The origins of Vadic (Amanda Plummer) are shrouded in mystery, but Star Trek: The Next Generation, but her hatred could stem from Star Trek: Picard season 2's Project Khan.
After his plan to destroy the Soong's Project Khan would also mean that plot thread won't be sidelined in Star Trek: Picard season 3 the way the Borg Queen's (Alison Pill) season 2 cliffhanger may be.
How Picard Season 3's Vadic Could Be Another Khan
Could Vadic be another Khan? The brief glimpse of the villain in Star Trek: Picard season 3's trailer doesn't give any indication of her physical strength or mental superiority, which are the telltale signs of a genetically-engineered superhuman. But Vadic and her minions aboard the Shrike seemingly appeared out of nowhere with a grudge against Jean-Luc Picard and his former crew from the USS Enterprise-D and E. It could be that Vadic's hatred of Picard was fed to her by her creator, Adam Soong, and she found a means to time travel into the 25th century (possibly via the same transwarp conduit the Borg Queen AKA Agnes Borgrati used) to seek revenge on Picard.
If Vadic was sent by Adam Soong, it could tie into why Lore - another 'offspring' of the Soong dynasty - was rebuilt. Vadic and Lore may be working together as part of a plot to destroy Picard and the TNG legends. But the idea that Vadic could be a new Khan really stems from the question of why Star Trek: Picard season 2's finale would tease Project Khan in the first place? Adam Soong, one of Picard season 2's villains, using Project Khan to create Picard season 3's villain is perversely logical, whether or not it's the actual explanation for Captain Vadic.
Why Khan Is Still A Big Part Of Star Trek
Even if Captain Vadic doesn't emerge as a new iteration of Khan in Star Trek: Picard season 3, the franchise certainly won't let go of the villain, even after 40 years since Khan's demise in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. At Star Trek Day, director Nicholas Meyer announced Star Trek: Khan - Ceti Alpha V, a new podcast chronicling what Khan did in the decades he and his followers were mired on their doomed planet. If successful, Meyer hopes Star Trek: Khan could turn into a TV series or another film.
Meanwhile, Christina Chong hinted that Khan's spirit will play a larger role in her character, La'an Noonien Singh, who is Khan's descendant on idolize Ricardo Montalbán as the greatest villain of the franchise. Star Trek: Picard season 3's Vadic may indeed be the latest iteration and a payoff to Project Khan.
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 premieres February 16, 2023, on Paramount+.