Star Trek: The Experience

Star Trek: The Experience was a US$70 million permanent Star Trek-themed attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, owned by Cedar Fair Enterprise. Containing shops styled after the Deep Space 9 Promenade, a restaurant styled after Quark's, The History of the Future Museum (which was a large collection of props and artifacts), and the Klingon Encounter and Borg Invasion 4D rides. The store was the largest Star Trek-themed store in the world.

Terry Farrell commented after a visit The Experience "I got jostled around and shot at. I didn't have to pretend to react for once. Instead of jumping around and shaking, the ride did it all for me. That was pretty cool". ("Farrell's Fate", Star Trek Monthly, issue 43)

Background
In 1992, Gary Goddard began developing The Starship Enterprise as an attraction in Las Vegas. It was intended to be a full-scale replica of the refit USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), both its exterior and interiors. The idea was rejected despite five months of planning as the cost would've been too high if the attraction had flopped. 

Opening
The Experience opened with 2,500 on hand for a gala premier on 3 January 1998. It was originally a property owned by Paramount Parks, built by Landmark Entertainment resort/theme park developer and coordinated by the Paramount/Viacom licensing division. It was sold to Cedar Fair, owner of Knott's Berry Farm, with the other Paramount Parks division amid the parent Viacom split of CBS and Paramount Pictures in 2006.

On the Star Trek: Voyager Season 1 DVD, a special feature explained the attraction, including interviews with some staff members and performers.

Closing
On 2 May 2008, TrekMovie.com reported the future of Star Trek: The Experience was in doubt due to declining attendance. On 2 July 2008, Cedar Fair and CBS Consumer Products officially announced that Star Trek: The Experience would be closing on, as no agreements were reached between the various parties needed to keep the attraction operational. Cedar Fair is required to completely vacate the space at the Hilton by 31 December 2008, when their contract with CBS expires. At the time, CBS stated that they were exploring several possibilities to keep The Experience running, possibly at another location. 

The closing ceremony was held on 1 September 2008. The public was invited to attend the ceremony, which was presented in the tradition of a naval decommissioning ceremony. Giving the keynote at the closing was Suzie Plakson, who introduced all the members of the Star Trek: The Experience staff. April Hebert, who played T'pril, was introduced last as the longest serving cast member of Star Trek: The Experience and given the United Federation of Planets banner. Chase Masterson was also in attendance for the closing ceremony, and Garrett Wang made a brief appearance at Quark's shortly before closing. Chad Boutte, Operations Manager of Star Trek: The Experience, gave the final speech with the final words "live long and prosper".

The props and equipment displayed at the attraction were shipped back to Hollywood where Paramount Pictures will retain them in storage. 

Star Trek actor Robert Picardo, who performed in the Borg Invasion 4D, was critical of the decision to close the attraction right before the release of the new film which he expected to revitalize the franchise. 

According to a 6 Feb 2009 article from the Las Vegas Sun, Star Trek: The Experience was to reopen in the Neonopolis Mall in downtown Las Vegas on 8 May 2009. This ultimately did not happen, for reasons as yet unknown. It was stated that the date was chosen to coincide with the release of. Reports stated that only the first phase would open this year, with the complete Experience to re-open in early 2010. On 10 April 2010, some of the unwanted props and equipment from the exhibit were sold at auction. The "STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE Warehouse Sale" was handled by newly-formed auction house Propworx, Inc. in their first Star Trek auction. As of August 2011, the exhibit has not yet reopened.

It has also been suggested that the new Experience, should it reopen, will show more of the Original Series than its predecessor. 

The Experience
Star Trek: The Experience played host to parties, receptions, weddings, scheduled events, and conventions. Those who wished to hold their wedding there could have it in Starfleet uniform on the bridge of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), with Star Trek aliens such as Ferengi and Klingons as witnesses. The bridge facility was available for photo opportunities and costumes could be rented for the same.

The Klingon Encounter and Borg 4D adventures uniquely combined ride simulators, accurately detailed sets, special effects and trained, dedicated costumed live actors to make guests truly feel they were actually in the Trek universe. The site offered tie-in parties, photo opportunities and sidebar events when Creation Entertainment's annual Star Trek convention was held at the Hilton in August.

Moogie's Trading Post
Moogie's Trading Post was located outside Quark's just before the entrance to the Promenade.

