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Published Jan 28, 2026, 5:30 AM EST
John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 4,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes may contain ominous hints that could mean terrifying endings for a few Star Trek: Strange New Worlds characters. A stunning feature of the USS Athena's Sato Atrium, Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes lists numerous Starfleet legends along with many real-life Star Trek creatives.
Since Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set in 3195, four years after Star Trek: Discovery, the USS Athena's Wall of Heroes honors the full thousand-year history of Starfleet. The names on Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes are listed with what appears to be their canonical final ranks, including surprises like Admiral Harry S.L. Kim (Garrett Wang) and Ambassador Garak (Andrew Robinson).
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is represented in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Ambassador Spock (Ethan Peck), Commander Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), Lt. Commander Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), Lt. JG Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte), Captain Montgomery Scott (Martin Quinn), and Commander Pelia (Carol Kane)
What Does Starfleet Academy’s Legacy Wall Mean For Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Ending?
Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Lieutenant Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) are also listed on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes, but therein lies the problem for these two beloved Star Trek: Strange New Worlds characters.
Does this mean La'an and/or Ortegas will die?
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes ominously tells us that La'an and Ortegas did not canonically rise above their Lieutenant ranks after Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Since both are original characters created for Strange New Worlds, and neither remains aboard the USS Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner, Paul Wesley), does this mean La'an and/or Ortegas will die?
Meanwhile, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) seems to be omitted from Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes. Unless Number One is in a part of the Wall that has been obscured on-camera, Una being missing hints at a possible sad fate since she also doesn't join Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds completed filming its fifth and final season in December 2025, and there are still two seasons and 16 episodes fans haven't seen. Yet the advent of Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise, which will see Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Thomas Jane) and Mr. Sulu (Kai Murakami) come aboard, will also be a sad occasion since La'an, Ortegas, and Una will exit.
What ultimately happens to Number One, Ortegas, and La'an when Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ends remains to be seen. Perhaps they move onto different starships or leave Starfleet altogether. Death is, sadly, also a possibility. What Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes tells (or doesn't tell) us about them doesn't bode well for Una, La'an, and Erica.
Is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Wall Of Heroes Set In Stone?
Since Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set in the 32nd century, and going by the rule that if something appears on-screen in a Star Trek TV show or movie, it becomes canon, Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes appears to be the final word about a plethora of Star Trek characters. But, then again, maybe it isn't.
Some characters, like Lieutenant Nog (Aron Eisenberg) from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, have canonical final ranks that seem too low.
It's also possible that Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes contains errors, and omissions were a matter of physical space available and not indicative of possible spoilers in the case of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. There's also a chance that Starfleet Academy's legacy wall can be adjusted and corrected.
Perhaps Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes is a 'living document,' in a sense, that could be tweaked as it continues to appear in future episodes. Inevitably, there are likely errors on the Wall that could be corrected after input (and some furor) from Star Trek fans and other experts.
What Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Wall of Heroes does or doesn't say about La'an Noonien-Singh, Erica Ortegas, and Una Chin-Ruley may or may not be spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' ending.
However, it could also be true that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is already warning us of unhappy or terrifying outcomes for fan-favorites Una, La'an, and Ortegas ahead of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' series finale.
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