Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* PainfulConfession:
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E11HeroWorship Hero Worship]]", a boy named Jeremy cries as he admits that (he thinks) he [[AccidentalMurder accidentally destroyed his old spaceship, killing his parents and all the other crew]].
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E21TheDieIsCast The Die is Cast]]" Garak has been tasked with interrogating Odo. Under normal circumstances Odo would never break, but in this case the Tal Shiar have created devices that emit energy that lock Changelings into one form. The problem is that Changelings have to return to their natural liquid state every sixteen hours, removing that option exhausts them. Imagine not being allowed to sleep, the toll that it takes on mind and body. Eventually Odo does break, but not in the way Garak was expecting. Odo reveals that even though the Founders are evil conquerors, he still wants to return to them because they're his people. Garak has enough conscience and respect for Odo not to reveal this to his superiors.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E11HeroWorship Hero Worship]]", a boy named Jeremy cries as he admits that (he thinks) he [[AccidentalMurder accidentally destroyed his old spaceship, killing his parents and all the other crew]].
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E21TheDieIsCast The Die is Cast]]" Garak has been tasked with interrogating Odo. Under normal circumstances Odo would never break, but in this case the Tal Shiar have created devices that emit energy that lock Changelings into one form. The problem is that Changelings have to return to their natural liquid state every sixteen hours, removing that option exhausts them. Imagine not being allowed to sleep, the toll that it takes on mind and body. Eventually Odo does break, but not in the way Garak was expecting. Odo reveals that even though the Founders are evil conquerors, he still wants to return to them because they're his people. Garak has enough conscience and respect for Odo not to reveal this to his superiors.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* PerfectionIsStatic:
** Oh, the Borg. The Borg seek to achieve their own version of perfection through [[UnwillingRoboticization forced assimilation]] of diverse races, cultures, and technology into their HiveMind. This means turning them into cyborgs that fly in perfectly shaped ships that use their collective knowledge to overpower other races to add them into their Collective. [[spoiler:[[HoistByTheirOwnPetard This is also what does them in]] as a [[Series/StarTrekVoyager neurolytic pathogen is introduced by an alternate timeline Admiral Janeway]], collapsing the Collective and then [[Series/StarTrekPicard collectively wiped out]] by the aged, but no less capable crew of the ''Enterprise''-D]].
** The Q Continuum is described as evolutionary stagnation in episodes of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' and the audio drama ''Spock vs. Q'', having obtained great power but no imagination to do anything meaningful with it, which is why their most notorious member is frequently causing chaos around the universe, and why, as Spock notes, Q takes such an interest in humanity, who have imagination in abundance.
** Oh, the Borg. The Borg seek to achieve their own version of perfection through [[UnwillingRoboticization forced assimilation]] of diverse races, cultures, and technology into their HiveMind. This means turning them into cyborgs that fly in perfectly shaped ships that use their collective knowledge to overpower other races to add them into their Collective. [[spoiler:[[HoistByTheirOwnPetard This is also what does them in]] as a [[Series/StarTrekVoyager neurolytic pathogen is introduced by an alternate timeline Admiral Janeway]], collapsing the Collective and then [[Series/StarTrekPicard collectively wiped out]] by the aged, but no less capable crew of the ''Enterprise''-D]].
** The Q Continuum is described as evolutionary stagnation in episodes of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' and the audio drama ''Spock vs. Q'', having obtained great power but no imagination to do anything meaningful with it, which is why their most notorious member is frequently causing chaos around the universe, and why, as Spock notes, Q takes such an interest in humanity, who have imagination in abundance.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Split trope list per software suggestion
Added DiffLines:
[[Franchise/StarTrek Main Page]] | StarTrek/TropesAToD | StarTrek/TropesEToH | StarTrek/TropesIToL | '''Tropes M To P''' | StarTrek/TropesQToT | StarTrek/TropesUToZ
These tropes are featured across the entire ''Star Trek'' franchise. Please add tropes for specific works to their individual pages.
----
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:M]]
* MadeOfExplodium: When a computer blows up in ''Star Trek,'' it '''BLOWS UP''.' This extends to either independent computer equipment or even the consoles on the bridge. Sometimes characters even die from the exploding bridge consoles.
** In some situations, the consoles are shown to still be operational even AFTER exploding and killing some unfortunate redshirt. That's a durable design. Usually when this happens, it's a main character that takes over the station and they are immune to death from exploding consoles (at most they'll have minor injuries).
* MagicByAnyOtherName: Humans are absolutely militant about this. No matter how scientifically-inexplicable something is, or if that something can outright change the laws of physics at will, it is ''still'' not "magic". Referring to it as such will provoke an immediate negative response and denial. {{Technobabble}}, even if it is completely unsupported by evidence, will invariably be accepted as an explanation before "magic" will. Things which would be considered "supernatural" in real life such as PsychicPowers or RealityWarper[=s=] are still regarded as scientific in nature, even though Federation science cannot explain them. Which is why talking about the limitless power of "thought" is acceptable, but using the m-word will get you an earful of [[FlatEarthAtheist Flat Earth Atheism]].
* MagicPlasticSurgery: How is it that Doctors in the future are able to radically change your appearance so you are a different species with a head twice the size? We see Kirk, Troi, Picard, and Data [!] as Romulans, Kira as a Cardassian, Dukat, Seska and Dax as Bajorans (actually that one [[HumanAliens isn't much of a stretch]]), Sisko, O'Brien and Odo as Klingons, Neelix as a Ferengi...and Chakotay is a Vidiian with a big scabby bloated head. Quark is even made female and then turned male again, still capable of male reproduction afterward. It seems such a stretch that you can effortlessly change somebody's face and body to such a degree and than put you all back together again afterwards with no perceivable differences. This all becomes something of a moot point when Janeway and Paris "evolve" into a pair of copulating lizards in a later episode and the Doctor simply manages to '''[[HollywoodEvolution devolve]]''' them back into human beings .... "Go big or go home" is Brannon Braga's motto.
* MagicalSecurityCam: Happens so often and so early in the setting that it can be considered a technological standard. At this point, anything else would be a deviation from canon.
** Taken to its logical extreme in ''Voyager'', where the ship recorded all of the crew's brainwaves.
* MagneticPlotDevice: The various starships. The Holodeck. The Bajoran wormhole in ''Deep Space Nine''. The Temporal Cold War in ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]''.
* TheMainCharactersDoEverything: ''Trek'' seems to have a problem with keeping crew members at their designated stations, probably because it would become monotonous to the actors. It's a running gag that during a ship-wide emergency, the last place you'll find the Chief Engineer is in Engineering. (In TNG, Geordi could simply "transfer Engineering control" to the bridge, whatever that means, and thus justify his presence there). ''Picard'' S2 really cranks this up to 11 as the main cast are the only ones Q happens to transfer to the altered timeline, and some of them weren't even on the same ship (or hadn't seen each other in years). ''Lower Decks'' usually {{avert|ed}}s this by nature of its premise: most of the main characters are low-ranking ensigns often relegated to tedious, menial tasks and/or kept out of the loop. On ''Prodigy'' this is actually {{justified}} since the main characters are the only crew on the ship and thus ''have'' to do everything.
* MasterComputer: Ironically, TOS presents the Master Computer as a dangerous, dehumanizing thing that will inevitably threaten human lives. In particular, the episode "The Ultimate Computer" makes an automated starship ''Enterprise'' into an uncontrolled killing machine. However, by TNG, the ship computer on the Enterprise-D is shown to be fully capable of running the entire ship without a crew as early the first season episode "11001001" and this is generally treated as a good thing. But one of the most common FailsafeFailure scenarios recurring across the later series is for some problem with the main computers to cause malfunctions, including potentially lethal ones, to happen throughout the starship or space station over which they control every last mechanical system, with the crew struggling to regain control without being killed. Discovery gives us a straighter example with "Control", [[TheMenInBlack Section 31]]'s threat analysis computer that goes off the rails [[spoiler:and exterminates all organic life in the galaxy in one future timeline]]. ''Lower Decks'' {{lampshade}}s TOS's succession of evil AIs by revealing Starfleet has a "Self-Aware Megalomaniacal Computer Storage" facility.
* MatterReplicator: The matter replicators (called material synthesizers in the Original Series) function much like extremely advanced 3D printers: they can recycle matter to synthesize almost anything, including toys, clothing, money, food and drinks. Several episodes have seen the crew replicate food and other provisions for people in need. They have some limitations. It's implied, for example, that replicators can't be built much larger than a small room, which is why ships still need to be constructed piece-by-piece. There are also some special materials, such as latinum and biomimetic gel, that cannot be replicated. Opinions differ wildly about the quality of replicated food compared to "real" food. Some think it's grossly inferior (e.g. Michael Eddington), some think it's not always perfect but still fine (e.g. Captain Picard), and some consider the idea of cooking non-replicated food unusual (e.g. Keiko O'Brien).
* MeatSackRobot: The Borg [[TheAssimilator assimilates]] various species (via injecting {{Nanomachines}} into their victims) into its [[HiveMind AI's unifying conscious]] called "the Collective" [[UnwillingRoboticization whether their victims consent or not]].
** In ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'', the Borg queen grafts living skin tissue onto Data's arm (Data being a purely artificial android), allowing him to feel human sensations, something he has longed to do but was not capable of. This was an attempt to lure him over to her side. (A more limited example than most others, in that we're talking about a small patch of skin, and Data was fully functional without it, but it still fits the "reverse cyborg" definition)
* MechanisticAlienCulture: Several aliens, primarily from the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original series]]:
** The drone-like Lawgivers in "Return of the Archons". In that case, the drone-like humanoids were controlled by an intelligent supercomputer.
** The original builders of the Androids on Exo III were also stated to have been a society of biological creatures who ruined their homeworld and retreated underground where they became a more mechanized, machine-like society.