Quark's Bar and Restaurant
Quark's Bar & Restaurant was a fine dining establishment.

Klingon Encounter
Initially, a group of about twenty visitors entered a rather confining room. (The exact number of participants varied, as friends and family were unlikely to split.) Once inside the room, one of the ride directors began speaking about the Experience and seemed to be intentionally making it sound unexciting, like you were "visiting a typical museum" and limited to a shuttle ride – motion simulator. During this initial lecture of Star Trek history, a small device displayed scenes from several Star Trek movies.

The group entered the next room, where they were instructed via monitor about the shuttle ride when there was "trouble" with the monitors... then the lights went out. Dozens of small round flashes flickered through the darkness to simulate the "transporter effect", accompanied by the transporter sound effect and a rush of cold air. When the lights returned, the walls and floor had changed... you appeared to be on the transporter pad aboard the USS Enterprise-D. The layout was similar to the usual transporter room as seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the group was facing a Starfleet uniformed transporter technician at their station.

While on the transporter pad, a Starfleet officer asked the group leaders (two ride-tour directors) to accompany them. An officer then explained that the visitors were beamed aboard the starship Enterprise and were in "what 'you' would call the future, the year 2371." He then requested the group to follow him. The group was led down a typical starship corridor to the bridge.

On the bridge, the group stood in the rear between the science stations and the tactical station. A crewmember explained that Captain Jean-Luc Picard disappeared the moment the group beamed aboard the Enterprise.

Although the three chairs that (from port to starboard) Counselor Deanna Troi, Picard, and Commander William T. Riker usually occupied were empty, that was only visible if one ventured to look over the semicircular counter that housed the tactical station.

There were various crewmembers busy on the bridge during this time, and they contacted Commander Riker, who promptly appeared on the main viewscreen. Riker explained that a group of rogue Klingons, led by Korath, transported your group to the future because "one of you is an ancestor of Captain Picard". Korath's plan was to kill the group, and prevent Picard's existence. Riker stated that your group was to escape via shuttlecraft and go through a temporal rift, which should return all the guests back to their original time, and restore the existence of Captain Picard.

While the group was in the turbolift, the Klingons attacked the Enterprise. There was a malfunction and the turbolift entered a (simulated) free fall. There were several jolts on the turbolift during the attack. Finally, the group arrived at the shuttle bay deck along a large section of corridor.

The group then lined up to board the shuttlecraft. Each line corresponded to a row of seats in the shuttle, so people in the same line would sit in the same row.

The shuttle ride, 'led' by Geordi La Forge, began by exiting the Enterprise and entering a battle between the Enterprise and a few Klingon vessels. The shuttle went into warp and dropped out in the rings of a planet, where they were instructed to find and destroy a cloaking generator on the planet's surface. There were several dogfights during this time. The shuttle then returned through the temporal rift to present-day Las Vegas, buzzing the Sands Hotel at one point. However a Klingon ship followed, and locked a tractor beam on the group's shuttle. "It's over, Humans!" Korath exclaims "But take heart, today is a good day to die!" Suddenly a familiar voice states "If you say so, Korath..." The Klingon ship and then exploded in front of you as the Enterprise flew triumphantly through the ship's destruction, complete with Goldsmith-esque fanfare. The shuttle landed at the Las Vegas Hilton, in a unique manner, and the ride ended, right next to the "motion simulators" the visitors were supposedly waiting to enter before they were "beamed off" at the start of the story. Before the crew of the Enterprise left, Captain Picard opened a communique to the shuttle and thanked the group for "restoring his existence." He stated "While only one of you is my ancestor, each of you holds that same opportunity for the future. Guard it well."

The shuttle door opened, and typically there was a custodian behind it. He explained that the shuttle fell through the floor and that you were in a restricted area, and you must leave immediately. The custodian led the group to an elevator and then out to the Deep Space 9 Promenade and Quark's Bar and Restaurant. While waiting for the elevator, the group members could watch a monitor with a "breaking" local Las Vegas "news broadcast" featuring the "UFO" sightings that were the Klingons and the Enterprise.

