STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS
Season 1, Episode 3
Season 1, Episode 3
Ghosts of Illyria
Series: Strange New Worlds - (2022 - present)Season: 1
Episode #: 3
Production #: SNW-103
Original Airdate: 05/19/2022
Writer(s): Akela Cooper & Bill Wolkoff
Director(s): Leslie Hope
Co-Stars
Sage Arrindell as Rukiya M'Benga
Andre Colquhoun as Crewman Probasco
Daniel Gravelle as Ensign Lance
Alex Kapp as the Voice of the U.S.S Enterprise Computer
André Dae Kim as Chief Kyle
Curtis Legault as Crewman Carter
Uncredited Co-Stars
Prosha Hussein as a Sick Crewmember
Jesse Ship as an Enterprise Operations Crewmember
Shannon Widdis as an Enterprise Navigator
Stardate: 1224.3
Synopsis
The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives at a colony abandoned by Illyrians, who were first encountered by the Enterprise NX-01 in the Delphic Expanse a century earlier. Unknown to Captain Archer at the time, the Illyrians engaged in genetic modification, which had been banned by the Federation as a result of the devastating Eugenics Wars. With an ion storm fast approaching, the landing party prepares to beam back up to the ship. While Captain Pike searches for Spock, Number One, and the rest of the team beam back aboard the ship. The ion storm causes the landing party’s patterns to nearly scramble. Fortunately, Hemmer saves the day, though the storm prevents Pike and Spock from returning to the Enterprise.
Onboard the Enterprise, things begin to get a bit strange, as Erica Ortegas finds Ensign Lance injuring himself in an attempt to get closer to a lighting fixture. Elsewhere in her quarters, Number One also seems invigorated by light, but following a moment where her skin appeared to glow, the symptom apparently passes. Doctor M’Benga reports that the other away team members aren’t as fortunate, as they are experiencing Vitamin D deficiencies in addition to the strong urge to get perilously near light sources. Hemmer is adamant that the transporter’s biofilters would have screened out any contagions, yet the affliction soon begins to spread among the crew.![]()
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Number One discusses the situation with Security Chief La’an Noonien-Singh, who voices opposition to genetic augmentation, specifically citing her ancestor Khan Noonien-Singh as an example of a bioengineered mass murderer. La’an comes down with the condition, perplexing Dr. M’Benga and Nurse Chapel as they seek to trace the source of the infections. As a precautionary measure, Una initiates the Enterprise’s lockdown protocol. Further research reveals that the contagion travels on light and uses it to trigger the pleasure centers of its victims, thus encouraging them to seek out more light and further spread the condition.
On the planet below, Spock locates a journal that indicates the Illyrians from this particular colony hoped to reverse their genetic modifications in order to join the Federation. The ion storm continues to rage, and both Pike and his science officer see what appear to be plasma lifeforms soaring through the gusting winds. The creatures make their way into the building, but rather than harm Pike and Spock, they shield them from the strengthening storm. Afterwards, Spock theorizes that these lifeforms used to be Illyrian colonists who succumbed to a disease and somehow became one with the electrical fields contained in the planet’s ion storms.
Back on the Enterprise, Number One stresses to M’Benga and Chapel that the key to immunity must exist in her blood sample because, as she reveals, she is an Illyrian, though from a different colony. Unfortunately, the Federation prohibits mixing modified Illyrian blood with that of other species.
Later, when Number One prevents La’an from enveloping the ship in light via a warp core breach, the two officers become irradiated. Una’s modified genes healed her, and her proximity to the Security Chief allowed La’an to be saved, as well. Chapel harnesses this information and is able to synthesize a cure for the crew. With the crew out of danger, Number One reports her true heritage to the captain, who has no interest in reporting her, ensuring that Una will continue to serve Starfleet.
Trailer
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