The Ultimate Compilation of Epic Star Trek Captain Maneuvers
Discover the iconic signature moves of famous Star Trek captains From Kirk's cunning Corbomite Maneuver to Picard's unparalleled tactics, explore the strategic brilliance of Janeway, Riker, and Pike Unleash your inner Trekkie and delve into the captivating maneuvers that shaped these beloved characters
Star Trek series usually feature a captain at the helm, each with their own distinctive maneuver that characterizes them. In addition to their daily responsibilities of managing the ship and carrying out missions, Starfleet Captains are tasked with resolving conflicts and dealing with crises that threaten the safety of their crew, vessel, and other Federation members. To navigate through challenging circumstances, each commanding officer relies on their individual strengths and Starfleet training to strategize and ensure their survival against overwhelming odds.
The Star Trek franchise showcases the remarkable range of skills possessed by every ship's Captain, including their ability to think ahead, exhibit creativity, and apply tactical knowledge to successfully accomplish their assigned missions. Confronted with unforeseen challenges and strict deadlines, these renowned Captains have developed unique and recognizable maneuvers. Whether it be a series of expertly executed maneuvers, personal habits or traits, or a display of intellect and boldness, many Star Trek Captains are associated with a signature move.
8 Kirk's Corbomite Maneuver
7 Kirk's Other Corbomite Maneuver
In "The Corbomite Maneuver" episode of season 1 of Star Trek: The Original Series, the USS Enterprise encounters the Fesarius, which is under the command of Balok, played by Clint Howard, a veteran of Star Trek. This episode sets the precedent for future First Contact missions as Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) employs a clever bluff, informing Balok that all Starfleet vessels possess a destructive substance called corbomite. This material reflects any lethal force back onto the attacking ship. Kirk's bluff proves successful, and upon receiving a distress signal from the Fesarius, he orders the Enterprise to return and provide assistance, ultimately leading to the establishment of a new intergalactic friendship.
In the episode "The Deadly Years" from season 2 of Star Trek: The Original Series, Captain Kirk, who had just recovered from an illness caused by aging radiation, employs a modified version of The Corbomite Maneuver to elude destruction by the Romulan Empire. Despite being surrounded in Romulan territory, Kirk initiates a transmission to Starfleet, alerting them to the imminent annihilation of the Enterprise and the subsequent activation of the ship's Corbomite device. He broadcasts this crucial message on an encrypted frequency that he knew had already been compromised and was likely under surveillance. This bold decision pays off, resulting in the safe return of the Enterprise to Federation space, with its rightful Captain leading the way.
6 The Pike Maneuver
5 The Picard Maneuver
In the fourth episode of season one of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, titled "Memento Mori," Lieutenant Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) is credited for coining the Pike Maneuver. This is during a heated face-off between the USS Enterprise and an aggressive Gorn spacecraft. Led by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), the Enterprise seeks refuge in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf star that is steadily gravitating towards a nearby black hole. Captain Pike devises a daring strategy involving a slingshot maneuver around the singularity. This cunning plan relies on harnessing the gravitational pull of the black hole and simultaneously releasing a damaged atmospheric pressure device as a decoy, based on gravitational time dilation. The Gorn fall for this decoy, allowing the Enterprise to escape unharmed.
The Picard Maneuver, attributed to Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek (played by Patrick Stewart), is a renowned tactic. It was first showcased in episode 9 of season 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled "The Battle." Captain Picard devised this maneuver while commanding the USS Stargazer in response to an assault by an unidentified (Ferengi) vessel. Amidst significant damage to the ship, Picard ordered a sudden acceleration to high-warp directly towards the attacking ship. This action resulted in generating secondary sensor readings that displayed the Stargazer in two different locations simultaneously. By disengaging from warp, Captain Picard promptly initiated an attack, ultimately obliterating the Ferengi ship. This encounter came to be known as the Battle of Maxia.
4 The Other Picard Maneuver
3 The Janeway Protocol
Captain Picard's signature move, known as the Picard Maneuver, involved him tugging on his uniform shirt. This gesture was a result of the fabric used in the costume, which had a tendency to ride up and wrinkle when he sat down. Thus, when the character stood up, he would adjust his shirt accordingly. This maneuver was not exclusive to Captain Picard; other members of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast also adopted this habit.
Moreover, the costumes worn by the cast retained odors from their perspiration and the cleaning products used on them. Considering that these costumes were worn for extended periods of time, ranging from 12 to 15 hours per day during filming, it's no wonder that they retained such odors. In addition to being uncomfortable, these uniforms were tight and stretchable, causing the fabric to cut into the actors' shoulders. Consequently, many cast members developed back issues due to the strain caused by these unflattering garments.
In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1, episode 2 "Envoys," Commander Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell) encounters a predicament when the USS Cerritos finds itself directly in the path of an approaching asteroid. This situation brings to mind the Janeway Protocol, which originated from Star Trek: Voyager season 1, episode 2 "Parallax." In that episode, Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and her crew find themselves trapped within a quantum singularity while attempting a rescue mission. To escape, Janeway boldly commands her ship to forcefully maneuver its way back through the narrow opening of the rift. This daring maneuver became known as "The Janeway Protocol" as it symbolizes the act of forcefully pushing or punching through obstacles.
2 The Riker Maneuver
In Star Trek: Insurrection, Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) comes up with a plan to confront two Son'a battle cruisers. He orders the gathering of highly volatile Metreon gas and takes control of the ship's manual steering system. Riker steers the Enterprise close to the battle cruisers and releases the Metreon gas between them. When one of the cruisers attacks, it inadvertently triggers the ignition of the gas, resulting in the destruction of the attacking cruiser and the disablement of the other one. Enterprise Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) suggests that this strategy could potentially be known as "the Riker Maneuver" in historical records.
1 The Other Riker Maneuver
Commonly referred to as the Riker Chair Maneuver, this viral action showcases Jonathan Frakes' distinct approach to sitting and standing, involving the graceful act of lifting one leg over the back of a chair. A similar pose, known as the Riker Lean, captures the character's notable slant in posture. These mannerisms originated from a previous back injury suffered by Frakes, which resulted from his previous profession, centered around the relocation of furniture. While these idiosyncrasies developed as a means to alleviate discomfort during extended filming sessions, they have also become endearingly amusing and relatable traits that viewers now fondly associate with this beloved character. The Riker Chair Maneuver has been playfully alluded to in Star Trek: Lower Decks and has become an integral part of both the Star Trek universe and real-life lore.