Background information

 * This script, replacing an initial story offered by attraction developer Landmark and rejected by Star Trek then-executive producer Rick Berman, was written by actual Star Trek series writers Rene Echevarria (TNG and DS9) and Kenneth Biller (VOY). It was intentionally meant to play on participants' role as Las Vegas tourists, rather than as residents of the Star Trek future.
 * Several faithfully-recreated locales comprise this ride, including the Enterprise transporter room, bridge, and a shuttlebay. Longtime Star Trek production designer Herman Zimmerman was contracted to oversee design and construction as accurately as feasible, although some features – such as standard lighted exit signs, not Starfleet-style signage – had to be compromised for real-world building and safety codes.
 * The bridge – complete with animated controls and working viewscreen – could be rented for private functions, such as weddings.
 * In 2004, two of the four bridge sets and others were compressed or rearranged to make room for the new sister attraction, Borg Invasion 4D.
 * The title Klingon Encounter was coined only after the second ride was added. Previously, it had simply been known as just the "Star Trek: The Experience ride."

Cast

 * Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker
 * LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
 * Vaughn Armstrong as Korath
 * Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard (voice only)
 * Debra Wilson as the computer voice
 * Uncredited
 * Bruce Hyde as himself

Characters

 * Transporter Officer (lieutenant)
 * Ensign Thomas
 * Lt. Edwards, Ops Officer
 * Conn Officer (ensign)
 * Grand Corridor Officer - guided guests from the turbolift to the shuttlebay
 * Shuttle Bay Officer - put guests on the shuttle (flight simulator)
 * Janitor / Custodian

Crew

 * David de Vos - director / producer (high definition sequences)

Borg Invasion 4D
The Borg Invasion 4D opened on. It was developed by Paramount Parks, working closely with Rick Berman Productions, Viacom Consumer Products and a number of Star Trek consultants and creators to insure the authenticity of the experience. Threshold Digital Entertainment produced the 3D film portion.

This ride took groups of up to 48 people at a time. They entered a briefing room aboard the Starfleet science research facility Copernicus Station. The briefing room had a large viewscreen in the front beyond a podium, upon which several Starfleet personnel stood. There was also a Starfleet officer on the opposite side of the room. On the screen, The Doctor from the USS Voyager appeared and greeted the group. He explained that the group had been selected to undergo medical testing because some of the members were immune to Borg nanotechnology (which he "detected" when the group entered the room). In the middle of his presentation to the guests, The Doctor was interrupted by one of the station administrators. She said that they had detected a ship approaching the station at high warp. Since it didn't respond to communications, the station went to yellow alert (as the lights dimmed). The administrator said that they would postpone the medical testing until this possible threat was dealt with.

When the tactical officer of the station had a visual, the administrator said, "Let's see it." Lo and behold, in all its grim glory, it was a full size Borg cube that slowly and ominously approached the station. The officers in the room and The Doctor all shared the same grim expression, knowing that difficult times were ahead. The station went to red alert (with the lights flashing red) and the administrator gave orders to open fire on the cube; the ground shook beneath and the sound of phasers and quantum torpedoes firing thunderously were heard. The cube appeard to sustain heavy damage, but was still able to tractor a section of the station away. The administrator requested a young security officer, Lt. Elkins, to get to the docking bay and help evacuate the visitors. He complied but informed her that they suffered heavy damage. The Borg located the testing facility and as The Doctor informed them to brace for impact, the cube fired a projectile, and all the lights went dark, but not before hearing a large amount of static. Then, all as one, the dreaded automata spoke. "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

The viewscreen came back online, and The Doctor checked in with Lt. Elkins. When The Doctor asked if Elkins was all right, he reported "For now. There's an extraordinary amount of damage down here. Sir, the Borg have entered the facility. The station's being overrun." The Doctor then told the group to get to the shuttle Olympia while there was still time; at this point he delivered the relevant safety instructions for the ride. As he was about to end the transmission, you saw a group of drones enter behind him. The Doctor proceeded to fire a phaser, and you saw one of the medical technicians injected with Borg nanoprobes as his skin turned ghastly white, and his veins turned black. Frantically The Doctor told Elkins, from the viewscreen, that they needed to evacuate and then disappeared from view as a group of drones approached his position. A security officer entered the room, and led the group to the next room: a corridor that looks severely damaged.

As the group was in the corridor, a Borg drone appeared to move towards the group, but turned instead to examine an LCARS computer panel. The Starfleet officer told the group that he posed no threat at the moment, then the door the officer was standing in front of opened and a drone pulled him into a turbolift as he screamed and yelled at the group to save themselves. At the opposite end of the room was an officer on an elevated station. He proceeded to try and open the next door, but instead shot the panel with his phaser as the drone that was examining the computer console moved towards the group. That drone was eliminated, but as the door to the shuttle opened, an unseen drone pulled the technician up from the ceiling as he screamed.

