WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2!
Summary
Despite them being illegal under Federation law, severalStar Trekships have been fitted with a cloaking device.Star Trek’s creator Gene Roddenberry objected to Starfleet using the cloaking technology that was utilized by their enemies, the Romulan and Klingon Empires.Star Trek: The Next Generationprovided an in-universe explanation for this, in the form of the Treaty of Algeron.The Treaty was signed following the Tomed Incident, and barred Federation member worlds from developing cloaking technology. However, several Starfleet ships have defied this treaty, including an alternate realityversion of the starship Enterprise.
While someStar Trekships have broken the Treaty of Algeron with the approval of the Romulan Star Empire, others have done so in secret. One such scandal involved a young Ensign William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), and it was a formative moment on his journey to becoming second-in-command of the USS Enterprise-D. Centuries later, at the extreme end of theStar Trektimeline, the Treaty of Algeron no longer seems to apply, asat least one 32nd century Starfleet ship is fitted with a formerly illegal cloaking device.
DS9’s Defiant Broke Big Star Trek Rules By Having A Cloaking Device
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s USS Defiant came equipped with a Romulan cloaking device, which broke a few in-universe and real-life Star Trek rules.
6USS Defiant
Gifted a cloaking device by the Romulan Star Empire.
The best-knownStar Trekship to possess an “illegal” cloaking device wasStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s USS Defiant, introduced in season 3. The Romulan Star Empire providedDeep Space Nine’s Defiantwith a cloaking devicein exchange for intelligence on the Gamma Quadrant and the threat posed by the Dominion. To this end, the Defiant had a Romulan crew member on its first voyage, Sub-commander T’Rul (Martha Hackett), who operated the cloaking device while investigating the Gamma Quadrant. Commanded by Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), the Defiant was an exception to the Treaty of Algeron, not the rule.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
As part of the agreement, the USS Defiant could only use its cloaking device in the uncharted territory of the Gamma Quadrant.Use of the Defiant’s cloak in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants was strictly forbidden, in line with the Treaty of Algeron. However, Captain Sisko violated this stipulation whenever the situation demanded it. When the USS Defiant was eventually destroyed by the Breen inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 7, it ended the agreement between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire by default.
Contrary to popular belief, the USS Defiant was introduced inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3 not to boost ratings, but to give the characters a better chance against the threat from the Dominion.
5USS Pegasus
Conducted illegal cloaking tests for Starfleet Intelligence.
In 2358, the Oberth-class USS Pegasus was tasked with conducting cloaking device tests, in direct contravention of the Treaty of Algeron. Commanded by Captain Erik Pressman (Terry O’Quinn),the Pegasus tested an interphasic cloaking device with disastrous results. The illegal technology placed an extraordinary strain on the Pegasus, resulting in a devastating explosion in engineering. Despite this, Pressman refused to cease the test, resulting in a mutiny and the apparent destruction of the Pegasus. Riker sided with his captain, and went along with Pressman’s cover-up, blaming the explosion, not the cloak, for the loss of the Pegasus.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
12 years later, Pressman, now promoted to Rear Admiral, tasked the USS Enterprise-D with recovering the USS Pegasus before its illegal cloak was discovered by the Romulans. However, the Enterprise wasn’t fast enough and found itself trapped inside an asteroid, pinned down by the Romulans. To save his crew,Riker decided to come clean about the Pegasus' cloak, exposing Pressman’s breach of the Treaty of Algeron, and risking his own career. To escape the asteroid, Picard ordered that the interphasic cloak to be fitted aboard the Enterprise, and informed the Romulan Star Empire about the Pegasus' treaty violation to maintain peace.
TNG’s USS Pegasus model was built using the USS Grissom model fromStar Trek III: The Search for Spock.
4USS Enterprise-D (Dreadnought)
In the future timeline fromStar Trek: The Next Generationfinale, “All Good Things…”, it’s revealed that the USS Enterprise-D has had a substantial refit. As well as being upgraded with heavier weapons and a third nacelle,the so-called “Dreadnought” Enterprise-D also has a cloaking device. In this timeline, the Enterprise was the personal flagship of Admiral Riker, and the Federation’s possession of cloaking technology is widely known about. So much so that Worf (Michael Dorn) chastizes Riker for not using the cloaked Enterprise to help Picard in the first place.
I Can’t Think Of A Better Series Finale Than Star Trek: TNG, Even 30 Years Later
Star Trek: The Next Generation came to an end 30 years ago with a near-perfect finale that has withstood the test of time.
