Star Trek: Captains' Boldest and Controversial Moves!

Every captain in Star Trek has led the audience into a realm of space exploration, guided by various captains. As the show's initial slogan suggests, these captains pave the way to discover "strange new worlds" and venture into uncharted territories. However, not all the decisions made by these captains have been favorable.

Federation starship captains have stretched legal and ethical boundaries in pursuit of their desired outcomes. Some have gone so far as to engage in actions that could be perceived as evil, all in the name of protecting themselves, their crews, and Starfleet as a whole. Ultimately, each captain is faced with morally ambiguous choices. Here, we examine the most prominent example from each captain's journey.

8 James Kirk: Stranding Khan

Currently, Kirk's decision appeared to be the most sensible one. Kirk presented Khan with two choices: either return to the Enterprise as a captive or be abandoned on a planet. Khan elected to be marooned since he preferred to retain control over his own destiny.

However, during the events of "The Wrath of Khan," Starfleet's experiments in that specific area of space revealed a significant oversight. Khan manages to flee and seize control of a vessel to launch an assault on the Enterprise. Kirk's decision ultimately prompts Khan's actions, consequently forcing Spock to sacrifice himself in order to safeguard the rest of the crew from imminent destruction.

7 Jean-Luc Picard: Allowed Hugh To Return To The Borg

The Borg, renowned as the most frightening adversaries in Star Trek, have left many captains in search of a means to defend against them. This leads Picard to face a moral dilemma when he encounters an injured Borg that is separated from the collective. Should he save the Borg? And if so, should he permit its return?

Jean-Luc Picard opts to adhere to his personal ethical code, prioritizing the protection of all living beings. With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, he tends to the Borg's wounds and allows it to rejoin the collective. Picard is even presented with an opportunity to inject a virus into the Borg, potentially incapacitating the entire collective and safeguarding others. However, each decision, whether made or left unmade, raises moral concerns due to the immense threat posed by the Borg.

6 Benjamin Sisko: Committed War Crimes

Captain Benjamin Sisko goes to extraordinary measures to assist the Federation in their conflict against the Dominion. In a notable instance, he collaborates with Garak to fabricate evidence of an impending Dominion assault on Romulus, even resorting to assisting Garak in taking the life of a Romulan Senator in order to gain the support of the Romulans.

However, when it is discovered that one of his crew members is a spy for the Maquis, Sisko takes drastic actions to apprehend this individual. He resorts to poisoning the atmosphere of an entire planet, thereby jeopardizing the lives of thousands residing in a Maquis colony, solely to capture Michael Eddington. Sisko's actions demonstrate a willingness to commit mass harm as a consequence of one person's betrayal.

5 Kathryn Janeway: Forged An Alliance With The Borg

In light of the Borg's dangerous nature, forming an alliance with an enemy seeking to assimilate the entire universe carries significant risks. Nevertheless, Captain Kathryn Janeway was compelled to navigate through Borg territory in order to safely return her crew to the Alpha quadrant, leading her to establish the alliance.

The revelation of a different species, known as 8472, launching an assault against the Borg initially appeared to validate Janeway's decision, as it presented an opportunity to potentially secure a valuable ally within the Collective. However, subsequent information unveils that it was actually the Borg who initiated the attack, while Species 8472 was merely defending itself. In truth, Janeway unintentionally aided the Borg in their mission to assimilate the universe, driven by her desire to safeguard her crew.

4 Jonathan Archer: Raided A Ship

Jonathan Archer has more freedom than other Starfleet captains as he was one of the first to venture into space without the confines of a Prime Directive. In the third season of Enterprise, this independence is greatly demonstrated when the Enterprise is faced with the Xindi attack on Earth.

In order to continue their mission, the Enterprise requires a new warp core. However, they come across a ship that only possesses one, yet refuses to negotiate a trade. In a controversial decision, Archer chooses to board this civilian vessel and steal their warp core. While he justifies his actions as being for the greater good, it cannot be ignored that he has committed an act of aggression towards a civilian ship, stolen from its crew, and imposed a longer journey upon them, despite their lack of involvement in the Xindi attack.

3 Philippa Georgiou: Looked Weak In Front Of Klingons

The captain's worst actions ultimately led to her demise as she was the only one whose life was sacrificed. In Star Trek: Discovery, Georgiou prefers to avoid engaging in battles with alien races and instead opts for a diplomatic approach. Unfortunately, this decision proves to be a mistake.

The Klingons seize the opportunity to attack Georgiou's ship, resulting in her death and leaving her First Officer, Michael Burnham, with a difficult choice. This choice ultimately leads to Burnham being unfairly labeled as a war criminal. Burnham had advised Georgiou that the Klingons would show respect if she took the first shot. It would have been wise for Georgiou to heed Burnham's advice.

2 Gabriel Lorca: Impersonating A Starfleet Officer

After Captain Georgiou's death, Captain Gabriel Lorca assumes command of Discovery and leads the crew on missions throughout the first season. Despite Michael Burnham being considered a war criminal, Lorca reinstates her to the crew. Furthermore, he places his trust in a fellow inmate who was held captive in a Klingon prison.

However, Lorca's true motives are revealed when the Discovery travels to the Mirror Universe, making him the primary antagonist of the season. It is discovered that he hails from the Mirror Universe, where he was banished after attempting to overthrow Empress Georgiou. These events result in Burnham leading the crew in a battle against him to ensure their survival. By impersonating a Starfleet officer, Lorca finds a way to take command of a ship and return to his home universe.

1 Christopher Pike: Starting The Romulan War

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Strange New Worlds adopts a unique approach to the introduction of Star Trek's renowned villains for the new series. Acknowledging the canonical arrival of the Romulans during Kirk's era, the show ingeniously incorporates the villains into Pike's storyline.

Pike finds himself in a situation reminiscent of the one Kirk faced in The Original Series, but unfortunately, Pike's outcomes are far less triumphant compared to Kirk's. Ultimately, Pike's actions inadvertently ignite a long-lasting war with the Romulans.