Unveiling the Untold Stories of Star Trek Captains' Offspring

Starfleet has a long history of being a family affair, with several Star Trek Captains passing down their legacy to their children. While Captain Jean-Luc Picard stood out as the exception in his immediate family, Captain James T Kirk and his brother, Lt. George Samuel Kirk, both followed in their father's footsteps as former Starfleet officers. However, not every child of a Starfleet officer chooses to continue the family tradition. Ensign Wesley Crusher, for instance, decided to abandon his Starfleet career to join the enigmatic Travelers, who transcend time and space.

The varying career paths and family backgrounds of these children often provided Star Trek with gripping family dramas. In the episode "Bloodlines" of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Jean-Luc Picard's forgotten son, Jason Vigo, made a surprising appearance. Though it was later revealed that Jason was not Jean-Luc's biological son but rather a pawn in an enemy's scheme, the two men still formed a deep bond. This encounter paved the way for Picard's eventual role as a father figure to Ensign Jack Crusher, who, like many other Starfleet officers, might have benefited from the perception of nepotism within the organization.

11 David Marcus, Son Of Captain James T Kirk

David Marcus, played by Merritt Butrick, was the son of James T. Kirk and Dr. Carol Marcus, portrayed by Bibi Besch, before Kirk assumed the role of Captain of the Enterprise. Following David's birth, Kirk made the difficult decision to not be a part of his son's life. Driven by her fear that David's knowledge of his father's legendary status as a starship Captain would lead him astray, Carol advocated for this separation. However, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Kirk, Carol, and David were eventually reunited. Despite their initial animosity, Kirk and David formed a bond before the young man met a tragic end at the hands of the Klingons on the Genesis planet. It is both heartbreaking and poignant that David perished on the very planet that he and his mother dedicated their lives to creating.

10 Captain Spock And Lt. Saavik's Child

An excised plotline from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home would have revealed that Lt. Saavik (Robin Curtis) was pregnant with the child of Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy). The implication was that, while the young Spock was undergoing the Vulcan mating cycle of Pon Farr on the Genesis Planet, he had engaged in a relationship with Saavik. However, due to Leonard Nimoy's discomfort with this storyline, it was ultimately removed from the movie. As of now, there are no confirmed descendants of Spock in the Star Trek canon. However, with the ongoing exploration of his early years in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the possibility of discovering his progeny cannot be ruled out.

9 Demora Sulu, Daughter Of Captain Sulu

The opening flashback scene in Star Trek: Generations uncovers a previously unknown fact about Captain Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) - he had a daughter. Ensign Demora Sulu (Jacqueline Kim) followed in her father's footsteps and became a Star Trek pilot, serving as the helmsman on the USS Enterprise-B. Beyond her involvement in the rescue of the El-Aurian refugees, not much is known about Demora's career on-screen. However, in various non-canonical novels and short stories, it is revealed that she eventually rose to the rank of Captain and took command of the Enterprise-B after Captain John Harriman (Alan Ruck) stepped down. Additionally, a short story delves into the detail that Demora sponsored Chakotay (Robert Beltran) for admission into Starfleet Academy.

8 Alexander, Son of Captain Worf

Star Trek: The Next Generation lived up to its name by introducing the descendants of the TNG crew over the years. One of the first introduced was Wesley Crusher, the son of Dr. Beverly Crusher and the late Jack Crusher. In season 4 of TNG, Worf discovered that he had a son named Alexander, whom he had never known about, in the episode "Reunion". Alexander was the child of Worf and his lover K'Ehleyr. Throughout both TNG and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, five different actors portrayed Alexander Rozhenko, depicting him from childhood to old age. The last time an adult Alexander was seen was when he served on the Klingon battleship, the Rotarran, in DS9. However, his current whereabouts in the Star Trek canon remain unknown.

7 Jake Sisko, Son Of Captain Benjamin Sisko

Jake Sisko, portrayed by Cirroc Lofton, defied the path of his predecessors on Deep Space Nine. Rather than pursuing a career in the sciences or Starfleet like many before him, Jake aspired to become a writer. He ventured into the field of journalism, immersing himself in the front lines of the Dominion War. Unlike Alexander, who made occasional appearances when the plot required, Jake became an integral part of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine cast. The relationship between Jake and his father, Captain Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks), was truly unique within the Star Trek universe.

