"I welcome criticism," he said. "It helps me keep the show fresh. But some people are so damn MEAN. It doesn't feel particularly good, but I just keep my head down and do my best. I also try to avoid the real nasty postings... Day to day, you just have to ignore it, or channel it in a constructive way - otherwise, you would be paralyzed with fear and depression. We do the most entertaining shows we can, while keeping Gene's vision alive. Despite the blistering comments. Just remember - this kind of negativity has been leveled at Trek over many years, in all of the series. TNG included!"

One fan asked the ubiquitous "gay character" question, to which Braga says it hasn't been entirely ingored by the franchise.

"This is a question we’ve been asked many times over the years. The answer is simple: if we can find a way to do it subtly, for a good story reason, then yes," he says. "But the trouble is, STAR TREK humans are tolerant of all cultures, so how do you portray a gay person without it seeming obvious? We have certainly dealt with gay rights many times on the show, however. Most recently in 'Stigma.'"

Another asked about the sexuality of Jolene Blalock's character, wondering whether it would be toned down any.

"There's been a lot of controversy about that," Braga said. "We are very, very careful not to objectify her or ANY member of the cast. However, you may have noticed that the men on the crew are pretty sexy, too. There is a Pon Farr episode coming up, though. Hope you're not offended by that."

No chat would be complete without a few tidbits for episodes to come:

"Before the season is through, you will see Silik and the Suliban again, and there will be plenty of thrilling special effects and ship to ship combat."

For the complete transcript visit BrannonBraga.com.