Although Paramount+’s two Star Trek series are set 930 years apart, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds share a secret connection. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy takes place in the 32nd century after Star Trek: Discovery season 5 in 3191, while Strange New Worlds season 3 primarily happened in 2261.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy picks up where Star Trek: Discovery left off, introducing the first new class of Starfleet cadets since The Burn devastated the United Federation of Planets over a century before.
The advantage of Starfleet Academy’s position as the farthest ongoing point of Star Trek’s expansive timeline is that the cadets can draw from a thousand years of Starfleet and Federation history, including the voyages of the USS Enterprise in the 23rd century.
Despite nearly a millennium between Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) voyages and Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) becoming the new Chancellor of Starfleet Academy, there’s a unique bond between two characters in the two Star Trek shows.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Captain Is A Lanthanite Like Strange New Worlds’ Commander Pelia
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Captain Nahla Ake is linked to USS Enterprise Chief Engineer Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds because they are both Lanthanites, a new species introduced by Strange New Worlds.
Appearing on TrekCulture, Robert Picardo, who plays The Doctor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, clarified that Captain Ake is a half-Lanthanite who is 420 years old. Check out Picardo on TrekCulture below:
Details about Carol Kane’s mysterious Commander Pelia have been doled out in dollops on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seasons 2 and 3. Pelia turns out to be a 5,000-year-old Lanthanite who lived on Earth for centuries.
In the 21st century, Pelia knew nothing about engineering before joining Starfleet and becoming an instructor of engineering. Pelia remains a pack rat of antiquities while also being a demanding taskmaster as Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3’s finale even suggested that Pelia has met The Doctor from Doctor Who. Captain Ake only being half-Lanthanite doesn’t seem to impact how long she can live if Nahla is 420 years old in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Can Carol Kane’s Pelia Appear In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy?
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will run for two more seasons on Paramount+, ending with season 5, likely in 2027. Similarly, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy consists of two seasons (so far), with season 2 possibly also streaming in 2027.
Barring time travel that would send Captain Nahla Ake to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ 23rd century, it’s possible that Commander Pelia could appear in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. If the eccentric engineer does show up at Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century, it would make Pelia nearly 6,000 years old.
Pelia’s longevity as a Lanthanite could allow the flesh-and-blood character to appear.
There are no known plans for Carol Kane to guest star in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, but Pelia’s longevity as a Lanthanite could allow the flesh-and-blood character to appear, as opposed to being a hologram or other means for Star Trek characters who would be long dead in the 32nd century.
It would not only be amazing synergy for Commander Pelia to appear in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, but it would be a golden opportunity for two Lanthanites to meet so that Emmy winner Carol Kane could act opposite Academy Award winner Holly Hunter.
Lanthanites are a relatively new species created as Commander Pelia’s backstory in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but Captain Nahla Ake brings Lanthanites even more into the forefront in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.