Summary
- Star Trek depicts World War III as a grim era with a staggering death toll and nuclear devastation.
- Humanity's realignment of purpose after the war led to the end of war, poverty, hunger, and disease.
- Despite the dark past of World War III, it paved the way for humanity to strive towards creating a more perfect society.
Most fans would agree that the future depicted in Star Trek is an ambitious best-case scenario for humanity. Without scarcity, poverty, and hopelessness, the species can turn its attention toward spreading its good fortune and studying the universe. Looking at contemporary reality can make imagining this future impossible. However, though the heroes of Starfleet live in a utopia, the years between now and then are far less enjoyable. Star Trek fans know that World War III is right around the corner.
Star Trek has a lot of historical details that are consistently told but rarely shown. World War III is a great example. It takes place long before the relevant events of the series. Most Star Trek stories involve contained adventures in which the central crew works to solve a problem with unique science fiction implications. When they dig into the past, they often use it as a grim mirror of the present. The occasional World War III story is no exception.
How did Star Trek's World War III start?
Star Trek tells its World War III story over the course of dozens of episodes, many separated by decades. Flashbacks, time travel, and extra details have provided fans with some pieces of the war without ever capturing the full picture. The opening of the Third World War varies. Some argue that the Eugenics Wars of 1992 evolved from the Second Civil War, which opened the door for World War III. Bearing in mind that the canon remains in flux, the current timeline suggests that the Eugenics War, the Second Civil War, and World War III may have been one unbroken chain of escalating conflicts culminating in worldwide nuclear devastation. Their link remains questionable, likely owing to the fact that writers have used the terms interchangeably in several instances. In any case, World War III does have some listed events.
According to Q, in the series premiere of The Next Generation, humanity mastered the subtle art of commanding their massive armies with mind-altering narcotics. The United States of America and the Eastern Coalition wielded military forces with the kind of battle drugs that turned soldiers into slaves. The only known major attack was the Eastern Coalition's strike on the US. The single figure most directly blamed for World War III is Colonel Phillip Green. Colonel Green arranged a squadron of eco-terrorists who led a campaign of bloody violence across the Earth.
How did World War III end?
The list of events in Star Trek's World War III is long and messy. Its conclusion is clear, but the steps to get there remain shrouded in mystery. All the forces involved in World War III agreed to a ceasefire around the year 2053. The conflict led to the deaths of more than 30% of humanity. The show lists more than 600,000,000 casualties, but the numbers could be considerably higher. Colonel Green's forces took responsibility for at least 37,000,000 deaths. Their campaign involved eradicating anyone suffering from radiation poisoning and working to eliminate anyone who could pass "impurities" on to the next generation. The war also cost at least 600,000 species of animals and plants, all of which went extinct. Discovery features a depiction of the nuclear bombing of Richmond, Indiana. Strange New Worlds mentions similar nuclear detonations in New York City, Washington, Paris, and several other cities. The carnage is inarguable, but the after-effects were fascinating.
How did World War III change humanity?
Somehow, humankind continued their work in deep space travel. Humans launched manned missions to Mars and beyond the solar system during the war. While World War III left many pockets of Earth in "post-atomic horror," scientific advancement continued. Zefram Cochrane built Earth's first warp-enabled ship shortly after the war. A decade after the nuclear devastation concluded, the Vulcans made their first contact with humanity. This brush with a real extraterrestrial pushed humanity to almost instantly set aside their differences. Millions died less than a generation earlier, but every living being on Earth got their act together and redoubled their efforts toward creating a more perfect society. This miraculous realignment of purpose ended war, poverty, hunger, and disease forever. Finally, humankind truly found the war to end all wars. However, in all fairness, the war didn't push humanity to achieve their post-scarcity dreams. They provided the darkness that comes before dawn, allowing humanity to see brighter days ahead.
In the shadow of this incalculable devastation, we find ourselves facing a colossal challenge. There's an entire world to rebuild. Not only our cities and homes, but mankind itself! - Colonel Phillip Green, 2056
There's a stellar military science-fiction story hidden in the annals of Star Trek history. Imagine America and Asia leading massive armies of near-future soldiers turned into callous killing machines through the magic of hard drugs. Imagine a nuclear nightmare consuming almost a third of human life and massive portions of flora and fauna. Imagine the handshake agreement that finally ends the hostilities, finding peace against all odds. Ten years pass as countless survivors struggle against the irradiated hellscape they've created. Then the aliens arrive, and everyone, all at once, drops what they're doing to seek perfection. It's a magical story worthy of a season of TV, but Star Trek tells its World War III tale through a million hidden details.
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