** The Kelvans from the Andromeda Galaxy are implied to have a culture like this; they are completely organic beings, but in their true form they experience none of the sensory distractions of humanoids, and consider themselves much more efficient. They go about trying to take over the Milky Way with very straightforward methods (transforming Kirk's crew into vulnerable dust-cubes that only their technology can restore to human form, for example) but without any of the typical ''Trek'' villains' hamminess. The Federation is saved from them by the fact that, when in artificial humanoid form, the Kelvans become {{Sense Freak}}s and can be incapacitated in a variety of ways, such as by the effects of alcohol or unfamiliar emotions like pleasure or jealousy.
** The Eyemorg (humanoid female) society in the infamous episode "Spock's Brain" were totally reliant on a mechanized underground industrial complex run by advanced computers (for which purpose they tried to steal "Spock's Brain," because they lacked the knowledge to maintain this infrastructure themselves unless); this was in contrast to the primitive, Ice Age-like culture of males that lived on the surface.
** The Fabrini who lived aboard a generational asteroid ship, which they all believed was actually a planet, were similarly run by an advanced, tyrannical computer called The Oracle. The Fabrini were less "rigidly mechanical" and more "rigidly traditional" though, the rigid traditions being enforced by The Oracle.
** The [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Borg]] are a Hive Mind of HollywoodCyborg aliens that otherwise follow this trope, using cybernetically augmented humanoid bodies only as cannon fodder and servitor units.
** Vulcans sometimes have elements of this, but their culture is much more complex. Their education system, however, as briefly shown in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'' and more extensively in ''Film/StarTrek2009'', is very much in line with this trope and plays like a callback to the uber-intellectual, emotionless aliens of older science fiction.
** The Iyaarans, a species from a Season 7 episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', play this trope absolutely straight, and also like a callback to aliens from older Sci-Fi: They are DittoAliens with rubber foreheads and jumpsuits; they lack cultural concepts like antagonism, love, joy, pleasure, crime, etc; they all appear male and reproduce asexually by [[NoodleIncident something called post-cellular compounding, the exact mechanics of which are, fortunately, never detailed]]. Their diet is extremely bland, consisting of nutrient wafers, because they consider their need to eat as matter of sustenance only, not pleasure or enjoyment, like many other humanoids consider meals. Unlike most examples of this trope, however, they are very curious about other cultures, though they struggle to understand diverse cultures like [[TheFederation the Federation]].
** Similarly, the cauliflower-headed humanoids that abducted Picard for study in an earlier episode were all [[DittoAliens identical]] with no concept of individual identity or leadership. What little was revealed about their society hinted at something like this trope.
** The Bynars from the first season episode "11001001" are closely dependent on their computers for survival. They have implants that connect them to their planet's central computer, have "digital" names like One Zero and Zero One, live and work in binary pairs, have a language based on binary, and when their planet's central planetary computer is fried by a nearby supernova it almost wipes out the entire species.
** The [[ObstructiveBureaucrat Hier]][[PlanetOfHats archy]] from ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' are a callback/parody/possible deconstruction of this, with their heavily regimented, computerized society, costume design, and snotty behavior.
* MildlyMilitary: Starfleet is both a military and an exploration and research organization, also acting as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gendarmerie top-level]] [[SpacePolice law enforcement]] and the [[GunboatDiplomacy advance scouts and bodyguards]] of TheFederation's diplomatic corps and intelligence network. It is a conglomeration of the US Navy and Coast Guard, the USMC, the FBI, the CIA, the Department of State, the United Nations, UsefulNotes/{{NASA}} and a few research universities; at any given time a captain may need to think like Sun Tzu, Colin Powell or Jacques Cousteau -- or all three. Creator/GeneRoddenberry suggested something like the civilian space program ([[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks if it were operated by the military.]]) Since he was in the Army Air Forces during World War II, it's ''very'' likely that some part of his experience had a part in shaping Star Trek. Nicholas Meyer was proudly made military sci-fi, while the Kelvin timeline films have explicitly said Starfleet is a "peace-keeping armada" and "not a military organization". Sometimes characters within the story will comment on Starfleet's ambiguous position. However, all in all, Captain Kirk says it best:
-->CHRISTOPHER: "Must have taken quite a lot to build a ship like this".\\
KIRK: "There are only twelve like it in the fleet".\\
CHRISTOPHER: "I see. Did the Navy--"\\
KIRK: "We're a combined service, Captain".
** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' takes place before Starfleet became combined with the military. As a result, Starfleet resembles a military service less than it does in any other incarnation of the franchise. The [=MACOs=] (Military Assault Command Operations), however, are essentially the 22nd century answer to the Marine Corps. While taking a few minor liberties, the [=MACO=]s observe military protocol, wear camouflage uniforms, and use real-world small unit combat tactics. In their debut episode, the [=MACO=] commander even points out why having TheMainCharactersDoEverything is a bad idea; insisting that his team handle a combat situation on a planet surface so that Starfleet security personnel are available if ''Enterprise'' gets boarded.
* MilitaryMaverick: Almost expected of Starfleet captains, it would seem. Picard, for all his careful, deliberate, and knowledge of the the regulations (backwards, forwards, and sideways), has many moments of this, and the others even more. One gets the impression that, away from central planets and main trade routes, the captain ''is'' the Federation, with all the discretion '''and''' responsibility that implies.
** Considering that the original concept for the series was Hornblower in deep space, and that ship captains during the WoodenShipsAndIronMen era usually were their respective country's highest representative in any area where they were stationed...
** Janeway in ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' once made a comment about how strongly she had to hold onto Starfleet regulations so far from home, but also admired the gung-ho attitude of [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries earlier Starfleet captains]] ("I would have loved to ride shotgun at least once with a group of officers like that!").
* MimicSpecies: Romulans, being related to Vulcans, look a lot like them, except for the fact that most of them have a V-shaped ridge on their foreheads. Because of this, they often pretend to be Vulcans for ulterior reasons.
* MinovskyPhysics: ''Franchise/StarTrek'' has a [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Materials_and_substances very long list of fictional substances and their properties.]] Very rarely is any material given new abilities to fill a plot need: instead, the writers invent entirely new materials. Whenever a material is reused in a later story, it retains its specific properties.
** Star Trek's [[AllThereInTheManual technical manuals]] all try to provide consistent explanations for the science and technology of the series.
* MindReformatDeath:
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', "Dagger of the Mind": By the end of the episode, the malevolent Dr. Adams is killed by accident when an experimental electronic hypnosis device, the neural neutralizer, [[LaserGuidedKarma is turned on with no one at the controls, and he looks into it.]] With no one to provide a mental suggestion, his mind is emptied of everything, and he subsequently dies from the loneliness.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'':
*** Part of the effect of the Borg assimilation process. If progressed far-enough and long-enough, the victim's previous personality might as well be dead, as the computerized Borg nanoprobes and subsequent implants take over almost every mental and essential body function, save for the physical existence of the individual itself. However, if done properly, the individual's personality and memories can either be brought back, or can be retrained for a new life if they are freed from the collective.
*** "The Schizoid Man": Deliberately done by Dr. Ira Graves, the guest character in the episode. Graves successfully implants his consciousness and knowledge into Data's positronic matrix (though we don't see how), before his physical body dies. However, realizing that he's becoming increasingly corrupt and overbearing in Data's body, Graves subsequently implants his knowledge into the Enterprise computer system to atone (again, we don't see how, since Data is only lying on the floor when found), but does so in a way that the human-consciousness element is lost forever.
*** "Contagion": Played straight, then subverted. An alien computer virus destroys The Enterprise's sister Galaxy-class vessel, and then subsequently infects the Enterprise's computer systems themselves. Upon traveling to the planet the virus originated from, Picard, Worf, and Data beam down to the control center that launches the probes containing the virus. When Data attempts to activate its systems further than just turning it on, he's struck by a data energy discharge that contains the virus, subsequently re-writing Data's systems algorithms one-by-one. When brought back to the Enterprise by Worf, by using the control center's gateway, Data seemingly dies, but then comes back to life a few seconds later, but without his memories and experiences on the planet. This is the key to stopping the virus: a shut down of all ship systems to purge the virus from memory, then restarting from separate protected archives and memory.
*** "The Measure of a Man": How Data likens the transfer of his positronic matrix into a data container for study, when Commander Bruce Maddox suggests the development of creating hundreds or even thousands of versions of Dr. Noonien Soong's androids:
-----> '''Data [to Maddox]:''' There is an ineffable quality to memory which I do not believe can survive your procedure.
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Implied to be what happens to a sapient hologram if it's "decompiled" (in-turn implied by-definition to be returned/reverse-engineered to human-readable source code), if we are to trust the EMH Doctor's idea of it.
** ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': It turns out that Data's consciousness survived in some form after the events of ''Film/StarTrekNemesis''. When Picard succumbs to the unknown condition (Implied to be Irumodic Syndrome, from TNG's finale, "All Good Things.."). that has been slowly deteriorating his mind throughout season 1, his consciousness is uploaded into a computer bank, where he meets with Data's consciousness, who asks him to terminate it. When Picard's essence is uploaded into a new "golem" android body, he does so, slowly taking out the isolinear chips containing Data, with a eulogy speech. Inside of the computer bank, each chip removal abstractly ages Data's consciousness, until he dies peacefully and it finally dissolves into oblivion.
* MonsterOfTheWeek:
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'':In SF author David Gerrold's book about writing the episode "The Trouble With Tribbles", he recounts seeing the first episode broadcast, which featured a creature that sucked all of the salt out of people's bodies, thereby killing them. He hoped ''Star Trek'' wasn't going to turn out to be a MonsterOfTheWeek show, which ironically for him, it did.
** While later series rarely had weekly ''monsters'', ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and especially ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' had [[NegativeSpaceWedgie stellar anomalies]] of the week that were always solved by a healthy amount of {{Technobabble}}.
** The first season of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' started to become a [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien ''god-like alien'']] of the week show, but fortunately found sturdier footing in subsequent seasons.
* MonumentalView: Every iteration puts Starfleet academy on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco (and directly across from Starfleet headquarters). There's a bit of a problem with that as the land there is almost exclusively deep, steep, hills.
