If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write About?

Apologies if this has come up before. I've always liked the concept of the Captain's Table series, even if a few of the stories weren't that great. And I think I were given an opportunity to write a novel for the series, there are any number of characters I'd enjoy writing about.

Clark Terrell of the USS Reliant: One of the most underappreciated characters in all of Star Trek (at least I think so). Terrell gets a bad rap because he was out-maneuvered by Khan and apparently never learned read a star-chart (nor did his first officer). But he was played by an outstanding actor and obviously had a successful career up to the events of The Wrath of Khan. How else would he have ended up in the captain's chair?

I'd be interested in telling a story about Terrell and Reliant's crew during happier times than when we saw them. What were they like? How did Chekov end up on the ship? And what of Terrell's friendship with McCoy, something that was scripted for but omitted from TWOK?

--Sran

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Which is incredibly worrying for Chekov as a former Navigation Officer

For me, I'd have to go with, Captain Alynna Nechayev of the U.S.S. Boudicca. A look at the making of probably Trek's best Admiral, going back to her first command during the time of the Cardassian Wars. Looking at how this cool and efficient officer handled one of the most chaotic times in the Quadrant, balancing her desire for a command (and the advancement it would bring) with her cloak-and-dagger work for Starfleet Intelligence.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

If I can do my fanfic, then:

Second officer Lt. Cmdr Sarah Chandler of the USS Jason Nyere (later Commodore Chandler of the USS Triumphant), and I would tell the story of when she was forced to take command of the ship due to an act of cowardice by the captain that got half of his crew, including the exec, killed.

If restricted to canon/"actual history", then:

Captain Samuel P. Ginder, USN, of the USS Enterprise CV-6, and the tale of what really happened the day in August, 1943, when a young second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force named Gene Roddenberry was forced almost immediately after take-off to crash land his plane, "Yankee Doodle", just off the coast of Espiritu Santo.

("Over Espiritu Santo?" "I'll never get over Espiritu Santo." )

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

I can't write worth a damn, but if I could I'd go for Captain Jellico.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Captain Garrett. I love "Lost Era" stories and the Ent-C is pretty much a blank slate.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Captain Picard: Life after the Borg.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Robert DeSoto, Bob Wesley, Jonny Esteban, or maybe Shelby, just to see just how Sutherland became a "party ship."

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

I'd write about Picard's last commanding officer board the Stargazer.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

I'd write about Picard's years of adjusting from being a bad boy, to a responsible leader, because of his artificial heart. It would be interesting to explore that aspect of the man ...

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

^I don't know why I immediately imagined The Adventures of Zombie Picard. I would so read that.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Khan, pre-Kirk
Zephram Cochrane

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

I think that Ben Maxwell's time as captain of the Rutledge during the Cardassian Border Wars or as captain of the Phoenix before his mental breakdown would make for some interesting reading.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Are zombie's capable of "adventure," though?

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

When the have pacemakers they are. (At least for this fiction, sure.)

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Captain Data when he takes command of the Enterprise-E after Picard may well be fun to have a go at.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

I know this has not been explored in any length but the captain of the enterprise F or his command before that

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Captain Braxton of Voyager's "Future's End" and "Relativity". Apparently he doesn't even have a first name.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

No-brainer. The legendary Captain Tryla Scott of the USS Renegade, youngest Starfleet officer ever to make Captain. We see her once in "Conspiracy" and never hear from her again after the Enterprise crew drive the parasite out of her, which leaves a fascinating blank slate to work with. Possibly, thanks to her unfortunate experience, a later go-to expert on those parasites as Picard would become after his assimilation and rescue from the Borg?

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

To the OP, I don't know if you're into TrekLit, but Terrell is featured in several of the Vanguard novels, and is also part of the new Star Trek Seekers novels.

 

Re: If Asked to Write a Captain's Table Book, Who Would You Write Abou

Captain Robau of the USS Kelvin!