The Starfleet Insignia. The delta shield. The Commbadge.
What started off as a design choice became a symbol for the franchise, that few others have replicated. Aside from the trademark symbols for Superman and Batman, I cant think of any other franchise logo that is instantly recognisable without having the franchise name in there (e.g the 007 logo, the various Doctor Who logos etc etc.)
Non Star Trek fans are immediately able to reconcile what this logo represents (at least in a literal sense) when it is a design on a piece of apparel or a pin. On a typlical work day, I will have a the logo on my lapel, on my tie in pin form, 2 of my bags have the logo, I have it on a key chain and even as my phone wallpaper.
The metaphorical? Well, this is the point of this article. I’m going to offer some interpretations of the piece and the different ways the symbol has been used in the franchise’s 50+ years.
It began in the Cage. In every Original Series episode, typically Enterprise uniform, featured this patch. The idea of forward momentum is suggested in the way that the bottom of the bage curves to mirror tip. Suggesting that missions are always going forward. While stylish, the badge is simple for fans to replicate, which they have done in costumes for decades.
The symbolism of the badge didn’t really play into the original series, however, you could argue that there were subtle hints. Typically, when the crew met Starfleet Officers from outside of the Enterprise, they had their own patches. It was very telling that in turn, these officers tended to be unable to defeat the threat that the Enterprise crew overcome, were inept, or even antagonistic to “our” crew.
Most telling is that when members of the crew were whisked to the Mirror Universe, the standard insignia wasn’t adapted.
This is in contrast to the subsequent movies. Like the ship, the sets and the costumes, the badge is altered to be familiar, yet updated. The badges help to link these films to the series that came before. It was new, but the badges showed we were home.
Which brings us to the Next Generation. Here the badge itself becomes a plot point in two ways Firstly there is the literal sense. The badge has become a functional piece of equipment, it replaces the flip top communicator as the crew’s main method of communication.
In this sense, it becomes a lifeline to the crew. If a crew member finds themselves in a sticky situation, a simple tap of the badge, and help is on the way Often, not even that is needed as a communicator can be tracked passively It creates great TV shorthand when things go wrong. If a badge is taken, the lifeline is severed, and the affected crewmember has to use their wits to get out of danger.
The badge also takes on a greater symbolic representation in the later series. Although the original series is meant to be a western like show, the badges of the 24th century are like the Sheriff badge from a western yarn. If a Starfleet officer feels the need to resign, or is excommunicated, their badge is surrendered or taken. Very often even in off duty situations, the Starfleet commbadge is worn on off duty clothes in roughly the same spot as it would be on the uniform. There is immense pride in the badge. Officers work hard to wear it, and don’t give it up easily.
Much like the Sheriffs mentioned above, our Captain’s are empowered to give badges as well as take them in the same way someone is deputised or appointed to be sheriff. . Wesley Crusher, Kes, Neelix, and Seven of Nine are all awarded commbadges when they become officers of their respective crews. It shows that the Captains are willing to let these people into their trust.
This is where we get an excelleThent example of the differences between Neelix and Garak. Both are given commbadges. Even after Neelix’s formal duty to Voyager ends, the Talaxian is still seen wearing his badge in his long distance communication with Seven of Nine. Garak wears his during his brief time on the defiant following the occupation of the station. However once he returns, he stops wearing the badge. Could it be that to Garak it was a functional device, whereas to Neelix it was a symbol of his commitment?
Finally, we come to Discovery. When Burnham and Georgiou are isolated from the Shenzhou, the Captain improvises in such a way that they walk in a manner in which their footprints create the Starfleet insignia in the sand the ship is able to identify the logo and rescue them Although not a commbadge, once again, it is the logo that saves the day.
Georgiou dies and in the same set of circumstances, so does Burnham’s right to wear the badge. It is taken from her for the rest of the episode, and she is identified as an outsider for the rest of the season.
Georgiou’s badge is kept as a trinket by the Klingon Kol. Burnham defeats Kol and steals it back. Although it is not her badge, it becomes a symbol of Starfleet once again. While in the set of circumstances that cost her own badge started the bloody Klingon war, and made soldiers out fStarfleet, the set of circumstances that saw her win Georgiou’s badge from Kol would see Starfleet start a journey back towards the light, and Burnham’s own redemption.
Burnham uses the badge in the mirror universe to gain some measure of Emperor Georgiou’s trust (incidentally, the Terran Empire Logo is redesigned to incorporate an inverted Starfleet Logo).
Finally, a black Starfleet logo is given to Emperor Georgiou (and Ash Tyler) and both must navigate the murky waters of Section 31, while standing up for the ideals the shape represent.
As for the future? Well who knows. By the time of Picard, it appears as if the commbadge is a relic, according to the promotional material for the series, his commbadge is a relic, a symbol of what was.
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