** On the other hand, the chronologically earliest series takes place a century and a half in the future. Plenty of time for the hills to get bulldozed.
*** Those same hills where the academy would be placed if it were a real place are actually home to a large network of abandoned US Naval fortifications, which presumably could be used by Starfleet, with additions for things like hangers or storage making it a fairly logical placement for the purpose of a base/training station.
* MoreHeroThanThou: Any time one Starfleet officer says IWillOnlySlowYouDown.
* MostCommonSuperpower: In recent years, various actresses have let slip that most, if not all, of ''Star Trek''[='s=] females have had to wear padded bras. Notable exceptions are Nana Visitor ([=DS9=]) and Kate Mulgrew who, according to legend, took her stuffed bra, stomped straight into the writer's room, and slammed it on their desk saying, "I'm ''not'' wearing that".
** Notably glaring with [[Series/StarTrekEnterprise T'Pol]], who lose that particular superpower with her change of outfit between season 2 and 3.
* MultiDirectionalBarrage: Though they prefer to fire [[https://youtu.be/3EQ9cFey-3U?t=541 single, precise shots,]] most large starships in the franchise [[https://youtu.be/dBmmlHR1Bwg?t=101 have weapons on all sides]] and fast-working targeting computers, granting them the ability to do this when surrounded.
** Some demonstrations: [[https://youtu.be/PyLSoKSyTXg?t=38 NX Class starship,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCYirVh6ZWY Enterprise-D,]] [[https://youtu.be/56iTxduUacs?t=54 Enterprise-E,]] and the [[https://youtu.be/EYXcfzJWfjA?t=30 Voyager.]] Additionally, this trope is maintained in the [[https://youtu.be/15B20vl-Ync?t=1677 videogame media.]]
* TheMultiverse:
** Kirk, [=McCoy=], and several others were transported to a MirrorUniverse in the "Mirror, Mirror" episode of the original ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}},'' in which an evil Earth-based empire ruled the galaxy. This was very much an InSpiteOfANail universe, since everything was much the same except the moral/ethical bent of the Federation's counterpart and its citizens. Years later, the cast of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' returned to this universe to discover that the revolution Kirk had encouraged its native Spock to foment had happened; unfortunately, its effects were not necessarily for the better. ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' also spent a couple episodes here, just to hammer it home that HumansAreBastards. And finally ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' spent half a season there and even hinted at the PointOfDivergence that might have caused the split between the universes [[spoiler:("Terrans" have a higher sensitivity to light than humans in the prime universe)]]. In season four, [[MadScientist Ruon Tarka]] points out there are other universes besides the evil mirror one, including a (possibly mythical) paradise one called Kayalise, and even constructs an interdimensional transporter to try to get there. [[spoiler:(Though we never learn if he succeeds).]]
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' had an episode with Worf bouncing between various InSpiteOfANail alternate universes. According to WordOfGod, this is distinct from the usual MirrorUniverse though.
** The "Kelvin Timeline", where ''Film/StarTrek2009'' and the sequels take place, is an AlternateUniverse branching off the prime one that was accidentally created by 2009 movie's BigBad {{Time Travel}}ing from the TNG-era to before the TOS-era and altering the timeline.
** ''Literature/StarTrekCoda'' establishes the Literature/StarTrekNovelVerse occupies at least two alternate timelines from the canon ones (since the inception of ''Picard'' and other spinoffs made them no longer compatible): the "main" universe where Romulus never got blown up, [[Literature/StarTrekDestiny the Borg are history]], and so on; and a Mirror Universe where [[BenevolentConspiracy Memory Omega]] has overthrown the Alliance and established a peaceful Galactic Commonwealth. Tragically, [[spoiler:these timelines are forced to deliberately unmake themselves in order to prevent the [[EldritchAbomination Devidians]] ''eating every single universe'']].
** ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' Season 2 invents a ''second'' MirrorUniverse: the human race is just as fascist and racist as the original, but substantially more successful in their goals of conquering the Milky Way; basically, it's the MirrorUniverse GoneHorriblyRight. The plot of the season involves TimeTravel back to the ButterflyOfDoom moment that split the timelines, allowing Picard to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:N]]
* NamedAfterFirstInstallment: Its first work, ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', originally named simply ''Star Trek'', which is now the name that all the different series are grouped under.
* NarratingThePresent: The {{Captains Log}}s.
* NationalWeapon: The Klingon bat'leth.
* NegativeSpaceWedgie: The TropeNamer is a well-known parody.
* NeverGiveTheCaptainAStraightAnswer: Occasionally, when something particularly strange was in the transporter room or something, the officer present just asks the captain to come look. Sometimes justified, as with Scotty in ''Wrath of Khan''.
* NonindicativeTitle: As discussed in ''Series/{{Community}}'', the crew never went to a star hence the show should have better be called 'Planet Trek'.
* NonStandardKiss: The Vulcans have a [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Vulcan_finger-touching finger-touching gesture]] that seems to be used as a kissing analogue. The basic motion is simply extending the first two fingers of the right hand and touching fingertips, but finger-stroking motions can be added for greater intimacy.
* NoOSHACompliance: Mostly averted. Various areas in the ships have handrails, but considering the various space battles they find themselves in, it's odd that there are virtually no seat belts at workstations, and the chairs are easily toppled over. This is corrected for the first time in the films: Starting with ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'', every seat has restraints. The seats are now firmly fixed to the floor, and the armrests on the seats can be pulled inward to secure the crewmembers in place. Unfortunately, this development went completely ignored in the later Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration.
* NoSuchAgency: Sometimes applies to Section 31, DependingOnTheWriter. This trope fits better with its earlier depictions (based on production date) in ''[=DS9=]'' and ''Enterprise'', where it is a shadow organization whose existence is largely unknown even among Starfleet officers with high security clearance. It may not even ''be'' an organization in the traditional sense, with no indication that Section 31 has any kind of headquarters or material presence beyond a few covert puppeteers. Its presence in ''Discovery'' is more of an OpenSecret, with Section 31 having its own warships and identifying symbols that run counter to its prior role as a [[PlausibleDeniability plausibly deniable]] splinter faction.
* NoSuchThingAsAlienPopCulture: [[AvertedTrope Most cases avert this.]] The pop culture largely depends on the alien in question. [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Vulcan_lute Vulcans love music,]] Klingons have various popular war operas, and Cardassians literature includes the [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Cardassian_literature "Repetitive Epic" and "Enigma Tales"]]. The [[HiveMind Borg]], however, have no pop culture.
* NoSuchThingAsHR: A common point of confusion in the otherwise enlightened future of ''Star Trek'' is Spock's humorously treated FantasticRacism towards Humanity, along with the number of physical altercations the crew get into without really getting into trouble. However, it's [[JustifiedTrope justifiable]] in [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original series]] since the ship is on the edge of known space. The franchise moved closer to Earth with ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', a more established bureaucracy is in place.
* NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus: Due to the incredible number of {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s that Starfleet comes across just within the immediate vicinity of the Federation, skepticism levels are off the charts. Even in cases such as the Q, where the aliens in question actually ''are'' [[TheOmnipotent omnipotent]]. This was averted in [=DS9=], where the Bajoran Prophets were increasingly accepted as having a religious mystique even by some Starfleet personnel, despite the fact that they are actually pretty mediocre by the standards of godlike beings in the ''Trek'' universe.
* NoTranshumanismAllowed: To an almost militant degree.
** A recurring theme across series is that trying to augment existing species or individuals beyond their natural capabilities is morally wrong. Even treatment of genetic defects is questioned in some circumstances, with [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic engineering]] overall being greatly feared due to the so-called "Eugenics Wars" of Earth's 1990's which were the result of the creation of [[BewareTheSuperman human Augments]]. ''Enterprise'' explains this somewhat with a human proponent of the Augments asking Phlox (whose species has used genetic engineering beneficially for centuries) what the difference is; Phlox answers, "You tried to reinvent your entire species."
** The Borg seek to achieve perfection by augmenting themselves with unique biological features and technological advancements, and are one of the franchise's greatest villains. Somewhat ironically, actual [[SuperBreedingProgram Eugenics]] however would be legally possible within the Federation, as InterspeciesRomance, often involving species possessing superhuman abilities, is very commonplace.
** Cybernetics provides something of a loophole, as androids (with mega-strength and superior computer brains) are gradually introduced into the setting and eventually accepted, though it's a rocky road getting there. Ironically, the most well-known of these androids actually seeks to become more human (and ''less'' "perfect" by extension).
* NowDoItAgainBackwards: A standard way of handling various {{Phlebotinum}}.
* NuclearTorchRocket: The Impulse Drive is presented as a ReactionlessDrive on-screen, but is canonically a fusion rocket. It's just that the reaction plume is invisible, and makes it look like the ships are being pushed around by their tail-lights.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:O]]
* ObfuscatedInterface: The franchise features this trope in some scenes. The most notable instance usually consists of the TheSpock, such as Data, opening doors, or overriding computer controls by switching around randomly placed and colored crystals. Sometimes the normally ViewerFriendlyInterface computer systems will become decidedly obfuscated whenever something needs to be done quickly, or simply plot necessity.
* ObligatoryEarpieceTouch: Uhura would often touch her earpiece when concentrating on an incoming communication.
* OddballInTheSeries:
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' focuses on a space station instead of a starship.
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' is the only series that is primarily set in the Delta Quadrant.
** ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' is the sole series that mostly takes place in the Beta Quadrant, and all the main heroic characters are civilians (i.e. none of them are active Starfleet officers).
** ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'' is unique because it's predominantly comedic and its main protagonists are Starfleet ensigns who aren't senior officers.
** ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekProdigy'' is uniquely the only CGI animated series and the only one with a cast of almost entirely minors, none of whom are human or have ever served in Starfleet (aside from a hologram patterned after [[Series/StarTrekVoyager a certain captain]]).
* OfficerAndAGentleman and/or CulturedWarrior: To some degree, almost all Starfleet personnel are one or the other of these. Even the CloserToEarth types have scientific and literary interests. Many enemies are WickedCultured as well.
