Being first officer on the USS Enterprise in Star Trek It's not always a quick path to the captain's chair. The starship Enterprise is the flagship of the United Federation of Planets and is one of the most coveted positions for ambitious Starfleet officers. Enterprise captains enjoy being part of the ship's historic legacy, and their crews often cement themselves as legendary Starfleet heroes. Yet many Number Ones fail to automatically succeed their captains and command the Enterprise.
The various incarnations of the USS Enterprise and its 22nd century predecessor, the NX-01 Enterprise, are the most famous starships in the world. Star Trek. In turn, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) are among the greatest icons of the world. Star Trek. But they could not have become Starfleet legends without the help of their crews and, in particular, Starfleet's best first officers.
Number One's role is crucial as a liaison to the crew, as a trusted confidant, and at times, to protect the Captain from himself. Although the first officers are captains in training, only 3 Number Ones actually took over as Captains of the Enterprise.
Christopher Pike
Succeeded Captain Robert April
Chronologically, in Star Trek In the timeline, Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter, Anson Mount) became the first number one to succeed his captain and take the center seat of the starship Enterprise. Pike was the first officer of Captain Robert April (Adrian Holmes), the first captain of the Constitution-class USS Enterprise in the 23rd century. April only commanded a five-year mission before accepting a promotion to Admiral in 2250. Commander Pike was April's choice to become Captain of the Enterprise.
Captain Pike's travels aboard the starship Enterprise are chronicled in "The Cage", Star Trekoriginal pilot episode rejected, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. "The Cage" is set in 2254, and Strange new worlds picks up 5 years after the events of Star Trek: Discovery 2nd season. Captain Pike especially values his number oneLieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), and he knows firsthand what it takes to be an excellent first officer.
As captain, Pike enjoys hearing the opinions of his senior team, which helps him make crucial command decisions. Pike's ability to connect with his crew was likely a result of his time as the Enterprise's first officer. Captain Pike often enjoys gathering his crew for a home-cooked meal, as Pike specifically requested a kitchen in his captain's quarters. Pike was evidently an exemplary first officer and his skills transferred as Captain of the Enterprise.
Spock
Succeeded Captain James T. Kirk
Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) has replaced Admiral James T. Kirk as captain of the Enterprise - but with a difference. Following the events of Star Trek: the movieAdmiral Kirk continued to command the USS Enterprise. This is because Kirk demoted Captain Will Decker (Stephen Collins) to first officer, and Decker in turn disappeared when he merged with V'Ger and became a superior being. Spock left Starfleet but was reinstated, even the Vulcan admittedly never desired command of a starship.
Lieutenant James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) was first officer on the USS Farragut before becoming captain of the Enterprise.
In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Spock became Captain of the Enterprise, but only because the Constitution-Class ship was turned into a Starfleet Academy training ship. Spock willingly gave up the captain's chair to Admiral Kirk during the crisis when Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) stole the Genesis Device and turned it into a weapon. Spock died saving the Enterprise from Khan, but the Vulcan was reinstated into Starfleet after his resurrection.
In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryCaptain Spock became Federation Ambassador to Qo'nos and began peace negotiations with Klingon High Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner). Spock commanded the Enterprise again after Captain Kirk was arrested and charged with Gorkon's murder. Once Spock helped rescue and exonerate his Captain, the Vulcan returned the Enterprise to Kirk, and Spock would not command the Enterprise again.
Worf
Succeeded Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Although two other first officers preceded Worf (Michael Dorn), it is the Klingon who would succeed Captain Jean-Luc Picard as Captain of the Enterprise. After his years as Star Trek: Deep Space NineA Strategic Operations Officer and, briefly, Klingon Chancellor and Federation Ambassador to Qo'nos, Worf returned to his role as Chief of Security on the USS Enterprise-E in Star Trek: Nemesis. But the promotion of Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) to captain of the USS Titan and the death of Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) thrust Worf into the role of first officer.
Star Trek: Picard revealed that Worf became captain of the USS Enterprise-E in 2381 after Picard was promoted to admiral and tasked with leading the Federation's mission to rescue the Romulan people from their solar supernova. Captain Worf then lost the Enterprise-E under mysterious circumstances thatThe Klingon claims weren't his fault. Details of Worf's tenure as First Officer and Captain of the Enterprise-E have not yet been revealed, but perhaps Star Trek I will tell this story someday.
Why didn't three other number one companies become captains?
Different first officers had different reasons for not becoming Enterprise captains
Deputy Commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) was the Enterprise's original first officer, but did not become its captain. T'Pol played the dual role of first officer and science officer on the Enterprise NX-01 commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) in the 22nd century, as seen in Star Trek: Enterprise. T'Pol left the Vulcan Science Council to join Starfleet, and Vulcan was the Number One Ranger during the ten years they traveled the galaxy aboard the Enterprise. However, there is no evidence that T'Pol wished to become captain of the Enterprise or that she succeeded Archer when he was promoted to admiral.
Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley (Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Rebecca Romijn) is literally the Starfleet officer, the term 'Number One' was coined, but she also never became captain of the Enterprise. Una was Captain Christopher Pike's first officer in Star Trek"The Cage" and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. However, Una does not become captain of the Enterprise and James T. Kirk takes Pike's place. Why Number One doesn't succeed Pike as captain of the Federation flagship is a story that will potentially be told in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley was revealed to be a genetically engineered Illyrian, and perhaps lingering issues with her status prevented Starfleet from promoting her to Captain of the Enterprise as Pike's replacement.
Commander William T. Riker served as first officer of the USS Enterprise-D and E for a combined 15 years, but Riker did not succeed Jean-Luc Picard as captain of the Enterprise. Picard's devotion to the Enterprise combined with Riker's comfort as Number One made them a great team, but hurt Will's professional ambitions. In Star Trek: NemesisWith Picard having no plans to step aside, Riker waited long enough to marry his Imzadi, counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), and become captain, taking command of the USS Titan. It's a safe bet, no number one in Star Trek He waited longer, and in vain, to become captain of the Enterprise than Will Riker.