Changes: Benjamin Maxwell

Revision as of 15:27, 5 December 2019

"...if he could not find a role for himself in peace, we can pity him, but we shall not dismiss him."

– Jean-Luc Picard, 2367 ("The Wounded")

Benjamin Maxwell was a male Human Starfleet officer of the 24th century, and considered one of Starfleet's finest captains. He was a veteran of the Federation-Cardassian War, during which he was twice decorated with the Federation's highest citation for courage and valor.

Maxwell had married and had children in the early part of the century. They lived in an outpost on Setlik III while he was a captain.

Biography

The Rutledge

During the Federation-Cardassian War, Maxwell served as captain of the USS Rutledge. He earned a fierce loyalty from his crew, and got to know them well.

Maxwell responded to news of the massacre at Setlik III, wherein his wife and children were killed. He arrived the day after most of the inhabitants were killed, and sent away teams to protect the remaining people in the more remote regions.

Maxwell's tactical officer at the time, Miles O'Brien, would later remark that Maxwell appeared to take the loss of his family remarkably well, not missing a single minute of duty.

He was fond of a certain song, "The Minstrel Boy," sung by one of his crew, Will Kayden. (TNG: "The Wounded")

The Phoenix

By the late-2360s, a peace treaty had been negotiated between the Federation and Cardassian governments and Maxwell had been given command of the USS Phoenix.

In 2367, Captain Maxwell, believing the Cardassians to be re-arming and re-equipping themselves, undertook his own unauthorized preemptive strike, beginning with the destruction of a Cardassian outpost in the Cuellar system which Maxwell believed to be a military supply port disguised as a science post. He then turned to any supply vessels heading for the outpost. The USS Enterprise-D was ordered in pursuit. Maxwell destroyed a supply vessel and a nearby Cardassian warship, killing approximately six hundred-fifty Cardassians, despite it being given the Phoenix' prefix code.

Eventually, the Enterprise arrived and Maxwell agreed to a meeting with Captain Jean-Luc Picard, explaining that he knew the Cardassians were arming again. The peace treaty was a ruse to give them time to re-group. He had undertaken these unauthorized attacks because he did not trust the "bureaucrats" in Starfleet to take decisive action, an assertion to which Picard responded by stating his opinion that Maxwell was simply seeking revenge for the death of his family. Maxwell was also reunited with O'Brien, who was serving as transporter chief, and the two men greeted each other warmly as old friends. Maxwell also complimented the chief's abilities as a tactical officer. Miles expressed his own admiration for his former Captain.

Subsequent to Picard ordering him to travel to Starbase 211 under escort, Maxwell feigned compliance, but altered course en route, leading the Enterprise-D to another Cardassian supply vessel. Maxwell claimed it was transporting weapons in preparation for an attack on Federation space. Imploring Picard to search the ship in an attempt to prove his assertions, Maxwell threatened to destroy it, along with all hands. He was eventually talked down by O'Brien. Realizing that he had lost, Maxwell willingly surrendered to Picard, turning over command of the Phoenix to his first officer. (TNG: "The Wounded")

Memorable quotes

"Smells musty in here... like a bureaucrat's office."

- Maxwell, while in Picard's ready room

"You're a fool, Picard. History will look at you and say: 'This man was a fool.' "
"I'll accept the judgment of history."

- Captain Maxwell and Captain Picard

"I'm not gonna win this one, am I, Chief?"
"No, sir."

- Benjamin Maxwell and Miles O'Brien, after Maxwell decides to surrender

Appendices

Background information

Captain Benjamin Maxwell was played by actor Bob Gunton.

The script for "The Wounded" describes Maxwell as, "not at all what one might have expected. Slight of build, short greying hair, chiseled, angular face -- he could be Lenin. Or Lennon. But in the eyes there is warmth -- and humor. Creases at the edges testify to a lifetime of smiles and laughter. He is genuinely at ease with himself, and consequently puts others at ease." [1]

Author and writer Larry Nemecek noted that Maxwell's "Queeg-like turn" echoed Matt Decker from the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Doomsday Machine". (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, p.152)

Apocrypha

The novelization of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine pilot episode "Emissary" gives Maxwell's wife's name as Maria Huxley.