* OminousCube: The Borg Cubes, they're the definition of TheDreadedDreadnought when compared to the Federation's much smaller, lighter-colored, and more rounded vessels; they're color-coded with evil's SicklyGreenGlow; the music often shifts to a battle theme or the DroneOfDread when they appear; and they tend to silently ignore anything they don't deem to be a threat or interesting enough to assimilate.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: The chief science officer of any starship or space station needs to be knowledgeable in multiple scientific fields, from physics to biology.
* OneWorldOrder: Are there any planets in that future that ''don't'' have a solitary, planet-wide government?
** It's stated in the TNG episode "Attached" that being a united world is generally a requirement for Federation membership. The Federation feels odds are a world that hasn't even resolved the differences among their own people and brought them together isn't ready to join an interstellar community. This feeling is proven correct in the episode.
* OurDarkElvesAreDifferent: The Romulans count as this, considering Vulcans are SpaceElves and Romulans are their more aggressive counterparts. They're the same species: the Romulans are the descendants of a group of rebel Vulcans who disagreed with the [[PassionIsEvil Vulcan creed of stoicism]] and left their home planet to settle in a distant system and built up a [[TheEmpire massive space empire]] from there. Interestingly, they turned ''another'' species of Dark Elves, the Remans, into their slaves as the Romulans colonized the twin planets of Romulus and Remus. While the Vulcans and Romulans look mostly human with the exception of their PointyEars, the Remans [[LooksLikeOrlok Look Like Orlok]] and are allergic to light. All these Space Elves and Dark Space Elves also have low-key psychic abilities, in addition to being more LongLived than humans.
* OurDarkMatterIsMysterious: Used frequently from ''The Next Generation'' to ''Enterprise'' as part of {{technobabble}}, most frequently in the form of [[SpaceClouds dark matter nebulae]]. See the pages for individual series for specifics.
* OurDoorsAreDifferent: Sliding doors everywhere. ''Everywhere''. The foley effect for ''Trek'' doors is the sound paper makes when removed from an envelope. Then there are the heavier, ''Whirrr Ka-CHUNK'' sliding doors.
* OutrankingYourJob: Seemingly every crewmember aboard both ''Enterprises'' is an officer.
** Away teams (known as landing parties in TOS), the futuristic equivalent of a boarding party, are typically composed of several senior officers, plus one or two RedShirt characters as cannon fodder. In TOS, Kirk himself frequently led the landing party.
** Inverted by Miles O'Brien. He's essentially the chief engineer, but he's just a petty officer. Granted, there don't seem to be that many Starfleet officers under him, so he technically ''does'' still outrank his staff. Most of them seem to be Bajoran civilians (and Rom).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:P]]
* PaletteSwappedAlienFood: Romulan and Andorian Ale is blue.
* PeltsOfTheBarbarian: Starting with the films, the Klingons are normally dressed in leathers and furs, as befitting their status as the archetypal ProudWarriorRace.
%%* PerfectPacifistPeople: Several species in the various works exhibit this trope.
* PhotoprotoneutronTorpedo: Photon torpedoes are the TropeMaker. There are also quantum, plasma, and polaron torpedoes, just to name a few.
* ThePlague: Earth may be free from disease, but step out into space and these are everywhere. Starfleet crew are constantly catching them so the ship's doctor can race against time to find a cure.
** The disease that killed all the adults in "Miri". (TOS)
** Rigelian Fever in "Requiem for Methuselah".
** The disease from "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]" (and its sequel "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E2TheNakedNow The Naked Now]]") is apparently non-fatal, but is highly contagious and, in both episodes, turns the entire crew into oversexed, drunken boobs who threaten to destroy the ship.
** The macrovirus in the ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' episode "Macrocosm". Especially nightmarish because of the monsters that exist solely as vectors, and are produced by the welts on its victims' skin.
** The Vidiians had this as their [[PlanetOfHats hat]], if you can belive it: an entire race infected with a deadly phage, forcing them to steal organs and skin grafts from other species.
** In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', the Dominion punished an entire planet for rebellion by infecting them with a plague called "The Quickening". Everyone is born with it, most die in childhood, but enough people survive to adulthood to keep their population stable, turning what was once a space-faring civilization into something resembling the DungAges. Dr. Bashir beats his head against the wall trying to find a cure, but can only come up with a vaccine. The upshot is that future generations may yet stand a chance.
** The Federation's [[WellIntentionedExtremist "Section 31"]] also created a plague to kill the Changelings and win the war. It was ultimately successful, as the Changelings ended up bartering peace in exchange for a cure.
** The plague that nearly depopulated one of the Dramians' two planets in [[WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries the Animated Series]] episode "Albatross".
* PlainPalate:
** Vulcan culture favours food and drink with little to no seasonings and which is generally plain. This is likely because Vulcans value stoicism and don't see the point in eating and drinking for fun. Additionally, they're vegetarians so there's no need to use spices as a preservative as that's generally done with meat.
** Emergency rations are not meant to be tasty, but O'Brien likes a particular type.
* PlanetBaron:
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E13TheConscienceOfTheKing The Conscience of the King]]", [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Kodos the Executioner]], while initially a legitimate governor, was temporarily dictator of the world Kirk grew up on after declaring Martial law due to a famine and executing a large chunk of its population to save the others.
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E17TheSquireOfGothos The Squire of Gothos]]", the titular Squire of Gothos is a SufficientlyAdvancedAlien with his own planet, though he only uses a portion of it.
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed Space Seed]]", Khan becomes this after he is defeated but given a planet to colonize and rule, though we learn in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'' that the planet later died, prompting Khan to seek revenge on Kirk for marooning him there.
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E8IMudd I, Mudd]]", Mudd has become ruler of a planet of androids, though by the end of the episode the robots are more his captors than his subjects.
** In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Quark's cousin Gaila owns his own moon. This is one of Quark's desires as well. Every time Gaila is mentioned, his moon inevitably comes up.
** In the TNG episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E13DevilsDue Devil's Due]]", a con artist was claiming to be a planet's ancient deity and using advanced technology to work apparent miracles to back up her claim to ownership of the entire planet, the crew of the Enterprise wondered if she might actually be Q in disguise. Picard shot that down, saying that if Q wanted a planet, he'd just create one.
* PlanetOfHats: ''Trek'' is legendary for this, and has applied the trope throughout the various series. A common feature of many episodes is for whichever character is providing exposition to summarize an entire civilization's culture in a few sentences.
** ''TOS'' had, among other things, a planet of Space Nazis, a Mafia-run planet and a planet inhabited solely by transplanted Native Americans.
** ''TNG'' had things such as a planet with gender-flipped mid-20th Century social values and a planet where everybody's role was defined by a Eugenic master plan. Also, Dr. Crusher's grandmother lived on a colony that was deliberately wearing a {{Scotireland}} hat.
** Vulcans are all-logic, all-the-time. Their siblings, the Romulans, are all-treachery, all-the-time. Klingons are all about warfare and glory. Ferengi are all about capitalism. Cardassians are obsessive nationalists. Bajorans are spiritual, etc.
** A popular theory is that the pervasiveness of this trope is to highlight the HumansAreSpecial theme of the series. Each of the other races in the galaxy showcases a facet of human nature (our materialism, our warlike nature, our lack of feeling or indifference), and their rocky relations with humanity symbolize us coming to terms with those facets.
** ''Lower Decks'' pokes fun at this by introducing a colony of "Ren faire types" who follow a StandardFantasySetting aesthetic despite flying around in starships (they describe all their technology in mythical terms, i.e. referring to warp plasma as "dragon's blood"), governed by a hereditary monarchy with some...''eccentric'' rules of succession.
* PlanetaryNation: Most planets visited have exactly one government, one language, [[PlanetOfHats and one culture]].
* {{Planetville}}: Often paired with Planet of Hats. A planetary population smaller than that of an urban apartment building is commonly considered to constitute a "civilization", to the extent of being subject to the Prime Directive. Perhaps the most glaring example was presented in the ''ENT'' episode "Terra Nova", where the roughly 200 settlers of Earth's first interstellar colony decided to declare independent sovereignty, ''and Earth let it go!''
* PlotPants: Very rarely, officers will get out of their uniforms when off duty. Especially when on shore leave, or if we have occasion to catch them going to bed.
* PostScarcityEconomy: In TNG and chronologically later media the Federation is portrayed as such whenever Roddenberry could get away with it.
* PostSovietReunion: [[AllThereInTheManual Reference materials]] made after ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' debuted stated that communism couldn't prove viable and ultimately lead to the dissolution of the U.S.S.R, but the invention of Replicator technology allowed them to reform and actually thrive under their communist ideologies since the world itself now lived in a post-scarcity society. The new Soviet Union would actually become a major contributing factor to the creation of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets.
* PowerOfFriendship:
** The franchise features a lot of this; especially in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries The Original Series]]'' and in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration The Next Generation]]''. Many episodes revolve around one of the crew being kidnapped, threatened, or otherwise in danger, and having the rest of the crew band together to save them. Has resulted in plenty of BigDamnHeroes.
** On a larger scale, the Federation is this to the rest of the galaxy. They're the only major power we see in the setting that doesn't expand via conquest or assimilation, but through ''making new friends''. More imperialistically-inclined species might scoff, but this approach has allowed them to stand up to the Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, and even [[TheDreaded the Borg]]... for 200 years and counting.
* PoweredByABlackHole: The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration [[UniverseBible Writers' Technical Manual]]'' states that the Romulan ''D'Deridex''-class warbird is believed to be powered by x-ray emissions from a captured microsingularity, rather than fusion and matter/antimatter reactors like most other ships. The canon has usually adhered to this since then, DependingOnTheWriter. {{Exploited}} in the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E17Visionary Visionary]]" when the crew are able to [[StealthInSpace locate a cloaked warbird]] by hunting for the mass signature of its drive singularity.
