'Star Trek: Picard' Is Basically Starfleet Veterans Getting in One Last Mission

Don't worry, there aren't any spoilers here beyond anything seen in the series' trailers. But what you see in those trailers is a slew of familiar faces: Starfleet veterans picking up phaser rifles and comm badges, one last time.

While the technology is still "Star Trek," the look is a huge upgrade from the syndication days of the old series. But the sentiment behind it is strangely familiar. Despite being set centuries in the future, what veteran hasn't thought about going out on one last mission -- one last deployment with their old military buddies?

In "Star Trek: Picard," the latest "Trek" series from CBS All Access, Sir Patrick Stewart's famous captain from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is tracked down by a young woman he's never met -- but one he's seen before.

Picard is troubled by recurring dreams of Cmdr. Data (a role reprised by Brent Spiner), who died in the 2002 feature film "Star Trek: Nemesis," six years before Picard's retirement from Starfleet in the Star Trek timeline. It's been 14 years since his resignation, and he suddenly learns that Data may have offspring, who are in danger.

So Picard saddles up with other former Starfleet veterans, not all of whom fans are already familiar with, but their issues are recognizable.

One is a Starfleet vet who struggles with connecting with her family and copes through substance abuse. Another is a former officer who isn't sure whether he should be proud of his accomplishments in the service and stays withdrawn from society.

Picard himself has been a recluse for nearly 14 years, writing books from a chateau where he makes wine with his dog -- but seemingly doing little else. It probably gets a little more boring than gallivanting around the galaxy.

Just watching the trailers for the series, "Star Trek: Voyager" fans will notice series regular Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) blasting her way out of what looks like a bar.

Starfleet totally disowns Picard and his mission, so he sets off on his own with a small band of the aforementioned Starfleet veterans who join him for their own reasons. The renegade crew has to tangle with a hostile foreign intelligence service (the Romulan Tal Shiar) as well as its own Starfleet Intelligence in a race to rescue what could be Data's last achievement.

Picard, a retired admiral, is basically trying to preserve the memory and legacy of one of his officers, one who saved his life. And he's doing it with a band of like-minded, erstwhile officers who struggled with their transition out of Starfleet.

The correlations between this latest "Star Trek" vehicle and some of the different realities of veteran life -- some darker than others -- go further, but this author promised there would be no spoilers.

New episodes of "Star Trek: Picard" can be found online at CBS All Access or on the CBS All Access app every Thursday. The show has already been renewed for a second season.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com.

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