It’s a rare time when a true Candleblog moment comes to the workplace, but today the Trekkers were lining the streets outside the Paramount lot where I work to rally the powers-that-be to keep the Star Trek franchise alive. I knew that this was in the works, and felt a premonition when I saw LeVar Burton on the lot last night. I’ve seen him many times here, and even shook his hand once, but whenever I’d gaze upon his lush brown orbs I would always think, “Hey dude, isn’t this sunlight hurting your eyes?” Seeing him without his “shades” always made my own eyes water.

There were about 150 hard-core fans rallying when I checked out the scene at lunchtime. I heard them before I saw them, as they had signs asking for people to honk in support of keeping Trek alive. If a big truck honked, the crowd would hoot back in appreciation.

Once I got through the security station, I was a little disappointed—while many had cool homemade signs and various Trek t-shirts, there were no heavily costumed Klingons or Romulans. There were several cop cars, lots of Paramount security, and a lurking camera crew, but the prosthetics were wanting. My favorite sign said, “It’s not just a right, it’s a responsibility” (Maybe they had wandered over from a Save Social Security from Bush rally). One sign had Gene Roddenberry on it, and I didn’t have the heart to tell them that on the lot, we have a building named for him, but it is not so much a hotbed of creativity, special effects, and veiled social commentary via slick sci-fi, but where the Paramount lawyers roost.

On the lot itself, most people seemed unaware of the hubbub out front. The place is something like 46 acres, and the “below the line” grunts usually come in from two other streets. The suits that drive their Hummers through that gate were probably already on their way to Las Vegas or Mammoth Mountain by the time the Trekkers started to arrive.

I smoothly passed through the crowd, giving them a “Right On, I Support You” Knowing Nod, then crossed the street to get some pictures.

To be honest, I’ve seen maybe 32 minutes from 2 episodes of Enterprise, but it has been comforting to know that somewhere, close, various folks of all taints were grinding away where no man has gone before—that wasn’t union or in SAG, anyway. I will miss seeing Klingons eating sushi at the company store and Ferengi’s picking their salad fixings at the commissary. Crossing through a set dressed as if the Nazis had won the war and only time-warping Enterprise crew could set things right had brought a tinge of whimsy to walking to the HR building.

I suspect that this might be a ploy to amp up the franchise—a New Coke bait and switch that will bring the beloved Enterprise back around in full warp drive, I just hope the hard-core fans can last until then.