* PregnantReptile:
** Cardassians resemble reptiles more than mammals. They like lying on hot rocks, in heat too intense for most other races, and they have patches of scales on their skin and have flared necks akin to snakes. While we've never seen a pregnant Cardassian, they are known to have reproduced with Bajorans, and one woman thought breeding with a human was possible.
** Gorn are a straighter example of LizardFolk, but in ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' Bones reveals [[NoodleIncident they can get pregnant, and he once did a c-section on one]].
* PrimaryColorChampion: applies to Starfleet as a whole in TOS and the Kelvin Timeline (see ColorCodedForYourConvenience, above) with brightly coloured uniform shirts of yellow, red and blue. {{Downplayed}} in the rest of the franchise, with the colours being restricted to ever-smaller portions of the uniform, teal gradually supplanting blue and red getting swapped for a more subdued shade of purplish maroon.
* PrimeTimeline: As the TropeCodifier for the MirrorUniverse, ''Star Trek'' is also the ''de facto'' trope codifier for this one. The franchise's Prime Timeline includes ''[=ENT=]'', ''[=DSC=]'', ''[=SNW=]'', ''[=TOS=]'' (and ''[=TAS=]''), the ''[=TOS=]'' movies, ''[=TNG=]'', the ''[=TNG=]'' movies, ''[=DS9=]'', ''[=VOY=]'', ''[=LWD=]'', ''Prodigy'' and ''Picard''. It has the Mirror Universe which has been visited by ''[=DSC=]'', ''[=TOS=]'', ''[=DS9=]'' and ''[=ENT=]''; the "Kelvin" rebooted timeline by J. J. Abrams, a ''second'' Mirror Universe invented for ''Picard''[='s=] second season, and quite a number of other one-shot alternates. When naming this trope, "Prime Timeline," used by Abrams to refer to the continuity founded by Gene Roddenberry in TheSixties, was the natural choice.
* PsychicPowers: Many species have them, ranging from minor extrasensory perception to godlike powers.
[[/folder]]
----
These tropes are featured across the entire ''Star Trek'' franchise. Please add tropes for specific works to their individual pages.
----
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:M]]
* MadeOfExplodium: When a computer blows up in ''Star Trek,'' it '''BLOWS UP''.' This extends to either independent computer equipment or even the consoles on the bridge. Sometimes characters even die from the exploding bridge consoles.
** In some situations, the consoles are shown to still be operational even AFTER exploding and killing some unfortunate redshirt. That's a durable design. Usually when this happens, it's a main character that takes over the station and they are immune to death from exploding consoles (at most they'll have minor injuries).
* MagicByAnyOtherName: Humans are absolutely militant about this. No matter how scientifically-inexplicable something is, or if that something can outright change the laws of physics at will, it is ''still'' not "magic". Referring to it as such will provoke an immediate negative response and denial. {{Technobabble}}, even if it is completely unsupported by evidence, will invariably be accepted as an explanation before "magic" will. Things which would be considered "supernatural" in real life such as PsychicPowers or RealityWarper[=s=] are still regarded as scientific in nature, even though Federation science cannot explain them. Which is why talking about the limitless power of "thought" is acceptable, but using the m-word will get you an earful of [[FlatEarthAtheist Flat Earth Atheism]].
* MagicPlasticSurgery: How is it that Doctors in the future are able to radically change your appearance so you are a different species with a head twice the size? We see Kirk, Troi, Picard, and Data [!] as Romulans, Kira as a Cardassian, Dukat, Seska and Dax as Bajorans (actually that one [[HumanAliens isn't much of a stretch]]), Sisko, O'Brien and Odo as Klingons, Neelix as a Ferengi...and Chakotay is a Vidiian with a big scabby bloated head. Quark is even made female and then turned male again, still capable of male reproduction afterward. It seems such a stretch that you can effortlessly change somebody's face and body to such a degree and than put you all back together again afterwards with no perceivable differences. This all becomes something of a moot point when Janeway and Paris "evolve" into a pair of copulating lizards in a later episode and the Doctor simply manages to '''[[HollywoodEvolution devolve]]''' them back into human beings .... "Go big or go home" is Brannon Braga's motto.
* MagicalSecurityCam: Happens so often and so early in the setting that it can be considered a technological standard. At this point, anything else would be a deviation from canon.
** Taken to its logical extreme in ''Voyager'', where the ship recorded all of the crew's brainwaves.
* MagneticPlotDevice: The various starships. The Holodeck. The Bajoran wormhole in ''Deep Space Nine''. The Temporal Cold War in ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]''.
* TheMainCharactersDoEverything: ''Trek'' seems to have a problem with keeping crew members at their designated stations, probably because it would become monotonous to the actors. It's a running gag that during a ship-wide emergency, the last place you'll find the Chief Engineer is in Engineering. (In TNG, Geordi could simply "transfer Engineering control" to the bridge, whatever that means, and thus justify his presence there). ''Picard'' S2 really cranks this up to 11 as the main cast are the only ones Q happens to transfer to the altered timeline, and some of them weren't even on the same ship (or hadn't seen each other in years). ''Lower Decks'' usually {{avert|ed}}s this by nature of its premise: most of the main characters are low-ranking ensigns often relegated to tedious, menial tasks and/or kept out of the loop. On ''Prodigy'' this is actually {{justified}} since the main characters are the only crew on the ship and thus ''have'' to do everything.
* MasterComputer: Ironically, TOS presents the Master Computer as a dangerous, dehumanizing thing that will inevitably threaten human lives. In particular, the episode "The Ultimate Computer" makes an automated starship ''Enterprise'' into an uncontrolled killing machine. However, by TNG, the ship computer on the Enterprise-D is shown to be fully capable of running the entire ship without a crew as early the first season episode "11001001" and this is generally treated as a good thing. But one of the most common FailsafeFailure scenarios recurring across the later series is for some problem with the main computers to cause malfunctions, including potentially lethal ones, to happen throughout the starship or space station over which they control every last mechanical system, with the crew struggling to regain control without being killed. Discovery gives us a straighter example with "Control", [[TheMenInBlack Section 31]]'s threat analysis computer that goes off the rails [[spoiler:and exterminates all organic life in the galaxy in one future timeline]]. ''Lower Decks'' {{lampshade}}s TOS's succession of evil AIs by revealing Starfleet has a "Self-Aware Megalomaniacal Computer Storage" facility.
* MatterReplicator: The matter replicators (called material synthesizers in the Original Series) function much like extremely advanced 3D printers: they can recycle matter to synthesize almost anything, including toys, clothing, money, food and drinks. Several episodes have seen the crew replicate food and other provisions for people in need. They have some limitations. It's implied, for example, that replicators can't be built much larger than a small room, which is why ships still need to be constructed piece-by-piece. There are also some special materials, such as latinum and biomimetic gel, that cannot be replicated. Opinions differ wildly about the quality of replicated food compared to "real" food. Some think it's grossly inferior (e.g. Michael Eddington), some think it's not always perfect but still fine (e.g. Captain Picard), and some consider the idea of cooking non-replicated food unusual (e.g. Keiko O'Brien).
* MeatSackRobot: The Borg [[TheAssimilator assimilates]] various species (via injecting {{Nanomachines}} into their victims) into its [[HiveMind AI's unifying conscious]] called "the Collective" [[UnwillingRoboticization whether their victims consent or not]].
** In ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'', the Borg queen grafts living skin tissue onto Data's arm (Data being a purely artificial android), allowing him to feel human sensations, something he has longed to do but was not capable of. This was an attempt to lure him over to her side. (A more limited example than most others, in that we're talking about a small patch of skin, and Data was fully functional without it, but it still fits the "reverse cyborg" definition)
* MechanisticAlienCulture: Several aliens, primarily from the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original series]]:
** The drone-like Lawgivers in "Return of the Archons". In that case, the drone-like humanoids were controlled by an intelligent supercomputer.
** The original builders of the Androids on Exo III were also stated to have been a society of biological creatures who ruined their homeworld and retreated underground where they became a more mechanized, machine-like society.
** The Kelvans from the Andromeda Galaxy are implied to have a culture like this; they are completely organic beings, but in their true form they experience none of the sensory distractions of humanoids, and consider themselves much more efficient. They go about trying to take over the Milky Way with very straightforward methods (transforming Kirk's crew into vulnerable dust-cubes that only their technology can restore to human form, for example) but without any of the typical ''Trek'' villains' hamminess. The Federation is saved from them by the fact that, when in artificial humanoid form, the Kelvans become {{Sense Freak}}s and can be incapacitated in a variety of ways, such as by the effects of alcohol or unfamiliar emotions like pleasure or jealousy.
** The Eyemorg (humanoid female) society in the infamous episode "Spock's Brain" were totally reliant on a mechanized underground industrial complex run by advanced computers (for which purpose they tried to steal "Spock's Brain," because they lacked the knowledge to maintain this infrastructure themselves unless); this was in contrast to the primitive, Ice Age-like culture of males that lived on the surface.
** The Fabrini who lived aboard a generational asteroid ship, which they all believed was actually a planet, were similarly run by an advanced, tyrannical computer called The Oracle. The Fabrini were less "rigidly mechanical" and more "rigidly traditional" though, the rigid traditions being enforced by The Oracle.
** The [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Borg]] are a Hive Mind of HollywoodCyborg aliens that otherwise follow this trope, using cybernetically augmented humanoid bodies only as cannon fodder and servitor units.
** Vulcans sometimes have elements of this, but their culture is much more complex. Their education system, however, as briefly shown in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'' and more extensively in ''Film/StarTrek2009'', is very much in line with this trope and plays like a callback to the uber-intellectual, emotionless aliens of older science fiction.
** The Iyaarans, a species from a Season 7 episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', play this trope absolutely straight, and also like a callback to aliens from older Sci-Fi: They are DittoAliens with rubber foreheads and jumpsuits; they lack cultural concepts like antagonism, love, joy, pleasure, crime, etc; they all appear male and reproduce asexually by [[NoodleIncident something called post-cellular compounding, the exact mechanics of which are, fortunately, never detailed]]. Their diet is extremely bland, consisting of nutrient wafers, because they consider their need to eat as matter of sustenance only, not pleasure or enjoyment, like many other humanoids consider meals. Unlike most examples of this trope, however, they are very curious about other cultures, though they struggle to understand diverse cultures like [[TheFederation the Federation]].
