Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 5, episode 6 – “Of Gods and Angles”
Star Trek: Voyager proved that one of Starfleet’s enemies in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could be reformed. Star Trek: Deep Space NineThe Maquis were a guerrilla resistance group started by civilians whose homes had been annexed by the Cardassians and disillusioned former Starfleet officers. The Federation considered the Maquis traitors and vehemently pursued their capture. DS9Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) had a particularly difficult time with Starfleet officer-turned-Maquis fighter Michael Eddington (Kenneth Marshall), and infamously resorted to poisoning the atmosphere of Eddington’s safe haven to lure him out.
Captain Kathryn Janeway’s (Kate Mulgrew) first mission as captain of the USS Voyager was to recover the Maquis raider ValJean from the Badlands after leaving DS9. When Commander Chakotay’s (Robert Beltran) ValJean and Voyager were taken to the Delta Quadrant, the Starfleet and Maquis crews needed to work together to get home. Upon returning to the Alpha Quadrant, Star Trek: VoyagerThe Maquis crew members were pardoned for their crimeshaving proven his dedication to the Federation. Chakotay was welcomed back to Starfleet, as were Lieutenants Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson).
Star Trek: Lower Decks reveals that a Starfleet ship is crewed by reformed maquis
USS Voyager Half-Maquis Crew Inspired California-Class USS Reseda
In Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 6, “Of Gods and Angles”, Ensign Olly (Saba Homayoon) is a recent USS Cerritos transfer from the USS Reseda. Lieutenant Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) notes that The USS Reseda is crewed entirely by retired Maquis. As the Maquis evolved from disillusionment with Federation ideals, they attracted people who didn’t fit into Starfleet but who still had valuable skills and wanted to belong somewhere. Seemingly rebellious, Olly should have been at home among the ex-maquis, but he didn’t work out at Reseda either.
Captain Janeway’s tactics were likely employed by Starfleet when training former Maquis who were welcomed back into Starfleet. Instead of considering the Maquis as treasonous terrorists, Janeway accepted Commander Chakotay’s suggestion to get to know the Maquis for what they are. Because they are far from Federation space and are recognized as people with genuine abilities but unmet needs, most TravelerThe Maquis team was willing to work with Janeway in return. In Star Trek: Lower DecksCommander Jack Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) takes a similar approach to the Mariner, who in turn gives the same kind of grace to Ensign Olly.
Why Star Trek: DS9’s Maquis Is No Longer a Threat in Lower Decks
After the Dominion War, most of the Maquis are dead
Star Trek: Deep Space NineThe Maquis are no longer a threat in Star Trek: Lower Decks because most active Maquis resistance cells were decimated during DS9Dominion War. After suffering heavy losses to the Klingons, the Cardassians were positioned to join the Dominion in order to regain their former military power. As part of the Dominion, the Cardassians were able to easily exterminate the Maquis. The alliance did not last, however, and the Cardassians were also attacked by the Dominion. Without their main enemy, the Maquis lost all reason to fight in the first place.
At the end of the Dominion War, the only surviving Maquis managed to escape the Dominion or served on the USS Voyager. Any former Maquis officers who still wanted to fight were pardoned and allowed to join Starfleet. When the time comes Star Trek: Lower Decks’ It is revealed that the USS Reseda is crewed entirely by ex-Maquis, the Dominion War having already ended 7 years ago. Cooperation between Starfleet and the Maquis in Star Trek: Voyager made it possible for ships like the USS Reseda to exist as refuges for former Maquis officers who march to their own beat.