The Untold Legacy of Captain Picard's USS Stargazer: Revealing its Fascinating History Before TNG

Summary

Captain Picard's time on the USS Stargazer shaped him into the honorable and diplomatic captain he became on the USS Enterprise-D.

Picard was greatly influenced by his experiences on the Stargazer, which included the Cardassian wars and his encounter with the Ferengi. These experiences shaped his command decisions and leadership style.

Furthermore, the relationships that Picard formed while serving on the Stargazer also had a profound impact on his personal and professional growth. In particular, his bond with Lieutenant Jack Crusher and his subsequent romance with Dr. Beverly Crusher played a crucial role in shaping who he became as a person and as a leader.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, is best known for his role as the Captain of the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, before taking command of the Federation's flagship, Picard spent 22 years leading the USS Stargazer. Initially serving as a bridge officer, he assumed command in 2333 after the captain and first officer were killed. Despite his relatively young age, Jean-Luc became one of Starfleet's youngest captains. His exceptional time on the Stargazer significantly influenced his subsequent command decisions.

In contrast to his predecessors, Picard did not begin his career as captain on the Enterprise. By 2363, when he assumed command of the newly commissioned USS Enterprise-D, he had already established himself as a highly experienced and dedicated Starfleet captain. Throughout The Next Generation series, limited glimpses were provided into Jean-Luc's past aboard the Stargazer. However, additional details can be found in various Star Trek tie-in novels. Picard's tenure on the Stargazer shaped his leadership style, emphasizing honor, diplomacy, and employing violence only as a last resort.

Captain Picard's USS Stargazer History Before TNG Explained

Captain Picard, in his role as commanding officer of the Stargazer, experienced various events ranging from active involvement in the Cardassian wars to the creation of his own unique ship maneuver, as well as the tragic loss of his closest companion. Despite his genuine attempt to establish peace by lowering the Stargazer's defensive shields while offering a truce to the Cardassians, they disregarded his gesture and fired upon his vessel. Although Picard managed to escape with minimal harm, this incident unveiled an insightful realization about the nature of the Cardassians. Moving forward to the year 2355, Captain Picard encountered an unidentified ship that initiated an aggressive attack on the Stargazer, causing significant damage. (Later on, it was revealed that the mysterious vessel was of Ferengi origin, as the father of its captain sought revenge against Picard for what was referred to as the Battle of Maxia in episode 9 of season 1 of TNG, titled "The Battle.")

During this encounter, Picard executed a tactical maneuver that would later become known as the Picard Maneuver: he engaged warp speed for a brief moment, creating an illusion that the Stargazer was simultaneously present in two locations, thus momentarily confusing the Ferengi crew. Taking immediate advantage of their disorientation, Picard decisively attacked and successfully destroyed the Ferengi ship. Unfortunately, due to the extensive damages incurred by the Stargazer, including the persisting fires, Picard was compelled to issue the order to evacuate the ship. Subsequently, the Stargazer was lost, and Picard faced a court-martial. However, his actions were ultimately deemed justified, resulting in his exoneration. As a recognition of his remarkable strategic innovation, Picard was later honored with the Grankite Order of Tactics (Class of Excellence) for his development of the Picard Maneuver.

How Being Stargazer Captain Set Up Picard's Star Trek Future

On the Stargazer, Jean-Luc came across Lieutenant Jack R. Crusher (Doug Wert), the spouse of Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and they became friends. In 2353, Captain Picard led an away mission that resulted in the unfortunate demise of Jack Crusher, and Picard personally broke the news to Beverly. Over the years, their friendship grew, and they eventually developed romantic feelings for each other. Although their emotions remained unspoken during TNG's seven seasons, they ultimately succumbed to their feelings sometime after Star Trek: Nemesis. In a surprising revelation in Star Trek: Picard season 3, Beverly revealed that she had given birth to Picard's son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), without his knowledge.

Picard's time on the Stargazer not only led to the creation of his future son but also influenced his command style. After being compelled to destroy the Ferengi vessel during the Battle of Maxia, Picard experienced a sense of guilt and questioned if there could have been an alternative approach. While Picard likely made the most suitable decision given the circumstances, this incident may have influenced his preference for diplomacy in the future. Thanks to his experiences on the Stargazer, Captain Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation was already a proficient and confident leader with a clear sense of morality.