The Badgey Directive may be long gone, but it did at least give us fun outfit variations for the characters.

In my personal opinion, aside from the grand finale, this episode is the runner up for fav season ending episode.

For as (some) lackluster as the third season was, I will freely admit, the finale ended it on a grand note.

"The Stars At Night" was a rollercoaster romp of an episode, with upped ante, thrills, suspense and danger.

After the fiasco of the previous episode, I too agreed with Carol on the Texas class:

"Starfleet was founded as a way for Humanity to advance into the stars! This would undo centuries of progress"

She then challenges Buenamigo to a second contact race (Carol admits to coming up with it on the spot and is serious about it).

Meanwhile, Mariner's enjoying her new archaeological adventure, but she's skeptical of who funds their expeditions.

As the race gets underway, Rutherford is obsessed with the Aledo's code, claiming to have seen it before. The race is underway, and due to a last minute scan of microscopic life by Tendi, the Aldeo wins.

But Carol gets a realization that the Aledo made a mistake (which is true) and the Aledo isn't as perfect as Buenamigo makes them out. As Carol is talking, Rutherford recognizes the code. It was from his youth, and that a young Buenamigo ordered Rutherford's memory erased and covered up the project he was working on. And to make matters worse - it's the same code he used for Badgey!

Rutherford confronts Buenamigo with this damning evidence. and it's all revealed. The mission to Deep Space Nine, the Breen incursion. They were set ups to give the Texas class a chance to shine.

Disgusting.

Buenamigo is unbelievable. "The good of the many" Please, all of that was the good of his ego.

Despite the arguments and points, Buenamigo gives full autonomy to the Aledo and claims the Cerritos an enemy. HUGE mistake.

Boy howdy, that scene where "I will burn your heart in a fire" and Buenamigo's death scene - pause at the right moment and you can see his organs during him being vaporized. Brutal.

The Aledo then begins to attack Douglas Station. And activates the other two Texas class ships: the USS Dallas and the USS Corpus Christi. And holy cow, with the arrival of the USS Van Citters. It was a Sovereign class ship and the trio managed to disable one of the biggest classes of Federation starships.

At Qualor III, Mariner learns who is funding her and Aberdeen. And it's....the JEAN-LUC PICARD?!! I did a double take upon that reveal. And in a way, glad Picard was doing good in spite of years past ST: Nemesis. Then, Mariner hears about the attack and urges Aberdeen to go and help.

The Cerritos gets the three Texas class ships to follow them in a warp chase. And we all know, via Boimler they let Shaxs do what he always wanted: detonate the warp core. Which they use as a mine and BOOM!

The Cerritos is adrift but it looked like their gambit worked...until a very damaged Aledo emerges (don't you just HATE moments like that, but hey suspense makes for good viewing). It looks like it's all over, until Mariner and Aberdeen ship comes out of warp. Carol urges her daughter to leave before she gets destroyed, but thankfully smart girl as she is, Mariner called for help: cue the Oakland (return of Captain Ramsey), but one California class won't be enough...which is why Mariner brought all of them - yes the entire California class. And in an epic last-minute brawl, all Cali's open fire on the Aledo and turn it into space dust!

As repairs are being made to Douglas Station and the Cerritos getting a new warp core, in the bar, amends are made. Carol apologies to her daughter, Mariner wishes to return to Starfleet and a reversal from Episode 1, this time with Ransom being the complainer.

In a way everyone gets what they want.

Shaxs got to detonate the warp core.

Boimler got a bridge buddy with Shaxs.

And as a meta bonus the fans got what they want with the surprise of a new transfer officer joining the Cerritos - T'Lyn!

Closing Captain Ramsey gave some inspiring dialogue: "We faced impossible odds AND WE  KICKED IMPOSSIBLE'S ASS!! Let's hear it for the California class!"

Salute to the Cali class, it has earned it's keep.

All in all, a great season closer. I don't know what more that could've been asked.

Happy Anniversary to this episode. And for the memories it gave us.

BTW, I feel I picked the perfect screen cap for this tribute.