The Gateways novel Demons of Air and Darkness reveals that Maxwell was court martialed and imprisoned after the incident shown in "The Wounded".

The DS9 novel Force and Motion established that, after being incarcerated for nearly two decades, Maxwell was employed as a maintenance engineer on the private science station Robert Hooke. In early 2386, he is reunited with O'Brien when he and Lieutenant commander Nog travel to the station to meet with the station's owner, Anatoly Finch, who introduces them to a genetically engineered lifeform called "Mother" that Finch claims can neutralize toxins left behind during the Borg attack of 2381. When one of Finch's assistants, Sabih Ali, apparently attempts to steal Mother, triggering a security system that kills him and flushes Mother out into space, Maxwell works out that Sabih was working under Finch's orders as Finch had already arranged to sell Mother to a group of Romulan farmers. When the station suffered a technical failure from Finch's plan and severe damage from Mother being attracted to the warp reactors, O'Brien and Nog arrange for the evacuation of most of the station's personnel, but Maxwell stays behind to repair the warp core and discovers that Mother is sentient and largely peaceful. Maxwell was believed to have died in the station's destruction, but he had actually left in the transport, hoping for a fresh start.

External links

[2]
Benjamin Maxwell at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{sidebar individual
+{{Sidebar individual
-| image-top        = Benmaxwell.jpg
+|image         = Benjamin Maxwell.jpg
-| caption-top      = Benjamin Maxwell in [[2367]]
+|caption       = Benjamin Maxwell
-| gender           = Male
+|gender        = [[Male]]
-| species          = [[Human]]
+|species       = [[Human]]
-| affiliation      = [[Starfleet]]
+|affiliation   = [[Federation]] [[Starfleet]]
-| rank             = [[Captain]]
+|rank          = {{Captain}}
-| occupation       = Commanding officer of the {{USS|Phoenix}}.
+|occupation    = [[Commanding officer|Commander]], {{USS|Phoenix}}
-| status           = Alive ([[2367]])
+|status        = [[Arrest]]ed
+|datestatus    = 2367
-| actor            = [[Bob Gunton]]
+|mstatus       = [[Widower]]
+|spouse        = [[Maxwell's family 001|An unidentified wife]] (deceased)
+|children      = [[Maxwell's family 001|At least two unidentified children]] (all deceased)
+|actor         = [[Bob Gunton]]
 }}
+{{aquote|...if he could not find a role for himself in peace, we can pity him, but we shall not dismiss him.|Jean-Luc Picard|2367|The Wounded}}
+'''Benjamin Maxwell''' was a [[male]] [[Human]] [[Starfleet]] [[officer]] of the [[24th century]], and considered one of Starfleet's finest {{dis|captain|rank}}s. He was a veteran of the [[Federation-Cardassian War]], during which he was twice decorated with the [[Federation]]'s highest citation for courage and valor.
+Maxwell had [[Maxwell's family 001|married and had children]] in the early part of the century. They lived in an [[outpost]] on [[Setlik III]] while he was a captain.
-'''Benjamin Maxwell''' was a [[Human]] [[Starfleet]] [[officer]] serving during the [[24th century]].
+== Biography ==
-By the [[2340s]], Maxwell had risen to the rank of [[captain]] and was in command of the {{USS|Rutledge}}. During the [[Federation-Cardassian War]], Maxwell received the highest citation for courage and valor two times. Maxwell was present during the [[Setlik III massacre]], during which his wife and children were killed. Even though he seemed to take it well, the incident would in fact haunt him for many years.
+=== The ''Rutledge'' ===
+During the Federation-Cardassian War, Maxwell served as captain of the {{USS|Rutledge}}. He earned a fierce loyalty from his crew, and got to know them well.
+Maxwell responded to news of [[Setlik III massacre|the massacre]] at Setlik III, wherein his [[wife]] and children were killed. He arrived the day after most of the inhabitants were killed, and sent [[away team]]s to protect the remaining people in the more remote regions.
