In the latest episode of “Star Trek: Picard,” Picard and Ro Laren reunite after 31 years and have a long overdue conversation. Tom Götz took a closer look at this reunion and the reconciliation with him that was shown there Literary Universe of Compared to “Star Trek”.
Review: The Betrayal
2370: In the penultimate episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” titled “Preemptive Strike” (TNG 7×24 “The Return of Ro Laren”) Ro Laren, recently promoted to Lieutenant, was to infiltrate the Maquis and then lure them into a trap. But things turned out differently. Ro developed sympathy for the struggle of the Federation colonists against the Cardassians. Ro found a father figure in Macias, the leader of a Maquis cell. When he was killed in a sneak attack by the Cardassians, Ro was deeply hurt. Just before the Maquis fell into Starfleet’s trap, Ro switched sides and betrayed Starfleet. Picard, who had always stood up for Ro (she had been in prison before her time on the Enterprise-D), was deeply disappointed by Ro’s change of sides. He accepted Riker’s report without a word.
31 years later, Picard and Ro Laren meet again.
The Reunion: Litverse vs. Series
The encounter at PIC 3×05 “Imposters”/“Changeling” However, this isn’t the first time Ro and Picard have seen each other since the episode “The Return of Ro Laren.” Because in the book universe, the Litverse, this reunion already existed in the “Deep Space Nine” relaunch. Exactly all in the second volume of the prelude “Revelations, part 2“. There it was a little different than in “Star Trek: Picard”
The Litverse – and with it the relaunches – have now been erased from the timeline, thanks to “Coda”. Nevertheless, we want to take a look at the different courses of the talks.
Before some complain at this point that the books were never strictly canon: yes, that is correct. A good book is still a good book. And as with “Star Wars”, the authors have used the Litverse time and time again. For example, thanks to Prodigy, Brikar from “New Frontier” has become canon, as has Uhura’s first name, Nyota.
A transcript of both conversations follows, as well as a comparison of these dialogues. At this point, we deliberately do not judge which of the two is the better conversation. Because everyone should decide for themselves. We also do not provide a 1:1 reprint of the conversation, only a summary of the most important passages. Anyone interested in the exact wording should read the book at this point.
In the Litverse we met again 22 years ago, because the novel in question was published in the original English version in 2001. The novel was first published in German by CrossCult in 2011.
The context of the reunion
Before we look at the conversation itself, let’s briefly go into the background.
book universe
After defecting, Ro quickly rises through the ranks of the Maquis due to her expertise. As the Maquis is wiped out and the Dominion War begins, she and her cell continue to strike at the enemy.
When the Dominion wants to create an artificial wormhole in 2374, she even works with the Enterprise-E to prevent it (see “The Dominion War Volumes 2 & 4“). She survives the fierce fighting at the end of the war and returns to Bajor after defeating the Dominion, where she joins the Bajoran military.
While Starfleet is demanding their arrest and extradition, Picard intervenes on their behalf. And so it can continue to provide its service.
In February 2376, she was sent to Deep Space 9 as the new Chief of Security at the request of Kira Nerys. Here she investigates later in a murder case.
Then she finally meets Picard in person, but apart from a brief eye contact, the conversation between the two has to wait until the end of the crisis. It therefore only takes place in the second third of the second volume (“Revelation Part 2“) instead of.
The time frame in which this reunion occurs is approximately April 2376, four months after the end of the war and seven years after their last meeting. Picard visits Ro in her office.
“Star Trek: Picard”
Ro surrendered to Starfleet after the Maquis were crushed (circa 2373/2374). Probably also so as not to fall into the hands of the Jem’Hadar. She was sentenced to prison again, but was soon recruited by Starfleet Intelligence for her terrorism expertise. There she had to prove herself from scratch again, but worked her way up to the rank of commander in 30 years. There she found her position until 2401.
This is the starting position in the series, i.e. the new canon.
The conversation
book universe
Picard enters Ro’s office, surprising her. He congratulates her on her new post without a trace of hostility.
