DS9’s Nog made history by becoming the first Ferengi in Starfleet, and Star Trek: Discovery has revealed his legacy lives on, 800 years later.
Summary
- Star Trek: Discovery reveals Nog’s impact on the future of Starfleet, with more Ferengi officers present in the 32nd century.
- Nog’s influence extends beyond Ferengi, with a starship named after him and a Cardassian captain in Starfleet, showing his lasting legacy.
- Rom, inspired by Nog, made it easier for Ferengi to join Starfleet, ultimately leading to a more diverse and progressive organization.
Star Trek: Discovery has proved the important role that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s Nog (Aron Eisenberg) has played in shaping the future of Starfleet. Set 800 years after DS9‘s 24th century, Star Trek: Discovery reveals how much, and how little, has changed when it comes to the Federation and Starfleet. In the 32nd century, the Federation is still at threat from aliens like the Breen, who made a game-changing impact on DS9‘s Dominion War, while also revealing that positive changes made by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continue to have an impact 800 years later.
For example, Nog is one of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s great success stories, as he changed the Federation’s perceptions when it came to the Ferengi. Starting out DS9 as a teenage tearaway, Nog quickly realized that he wanted more from life than being third in line to inherit Quark’s Bar. With encouragement, and a recommendation, from Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Nog became the first Starfleet Academy cadet to hail from Ferenginar. Star Trek: Discovery has since proved that Nog and his DS9 family paved the way for more Ferengi officers all the way into the 32nd century.
DS9’s Nog Is Starfleet’s Most Important Ferengi In Star Trek: Discovery’s 32nd Century
Star Trek: Discovery has revealed a handful of details about the impact of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s Nog on the 32nd century version of the Federation. Firstly, he wasn’t the only Ferengi officer in the entire history of Starfleet, as Discovery season 4 revealed. Star Trek: Discovery season 4, episode 2, briefly featured an unnamed Ferengi captain (played by Anthony Lake), who was present at Starfleet Headquarters. Discovery‘s season 4 premiere, “Kobayashi Maru” also revealed that there was a Ferengi in the first intake of Starfleet Academy cadets following the Burn.
Star Trek: Discovery has also revealed that there is at least one Cardassian captain in Starfleet’s ranks, suggesting that the species’ experiences in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine changed their views on the Federation.
Nog’s influence on Star Trek: Discovery‘s 32nd century isn’t confined to those Ferengi that followed in his footsteps, either. The USS Nog is the biggest tribute to the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character, proving that Starfleet’s first Ferengi officer made enough of a historical impact to have a starship named after him. The USS Nog is also an Eisenberg-class starship, named in tribute to the late Aron Eisenberg, who played Nog on DS9, and is still missed to this day.
Nog’s Father Rom Opened The Door For More Ferengi In Starfleet
It’s fair to say that Nog inspired his father Rom (Max Grodénchik) to dream bigger than Quark’s Bar in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Rom followed his son’s path into engineering, becoming a close colleague of Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney). Rom therefore had a very close working relationship with Starfleet, that gave him a more progressive perspective when he was made Grand Nagus in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine finale. Grand Nagus Rom ultimately made it easier for Ferengi to follow Nog’s path into Starfleet in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4.
By negotiating a deal for Ferenginar to become a member of the United Federation of Planets, Grand Nagus Rom paved the way for more Ferengi in Starfleet. Having seen how the institution changed his son Nog into a hero in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Grand Nagus Rom presumably wanted the same for other Ferengi. 800 years later, and Nog and his father Rom’s legacy is continued by the brave Ferengi officers serving as Starfleet officers in Star Trek: Discovery‘s 32nd century.
