Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 9, “Fissure Quest.”
An Overview of Star Trek: First Contact
Renowned actress Alfre Woodard delivers a memorable performance as Lily Sloane in the cinematic installment Star Trek: First Contact. This film, directed by Jonathan Frakes, marks a pivotal moment in the Star Trek franchise as it is the first major adventure featuring the crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation on the big screen, following Star Trek: Generations.
The storyline centers around Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-E as they embark on a perilous journey back in time to thwart the Borg’s attempt to alter history. Their mission leads them to the year 2063, where they encounter Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell), the visionary behind warp drive technology, on the eve of humanity’s historic First Contact with the Vulcans.
The Borg Challenge and Lily Sloane
While Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) assist Cochrane on Earth, Captain Picard and the Enterprise crew engage in a fierce battle against the Borg onboard the ship. Their encounter becomes increasingly dire when the Borg capture Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), prompting the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) to attempt to coax him into revealing strategic information.
With remarkable teamwork, Picard and Data ultimately manage to outmaneuver the Borg Queen, ensuring the success of Cochrane’s flight. Lily Sloane plays a critical role in this endeavor, providing the support Picard needs during this tumultuous period.
The Role of Lily Sloane
Initially, Sloane is encountered by Picard and Data while they inspect the missile silo that houses Cochrane’s warp-capable ship, the Phoenix. After Picard beams her aboard the Enterprise for medical attention due to radiation exposure, she unexpectedly finds herself trapped amidst the chaos of an onboard Borg invasion. After a tense moment of fear, Sloane meets Picard again, who reassures her of his good intentions. The two team up to reclaim the Enterprise from the clutches of the Borg, with Sloane challenging Picard’s hesitance to make difficult sacrifices.
Alfre Woodard’s Acclaimed Career
With a rich acting career spanning several decades since the 1970s, Alfre Woodard has received numerous accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Her talent garnered her an Oscar nomination in 1983 for her role in Cross Creek, and she has made notable appearances in films such as 12 Years a Slave and The Lion King, as well as in popular television series like Desperate Housewives and Luke Cage.
Exploring Lily Sloane in Star Trek: Lower Decks
Lily Sloane in an Alternate Universe
In a fascinating twist, Alfre Woodard reprised her role as Lily Sloane in Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 9, titled “Fissure Quest.”As part of an ongoing storyline, the USS Cerritos investigates unusual quantum fissures that threaten stability across the galaxy. During this episode, Captain William Boimler (voiced by Jack Quaid) and his crew make a significant discovery: an alternate version of Lily Sloane commanding the Beagle, a ship equipped with a Quantum Reality Drive capable of traversing parallel universes.
This alternate Lily Sloane mirrors her original counterpart’s values, exemplifying a strong moral compass, a thirst for knowledge, and a commitment to exploration. Instead of navigating a single universe, this version of Sloane and her crew embark on adventures through multiple realities, aiming to gain insights about themselves along the way. Although they inadvertently create additional temporal rifts, Captain Sloane promptly expresses her regret and offers assistance to Boimler and his team.
Regardless of the universe, one thing remains clear: Lily Sloane embodies the spirit of discovery and moral integrity that resonates deeply within the Star Trek ethos.