The latest episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks proved a momentous one for Capt. Carol Freeman. (SPOILERS follow for this week’s Star Trek: Lower Decks episode, “Trusted Sources.”) The episode sees a journalist from the Federation News Network coming aboard the USS Cerritos as Freeman’s new second contact initiative launches. Freeman, desperate to protect her image and that of her ship, puts the ship on semi-lockdown, pre-selecting which crewmembers are allowed to speak to the press. Unfortunately, her chosen interviewees end up revealing more unflattering details about the ship’s adventures than she expected. Meanwhile, Mariner goes behind her back to speak to the reporter, saying only loving and positive things about working under her mother, and is transferred off of the Cerritos as punishment, leading to her resignation from Starfleet entirely.