** Similarly, the cauliflower-headed humanoids that abducted Picard for study in an earlier episode were all [[DittoAliens identical]] with no concept of individual identity or leadership. What little was revealed about their society hinted at something like this trope.
** The Bynars from the first season episode "11001001" are closely dependent on their computers for survival. They have implants that connect them to their planet's central computer, have "digital" names like One Zero and Zero One, live and work in binary pairs, have a language based on binary, and when their planet's central planetary computer is fried by a nearby supernova it almost wipes out the entire species.
** The [[ObstructiveBureaucrat Hier]][[PlanetOfHats archy]] from ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' are a callback/parody/possible deconstruction of this, with their heavily regimented, computerized society, costume design, and snotty behavior.
* MildlyMilitary: Starfleet is both a military and an exploration and research organization, also acting as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gendarmerie top-level]] [[SpacePolice law enforcement]] and the [[GunboatDiplomacy advance scouts and bodyguards]] of TheFederation's diplomatic corps and intelligence network. It is a conglomeration of the US Navy and Coast Guard, the USMC, the FBI, the CIA, the Department of State, the United Nations, UsefulNotes/{{NASA}} and a few research universities; at any given time a captain may need to think like Sun Tzu, Colin Powell or Jacques Cousteau -- or all three. Creator/GeneRoddenberry suggested something like the civilian space program ([[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks if it were operated by the military.]]) Since he was in the Army Air Forces during World War II, it's ''very'' likely that some part of his experience had a part in shaping Star Trek. Nicholas Meyer was proudly made military sci-fi, while the Kelvin timeline films have explicitly said Starfleet is a "peace-keeping armada" and "not a military organization". Sometimes characters within the story will comment on Starfleet's ambiguous position. However, all in all, Captain Kirk says it best:
-->CHRISTOPHER: "Must have taken quite a lot to build a ship like this".\\
KIRK: "There are only twelve like it in the fleet".\\
CHRISTOPHER: "I see. Did the Navy--"\\
KIRK: "We're a combined service, Captain".
** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' takes place before Starfleet became combined with the military. As a result, Starfleet resembles a military service less than it does in any other incarnation of the franchise. The [=MACOs=] (Military Assault Command Operations), however, are essentially the 22nd century answer to the Marine Corps. While taking a few minor liberties, the [=MACO=]s observe military protocol, wear camouflage uniforms, and use real-world small unit combat tactics. In their debut episode, the [=MACO=] commander even points out why having TheMainCharactersDoEverything is a bad idea; insisting that his team handle a combat situation on a planet surface so that Starfleet security personnel are available if ''Enterprise'' gets boarded.
* MilitaryMaverick: Almost expected of Starfleet captains, it would seem. Picard, for all his careful, deliberate, and knowledge of the the regulations (backwards, forwards, and sideways), has many moments of this, and the others even more. One gets the impression that, away from central planets and main trade routes, the captain ''is'' the Federation, with all the discretion '''and''' responsibility that implies.
** Considering that the original concept for the series was Hornblower in deep space, and that ship captains during the WoodenShipsAndIronMen era usually were their respective country's highest representative in any area where they were stationed...
** Janeway in ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' once made a comment about how strongly she had to hold onto Starfleet regulations so far from home, but also admired the gung-ho attitude of [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries earlier Starfleet captains]] ("I would have loved to ride shotgun at least once with a group of officers like that!").
* MimicSpecies: Romulans, being related to Vulcans, look a lot like them, except for the fact that most of them have a V-shaped ridge on their foreheads. Because of this, they often pretend to be Vulcans for ulterior reasons.
* MinovskyPhysics: ''Franchise/StarTrek'' has a [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Materials_and_substances very long list of fictional substances and their properties.]] Very rarely is any material given new abilities to fill a plot need: instead, the writers invent entirely new materials. Whenever a material is reused in a later story, it retains its specific properties.
** Star Trek's [[AllThereInTheManual technical manuals]] all try to provide consistent explanations for the science and technology of the series.
* MindReformatDeath:
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', "Dagger of the Mind": By the end of the episode, the malevolent Dr. Adams is killed by accident when an experimental electronic hypnosis device, the neural neutralizer, [[LaserGuidedKarma is turned on with no one at the controls, and he looks into it.]] With no one to provide a mental suggestion, his mind is emptied of everything, and he subsequently dies from the loneliness.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'':
*** Part of the effect of the Borg assimilation process. If progressed far-enough and long-enough, the victim's previous personality might as well be dead, as the computerized Borg nanoprobes and subsequent implants take over almost every mental and essential body function, save for the physical existence of the individual itself. However, if done properly, the individual's personality and memories can either be brought back, or can be retrained for a new life if they are freed from the collective.
*** "The Schizoid Man": Deliberately done by Dr. Ira Graves, the guest character in the episode. Graves successfully implants his consciousness and knowledge into Data's positronic matrix (though we don't see how), before his physical body dies. However, realizing that he's becoming increasingly corrupt and overbearing in Data's body, Graves subsequently implants his knowledge into the Enterprise computer system to atone (again, we don't see how, since Data is only lying on the floor when found), but does so in a way that the human-consciousness element is lost forever.
*** "Contagion": Played straight, then subverted. An alien computer virus destroys The Enterprise's sister Galaxy-class vessel, and then subsequently infects the Enterprise's computer systems themselves. Upon traveling to the planet the virus originated from, Picard, Worf, and Data beam down to the control center that launches the probes containing the virus. When Data attempts to activate its systems further than just turning it on, he's struck by a data energy discharge that contains the virus, subsequently re-writing Data's systems algorithms one-by-one. When brought back to the Enterprise by Worf, by using the control center's gateway, Data seemingly dies, but then comes back to life a few seconds later, but without his memories and experiences on the planet. This is the key to stopping the virus: a shut down of all ship systems to purge the virus from memory, then restarting from separate protected archives and memory.
*** "The Measure of a Man": How Data likens the transfer of his positronic matrix into a data container for study, when Commander Bruce Maddox suggests the development of creating hundreds or even thousands of versions of Dr. Noonien Soong's androids:
-----> '''Data [to Maddox]:''' There is an ineffable quality to memory which I do not believe can survive your procedure.
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Implied to be what happens to a sapient hologram if it's "decompiled" (in-turn implied by-definition to be returned/reverse-engineered to human-readable source code), if we are to trust the EMH Doctor's idea of it.
** ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': It turns out that Data's consciousness survived in some form after the events of ''Film/StarTrekNemesis''. When Picard succumbs to the unknown condition (Implied to be Irumodic Syndrome, from TNG's finale, "All Good Things.."). that has been slowly deteriorating his mind throughout season 1, his consciousness is uploaded into a computer bank, where he meets with Data's consciousness, who asks him to terminate it. When Picard's essence is uploaded into a new "golem" android body, he does so, slowly taking out the isolinear chips containing Data, with a eulogy speech. Inside of the computer bank, each chip removal abstractly ages Data's consciousness, until he dies peacefully and it finally dissolves into oblivion.
* MonsterOfTheWeek:
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'':In SF author David Gerrold's book about writing the episode "The Trouble With Tribbles", he recounts seeing the first episode broadcast, which featured a creature that sucked all of the salt out of people's bodies, thereby killing them. He hoped ''Star Trek'' wasn't going to turn out to be a MonsterOfTheWeek show, which ironically for him, it did.
** While later series rarely had weekly ''monsters'', ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and especially ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' had [[NegativeSpaceWedgie stellar anomalies]] of the week that were always solved by a healthy amount of {{Technobabble}}.
** The first season of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' started to become a [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien ''god-like alien'']] of the week show, but fortunately found sturdier footing in subsequent seasons.
* MonumentalView: Every iteration puts Starfleet academy on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco (and directly across from Starfleet headquarters). There's a bit of a problem with that as the land there is almost exclusively deep, steep, hills.
** On the other hand, the chronologically earliest series takes place a century and a half in the future. Plenty of time for the hills to get bulldozed.
*** Those same hills where the academy would be placed if it were a real place are actually home to a large network of abandoned US Naval fortifications, which presumably could be used by Starfleet, with additions for things like hangers or storage making it a fairly logical placement for the purpose of a base/training station.
* MoreHeroThanThou: Any time one Starfleet officer says IWillOnlySlowYouDown.
* MostCommonSuperpower: In recent years, various actresses have let slip that most, if not all, of ''Star Trek''[='s=] females have had to wear padded bras. Notable exceptions are Nana Visitor ([=DS9=]) and Kate Mulgrew who, according to legend, took her stuffed bra, stomped straight into the writer's room, and slammed it on their desk saying, "I'm ''not'' wearing that".
** Notably glaring with [[Series/StarTrekEnterprise T'Pol]], who lose that particular superpower with her change of outfit between season 2 and 3.
* MultiDirectionalBarrage: Though they prefer to fire [[https://youtu.be/3EQ9cFey-3U?t=541 single, precise shots,]] most large starships in the franchise [[https://youtu.be/dBmmlHR1Bwg?t=101 have weapons on all sides]] and fast-working targeting computers, granting them the ability to do this when surrounded.
** Some demonstrations: [[https://youtu.be/PyLSoKSyTXg?t=38 NX Class starship,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCYirVh6ZWY Enterprise-D,]] [[https://youtu.be/56iTxduUacs?t=54 Enterprise-E,]] and the [[https://youtu.be/EYXcfzJWfjA?t=30 Voyager.]] Additionally, this trope is maintained in the [[https://youtu.be/15B20vl-Ync?t=1677 videogame media.]]