The group then entered a room that purported to be an escape vessel. Everyone picked up "safety glasses" (3D goggles) and sat down. The shuttle took off from the station, but was pulled inside the Borg cube. The front of the shuttle was blown open (utilizing 3D effects) and bird-like cybernetic lifeforms approached, scanning the ship and passengers. Elkins instructed Flemming to remain with the passengers as he attempted to fend them off inside the cube. As he fired at the creatures, two drones transported to his position and transported him away. Small Borg probes entered the shuttle and sprayed the group with nanoprobes. They wriggled under the skin (by way of motion prods under the seats) as the Borg Queen appeared. She began lecturing about the perfection of the Collective and demanded the surrender of the group's inhibitions and instructed them to join the hive mind. As the nanoprobes took hold, you were subjected to a hallucination of the Collective from the point of view of drones, moving through the cube. You entered an assimilation chamber and saw Lt. Elkins undergoing assimilation. At that moment, The Doctor projected himself into the hallucination, telling the group to fight it. "You are resistant to assimilation! Fight it! We're coming for you, help is on the..." He then cut out. The group, now out of the hallucination, listened to the Queen as she began lecturing, purporting that no one had ever resisted assimilation. Then, another communication entered the ship and a familiar female voice said, "Maybe it's time we even the sides." The Queen looked abashed. "Janeway!" she screamed.

Admiral Kathryn Janeway appeared on two side viewscreens as you saw Voyager burst through the far side of the cube and begin to approach the audience's shuttle. Janeway began to addresses the Queen: "Stand aside, I've come to take these people home." "In a moment, this cube and everything in it will be incinerated." the Queen said. Janeway skeptically fired back, "You'd sacrifice an entire cube to destroy us?" "You're a fool Janeway, there will always be more drones!" the Queen yelled. "Voyager and these unique individuals will be a more significant loss!" "We're not losing anyone." Janeway confidently said. She then asked, "Doctor?"

The Doctor then materialized on a platform near the front of the shuttle, informing the pilot that shield frequencies had been altered allowing the shuttle to raise its defenses. "This is useless!" The Queen yelled. "You're all trapped!" "Don't be too sure" Janeway said, as Voyager fired phasers on the Queen's position. She appeared to beam out before she could be destroyed. Janeway then ordered, "Fire quantum torpedoes!" Voyager obliged, as The Doctor held off the remaining nanoprobes with a hand phaser in time for the force field on the shuttle's bow to be activated. Janeway then beamed The Doctor to Voyager and left the cube in shambles as she locked her tractor beam on the group's shuttle, and the group was then treated to the magnificent explosion of the Borg cube as it was defeated by the Federation. "Savor your victory!" the Queen yelled. "We will meet again!"

On the way back to Copernicus Station, The Doctor appeared and addressed the audience. "We did it! What a remarkable encounter! Oh, the papers I'll be able to publish! Of course I'll need several weeks with all of you back at Copernicus for observation!" As The Doctor laughed, Admiral Janeway chimed in. "Doctor? I think they've been through enough, thank you." The Doctor dropped his shoulders in sadness and obliged, "Yes, admiral" as he dematerialized.

As the shuttle docked back at Copernicus Station, Janeway spoke to the audience one final time: "Congratulations. You resisted the Borg with the one thing the Queen can never assimilate: the Human spirit. So long as we have that, resistance is never futile." The theme to the Voyager television show then played, and everyone was directed to exit to the right. 

Effects included droplets of water, wind bursts, minor motion, and jabbing of the occupants – in the back and under the legs – through their chairs. (Though mild, the unexpected sensations could be startling.)

Background information

 * As with the Experience story that was eventually called Klingon Encounter, this script was penned by a Star Trek veteran, Voyager writer Lisa Klink.
 * This is the first Star Trek production that has ever been shot digitally.
 * This is the first all-digital motion picture to incorporate live-action and animation within a 3D cinema environment.
 * This is the first multiple-angle 3D cinema production with 3D effects from the front, overhead and both right and left sides of the participant.
 * This is the first world-wide attraction to use 2K digital cinema projection, which is twice as clear as other digital projection systems.

