Cetacean Ops Theory

[Sumire]

I know there’s a pretty well documented timeline for Cetacean Ops in the Star Trek TV shows but is there an established history in the in-universe lore? It’s my personal theory that Admiral Archer pushed for the creation of Cetacean Ops as a way to get pools onboard starships. (Whether or not he could interest any cetacean crew members in the sport of water polo I leave up to other’s imaginations. )

[Please don’t get upset if there is absolutely no way any starship in the centuries between Enterprise and TNG ever had a pool. Consider it a seed planted that took a long, long time to sprout if those with considerably more starship knowledge than I find my proposition beyond silly, bordering on heretical.]

 

[Victoria]

For Archer to be considering Cetacean Ops - even unsuccessfully - there would need to be cetaceans in the first places.

Now, we are told that the humpbacks had been hunted to extinction (and it is humpbacks we see in Cetaceans Ops) so were there other cetaceans that Archer could have been considering? Both bottlenosed dolphins and Beluga whales are used in canon and, since we don't see them being rescued, presumably they existed in Archer's day.

The earliest we know of the existence of Cetacean Ops is on the Enterprise C - well after Admiral Archer's probable death (not known in canon but proposed to be at the time of the Enterprise 1701 launch).

Personally, I find it hard to believe that a Starfleet senior officer would be proposing a completely new section onboard Star Ships (which by nature are limited in space) simply because he liked water polo. Holodeck technology was onboard starships well before we see Cetacean Ops (on the original Enterprise according TAS) surely that would suffice for water-based activities? It seems more likely that the events of TVH and the subsequent work with the rescued whales focussed attention on the potentials of cetacean navigation.

 

[Tosk]

and it is humpbacks we see in Cetaceans Ops

The lieutenants on the Cerritos are Beluga whales.

 

[NCC-73515]

Voyager-A has a humpback, probably one of George and Gracie's (grand)kids

 

[Tosk]

And named after Dr. Gillian Taylor.

 

[somebuddyX]

Maybe they're just for the mermaids.

 

[Tomalak]

The earliest we know of the existence of Cetacean Ops is on the Enterprise C - well after Admiral Archer's probable death (not known in canon but proposed to be at the time of the Enterprise 1701 launch).

I don't think that's quite right - there is a reference to Cetacean Ops in 'Yesterday's Enterprise', but it's a voiceover on the alt-Ent-D.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Could've just as easily been for water therapy or anti-gravity training.

 

[Sumire]

It seems more likely that the events of TVH and the subsequent work with the rescued whales focussed attention on the potentials of cetacean navigation.

I agree, that is far more likely. A lovely ripple effect giving a wonderful movie impact through the years. But as probable as it is, it’s also less amusing; which was my original intent.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Could've just as easily been for water therapy or anti-gravity training.

Cetacean Ops? Why would a water therapy or anti-grav training facility be called "Cetacean Ops?" It's a word that means "whale."

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I meant the idea of having a pool aboard ships. Assuming it started prior to putting whales on ships, it may have begun for one of those reasons.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I meant the idea of having a pool aboard ships. Assuming it started prior to putting whales on ships, it may have begun for one of those reasons.

Would seem to be a low priority for early deep space craft. There might be a reason showers went sonic in the 23rd Century.

 

[The Wormhole]

If Archer felt there should be pools on starships, surely that's more likely to be the reason why Constitution class ships had swimming pools than be the reason for Cetacean Ops?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

It might have been Olympic size to allow for tournaments.

 

[Nerys Myk]

It might have been Olympic size to allow for tournaments.

Seems like a waste of space.

 

[Victoria]

I can see this theory making a vignette for a fan fiction story...

Late in the voyages of NX01
Archer <feeling wistful after watching a water polo video and reminiscing about playing in college> "...it would be nice to have a pool onboard..."
T'Pol <logically>: "It would take up a great deal of space for something that would be used only for recreational purposes"
Archer <not wanting to concede the point>: "Well....when I was a boy, I used to be fascinated by cetaceans and the way they could navigate for long distances without any technology. That would be useful and they need water to live in so..."
Trip: "What's a "cetacean?"
Reed: "Is Cetacea part of the Federation?"
Tableau.

But logically? Seriously as an Admiral? No.

 

[Tomalak]

Seems like a waste of space.

They've got to store fresh water somewhere. Might as well make it a swimming pool, and then pass it through 23rd century filtration systems before it arrives in your cup of Earl Grey.

 

[Cyfa]

I know there’s a pretty well documented timeline for Cetacean Ops in the Star Trek TV shows but is there an established history in the in-universe lore? It’s my personal theory that Admiral Archer pushed for the creation of Cetacean Ops as a way to get pools onboard starships. (Whether or not he could interest any cetacean crew members in the sport of water polo I leave up to other’s imaginations. )

~ I rather like your theory, Sumire I certainly wouldn't put it past Archer (and Trip, as he seemed to be on his way to becoming a water polo fan in "Vox Sola") to push for pools on starships.
Didn't the two of them go diving together, or something (I know Trip certainly did, and he had that old fashioned diving helmet in his quarters)? Maybe they knew some dolphins who were interested in space exploration and that's how it all came together? (The existence of the universal translator would have meant communications between humans and cetaceans was possible then, surely?)

 

[Nerys Myk]

They've got to store fresh water somewhere. Might as well make it a swimming pool, and then pass it through 23rd century filtration systems before it arrives in your cup of Earl Grey.

Replicating water is probably easier than pie.

 

[Tomalak]

Replicating water is probably easier than pie

In the TNG era, but I thought we were talking about Kirk's ship.