* TheMultiverse:
** Kirk, [=McCoy=], and several others were transported to a MirrorUniverse in the "Mirror, Mirror" episode of the original ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}},'' in which an evil Earth-based empire ruled the galaxy. This was very much an InSpiteOfANail universe, since everything was much the same except the moral/ethical bent of the Federation's counterpart and its citizens. Years later, the cast of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' returned to this universe to discover that the revolution Kirk had encouraged its native Spock to foment had happened; unfortunately, its effects were not necessarily for the better. ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' also spent a couple episodes here, just to hammer it home that HumansAreBastards. And finally ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' spent half a season there and even hinted at the PointOfDivergence that might have caused the split between the universes [[spoiler:("Terrans" have a higher sensitivity to light than humans in the prime universe)]]. In season four, [[MadScientist Ruon Tarka]] points out there are other universes besides the evil mirror one, including a (possibly mythical) paradise one called Kayalise, and even constructs an interdimensional transporter to try to get there. [[spoiler:(Though we never learn if he succeeds).]]
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' had an episode with Worf bouncing between various InSpiteOfANail alternate universes. According to WordOfGod, this is distinct from the usual MirrorUniverse though.
** The "Kelvin Timeline", where ''Film/StarTrek2009'' and the sequels take place, is an AlternateUniverse branching off the prime one that was accidentally created by 2009 movie's BigBad {{Time Travel}}ing from the TNG-era to before the TOS-era and altering the timeline.
** ''Literature/StarTrekCoda'' establishes the Literature/StarTrekNovelVerse occupies at least two alternate timelines from the canon ones (since the inception of ''Picard'' and other spinoffs made them no longer compatible): the "main" universe where Romulus never got blown up, [[Literature/StarTrekDestiny the Borg are history]], and so on; and a Mirror Universe where [[BenevolentConspiracy Memory Omega]] has overthrown the Alliance and established a peaceful Galactic Commonwealth. Tragically, [[spoiler:these timelines are forced to deliberately unmake themselves in order to prevent the [[EldritchAbomination Devidians]] ''eating every single universe'']].
** ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' Season 2 invents a ''second'' MirrorUniverse: the human race is just as fascist and racist as the original, but substantially more successful in their goals of conquering the Milky Way; basically, it's the MirrorUniverse GoneHorriblyRight. The plot of the season involves TimeTravel back to the ButterflyOfDoom moment that split the timelines, allowing Picard to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:N]]
* NamedAfterFirstInstallment: Its first work, ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', originally named simply ''Star Trek'', which is now the name that all the different series are grouped under.
* NarratingThePresent: The {{Captains Log}}s.
* NationalWeapon: The Klingon bat'leth.
* NegativeSpaceWedgie: The TropeNamer is a well-known parody.
* NeverGiveTheCaptainAStraightAnswer: Occasionally, when something particularly strange was in the transporter room or something, the officer present just asks the captain to come look. Sometimes justified, as with Scotty in ''Wrath of Khan''.
* NonindicativeTitle: As discussed in ''Series/{{Community}}'', the crew never went to a star hence the show should have better be called 'Planet Trek'.
* NonStandardKiss: The Vulcans have a [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Vulcan_finger-touching finger-touching gesture]] that seems to be used as a kissing analogue. The basic motion is simply extending the first two fingers of the right hand and touching fingertips, but finger-stroking motions can be added for greater intimacy.
* NoOSHACompliance: Mostly averted. Various areas in the ships have handrails, but considering the various space battles they find themselves in, it's odd that there are virtually no seat belts at workstations, and the chairs are easily toppled over. This is corrected for the first time in the films: Starting with ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'', every seat has restraints. The seats are now firmly fixed to the floor, and the armrests on the seats can be pulled inward to secure the crewmembers in place. Unfortunately, this development went completely ignored in the later Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration.
* NoSuchAgency: Sometimes applies to Section 31, DependingOnTheWriter. This trope fits better with its earlier depictions (based on production date) in ''[=DS9=]'' and ''Enterprise'', where it is a shadow organization whose existence is largely unknown even among Starfleet officers with high security clearance. It may not even ''be'' an organization in the traditional sense, with no indication that Section 31 has any kind of headquarters or material presence beyond a few covert puppeteers. Its presence in ''Discovery'' is more of an OpenSecret, with Section 31 having its own warships and identifying symbols that run counter to its prior role as a [[PlausibleDeniability plausibly deniable]] splinter faction.
* NoSuchThingAsAlienPopCulture: [[AvertedTrope Most cases avert this.]] The pop culture largely depends on the alien in question. [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Vulcan_lute Vulcans love music,]] Klingons have various popular war operas, and Cardassians literature includes the [[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Cardassian_literature "Repetitive Epic" and "Enigma Tales"]]. The [[HiveMind Borg]], however, have no pop culture.
* NoSuchThingAsHR: A common point of confusion in the otherwise enlightened future of ''Star Trek'' is Spock's humorously treated FantasticRacism towards Humanity, along with the number of physical altercations the crew get into without really getting into trouble. However, it's [[JustifiedTrope justifiable]] in [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original series]] since the ship is on the edge of known space. The franchise moved closer to Earth with ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', a more established bureaucracy is in place.
* NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus: Due to the incredible number of {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s that Starfleet comes across just within the immediate vicinity of the Federation, skepticism levels are off the charts. Even in cases such as the Q, where the aliens in question actually ''are'' [[TheOmnipotent omnipotent]]. This was averted in [=DS9=], where the Bajoran Prophets were increasingly accepted as having a religious mystique even by some Starfleet personnel, despite the fact that they are actually pretty mediocre by the standards of godlike beings in the ''Trek'' universe.
* NoTranshumanismAllowed: To an almost militant degree.
** A recurring theme across series is that trying to augment existing species or individuals beyond their natural capabilities is morally wrong. Even treatment of genetic defects is questioned in some circumstances, with [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic engineering]] overall being greatly feared due to the so-called "Eugenics Wars" of Earth's 1990's which were the result of the creation of [[BewareTheSuperman human Augments]]. ''Enterprise'' explains this somewhat with a human proponent of the Augments asking Phlox (whose species has used genetic engineering beneficially for centuries) what the difference is; Phlox answers, "You tried to reinvent your entire species."
** The Borg seek to achieve perfection by augmenting themselves with unique biological features and technological advancements, and are one of the franchise's greatest villains. Somewhat ironically, actual [[SuperBreedingProgram Eugenics]] however would be legally possible within the Federation, as InterspeciesRomance, often involving species possessing superhuman abilities, is very commonplace.
** Cybernetics provides something of a loophole, as androids (with mega-strength and superior computer brains) are gradually introduced into the setting and eventually accepted, though it's a rocky road getting there. Ironically, the most well-known of these androids actually seeks to become more human (and ''less'' "perfect" by extension).
* NowDoItAgainBackwards: A standard way of handling various {{Phlebotinum}}.
* NuclearTorchRocket: The Impulse Drive is presented as a ReactionlessDrive on-screen, but is canonically a fusion rocket. It's just that the reaction plume is invisible, and makes it look like the ships are being pushed around by their tail-lights.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:O]]
* ObfuscatedInterface: The franchise features this trope in some scenes. The most notable instance usually consists of the TheSpock, such as Data, opening doors, or overriding computer controls by switching around randomly placed and colored crystals. Sometimes the normally ViewerFriendlyInterface computer systems will become decidedly obfuscated whenever something needs to be done quickly, or simply plot necessity.
* ObligatoryEarpieceTouch: Uhura would often touch her earpiece when concentrating on an incoming communication.
* OddballInTheSeries:
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' focuses on a space station instead of a starship.
** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' is the only series that is primarily set in the Delta Quadrant.
** ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' is the sole series that mostly takes place in the Beta Quadrant, and all the main heroic characters are civilians (i.e. none of them are active Starfleet officers).
** ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'' is unique because it's predominantly comedic and its main protagonists are Starfleet ensigns who aren't senior officers.
** ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekProdigy'' is uniquely the only CGI animated series and the only one with a cast of almost entirely minors, none of whom are human or have ever served in Starfleet (aside from a hologram patterned after [[Series/StarTrekVoyager a certain captain]]).
* OfficerAndAGentleman and/or CulturedWarrior: To some degree, almost all Starfleet personnel are one or the other of these. Even the CloserToEarth types have scientific and literary interests. Many enemies are WickedCultured as well.
* OminousCube: The Borg Cubes, they're the definition of TheDreadedDreadnought when compared to the Federation's much smaller, lighter-colored, and more rounded vessels; they're color-coded with evil's SicklyGreenGlow; the music often shifts to a battle theme or the DroneOfDread when they appear; and they tend to silently ignore anything they don't deem to be a threat or interesting enough to assimilate.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: The chief science officer of any starship or space station needs to be knowledgeable in multiple scientific fields, from physics to biology.
* OneWorldOrder: Are there any planets in that future that ''don't'' have a solitary, planet-wide government?
** It's stated in the TNG episode "Attached" that being a united world is generally a requirement for Federation membership. The Federation feels odds are a world that hasn't even resolved the differences among their own people and brought them together isn't ready to join an interstellar community. This feeling is proven correct in the episode.
* OurDarkElvesAreDifferent: The Romulans count as this, considering Vulcans are SpaceElves and Romulans are their more aggressive counterparts. They're the same species: the Romulans are the descendants of a group of rebel Vulcans who disagreed with the [[PassionIsEvil Vulcan creed of stoicism]] and left their home planet to settle in a distant system and built up a [[TheEmpire massive space empire]] from there. Interestingly, they turned ''another'' species of Dark Elves, the Remans, into their slaves as the Romulans colonized the twin planets of Romulus and Remus. While the Vulcans and Romulans look mostly human with the exception of their PointyEars, the Remans [[LooksLikeOrlok Look Like Orlok]] and are allergic to light. All these Space Elves and Dark Space Elves also have low-key psychic abilities, in addition to being more LongLived than humans.
* OurDarkMatterIsMysterious: Used frequently from ''The Next Generation'' to ''Enterprise'' as part of {{technobabble}}, most frequently in the form of [[SpaceClouds dark matter nebulae]]. See the pages for individual series for specifics.
