Star Trek Expanded Universe
Register
Advertisement

Star Trek: Hidden Frontier (HF), arguably the longest-running Star Trek fan film project, is considered the "grandfather" of almost all modern Star Trek fan films. Although fan films have been produced for almost as long as there have been film fans, they were generally few and far between before the advent of home video. Only with the two-pronged revolution of digital video production/editing and the advent of internet distribution did they become something more than a curiosity to be shared by a few intimates.

Produced on digital video, Hidden Frontier's sets are almost 100% virtual, using a green-screen chroma-keyed process to place performers into virtual settings.

As is the norm for fan films, Hidden Frontier, produced by Rob Caves, is set within the continuity of a narrative of which its creators were fans: the era of the Next Generation series. Episodes revolve around the starship USS Excelsior (a sister ship to the famous Galaxy-class USS Enterprise), and its home base, Deep Space 12, in the Briar Patch, a wild region of space introduced in the film Star Trek: Insurrection.

However, what makes Hidden Frontier unique is the volume of episodes, and its focus on character relationships. The series incorporated gay and lesbian characters, and their struggles and relationships in the 24th century: a step Star Trek producers never took with the canon series (prior to Star Trek: Discovery, that is), as it would have alienated most conservative elements of Star Trek's fan base.

Episodes[]

Season 1 (2376/2377)[]

From the ashes of the Dominion War, the Federation meets the Grey, a powerful alien race. The USS Excelsior is assigned to a new starbase, Deep Space 12, which serves to protect the healing planet Ba'ku and the hidden frontier of the mysterious Briar Patch.

Episode Name Stardate
101 "Enemy Unknown, Part One" 52941
102 "Enemy Unknown, Part Two" 54121.3
103 "Enemy Unknown, Part Three" Unknown
104 "Two Hours" Unknown
105 "Perihelion" 54529.1
106 "Echoes" 54971.6

Season 2 (2378)[]

Conflicts with the Grey escalate as the Excelsior begins to explore the Briar Patch. Old enemies like the Dominion resurface, and new enemies, like the Orion Syndicate, appear amid ancient mysteries.

Episode Name Stardate
201 "Refugees"
202 "Yesterday's Excelsior"
203 "Old Wound"
204 "The Great Starship Robbery"
205 "Encke"
206 "To the Stars"
207 "Fire in the Heart"
208 "Coward's Death"
209 "Worst Fears, Part 1"

Season 3 (2379)[]

Deep Space 12 tries to repel a major Grey attack, political tensions rise among galactic powers in the Briar Patch, and a centuries-old antagonist appears at the center of a growing conspiracy.

Episode Name Stardate
301 "Worst Fears, Part 2"
302 "Worst Fears, Part 3"
303 "Heroes"
304 "Modus Operandi"
305 "Santa Q"
306 "Ashes"
307 "Voyage of the Defiant"
308 "Hell's Gate, Part 1"

Season 4 (2380)[]

Ancient and powerful artifacts are at the center of new conflicts among the Federation, Cardassians, Bajorans and Tholians in the Briar Patch. The crew of the Excelsior face their own personal tragedies.

Episode Name Stardate
401 "Hell's Gate, Part 2"
402 "Piracy of the Noble"
403 "Addictions"
404 "Grave Matters"
405 "Crossroads"
406 "Entanglement, Part 1"

Season 5 (2381)[]

For five years, the Grey have stalked the Federation as Starfleet has plumbed the depths of the Briar Patch, discovering the powerful and ancient tetrahedrons. Meanwhile, the inscrutable Tholians have stepped up their own incursions in the Patch, bringing them to the verge of war with the Federation.

Episode Name Stardate
501 "Entanglement, Part 2"
502 "Imminent Danger"
503 "Darkest Night"
504 "Security Counsel"
505 "Epitaph"
506 "The Battle is Joined"

Season 6 (2382)[]

The Tholians make their move, and the galaxy will never be the same. New villains emerge, and new threats entangle the crew of the Excelsior in unexpected danger.

Episode Name Stardate
601 "Countermeasures"
602 "Dancing in the Dark"
603 "Homeport"
604 "Beachhead"
605 "Vigil"
606 "Her Battle Lanterns Lit"

Season 7 (2383)[]

Thrown into a war with sinister enemies, Starfleet and the members of the fleet attached to Deep Space 12 fight for the safety of the Briar Patch and Federation. Shrouded by mystery and circled by villains with no remorse, the war is just beginning.

Episode Name Stardate
701 "Heavy Losses"
702 "Bound"
703 "Past Sins"
704 "Hearts and Minds"
705 "The Widening Gyre"
706 "Things Fall Apart"
707 "The Center Cannot Hold"
708 "Its Hour Come Round At Last"

Movies[]

Two movies crossed over with Star Trek: Intrepid, exist. The second movie, Operation Beta Shield, acts as the pilot for a third Hidden Frontier universe spin-off, Star Trek: Federation One. On September 2015, it was announced that Rebecca Wood, who played President Vindenpawl in both Star Trek: Hidden Frontier and Star Trek: Federation One, will reprise her role in one of the future episodes of Star Trek: Guardian.

Name Stardate
1 "Orphans of War" Unknown
2 "Star Trek: Operation Beta Shield" Unknown

See also[]

External links[]

Lost sources[]

  • Hidden Frontier encyclopedia 
  • Star Trek Hidden Frontier' series profile at startrekfanmade.org 

Star Trek: Reviewed articles[]

Advertisement