Unfortunately for our heroes, the ascension of Asencia (Jameela Jamil) has arrived. Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, episode 15, “Ascension, Part I,” was written by Erin McNamara, Jennifer Muro, Diandra Pendleton-Thompson, Keith Sweet II and Aaron J. Waltke and directed by Sung Shin.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Star Trek: Prodigy episode, “Cracked Mirror.”
Star Trek: Prodigy’s “Ascension, Part I”
As the USS Protostar travels through an asteroid field alongside the USS Voyager-A, Dal R’El (Brett Gray) records a personal log for stardate 61945.4. While everything on Voyager looks the same, he says it feels different. He wonders if they’re the ones who have changed. Maj’el (Michaela Dietz) joins the other two members of Nova Squadron on the holodeck, where they inspect a holographic model of a fighter. Murf (Dee Bradley Baker) and Bribble meet Gillian in Cetacean Ops.
As Dal acknowledges the journey leaving a few bumps and bruises, we see Zero (Angus Imrie), who is now using a cane for mobility. In the cafeteria, we see Gwyn (Ella Purnell) and Dal eating alongside each other. They see Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) sharing a meal at a nearby table. In the log, Dal reflects that sometimes, home isn’t a place, but the people you trust.
Meanwhile, Starfleet is there to help with the Protostar. Thanks to an update and experience, Starfleet vessels can now handle the Living Construct. They’re assisted by Starfleet’s top minds (which includes a pair of Bynars and an Orion). By fixing the past, they’ll be able to save the present and heal Gwyn.
New Body, New Me
Elsewhere, Nova Squadron trains fighters. They prepare to execute a maneuver known as the “Boothby Supernova.” But when Dal arrives late for the training, this is revealed to be taking place inside a holodeck. Zeph (Sunkrish Bala) questions Dal’s presence. But Maj’el says she invited him after witnessing his performance in the field. Dal says he’s done some solo training but is excited to learn from the best. A bewildered Zeph shakes his hand. They resume training.
Meanwhile, in sickbay, The Doctor (Robert Picardo) analyzes Zero as Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas) looks on. However, because of the nature of Zero’s body, there’s nothing The Doctor can do to fix it. Nevertheless, The Doctor says if they can’t fix it, they can build Zero a new body. Jankom’s interest is piqued.
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The Doctor says recent updates in Starfleet artificial physiology, an upgrade could offer any form Zero wishes plus offer tactile sensation. Realizing this means they can both look and feel like themself, Zero is overjoyed… and terrified. The Doctor agrees as they would retain both good and bad sensations. But Zero acknowledges that life is a balance of both. “More than anything, I just want to feel like me,” says Zero. AKA, the trans experience.
The Doctor says he’ll contact the Daystrom Institute. However, Zero prefers Jankom to design the new suit. The Doctor will transfer some schematics for reference. Zero is exhilarated at the prospect of “a new life of unknown possibilities” awaiting them.
Two of a Kind
In Janeway’s ready room, she offers support to Chakotay in advance of his first Starfleet debrief in over a decade. She hands him his comm badge. Chakotay remembers seeing this badge for the first time, in Star Trek: Voyager’s “Endgame.” This is where the designs for their uniforms and badges came from. The effects of the USS Voyager’s journey are widespread and lasting. He compares his journey with the Protostar to Future Janeway’s journey through time in “Endgame.”
Janeway and Chakotay reflect that change is inevitable. “I’m looking forward to what comes next,” declares Janeway. They enter the conference room and are greeted by Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox) over subspace transmission. Chakotay reflects that it was a long decade on “that island.” But then they and Tysess (Daveed Diggs) get back to business.
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The out-of-time Protostar must be returned to its proper point in history. But in doing so, they must avoid further damaging the timeline. Jellico interrupts. He says Starfleet Command has determined they will take control of the Protostar mission. Starfleet is spread thin due to the Romulan evacuation, damage from the Living Construct (see: “Supernova, Part 2”) and A-500 Androids bearing the responsibility of keeping Federation member worlds running (see: Star Trek: Picard Season 1).
