turkana IV was home to a failed Federation colony. The planet's government began breaking down sometime in the 2330s, leading to civil war and general lawlessness. Tasha found a way to leave Turkana IV in 2352 and soon began attending Starfleet Academy. Several years later, in 2361, the people of Turkana IV still lived in poverty and constant conflict. The Enterprise-D visited the planet that year and encountered Tasha Yar's younger sister, Ishara Yar (Beth Toussaint), who fought for the Turkana IV Coalition.

A Section 31 Sequel Could Show How Turkana IV Fell

Does Section 31 Try To Save Turkana IV? Or Do They Make Things Worse?

While it remains to be seen whether the film will get a sequel, the end of Star Trek: Section 31 sets up a potential adventure to Turkana IV. As the events of Section 31 take place around 2324, a mission to Turkana IV would take them there just before the planet's government begins failing. It's possible that is the reason why Control is sending them there in the first place. Alpha Team's mission could involve trying to preserve the Federation colony there, and could even bring them into contact with Tasha Yar's parents.

Star Trek: The Next Generation offered brief glimpses into Yar's backstory, including her planet's history. A Star Trek: Section 31 sequel could dive deeper into the politics of Turkana IV and explore why the Federation colony there fell. Based on what we know from TNG, Section 31's Alpha Team would either have to fail to preserve the peace on Turkana IV or inadvertently be the cause of its fall. Either way, a story like this would allow Star Trek to explore a situation where the Federation doesn't win and show how people can find hope even when all seems lost.