Nog made history as the first Ferengi in Starfleet, but he showed his potential much earlier than anyone in Star Trek: DS9 probably realized.
Summary
- Nog’s potential as a Starfleet officer was evident early on in Deep Space Nine.
- In “The Storyteller” episode, Nog’s ability to negotiate and cite the Rules of Acquisition proved his potential as a mediator, showcasing his skills for a future career in Starfleet.
- The legacy of Nog and the late Aaron Eisenberg in Star Trek could be honored by including more Ferengi in Starfleet, as seen in Star Trek: Lower Decks, highlighting their value as strong negotiators.
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Nog (Aaron Eisenberg) proved that he was Starfleet material from as early as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 1. The youngster became the first Ferengi to join Starfleet, thanks to the support of Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney). However, Nog began DS9 as a bit of a tearaway, and his very first scene saw him get arrested by Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois). However, the positive influence of his friend Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), and his desire to avoid the mistakes of his father, Rom (Max Grodénchik) inspired him to dream bigger.
Even before Nog’s Starfleet journey began, he was showing promising signs of having what it took to be an officer. One of the earliest examples of Nog’s aptitude for Starfleet Academy is found in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “The Storyteller.” The main plot revolves around O’Brien and Dr. Bashir (Alexander Siddig) saving a Bajoran village from a mysterious entity. Meanwhile, back on Deep Space Nine, Nog and Jake try to impress a young Bajoran woman called Varis Sul (Gina Phillips). What begins as a romantic rivalry actually reveals what Nog has to offer Starfleet as their first Ferengi recruit.
Nog Proved He Was Starfleet Material In DS9 Season 1
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 1, episode 14, “The Storyteller”, Varis Sul is on DS9 to negotiate a land dispute with her neighboring Bajoran faction, the Navot. Struggling with the responsibilities of negotiating the dispute, the 15-year-old seeks help from an infatuated Nog and Jake. Later in the episode, Varis reveals to Commander Sisko that she gravitated toward his son so that she could get a sense of DS9’s commanding officer. However, it’s Nog that provides Varis with the way to bring the dispute between the Paqu and the Navot to an end – giving her neighbors their land back, but opening up trade routes.
Negotiation is a key part of the job of a Starfleet officer, and Nog’s Ferengi heritage has made him a formidable negotiator from a young age. Although Nog doesn’t actively participate in the negotiations that are mediated by Sisko, his citing of the ninth Rule of Acquisition – “opportunity plus instinct equals profit” – gives Varis the inspiration she needs. It’s proof that Nog could have a great career in Starfleet as a mediator, combining the Rules of Acquisition with Federation law to become a negotiator that could give Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) a run for his money. With skills like that, it’s no wonder that Nog became a history making Starfleet Academy cadet.
Why Starfleet Needs More Ferengi Like Nog In Star Trek’s Future
Due to the sad death of Aaron Eisenberg in 2019, it’s unlikely that we’ll get to see the Starfleet career of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s Nog play out. Therefore, more Ferengi in Starfleet would be an appropriate tribute to the legacy of both Eisenberg and Nog in Star Trek. It’s already been confirmed that, by the time of Star Trek: Discovery‘s 32nd century, there are more Ferengi in Starfleet, but it would be great to see more in the 24th or 25th centuries too. Star Trek: Lower Decks recently proved what a valuable asset the Ferengi are to both Starfleet and the Federation.
In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place”, Grand Nagus Rom negotiated for Federation membership. He ran rings around the Federation negotiator, until Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) broke regulations and played the Ferengi at his own game. Freeman, like Sisko and O’Brien before her, recognized the value of strong negotiators like the Ferengi in Star Trek‘s Federation. There’s no greater tribute to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s Nog than his own father embracing the same progressive attitudes that made his son such a great Starfleet recruit.
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