The Derelict: a Star Trek Fan Production

The Derelict is a 2017 Australian fan film written and directed by Aaron Vanderkley and the second story in the These Are The Voyages anthology series.

The film is set prior to the Earth-Romulan War. A boarding party from the NX-class starship Challenger investigates the wreck of a civilian vessel.

Summary

Two officers are sent to retrieve the Earth Cargo Vessel 'North Star' found adrift in deep space. What they uncover onboard, might not be worth rescuing.

Plot

A panicked crewman of the E.C.S. North Star records a distress call:

"This is the Earth Cargo Ship North Star to any ship in the area. There’s been an incident during the last consignment. We thought we were doing the right thing. Please, we require immediate assistance. Repeat, require immediate-"

The message is cut off as the crewman is struck from behind by an unknown assailant and collapses, dead.

Sometime later, Commander Fletcher and Lieutenant O’Dell from NX-03 Challenger board the abandoned cargo ship. O'Dell expresses doubt about the ship's salvageability, but Fletcher insists they must follow the Captain’s orders to uncover what happened. The ship, with its hold at capacity, shouldn't have been abandoned.

As they begin their investigation, a piece of the ceiling nearly falls on Fletcher, prompting O’Dell to joke that the ship doesn't want to be saved. They split up to cover more ground. The eerie, damaged corridors give them both the feeling they're being watched.

O’Dell contacts Fletcher to report that their attempt to restart the reactor has failed. He plans to strip the warp coils for parts. Fletcher finds more damage and a large pool of blood, but before she can investigate, a computer terminal ahead catches her attention. She accesses it and hears the distress call, realizing she is standing in the same spot where the crewman was killed. Suddenly, a metal pole swings past her head, smashing the computer display.

An assailant emerges from the smoke, and as Fletcher tries to escape, she is dragged into the darkness.

Fletcher awakens tied up on the floor of a room. A disheveled, manic figure, known as the Rag & Bone Man, approaches her. He was the Captain of the E.C.S. Poseidon, which was attacked unprovoked. His family was slaughtered, and he was left drifting, abandoned. He blames Starfleet for his loss and vows to make them suffer.

Fletcher tries to empathize, offering support if he ends his hostility, but the Rag & Bone Man is too far gone. He plans to target Challenger and its crew of 107, just as he did with the North Star. As he reviews the NX-03’s schematics, Fletcher notices a sharp metal pipe sticking out of the wall.

Meanwhile, O’Dell discovers the body of another North Star crewman while retrieving a carry case. He tries to contact Fletcher but gets no response.

In the break room, the Rag & Bone Man pockets Fletcher’s communicator and leaves to hunt down O’Dell. Fletcher, still tied up, knows she must act before he can harm anyone else. She notices a plasma conduit across the room.

With his phase pistol drawn, O’Dell retraces his steps to the airlock, hoping to find Fletcher. However, someone has depressurized the airlock, and their only way off the ship floats away. O’Dell is ambushed by the Rag & Bone Man.

The Rag & Bone Man returns to the break room with an unconscious O’Dell, only to find Fletcher unmoved. Annoyed, he approaches her, but Fletcher, having cut her restraints with the broken pipe, attacks. She lunges for the plasma conduit, opens the valve, and electrocutes the Rag & Bone Man.

As the Rag & Bone Man falls, Fletcher is startled to see O’Dell still alive. He switches off the conduit and asks if she is okay. Fletcher replies that they need to get off the ship. As they leave, Fletcher looks back at the lifeless body of the Rag & Bone Man, regretting she couldn't save him.

Background Information

• E.C.S (Earth Cargo Service) 'North Star' is mentioned in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Fortunate Son" and was said to have recently suffered a disaster which left few survivors. So this is either the same unlucky cargo ship, or has since been e-commissioned.
• As per their assignment patches, Fletcher and O'Dell are from 'NX-03 Challenger'.
• The destruction of Rag & Bone Man's ship E.C.S Poseidon as a result of an unprovoked attack is reference to the mysterious destruction of an Earth freighter, the Ticonderoga, in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "The Aenar". It is later revealed to be at the hands of the Romulans, who are attempting to destabilize Earth's alliances.  
• Amongst the 'things' Rag & Bone Man has collected are; Starfleet-issue thermal blanket, emergency oxygen respirator, multiple ration packs, an engineering tool-kit, a hand scanner, an ODN scanner, a PADD stylus, a stainless steel coffee cup, a communicator, EM-33 pistol, an iso modulator and Fletcher's phase pistol/holster.
• Jessica Niven reprises her role as Fletcher in Line of Duty. Zach Clifford also provides a voice cameo as O'Dell.

Cast

• Jessica Niven as Commander Fletcher
• Zach Clifford as Lieutenant O'Dell
• Mario J. Rouse as Rag & Bone Man
• Olivier Charlton as 'North Star' Crewman
• Bradley Camm as deceased 'North Star' Crewman

Accolades

Result	Category	Recipient	Presented by
WINNER	Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form	Aaron Vanderkley (producer)	2018 Treklanta Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards
Nomination	Best Original Story or Screenplay	Aaron Vanderkley (writer)	2018 Treklanta Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards
Nomination	Best Costuming	Gina Vanderkley (costume designer)	2018 Treklanta Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards
Nomination	Best Director	Aaron Vanderkley (director)	2018 Treklanta Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards
Nomination	Best Makeup & Hairstyling	Andrew David (make-up supervisor)	2018 Treklanta Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards

External links

• The Derelict: a Star Trek Fan Production on YouTube
• The Derelict: a Star Trek Fan Production Behind the Scenes on YouTube
• The Derelict: a Star Trek Fan Production on IMDb
• Aaron Vanderkley on The Trekzone Spotlight on YouTube
• The BEST TWO Trek fan films you've NEVER seen! on Fan Film Factor
• Continuing Mission 42: Space Below and Beyond! on Trek FM
• Geeky Gentlemen review 'The Derelict' on YouTube
• Results of 2018 Bjo Awards on Treklanta.org