-In [[2367]], Maxwell was the commanding officer of the {{USS|Phoenix}}. Believing in secret Cardassian preparations for a new war, he destroyed a Cardassian [[outpost]] in the [[Cuellar system]] and two Cardassian ships, killing nearly 700 Cardassians. When the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} was sent out to stop him, he initially pretended to return to [[Federation]] [[space]] and remained in command, but then changed his course to intercept a supply ship heading for the [[Kelrabi system]] to find proof for his allegations. Though the ship indeed had something to hide, ''Enterprise'' captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] refused to board the Cardassian ship and threatened to fire upon the ''Phoenix'' to prevent a new war. Maxwell remained stubborn, but was convinced in the end by [[Miles O'Brien]], his former shipmate, to give up. Maxwell turned over the ship to his [[first officer]] and transferred to the ''Enterprise'', where he was confined to his [[crew quarters|quarters]] to await a [[court martial]]. ({{TNG|The Wounded}})
+Maxwell's [[tactical officer]] at the time, [[Miles O'Brien]], would later remark that Maxwell appeared to take the loss of his family remarkably well, not missing a single [[minute]] of duty.
-Ultimately, Maxwell was proven correct with the advent of the [[Dominion War]] in [[2373]]. It is unknown if Maxwell was reinstated as [[Captain]] during the war, or what his final fate may have been.
+He was fond of a certain song, "[[The Minstrel Boy]]," sung by one of his crew, [[Will Kayden]]. ({{TNG|The Wounded}})
-==Background==
-Maxwell was played by [[Bob Gunton]].
+=== The ''Phoenix'' ===
-According to the script, Maxwell was described as the following:
+[[File:USS Phoenix.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Phoenix'']]
-<blockquote>
+By the late-[[2360s]], a [[peace treaty]] had been negotiated between the Federation and Cardassian [[government]]s and Maxwell had been given command of the {{USS|Phoenix}}.
-He is not at all what one might have expected. Slight of build, short greying hair, chiseled, angular face &ndash; he could be {{w|Vladimir Lenin|Lenin}}. Or {{w|John Lennon|Lennon}}. But in the eyes there is warmth &ndash; and humor. Creases at the edges testify to a lifetime of smiles and laughter. He is genuinely at ease with himself, and consequently puts others at ease.
-</blockquote>
+In [[2367]], Captain Maxwell, believing the Cardassians to be re-arming and re-equipping themselves, undertook his own unauthorized [[preemptive strike]], beginning with the destruction of a Cardassian [[outpost]] in the [[Cuellar system]] which Maxwell believed to be a [[military supply port]] disguised as a science post. He then turned to any [[supply vessel]]s heading for the outpost. The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} was ordered in pursuit. Maxwell destroyed a supply vessel and a nearby [[Cardassian warship 002|Cardassian warship]], killing approximately six hundred-fifty Cardassians, despite it being given the ''Phoenix''' [[prefix code]].
-==External link==
-* {{NCwiki}}
+Eventually, the ''Enterprise'' arrived and Maxwell agreed to a meeting with Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]], explaining that he knew the Cardassians were arming again. The peace treaty was a ruse to give them time to re-group. He had undertaken these unauthorized attacks because he did not trust the "[[bureaucrat]]s" in Starfleet to take decisive action, an assertion to which Picard responded by stating his opinion that Maxwell was simply seeking revenge for the [[death]] of his family. Maxwell was also reunited with O'Brien, who was serving as [[transporter chief]], and the two men greeted each other warmly as old friends. Maxwell also complimented the chief's abilities as a tactical officer. Miles expressed his own admiration for his former Captain.
