Suliban Emblems and Writing
by Jörg Hillebrand, Bernd Schneider and Brad Wilder
Appearances of Suliban EmblemsAppearances of Suliban Interfaces and Writing
Despite their significant role in the first two seasons of Enterprise, the Suliban emblem has remained rather obscure. Unfortunately, there is no illustration of a definitive emblem in the fourth edition of the Star Trek Encyclopedia. However, a close examination of the episodes reveals one or two symbols that may well represent the Suliban species (or the Suliban Cabal) as a whole, alongside numerous labels and console interfaces.
Our article investigates all appearances of Suliban logos or writing and looks at Suliban consoles or interfaces and their reuses, also by other species.
Appearances of Suliban Emblems
Suliban emblem
The Suliban emblem, consisting of a regular golden Suliban character with additional silver lines, can be seen as an embossed decoration on the doors of the temporal chamber on the Suliban helix. This logo appears in three episodes: "Broken Bow", "Shockwave II" and "The Expanse", each time on the same type of door. Props of the logo were also auctioned off by It's a Wrap!, revealing further small details.
Many years later, this symbol shows up on a display in PRO:" Masquerade" among many other emblems of species, thereby confirming that it is meant to represent the Suliban.
Wall panel logo
In "Shockwave I", a second symbol besides the aforementioned emblem repeatedly appears on the Suliban stealth cruiser. This other logo is hexagonal and contains characteristic curved Suliban lines. It may be just decoration, but it is also possible it symbolizes something. The hexagon can be found in the form of doors or hatches and as wall panels.
In "Future Tense", the hexagonal logo from "Shockwave I" reappears as a wall panel or hatch on the bridge of the Suliban freighter. This version of the logo is inverted (either using the other side of a vacuformed part, or created with the original panel as a casting mold). Familiar Suliban consoles also make an appearance.
In "Hatchery", we can see hexagonal doors on a Xindi-Insectoid ship, using the Suliban panels.
Appearances of Suliban Interfaces and Writing
Curved console
As soon as in "Broken Bow", we can make out several transparent curved Suliban consoles that are shaped roughly like lounge chairs. They appear along with large panels bearing several circular Suliban letters. The curved consoles reappear in "Cold Front", "Shockwave I+II", "Future Tense" and "The Expanse". When the consoles and panels appear in "Cold Front", their positions are reversed; the panels are now located behind the consoles (viewed from the center of the room).
"Shockwave II" too features the familiar Suliban consoles from "Broken Bow". However, the panels with Suliban symbols in the temporal chamber are completely absent this time.
The curved consoles are reused by the Romulans in the fourth season of Enterprise.
Large wall console
A large wall console, seen in "Broken Bow", "Shockwave II" and "The Expanse", looks different in each appearance. In "Broken Bow", it is illuminated in a gray-blue light, in "Shockwave II" more like brownish and in "The Expanse" in green.
This console is later seen at the rear of the bridge of Degra's Xindi ship in the third season of Enterprise.
Free-standing console
A free-standing console appears only in "Shockwave I". This console features numerous green buttons and Suliban characters. The interfaces of this console were auctioned off by It's a Wrap!.
Cell ship interfaces
The interior of a cell ship debuts in the pilot episode, along with its interfaces, which feature Suliban characters and green buttons.
In "The Communicator", a few more Suliban interfaces are visible inside a cell ship. Comparing the central interface of that ship with the one in "Broken Bow", it is clear that it was simplified for "The Communicator". It now consists almost entirely of green oval buttons and lacks the round, red Suliban characters seen in the pilot episode.
Suliban script
Large Suliban characters can be seen on many walls and consoles since "Broken Bow". "Future Guy's" platform is also shaped like a character.
Furthermore, colored Suliban characters appear for the first time as control interfaces in "Shockwave I". All of these round interfaces contain a shimmering green sticker. These control interfaces were also auctioned off by It's a Wrap!. A similar wall-mounted control interface reappears in "The Expanse".
"Shockwave I" also features several Suliban characters displayed on a screen on Enterprise.
In "Detained", handwritten Suliban notes can be seen. However, the round Suliban script is also clearly recognizable here.
Data disk
"Shockwave I" also features the first appearance of a Suliban data disk, which returns in "Shockwave II" and "Storm Front II".
Credits
Most screen caps from TrekCore.