Picard: “Do you intend to stay?”
Ro: “I don’t know and I’m wondering if I really want this.“
So Ro admits she’s not sure she’s found her place yet.
Picard: “It can be difficult, yes, but maybe they should hold on for a while.”
At this point, Ro feels the need to talk about the events of seven years ago.
Ro: “Because of what happened…”
Picard immediately interrupts.
Picard: “We all have regrets, Lieutenant. And have to live with the consequences of our actions. Don’t let your past get in the way of your future. I wish them all the best for the future.”
At this point, Ro can’t believe that Picard forgives her without any ifs or buts.
Ro: “Thank you Captain.”
Picard: “Good luck, Lieutenant.”
And with that, Picard leaves Ro, who is visibly relieved that he has forgiven her. You get a glimpse of Picard’s thoughts, which is that he really was mad at her for a while. But once he saw her and realized that she was still carrying that burden, he wanted to take it away from her, eliminate her self-doubt, and guide her down the path to being the good officer she always was.
And he did that in a nutshell in the book.
“Star Trek: Picard” (3×05 “Imposters”)
After Commander Ro comes on board to interrogate Picard and Riker, you first go into a conference room. First of all, Picard raves about how a traitor could be let back into the fleet. Ro reacts professionally at first and insists on her rank. She then talks to Picard alone.
Picard: “Why was a traitor reinstated?”
Ro continues the transcript and asks questions about the past few days. Picard continues to insist that she is a traitor, so she takes the shapeshifter blood test. Picard notices that her earring is missing. Picard continues on an aggressive track.
Picard: “Have they turned their backs on the Bajorans, too?”
Ro: “This isn’t about you.”
A short conversation about Jack follows and Beverly also intervenes briefly and continues to sow distrust.
Picard: “The Ro I knew was a lot more thorough.”
Ro: “Maybe you didn’t know me.”
Picard: “Then tell me.”
Then Ro recounts her history in the fleet (see above).
Picard: “I want to know why you defected and betrayed your honor?“
Ro: “Mine or the fleet? Blind trust makes no one honorable.”
Now Ro leads Picard into the holodeck under a pretext. The two discover that they really are who they say they are. It becomes obvious when Picard tells her that Ro only wore her earring because of her ego.
Picard: “I’ve spent 30 years preparing for this conversation.”
Ro: “You don’t even know what it was like to be constantly judged.”
Picard: “We had a respectful connection after all. But you betrayed everything.“
Ro: “You just wanted to make me a reflection of yourself. Your support has always been conditional. That’s why I joined the Maquis, to fight for a good cause. That’s just how I was.”
Picard: “I believed in you.”
Ro: “Only if I was obedient. You would have understood if I had meant anything to you.”
Picard: “You broke my heart.”
Ro: “And she me mine.”
Here the two have once again reached a reconciliation and understanding for one another – and it goes back to their investigations.
And this is where the conversations between the two end. As I said, I leave an assessment of which is better to you, the readers, in the comments.
Ro Laren’s post-reconciliation career
“Star Trek: Picard” (3×05 “Imposters”)
Ro is killed shortly afterwards by a bomb, but this buys the Titan time. Loud Memory Alpha she was 61 years old.
book universe
Ro continues to thrive in her career on Deep Space 9. When Bajor joins the Federation in late 2376, she considers quitting as the Bajoran military will be merged into Starfleet.
However, Picard ensures that she regains her old rank of lieutenant and can continue to work her way up, which she does successfully. Among other things, she and Quark become a couple.
In 2378 she became first officer of DS9 under Elias Vaughn, and a year later station commander. She received her promotion to captain in 2382, but shortly thereafter the old Deep Space 9 station was destroyed. The new space station, of which she remains commander, reopens in 2385, but even there one crisis follows another, as the inauguration coincides with the assassination of the Federation President.
However, the events of “Coda” in early 2387 erase all of those events, effectively pushing Ro into new canon. There, her fate is as described in “Picard” Season 3 (see above).
