Sulu fans and foes, mark your calendars! Fandom takes to the streets April 22 in what they see as their most crucial mission yet -- saving Star Trek from itself.

Following a telephone conversation with Roddenberry, Haslage founded the International Federation of Trekkers, a fan club based on the example of the Enterprise crew -- like Kirk, Spock and company, "members go places to help people."

"Our members really get involved with civic efforts like blood drives, tree planting campaigns, fund raising for civic and charitable activities, disaster relief, and much more," the group's information packet for new members announces.

Now Haslage is trying to avert another kind of disaster: the collapse of the show he loves.

More than anything, Haslage wants Star Trek to return to its roots -- Roddenberry's philosophy of hope for the future, faith in humanity, and acceptance of diversity.

"Rick Berman has actually admitted in a bunch of interviews in the last couple of months that the future of Star Trek is very tenuous," he told SPACE.com. "It's on the verge of total death. And the only thing that can save it in his opinion is a good series. And we're offering him a heck of an idea for a good series."

Haslage's "good series" is the heart of his Excelsior campaign -- an alliance of thousands of fans he founded to send a signal to Paramount: give us a series starring Sulu or face the death of your cash cow. With news spreading through Internet sites and mailing lists, the campaign has hit a raw nerve.

"We've gotten thousands of fans and thousands of letters," he said.

As for Takei, he's delighted by the show of support.

"I am amazed," he told SPACE.com. "I think it's an incredible commentary on the Star Trek phenomenon. But then, I really shouldn't be amazed, because the 35-year-long history of Star Trek has really been directed, shaped and formed by the Star Trek fans, not the so-called powers that be."

Will we see Takei as captain of the Federation starship Excelsior in the near future? After decades at the heart of the Star Trek phenomenon, the actor is resigned to optimism.

"I feel confident that because of the history of the fans determining what happens with the Star Trek franchise that it's probably going to happen."

Paramount is not so sanguine on the prospect. Voyager executive producer Brannon Braga has flatly denied the campaign's chances, telling SCIFI Wire that "there is no plan for a Sulu series at the moment."

And the captain of the Excelsior Campaign, Russ Haslage, just hopes Paramount will give him a new Trek series that hold true to Roddenberry's philosophy.

Other Stories of Interest

Fifth 'Trek' May Go Where We've All Boldly Been Before Sources close to Trek have told SPACE.com that Paramount TV chairman Kerry McCluggage has given thegreen light to Trek’s fifth series Star Trek: Birth of the Federation.

The Brain Behind the Excelsior Campaign Russ Haslage, founder of the International Federation of Trekkers, shares the origins of the Excelsior Campaign and his memories of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

Captain Sulu to the Rescue! George Takei is not actively involved with the campaign to put him in the captain's seat, but he told SPACE.com he finds the attention "incredible."

"If there isn't something there for people to believe in, it's just an hour of vegetating time."