"Ripper" was the nickname given by Ellen Landry to a large animal discovered aboard the disabled USS Glenn in 2256, by a USS Discovery away team. He was dubbed a tardigrade due to his resemblance to the Earth micro-animal. According to a captain's log from the Glenn, Ripper was found stowing away in the ship's stores of mycelium spores. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings", "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry")

Ripper was highly aggressive when first encountered: he had slaughtered a Klingon boarding party and proceeded to chase the Discovery team, killing Kowski before Michael Burnham managed to lead him away from the others. Impressed by the animal's ability to tear through metal and resist phaser fire and Klingon blade weapons, Captain Gabriel Lorca had him beamed to a containment pen in a Discovery lab. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings")

Lorca ordered Burnham and Landry to find a way to weaponize Ripper. Burnham hypothesized that his behavior on the Glenn was defensive in nature and that he was not inherently dangerous, since biological analysis showed him to be herbivorous. But with the Klingons attacking Corvan II, Landry was desperate for results and attempted to sedate Ripper with oneirogenic penthrene mist, so as to remove his claw for study. The anesthetic had no effect, and Ripper fatally mauled Landry after she fired a phaser at him.

Based on Ripper's reaction to the activation of the spore drive, Burnham determined that he had a symbiotic relationship to the spores and an innate knowledge of the mycelial network. This led to the revelation that the Glenn crew had devised a mechanism to link Ripper to their spore drive, solving the problem of navigation over long distances. Using this technology, Discovery was able to jump to the Corvan II colony and save it from a Klingon attack. However, the process caused visible distress to Ripper. (DIS: "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry")

Over the next three weeks, Discovery made repeated jumps using Ripper. However, Burnham grew concerned that Ripper was becoming overtaxed and asked Doctor Hugh Culber for assistance. Culber came to the same conclusion, and additionally found evidence that Ripper may be sentient. Nevertheless, Saru overruled their concerns as Lorca had been captured by the Klingons, and Discovery needed to make another jump into Klingon space to mount a rescue attempt. The stress of the jump caused Ripper to enter a state of extreme cryptobiosis.

After Paul Stamets successfully connected himself to the spore drive in Ripper's place, Saru asked Burnham to save Ripper's life. Reasoning that what Ripper ultimately needed was freedom, Burnham released him into space with a supply of mycelium spores. Once outside Discovery, Ripper revived and jumped himself via the mycelial network to parts unknown. (DIS: "Choose Your Pain")

Quick Answers

What role did Ripper play aboard the USS Discovery?

Ripper, a tardigrade-like creature, was crucial aboard the USS Discovery. Initially aggressive, he was found with the ship's mycelium spores and killed crew members Kowski and Ellen Landry. Despite this, Ripper's ability to interact with the mycelium network was vital for operating the spore drive, essential for the ship's faster-than-light travel. Captain Gabriel Lorca had him brought aboard for study.

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How did Ripper's aggression impact the USS Glenn crew?

Ripper's aggression resulted in the death of the USS Glenn crew during their exit from the mycelial plane. This incident necessitated the scuttling of the Glenn. Subsequently, Ripper, a tardigrade, was transferred to the USS Discovery and integrated into its spore drive system.

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What are the abilities of the Star Trek tardigrade?

The Star Trek tardigrade, named Ripper, has several notable abilities. It can resist phaser fire and dislikes light. Its brain forms a link to other universes, acting as a portal. Ripper is highly regenerative and can survive harsh conditions by entering cryptobiosis. It connects to the mycelial network, improving the spore drive's function as an organic computer.

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How did Ripper contribute to the mycelium network in Star Trek?

Ripper, the tardigrade in Star Trek, was vital to the mycelium network as the initial organic navigator for the Discovery's spore drive. This role caused him distress, leading to his release into space with mycelium spores. Freed, Ripper revived and used the mycelial network to transport himself to unknown destinations.

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What is the significance of Ripper's nickname in Star Trek?

Ripper's nickname in Star Trek connects to the infamous Jack the Ripper, a 19th-century mass murderer. In the series, "Jack the Ripper" is synonymous with Redjac, an entity the USS Enterprise encounters. Ripper, a tardigrade in Star Trek: Discovery, is aggressive and can tear through metal and resist phaser fire.

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Appendices

Appearances

Background information

Originally, the giant tardigrade was intended to be a crew member on the Discovery named "Ephraim" (in honor of Johann August Ephraim Goeze, who discovered real-life tardigrades). Ephraim would have been Stamets' superior, have conversations with Burnham, and even wear a specially designed Starfleet uniform, with a sash on which his badge would be pinned. However, the idea proved too expensive. [1]

Ripper appears in the novel Dead Endless, where he is confirmed to be sentient. He prefers being called "Ephraim", another name given to him by Humans. Author Dave Galanter confirmed that this is supposed to be the same tardigrade that appears in ST: "Ephraim and Dot". [2]