Star Trek: The Next Generation’s finale never explicitly states what happened to the Treaty of Algeron on-screen, but Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) does provide a likely explanation.Geordi states that the Klingon Empire took over the Romulan Star Empire at an undisclosed point. This huge power shift in theStar Trekuniverse would have surely negated the Treaty of Algeron, allowing the Federation to begin developing cloaking technology. Given the tensions between the Federation and theKlingon home worldin the anti-time future, cloaking technology would surely become a tactical necessity.
3The Federation Holoship
It broke the Treaty of Algeron to “uphold” the Prime Directive.
The legality of the Federation Holoship’s cloaking device is never discussed inStar Trek: Insurrection, but given how shady Admiral Dougherty (Anthony Zerbe) was, it’s a good bet that it broke the Treaty of Algeron. Whilethe cloak technically upheld the Prime Directive by not exposing Federation technology to a pre-warp planet, the Holoship had a more nefarious purpose. Dougherty was working in partnership with the Son’a to harvest the planet’s unique metaphasic radiation. Therefore, his Holoship was designed to relocate the Ba’ku people to another planet without their knowledge, using holodeck technology to create the illusion that they were still on solid ground.
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise as they discover a conspiracy within the Federation to relocate a peaceful race from their planet to exploit its rejuvenating properties. Directed by Jonathan Frakes, the film explores themes of morality and resistance while showcasing the unique dynamics and principles that define the Star Trek universe.
Admiral Dougherty’s Holoship was placed at the bottom of a lake on the Ba’ku planet, awaiting deployment to transport the planet’s 600 inhabitants from their home. Captain Picard and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) exposed the Holoship’s presence on Ba’ku, abandoningStarfleet’s Prime Directiveto reject the greed of Dougherty and the Son’a. Picard later used the Holoship against Dougherty and the Son’a, when Lt. Commander Worf recloaked the Holoship and used it to remove the command crew from the Son’a vessel, allowing Jean-Luc to take control and stop further metaphasic radiation from being collected.
2The Infinity
Admiral Janeway’s top-secret ship has an illegal cloak.
InStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2, episode 1, “Into the Breach, Part I”,Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) unveils the Infinity, which was cloaked inside shuttlebay three aboard the USS Voyager-A. The existence of the Infinity was top-secret, and only Admiral Jellico (Ronny Cox), and Janeway’s senior staff were initially aware of its existence. While cloaking technology is illegal in the Federation,Prodigyseason 2 is set in the wake of theRomulan supernova disaster, meaning that the Empire may have given Starfleet a dispensation in return for their assistance with the evacuation efforts.
Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Trek: Prodigy is the first TV series in the Star Trek franchise marketed toward children, and one of the few animated series in the franchise. The story follows a group of young aliens who find a stolen Starfleet ship and use it to escape from the Tars Lamora prison colony where they are all held captive. Working together with the help of a holographic Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), the new crew of the USS Protostar must find their way back to the Alpha Quadrant to warn the Federation of the deadly threat that is pursuing them.
The Infinity’s mission was to fly into the wormhole, retrieve Chakotay from the 25th century, and bring him back home.The use of a cloaking device made sense, as hiding the Infinity’s presence at such a crucial point in the timeline was vital. Unfortunately, Dal R’El (Brett Gray) and the Protostar crew discover the ship and, after a fight with Nova Squadron, end up hurtling through the wormhole. After Dal and the Infinity crew eventually returned to the 24th century empty-handed,Admiral Jellico ordered the destruction of the top-secret vessel, but once again, the Protostar crew had other ideas.
Janeway As Captain Of USS Enterprise? Star Trek’s Kate Mulgrew Said No
Admiral Janeway commands the USS Voyager-A in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 after Kate Mulgrew shot down Janeway as Captain of the Enterprise.
1USS Discovery
Discovery’s 32nd century refit included a cloaking device.
Star Trek: Discoveryseason 3, episode 11, “Su’kal” revealed that the titular starship had been fitted with a cloaking device during its 32nd century refit.800 years in the future, the Treaty of Algeron was nullified by the Vulcan and Romulan reunification. This allowed Starfleet to have their own cloaked starships, including the USS Discovery.Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) used the Discovery’s cloaking device sparingly, with it only seeing action inDiscoveryseason 5when the crew attempted to hide from Primach Ruhn’s Breen Dreadnought.
Star Trek: Discovery
Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.
Prior to this, Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) tried and failed to use the USS Discovery’s cloaking device to hide from the Emerald Chain inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 3, episode 11, “Su’kal”. Starfleet’s sparing use of cloaking devices inStar Trek: Discovery’s 32nd century honors Gene Roddenberry’s opinion on the technology. Even in the furthest future ofStar Trekhistory, with free access to cloaking technology, Starfleet still “don’t sneak around”.