* OurDoorsAreDifferent: Sliding doors everywhere. ''Everywhere''. The foley effect for ''Trek'' doors is the sound paper makes when removed from an envelope. Then there are the heavier, ''Whirrr Ka-CHUNK'' sliding doors.
* OutrankingYourJob: Seemingly every crewmember aboard both ''Enterprises'' is an officer.
** Away teams (known as landing parties in TOS), the futuristic equivalent of a boarding party, are typically composed of several senior officers, plus one or two RedShirt characters as cannon fodder. In TOS, Kirk himself frequently led the landing party.
** Inverted by Miles O'Brien. He's essentially the chief engineer, but he's just a petty officer. Granted, there don't seem to be that many Starfleet officers under him, so he technically ''does'' still outrank his staff. Most of them seem to be Bajoran civilians (and Rom).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:P]]
* PaletteSwappedAlienFood: Romulan and Andorian Ale is blue.
* PeltsOfTheBarbarian: Starting with the films, the Klingons are normally dressed in leathers and furs, as befitting their status as the archetypal ProudWarriorRace.
%%* PerfectPacifistPeople: Several species in the various works exhibit this trope.
* PhotoprotoneutronTorpedo: Photon torpedoes are the TropeMaker. There are also quantum, plasma, and polaron torpedoes, just to name a few.
* ThePlague: Earth may be free from disease, but step out into space and these are everywhere. Starfleet crew are constantly catching them so the ship's doctor can race against time to find a cure.
** The disease that killed all the adults in "Miri". (TOS)
** Rigelian Fever in "Requiem for Methuselah".
** The disease from "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]" (and its sequel "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E2TheNakedNow The Naked Now]]") is apparently non-fatal, but is highly contagious and, in both episodes, turns the entire crew into oversexed, drunken boobs who threaten to destroy the ship.
** The macrovirus in the ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' episode "Macrocosm". Especially nightmarish because of the monsters that exist solely as vectors, and are produced by the welts on its victims' skin.
** The Vidiians had this as their [[PlanetOfHats hat]], if you can belive it: an entire race infected with a deadly phage, forcing them to steal organs and skin grafts from other species.
** In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', the Dominion punished an entire planet for rebellion by infecting them with a plague called "The Quickening". Everyone is born with it, most die in childhood, but enough people survive to adulthood to keep their population stable, turning what was once a space-faring civilization into something resembling the DungAges. Dr. Bashir beats his head against the wall trying to find a cure, but can only come up with a vaccine. The upshot is that future generations may yet stand a chance.
** The Federation's [[WellIntentionedExtremist "Section 31"]] also created a plague to kill the Changelings and win the war. It was ultimately successful, as the Changelings ended up bartering peace in exchange for a cure.
** The plague that nearly depopulated one of the Dramians' two planets in [[WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries the Animated Series]] episode "Albatross".
* PlainPalate:
** Vulcan culture favours food and drink with little to no seasonings and which is generally plain. This is likely because Vulcans value stoicism and don't see the point in eating and drinking for fun. Additionally, they're vegetarians so there's no need to use spices as a preservative as that's generally done with meat.
** Emergency rations are not meant to be tasty, but O'Brien likes a particular type.
* PlanetBaron:
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E13TheConscienceOfTheKing The Conscience of the King]]", [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Kodos the Executioner]], while initially a legitimate governor, was temporarily dictator of the world Kirk grew up on after declaring Martial law due to a famine and executing a large chunk of its population to save the others.
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E17TheSquireOfGothos The Squire of Gothos]]", the titular Squire of Gothos is a SufficientlyAdvancedAlien with his own planet, though he only uses a portion of it.
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed Space Seed]]", Khan becomes this after he is defeated but given a planet to colonize and rule, though we learn in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'' that the planet later died, prompting Khan to seek revenge on Kirk for marooning him there.
** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E8IMudd I, Mudd]]", Mudd has become ruler of a planet of androids, though by the end of the episode the robots are more his captors than his subjects.
** In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Quark's cousin Gaila owns his own moon. This is one of Quark's desires as well. Every time Gaila is mentioned, his moon inevitably comes up.
** In the TNG episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E13DevilsDue Devil's Due]]", a con artist was claiming to be a planet's ancient deity and using advanced technology to work apparent miracles to back up her claim to ownership of the entire planet, the crew of the Enterprise wondered if she might actually be Q in disguise. Picard shot that down, saying that if Q wanted a planet, he'd just create one.
* PlanetOfHats: ''Trek'' is legendary for this, and has applied the trope throughout the various series. A common feature of many episodes is for whichever character is providing exposition to summarize an entire civilization's culture in a few sentences.
** ''TOS'' had, among other things, a planet of Space Nazis, a Mafia-run planet and a planet inhabited solely by transplanted Native Americans.
** ''TNG'' had things such as a planet with gender-flipped mid-20th Century social values and a planet where everybody's role was defined by a Eugenic master plan. Also, Dr. Crusher's grandmother lived on a colony that was deliberately wearing a {{Scotireland}} hat.
** Vulcans are all-logic, all-the-time. Their siblings, the Romulans, are all-treachery, all-the-time. Klingons are all about warfare and glory. Ferengi are all about capitalism. Cardassians are obsessive nationalists. Bajorans are spiritual, etc.
** A popular theory is that the pervasiveness of this trope is to highlight the HumansAreSpecial theme of the series. Each of the other races in the galaxy showcases a facet of human nature (our materialism, our warlike nature, our lack of feeling or indifference), and their rocky relations with humanity symbolize us coming to terms with those facets.
** ''Lower Decks'' pokes fun at this by introducing a colony of "Ren faire types" who follow a StandardFantasySetting aesthetic despite flying around in starships (they describe all their technology in mythical terms, i.e. referring to warp plasma as "dragon's blood"), governed by a hereditary monarchy with some...''eccentric'' rules of succession.
* PlanetaryNation: Most planets visited have exactly one government, one language, [[PlanetOfHats and one culture]].
* {{Planetville}}: Often paired with Planet of Hats. A planetary population smaller than that of an urban apartment building is commonly considered to constitute a "civilization", to the extent of being subject to the Prime Directive. Perhaps the most glaring example was presented in the ''ENT'' episode "Terra Nova", where the roughly 200 settlers of Earth's first interstellar colony decided to declare independent sovereignty, ''and Earth let it go!''
* PlotPants: Very rarely, officers will get out of their uniforms when off duty. Especially when on shore leave, or if we have occasion to catch them going to bed.
* PostScarcityEconomy: In TNG and chronologically later media the Federation is portrayed as such whenever Roddenberry could get away with it.
* PostSovietReunion: [[AllThereInTheManual Reference materials]] made after ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' debuted stated that communism couldn't prove viable and ultimately lead to the dissolution of the U.S.S.R, but the invention of Replicator technology allowed them to reform and actually thrive under their communist ideologies since the world itself now lived in a post-scarcity society. The new Soviet Union would actually become a major contributing factor to the creation of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets.
* PowerOfFriendship:
** The franchise features a lot of this; especially in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries The Original Series]]'' and in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration The Next Generation]]''. Many episodes revolve around one of the crew being kidnapped, threatened, or otherwise in danger, and having the rest of the crew band together to save them. Has resulted in plenty of BigDamnHeroes.
** On a larger scale, the Federation is this to the rest of the galaxy. They're the only major power we see in the setting that doesn't expand via conquest or assimilation, but through ''making new friends''. More imperialistically-inclined species might scoff, but this approach has allowed them to stand up to the Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, and even [[TheDreaded the Borg]]... for 200 years and counting.
* PoweredByABlackHole: The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration [[UniverseBible Writers' Technical Manual]]'' states that the Romulan ''D'Deridex''-class warbird is believed to be powered by x-ray emissions from a captured microsingularity, rather than fusion and matter/antimatter reactors like most other ships. The canon has usually adhered to this since then, DependingOnTheWriter. {{Exploited}} in the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E17Visionary Visionary]]" when the crew are able to [[StealthInSpace locate a cloaked warbird]] by hunting for the mass signature of its drive singularity.
* PregnantReptile:
** Cardassians resemble reptiles more than mammals. They like lying on hot rocks, in heat too intense for most other races, and they have patches of scales on their skin and have flared necks akin to snakes. While we've never seen a pregnant Cardassian, they are known to have reproduced with Bajorans, and one woman thought breeding with a human was possible.
** Gorn are a straighter example of LizardFolk, but in ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' Bones reveals [[NoodleIncident they can get pregnant, and he once did a c-section on one]].
* PrimaryColorChampion: applies to Starfleet as a whole in TOS and the Kelvin Timeline (see ColorCodedForYourConvenience, above) with brightly coloured uniform shirts of yellow, red and blue. {{Downplayed}} in the rest of the franchise, with the colours being restricted to ever-smaller portions of the uniform, teal gradually supplanting blue and red getting swapped for a more subdued shade of purplish maroon.
* PrimeTimeline: As the TropeCodifier for the MirrorUniverse, ''Star Trek'' is also the ''de facto'' trope codifier for this one. The franchise's Prime Timeline includes ''[=ENT=]'', ''[=DSC=]'', ''[=SNW=]'', ''[=TOS=]'' (and ''[=TAS=]''), the ''[=TOS=]'' movies, ''[=TNG=]'', the ''[=TNG=]'' movies, ''[=DS9=]'', ''[=VOY=]'', ''[=LWD=]'', ''Prodigy'' and ''Picard''. It has the Mirror Universe which has been visited by ''[=DSC=]'', ''[=TOS=]'', ''[=DS9=]'' and ''[=ENT=]''; the "Kelvin" rebooted timeline by J. J. Abrams, a ''second'' Mirror Universe invented for ''Picard''[='s=] second season, and quite a number of other one-shot alternates. When naming this trope, "Prime Timeline," used by Abrams to refer to the continuity founded by Gene Roddenberry in TheSixties, was the natural choice.
* PsychicPowers: Many species have them, ranging from minor extrasensory perception to godlike powers.
[[/folder]]
----
