13

In Star Trek, whatever happened to the exocomps?

An excomp, looking like a mostly black faceted spheroid with blinking lights, silver details and a pair of large red pyramidal feet, hovers in the air in front of a vertically-mounted console. A cylindrical device on its "front" is projecting a blue beam that is triggering patterns of lines in the display.

I recall that they were in an episode that showed them as sentient, but never saw them again.

Improve this question
1

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
4

Source: "Exocomp", Memory Alpha

It would seem they were promptly forgotten. Too bad, as they are a reference to one of my all-time-favorite Anime, Dirty Pair.

There are other examples of strange things gaining intelligence in the ST universe, a list you can see here.

Some Highlights:

Improve this answer
6
  • 2
    Not like there was really any sensible way to bring them back. What would they do, follow Data around like a puppy?
    – Xantec
    Commented Apr 20, 2011 at 15:27
  • 5
    @Xantec: Come back in a later episode as a civilization. Merge with the Borg. Assimilate the dominion. Come back to fight the Federation as mounts for cybernetic changelings.
    – DampeS8N
    Commented Apr 20, 2011 at 16:49
  • 1
    That was already done in ST:TMP :-)
    – Xantec
    Commented Apr 20, 2011 at 17:04
  • @Xantec: That was roughly as hilarious as what I said, yes. :)
    – DampeS8N
    Commented Apr 20, 2011 at 17:08
  • There are probably even more examples of things that should have been important in some way, but were promptly forgotten after the episode that featured them.
    – O. R. Mapper
    Commented Oct 16, 2016 at 16:25
10

Whilst the Exocomps aren't seen again in the TV show they do make an extensive appearance in the Trek Book Immortal Coil in which two exocomps (named Winken and Blinken) are key players in a plot to uncover an ancient artificial intelligence. The book states that their civilisation has joined the Federation as full members.

This was later backed up in the Star Trek: Online MMO game where they were described as being

"sentient members of the Federation"

...that were strongly aligned to Starfleet and available as members of your crew in both civilian and military modes.

Star Trek Online Exocomps

Improve this answer
9

Star Trek: Lower Decks (which is canon-ish) featured an Exocomp who was a member of Starfleet

Exocomp Starfleet

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    "a member of Starfleet" until he ran from the enemy and got left in interstellar space.
    – Valorum
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 16:34
  • I didn't want to make them look like the jerk they were
    – Machavity
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 16:39

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.