"Don't let them promote you... don't let them transfer you... don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship.... Because while you're there... you can make a difference."

The U.S.S. Enterprise has been a part of America since the Revolutionary War and, thanks to Gene Roddenberry, has ensured the name's place in Earth's future. What other fictional creation could possibly be so firmly entrenched in our culture? After all, the Enterprise model proudly hangs in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., and the first space shuttle was named Enterprise by popular demand. Recently, the public voted for Star Trek -- depicted by the Enterprise -- to join the fifteen stamps symbolizing the 1960s.

"My feeling was that if you didn't believe in the spaceship... if you didn't believe you were in a vehicle traveling through space, a vehicle that made sense, whose layout and design made sense... then you wouldn't believe in the series," Gene Roddenberry said in The Making of Star Trek. Without an identifiable ship, its captain and crew would be irrelevant. As important as the captains within these pages are, so too is the vessel they command.

Originally calling it the Yorktown, Roddenberry quickly renamed the ship Enterprise -- why is undocumented, but one could argue the name alone conjures up man's spirit and in one word sums up the nature of the captain.

As Roddenberry developed Star Trek for NBC, he projected our cultural development several centuries into the future. Having overcome great difficulties, mankind ultimately reached out to the stars. To do so, they needed starships capable of jumping between solar systems, far from Earth. In order to ensure the crew's completing their mission, each ship needed to be captained by a strong individual, one who could think for himself and act in the best interests of the United Federation of Planets. While there have been many lauded captains in Starfleet's history, those who have commanded the U.S.S. Enterprise, from Pike to Picard, seem to rise head and shoulders above the others.

Of the twelve Constitution-class vessels that were Starfleet's vanguard, several met with terrible fates. But the Enterprise endured, garnering a reputation as flagship for the fleet. Much has to do with the man at the hub of the bridge. Although Roddenberry got his inspiration from Captain Horatio Hornblower, a fictional hero of his youth, he molded the image of captain to suit his actors. There's a lot of Hornblower in Jeffrey Hunter's Pike, but it's mixed with a dash of Hamlet. William Shatner's Kirk, though, was brasher, faster to act. Still, Shatner should be credited with making certain the writers did not ignore the humanistic side of Kirk, which allowed him to temper the well-known cliché of the bed-hopping captain with the protrayal of a man upholding Starfleet's ideals and keeping his ship and crew safe.

Captains who have followed Kirk have ghosts to live up to. In Starfleet's early days, the rules were still being defined. Pike was known for his bravery, but Kirk was known for his "cowboy diplomacy." How did these predecessors influence the command styles of Harriman and Garrett? Jean-Luc Picard had twenty-two years of commanding the Stargazer under his belt by the time he first stepped aboard the Enterprise. Could he not stop and wonder what his "ancestors" would do in his place? Meeting Kirk no doubt changed his view on command, no matter how slightly.

The lessons learned by one captain from another have been exhibited throughout Starfleet's history. Spock certainly learned well from both Pike and Kirk, and the way Hikaru Sulu evaded Captain Kang in "Flashback" was certainly a Kirk-style maneuver. Even Captain Janeway has admitted some admiration for those legendary commanders, although her style is unique unto herself.

While Pike may have had his moments of self-doubt and Kirk witnessed the deaths of those closest to him, they managed to put aside their personal demons and remained in command. Other captains encountered along the way have been less fortunate. We've seen them devastated (Matt Decker), we've seen them mad (Garth), and we've even seen them traitorous (Ben Maxwell). It should be noted that the question of including Edward Jellico in this collection was hotly debated. After all, he commanded the Enterprise for several days during the popular two-part episode "Chain of Command." However, he commanded briefly and was rather unpopular, and were we to include him, we'd have to include everyone who temporarily held command of the Enterprise. (Even Dr. Crusher. Even Khan.) A word about those who tested the captains' mettle. There are many different ways to command a crew, and one must respect the skills of one's opponent. Kirk certainly held the Romulan commander in some regard in the classic "Balance of Terror." The Klingon captain Kor on more than one occasion showed his dedication to honor and duty, dying in a blaze of glory that no doubt inspired countless songs among his people. General Martok clearly demonstrated an understanding of command that earned him first Worf's respect, and then leadership of the Klingon people.

To command a starship takes resolve, courage, and the innate ability to handle the unexpected. As seen in the following stories, the captains approach problems differently -- some with humanity, some with daring, some with cunning -- but all do it with pride. The nine authors that follow showcase those different elements, most choosing to focus on the captain apart from ship and crew, others focusing on the captain and his relationship with his crew. The insights gleaned from these stories will no doubt allow readers to come away with some idea of why these people are noteworthy figures. Adding some gravity to this volume are two stories based on the first two captains of the Enterprise, taken from the pages of history.

From 1776 through the twenty-fourth century Enterprise captains have excelled through a mixture of dynamism, practicality, and a heavy dose of humanity. Sit back and enjoy the adventures.

-- Robert Greenberger
Fairfield, Connecticut
January 2000