Cast

 * Robert Picardo as The Doctor
 * Kate Mulgrew as Admiral Kathryn Janeway
 * Alice Krige as the Borg Queen
 * Joseph Will as a Starfleet officer
 * Uncredited
 * Bill Blair as Borg drone 6 of 9
 * John Jurgens as a Borg drone
 * Keith Rayve as a Borg drone

Characters

 * Ensign
 * Lt. Stevens
 * Commander Markus
 * Commander Ross
 * Lt. Flemming

Star Trek The Experience Secrets Unveiled
Star Trek The Experience Secrets Unveiled was a paid, fully guided, behind-the-scenes look at the various productions that went into making The Experience. It was offered daily at limited times, so as not to interfere with other attractions, participants would wear wireless headsets and see how the many special effects were executed, the tour would occasionally pause while "backstage" to allow a production to continue. The tour would also walk around promenade to see how the production on characters costumes, make up and character histories were developed--for example, actors playing Klingons were required to learn Klingonese, and actors playing Ferengi had to memorize the Rules of Acquisition. Upon completion, a customized certificate was presented to attendees, who also signed a guestbook.

Live actors
The attraction was comprised of a rotating cast of actors. No actor was assigned to any particular part.


 * Lysander Abadia - Starfleet (Borg Invasion, Klingon Encounter)
 * Christopher Aguilar - Starfleet (Borg Invasion, Klingon Encounter)
 * Gretchen Baker - Starfleet (Borg Invasion, Klingon Encounter), Ferengi character "Risca" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)
 * Anita Bean - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter)
 * Elizabeth Belcastro - Starfleet (Borg Invasion, Klingon Encounter)
 * Christopher Bell - Borg Drone 2 of 16 (Borg Invasion)
 * Lisa Blake - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Chad Boutte - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Gina Burgos - Starfleet (Kligon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Wendee Lee Curtis - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Tom Deishley - Klingon character "General Motog" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)
 * Eric Deloretta - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Stephanie Firestone - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Michael Hartnett - Borg Drone character 3 of 6 (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)
 * April Hebert - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion), Vulcan character "Professor T'pril" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant), Andorian character "Commander Tahryn" (Quark's Bar & Restaurant)
 * Brad Hoover - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Charles Kelley - Borg Drone 5 of 16 (Borg Invasion)
 * Brigid Kelly - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Nicholas Kennedy - Borg Drone 8 of 16 (Borg Invasion)
 * Kimmie Kidd - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Miriam Krasny - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter)
 * Markus Kublin - Klingon character "Commander Kurmas" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)
 * Jerad Formby - Ferengi character "Quan" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)
 * Russell Giles - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Bonnie Gordon - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter)
 * Nancy Hardy - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * James Hilton - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Melvin Ladera - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Monteford Light - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Kerry Loomis - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion), Romulan character "Loriq" (Quark's Bar & Restaurant)
 * David Lovan III - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Patricia Madden-Waites - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Joann Naban-Bronson - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Richard Oden - Ferengi character "Rog'l" (Quark's Bar & Restaurant)
 * Charles Oneill - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Nicole Padberg - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Darren Pitura - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Chad Randall - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Andrew Redmond - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter)
 * George Rieth - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion), Vulcan character "Sovek" (Quark's Bar & Restaurant)
 * Diana Saunders - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion)
 * Damon A Shaw - Borg Drone 13 of 16 (Borg Invasion)
 * Lynn Sterling - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter), Klingon character "Major Kahlen" (Quark's Bar & Restaurant)
 * Kerstan Szczepanski - Andorian character "K'Stran" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)
 * Mark Weitz - Klingon character "Commander Churoq" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)
 * Vernon Wilmer - Borg Drone character 7 of 16 (Borg Invasion, Quark's Bar and Restaurant), Starfleet (Borg Invasion), Lt. "Pep" Streebeck (PR Events), Unofficial Historian for Star Trek: The Experience
 * Cameron Wright - Starfleet (Klingon Encounter, Borg Invasion), Bajoran character "Eron-Cam" (Quark's Bar and Restaurant)

Andorians

 * K'Stran Thral : K'Stran Thran is a lieutenant in the Andorian Imperial Guard, serving as intel attaché. He served in Starfleet on the USS Potemkin (NCC-18253) and fought honorably in the Dominion War. His weakness for Orion women prompted his resignation from Starfleet and subsequent demotion to his low-level assignment on the Time Station.


