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Character
Commander
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Donald Kaplan

competitive competent ambitious
Starfleet Commander and Chief Engineer aboard the USS Intrepid, with a defined rivalry with Geordi La Forge and a competitive personality. Appears in Star Trek: The Next Generation S7E09 (Force of Nature).
3 appearances
Starfleet Engineering
Also known as: Kaplan, Commander Kaplan

Donald Kaplan's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

3 moments
S7E9 · Force of Nature
Geordi Admits Rivalry with Kaplan

Not applicable (off-screen, but inferred as confident and unburdened by Geordi’s insecurities).

Commander Donald Kaplan of the Intrepid is never physically present in this scene, but his influence is the invisible antagonist driving Geordi’s actions. Mentioned only in passing—‘Their Chief Engineer is …

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S7E9 · Force of Nature
Geordi’s pride derails sensor diagnostics

N/A (Kaplan is not present, but his influence is competitive and provoking).

Commander Donald Kaplan of the Intrepid is never physically present but looms over the scene as Geordi’s unseen rival. His influence is felt through Geordi’s admissions (‘Their Chief Engineer is …

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S7E9 · Force of Nature
Engineering Triumph Shifts to Crisis

Absent but implied as smugly competitive—Kaplan’s recorded tone suggests he is enjoying the psychological edge his message provides, even if he is not physically present to witness its effect.

Commander Donald Kaplan is mentioned indirectly through a subspace message read by Data and Geordi. His presence is felt as a provocative catalyst—his recorded boast about the Intrepid’s 97.1% efficiency …

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Affiliations

Starfleet
member
Federation Starship Command, Classified Intelligence, and Hierarchical Operations

As a Starfleet Commander, Donald Kaplan likely falls under the administrative and operational umbrella of Starfleet.

USS Intrepid
member
Starfleet operations: First Response, Search & Rescue, Forensic Incident Reporting, and Interstellar Incident Support

The description identifies Donald Kaplan as the Chief Engineer aboard the *USS Intrepid*.

Across the Seasons

How this character reads at season scale

Season 7 · asteroid

Starfleet Commander and Chief Engineer aboard the USS Intrepid, with a defined rivalry with Geordi La Forge and a competitive personality. Appears in Star Trek: The Next Generation S7E09 (Force of Nature).