+Subsequent to Picard ordering him to travel to [[Starbase 211]] under escort, Maxwell feigned compliance, but altered course ''en route'', leading the ''Enterprise''-D to another Cardassian supply vessel. Maxwell claimed it was transporting weapons in preparation for an attack on Federation space. Imploring Picard to search the ship in an attempt to prove his assertions, Maxwell threatened to destroy it, along with all hands. He was eventually talked down by O'Brien. Realizing that he had lost, Maxwell willingly surrendered to Picard, turning over command of the ''Phoenix'' to [[Phoenix first officer 001|his first officer]]. ({{TNG|The Wounded}})
+== Memorable quotes ==
+"''Smells musty in here... like a bureaucrat's office.''"
+: - '''Maxwell''', while in Picard's ready room
+"''You're a fool, Picard. History will look at you and say: 'This man was a fool.' ''"<br />
+"''I'll accept the judgment of history.''"
+: - '''Captain Maxwell''' and '''Captain Picard'''
+"''I'm not gonna win this one, am I, Chief?''"<br />
+"''No, sir.''"
+: - '''Benjamin Maxwell''' and '''Miles O'Brien''', after Maxwell decides to surrender
+== Appendices ==
+=== Background information ===
+Captain Benjamin Maxwell was played by actor [[Bob Gunton]].
+The script for "The Wounded" describes Maxwell as, "''not at all what one might have expected. Slight of build, short greying hair, chiseled, angular face -- he could be [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]]. Or [[John Lennon|Lennon]]. But in the eyes there is warmth -- and humor. Creases at the edges testify to a lifetime of smiles and laughter. He is genuinely at ease with himself, and consequently puts others at ease.''" {{st-minutiae|resources/scripts/186.txt}}
+Author and writer [[Larry Nemecek]] noted that Maxwell's "''Queeg-like turn''" echoed [[Matt Decker]] from the {{s|TOS}} episode {{e|The Doomsday Machine}}. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', p.152)
+=== Apocrypha ===
+The {{dis|Emissary|novel|novelization}} of the {{s|DS9}} pilot episode {{e|Emissary}} gives Maxwell's wife's name as Maria Huxley.
+The ''[[Gateways]]'' novel ''[[Demons of Air and Darkness]]'' reveals that Maxwell was court martialed and imprisoned after the incident shown in "The Wounded".
+The DS9 novel ''[[Force and Motion]]'' established that, after being incarcerated for nearly two decades, Maxwell was employed as a maintenance engineer on the private [[science station]] ''Robert Hooke''. In early [[2386]], he is reunited with O'Brien when he and [[Lieutenant commander]] [[Nog]] travel to the station to meet with the station's owner, Anatoly Finch, who introduces them to a genetically engineered lifeform called "Mother" that Finch claims can neutralize toxins left behind during the [[Borg]] attack of [[2381]]. When one of Finch's assistants, Sabih Ali, apparently attempts to steal Mother, triggering a security system that kills him and flushes Mother out into space, Maxwell works out that Sabih was working under Finch's orders as Finch had already arranged to sell Mother to a group of [[Romulan]] farmers. When the station suffered a technical failure from Finch's plan and severe damage from Mother being attracted to the warp reactors, O'Brien and Nog arrange for the evacuation of most of the station's personnel, but Maxwell stays behind to repair the warp core and discovers that Mother is sentient and largely peaceful. Maxwell was believed to have died in the station's destruction, but he had actually left in the transport, hoping for a fresh start.
+=== External links ===
+* {{startrek.com|maxwell}}
+* {{mbeta}}
 [[de:Benjamin Maxwell]]
+[[fr:Benjamin Maxwell]]
 [[ja:ベンジャミン・マックスウェル]]
 [[pl:Benjamin Maxwell]]
-[[Category:Humans|Maxwell, Benjamin]]
+{{DEFAULTSORT|Maxwell, Benjamin}}
-[[Category:Starfleet command personnel|Maxwell, Benjamin]]
+[[Category:Humans]]
-[[Category:Starfleet captains|Maxwell, Benjamin]]
+[[Category:Starfleet personnel (24th century)]]
+[[Category:Starfleet command personnel]]
+[[Category:Starfleet captains]]