Tony Todd, who plays the Captain of the Bellerophon, also played several characters in Gene Roddenberry's other major science fiction world: Star Trek. The Bellerophon itself is mentioned as having an almost identical mission to the original Enterprise (to go where no man has gone before, seek out new life, etc). Furthermore, the officers and crew aboard the Bellerophon wear uniforms highly reminiscent of those in the modern Star Trek realm, even including the colors of the various disciplines (Command, Security, Science, etc)
The guns carried by the Bellerophon crew are F N Herstal P90s. These real world personal defense weapons were developed around 1990, and became a popular weapon for military special forces, security teams and Canadian Sci Fi programs.
In Greek mythology Bellerophon was the greatest hero ever (untill Hercules showed up). He rode the winged horse Pegasus.
Re the episode title. "The lone and level sands" is from the last line of Shelley's "Ozymandias". That sonnet presents the few remaining ruins of a once great kingdom as a statement that all things, even great things, have a limited lifespan.
After fighting off the Ogami pirates, Cpt. Metis walks off singing a sailor song. 'The Coast of High Barbaree' is the classic tale of a sailing ship that hunted down then sank a pirate ship, killing all the crew.