Jellico orders the Protostar to be escorted to Earth, where it will be turned over to Temporal Investigations. Voyager’s crew will be reassigned, and the cadets will be “re-evaluated.” Citing a duty to her crew, Janeway says she isn’t willing to put their fate in the hands of bureaucrats. But Tysess says Jellico may be right. They can’t go rogue again. Chakotay agrees. “It’s been a long road, Admiral. Maybe it’s time our journey finally ends.”
The Rev-1
In the cafeteria, the cadets (and Bribble) lament the cancellation of their mission. Gwyn wonders how this can be the case when Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) said they were important. However, Dal says they should be proud of what they’ve accomplished already. But he’s willing to let the Federation take over in fixing the situation given that Gwyn’s life is at stake. That’s when Gwyn is summoned to the bridge.
Gwyn arrives on the bridge. Tysess reports they’re receiving a message from a downed Starfleet vessel on Solum. Janeway orders it on the viewscreen and Ilthuran (John Noble) appears. He’s delighted to see Gwyn. Janeway asks if he needs assistance. Ilthuran says Ascensia has seized power and made war inevitable. She’s using previously unseen tech to advance pockets of time at an advanced rate, allowing for dangerous breakthroughs and the construction of a fleet at an unparalleled speed.
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The Vau’Nakat did not possess such technologies, even in the future visited by Chakotay and others. But Ilthuran is interrupted by the arrival of Asencia. She mocks Gwyn about the stolen heirloom. Then she mocks Janeway for the fact that Asencia previously infiltrated the USS Dauntless crew (see: Prodigy Season 1). She cuts transmission and Cetacean Ops detects the incoming Rev-1.
Even larger than the Rev-12, the massive Rev-1 appears before Voyager, piloted by Drednok (Jimmi Simpson). Drednok acknowledges attacking Voyager will be considered an act of war and attacks anyway. An energy beam targets Voyager, draining power and charging an unidentified weapon aboard Rev-1.
On Solum, Ilthuran protests Asencia’s attack. Hologram Janeway contacts Janeway and reports the Protostar won’t last long. But the Protostar is necessary to restore the timeline. Chakotay and Gwyn will head to the Protostar while Janeway will continue protecting Voyager.
Nova Squad’s Finest Hour
Gwyn and Chakotay summon the rest of the Protostar crew. Meanwhile, Nova Squadron will join the shuttle defense mounted by Tysess. But a volley on the ship causes Grom to be injured. Zero offers to escort her to sick bay. Dal will take Grom’s place alongside Maj’el and Zeph. Gwyn wishes Dal luck. Dal says he’ll see her on the other side. “Not if I see you first,” Gwyn replies, echoing Dal’s Season 1 line.
The Protostar crew beams aboard and executes evasive maneuvers. The Rev-1’s attack is divided. In sickbay, Zero assists Noum (Jason Alexander) and The Doctor. When technology fails, Noum uses “the old-fashioned way.” On the Voyager bridge, Janeway says they must halt the energy drain. Tysess arms the quantum torpedoes and Janeway orders him to target the enemy weapons array. But chronometric interference prevents them from locking on. However, the fighters may be able to accomplish what Voyager cannot.
RELATED: Read all of our Star Trek: Prodigy recaps.
In the shuttlebay, Nova Squadron gets in Mark 2 Delta Fliers, redesigned by Tom Paris. The Fliers take off and approach the Rev-1. Maj’el orders them to target the weapons array. She instructs them to stay close as enemy fighters counterattack. Meanwhile, Voyager’s shields have dropped to 12%. However, the Fliers haven’t successfully delivered the weapons array coordinates to Voyager. Dal proposes using the Protostar to attack the array instead.
The Protostar approaches. The Fliers must buy them an opening. Once an opening appears, they lock on. The Protostar scans the array and sends the coordinates to Voyager. Janeway orders a full spread of quantum torpedoes. But seeing the incoming volley, Rev-1’s fighters get in formation and activate a shield. This repels the torpedoes.
The Traveler Reveal
The ensuing energy waves rock Voyager and the Protostar. Voyager’s systems are knocked offline. This leaves them at Asencia’s mercy. Meanwhile, Asencia is revealed to have captured Wesley to whom she declares, “Your strategic mind has been so useful, Traveler.”
All 20 episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 are currently available for streaming on Netflix.