 * Lieutenant Commander Tahryn : Tahryn is serving the Andorian Imperial Guard as a member of the Diplomatic Corps. Her current assignment is to interact with the non-Starfleet aliens present on the station and report her impressions of the Humans and non-humans she encounters back to Andorian Imperial Command.

Borg

 * Three of Six (aka Ensign Edward Adams) : Three of Six was assimilated by the Borg at the Battle of Wolf 359 in 2367, whereupon he was renamed Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero Four. He was given special attention during rehabilitation due to his family's connections. Three of Six was assigned to the 21st century Time Station for reintegration into Human culture, but his assignment has sparked some controversy.


 * Seven of Sixteen (aka Lt. "Pep" Streebeck) : Seven of Sixteen was assimilated by the Borg at Wolf 359 in an alternate universe, whereupon he was designated Primary Adjunct of Omnimatrix Zero Five. Captured by Starfleet and cut off from the collective, he resorts to his default programming and observes species 5618 aboard the timestation, where he in turn is observed by Starfleet, and eventually re-programmed to be used in their battle simulations. Our own universe's Streebeck has learned of this drone version of himself and has visited the station seeking him, creating paradoxes which cause Seven to be forgotten - or overlooked.

Ferengi

 * Coin ("Quan") : Coin is a Ferengi Commerce Authority (FCA) Liquidator, authorized to close retail and restaurant facilities with a single command. His credibility is questionable due to bad business decisions. He is held in low regard by employees and fellow Ferengi. Coin is eighty-three years old and still paying off his student loans.


 * Rog'l : Rog'l claims to be the Ferengi "Commercial Forecaster" for the Grand Nagus and was one of the first to learn of the construction of the 21st century Time Station. He is one of the primary stockholders of Experience retail shop merchandise and pretends to like Humans, particularly children, to drive sales.


 * Risca : Risca is a female Ferengi enjoying the new liberties granted to women on Ferenginar, such as traveling off-world and wearing clothes. She is visiting the station as part of the "New Ferenginar Student Exchange Program" and is studying 21st century fashion to apply it to the emerging field of Ferengi female fashion design.

Klingons

 * Motog : Motog is a Dahar master, an honorary Starfleet Vice Admiral, and a General in the Klingon Defense Force. He maintains ambassadorial/advisory status on the Time Station. Motog is a veteran of many conflicts, including the Dominion War. He emphasizes diplomacy and tolerance over confrontation.


 * Major Kahlen : Kahlen is the head of the Diplomatic Security Force on the Time Station. She supervises all Klingons except for Motog. She is a member of the Science Division of the Klingon Defense Force, and is intelligent, but humorless.


 * Commander Churoq : Churoq formerly patrolled the Beta Quadrant for the Borg; he later transferred to the Time Station, where he is currently serving in a diplomatic capacity. Churoq is short-tempered, and dislikes being "stranded" with Humans and Ferengi.


 * Commander Kurmas : An expert in covert tactics and counter-espionage, Kurmas, son of Dartagh was part of the original Klingon Defense Force security attachment to the Time Station in keeping with Federation/ Klingon Empire alliance protocols. To aid diplomacy, he and fellow Klingon Opera enthusiast Voq-Ha introduced many Humans to the art form. Through his mentoring by senior officers Kahlen and Motog, Kurmas was promoted to Captain, given command of a Bird of Prey, and left the Time Station to seek glory for the empire.

Romulans

 * Loriq : Loriq is a Romulan commander who was invited to the station by the Federation after careful negotiations. She intends to make use of the Federation's openness to develop a better understanding of the alliances of the Alpha Quadrant and work towards political advancement.

Vulcans

 * T'pril : A professor at the Vulcan Science Academy, T'pril accepted the position after serving for fifteen years in Starfleet as a science officer. She is a specialist in behavioral science, and is currently acting as a field researcher on the Time Station.  Her treatise, "A Study of Xenophobia in 21st Century Humans" was recently published by the Journal of Comparative Galactic Behavioral Studies.


 * Sovek : Ambassador Sovek is a Vulcan assigned to investigate various errors discovered in the historical records relating to the 20th and 21st century. He believes that many of these errors come from the inaccurate and imprecise use of contemporary language.