6 Captain Benjamin Sisko And Kassidy Yates' Child

In the final episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, titled "What You Leave Behind," Benjamin Sisko is summoned to the Celestial Temple to continue his duties as the Emissary of the Prophets. However, this means he must leave behind his son Jake, his wife Kassidy Yates-Sisko (played by Penny Johnson Jerald), and their unborn child. The Star Trek canon does not provide a clear answer as to whether Sisko and Kassidy had a son or daughter. A hypothetical eighth season of DS9 suggested that they had a son named Joseph Yates-Sisko, who followed in his father's footsteps and became a Starfleet officer. This character was named after Ben's father, portrayed by Brock Peters. On the other hand, a recent Star Trek comic released in 2022, which explores Sisko's return, introduces a daughter named Sarah. It is worth noting that none of these outcomes have been officially confirmed on-screen.

5 Amelia Janeway, Daughter Of Captain Kathryn Janeway

Janeway's infamous Star Trek: Voyager episode, in which she becomes a mother to salamander babies, is a chapter that many fans would prefer to erase from memory. However, an intriguing revelation from the officially licensed book, The Autobiography of Kathryn Janeway by Una McCormack, sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of Janeway's personal life. It discloses that prior to her return from the Delta Quadrant, Janeway had a daughter of her own on Earth. When Janeway and the crew of the USS Voyager were pronounced dead, her family made the decision to utilize the frozen eggs that Janeway had stored years ago, fulfilling her long-held desire for a daughter. Although this fascinating detail remains unconfirmed on-screen, the book unveils that Ensign Amelia Janeway has followed in her mother's footsteps and is currently serving as a Starfleet officer. This revelation raises the possibility that she may even make an appearance in the upcoming Star Trek: Prodigy series.

4 Ensign Beckett Mariner, Daughter Of Captain Carol Freeman

Ensign Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) plays a significant role in Star Trek: Lower Decks as the daughter of Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and Admiral Alonzo Freeman (Phil LaMarr). Despite her good intentions, Mariner's unconventional approach to Starfleet rules often creates tension between her and her mother, Carol. In season 4 of Lower Decks, their relationship reaches a breaking point when Mariner is wrongly accused of writing a scandalous article about the Cerritos. However, this conflict is eventually resolved as Mariner reunites with her mother to assist in defeating the rogue Texas-class starships.

3 Thaddeus Troi-Riker, Son Of Captain Will Riker And Counselor Troi

Star Trek: Picard season 1 unveiled that Captain William T Riker (Jonathan Frakes) of the USS Titan had a son and daughter with his wife Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). Their son, Thaddeus Troi-Riker, was named after one of Will's ancestors - a Union soldier whose life was saved by a Q. Sadly, Thaddeus Troi-Riker passed away at a young age due to a neurological condition, as the Federation's strict ban on Synths hindered the discovery of a cure. Thad's untimely demise caused a rift between Will and Deanna, but in Star Trek: Picard season 3, the couple managed to mend their grief-stricken hearts and find solace in moving forward.

2 Kestra Troi-Riker, Daughter Of Captain Will Riker And Counselor Troi

Kestra Troi-Riker (Lulu Wilson) resided with her parents, Will and Deanna, on Nepenthe during their partial retirement. Despite being a committed pacifist, Kestra possessed impressive archery skills, much like her older brother Thad. She quickly developed a close bond with Soji Asha (Isa Briones), who was considered the "daughter" of Data (Brent Spiner), a former android colleague of Will and Deanna from the USS Enterprise-D. While Will and Deanna were in search of a new life away from Nepenthe, Kestra was reportedly pursuing her education at Starfleet Academy during the events of Star Trek: Picard season 3.

1 Jack Crusher, Son Of Captain Jean-Luc Picard And Dr. Beverly Crusher

Jack Crusher, the son of Jean-Luc Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher, was kept away from his father for his own safety. However, little did they know that Jack's fate as a Borg was sealed from the moment of his conception, as he inherited DNA from Picard's time as Locutus. Years later, Picard proved himself as a father by saving Jack and the galaxy from the Borg Collective. With their issues resolved, Jack's career in Starfleet accelerated, and he became an Ensign serving aboard the USS Enterprise-G. Alongside Captain Seven of Nine and Lt. Sidney La Forge, Jack carries on the legacy of his parents in the unexplored realm of Star Trek's 25th century.