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Jack Ransom

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"Jack, I sense you exaggerate your confidence in order to mask an ocean of insecurity."
– Deanna Troi, 2380 ("No Small Parts")

Captain Jack Ransom was a male Human Starfleet officer who served as the first officer of the USS Cerritos under Captain Carol Freeman in the early 2380s. (LD: "Second Contact")

In 2382, following Freeman's transfer to Starbase 80, Ransom was promoted to the rank of captain and given command of the Cerritos. (LD: "The New Next Generation")

Quick Answers

What led to Jack Ransom's promotion to the rank of captain? toggle section
Jack Ransom's rise to captaincy was due to his leadership in a second contact mission in 2380, his expertise in 'classic Jack Ransom peace brokering', and his experience as the first officer of the USS Cerritos. His affinity for manual landing also hints at a past role as a helmsman.
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What is the significance of Jack Ransom's time in Barcelona, Spain? toggle section
Jack Ransom resided in Barcelona, Spain for a month, an experience he found deeply enriching. This period inspired him to compose several acoustic guitar songs, which he planned to perform at his 2380 birthday celebration.
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How did Jack Ransom's relationship with Mariner evolve over time? toggle section
Initially, Ransom and Mariner had an antagonistic relationship, with Mariner criticizing Ransom's obsession with rules and career progression, and Ransom viewing Mariner as a reckless rule-breaker. However, their relationship evolved, marked by Ransom defending Mariner in a conflict and later apologizing for his assumption that she would undermine him. This evolution showed Ransom's growing respect for Mariner.
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What is the story behind Jack Ransom's birth in Tycho City on Luna? toggle section
Born in Tycho City on Luna, Jack Ransom initially concealed his origins, claiming to be from Hawaii during his ensign years. His true birthplace was later revealed, with additional ties to Tycho City through a fellow officer's sister who attended Tycho City Prep. Ransom's life also included a creative stint in Barcelona, Spain, where he composed and performed songs, developing a fondness for the Iberian peninsula.
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What role does Jack Ransom play in the 'Memory Alpha Lower Decks'? toggle section
In 'Memory Alpha Lower Decks', Jack Ransom, a human Starfleet officer, serves as the executive officer of the USS Cerritos. Known for his 'classic Jack Ransom peace brokering', he often masks his insecurities with exaggerated confidence. His preference for manual landing indicates a potential past role as a helmsman. He has also led second contact missions on the ground.
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Early life[]

Ransom was born in Tycho City on Luna. (LD: "wej Duj")

At some point in his life, he lived for a month in Barcelona, Spain, after which he wrote hours' worth of songs that he would sing, and play acoustic guitar to accompany them. It was also following his time there that he came to believe that "there's no peninsula more sensual than the Iberian." (LD: "Moist Vessel")

Starfleet career[]

As an ensign, Ransom claimed to be from Hawaii in order to rub shoulders with his commanding officer, who was from Honolulu. Ransom upheld the charade until 2381, when he finally admitted the truth. (LD: "wej Duj")

Ransom had extensive experience leading away missions, especially missions that seemed like "a walk in the park" before taking a sudden turn towards disastrous. Ransom listed facing horned gorillas, sentient tar, and "spores that make you hook up with your best friend's sister." (LD: "Temporal Edict")

He further prided himself on his "classic Jack Ransom peace brokering." (LD: "Temporal Edict")

Ransom's affinity for joysticks in "Envoys" and preference for landing manually in "Temporal Edict" may suggest a previous assignment as helmsman.

USS Cerritos[]

In 2380, Ransom served as Captain Carol Freeman's first officer aboard the USS Cerritos. That year, he led ground-based elements of a second contact mission to the capital planet of the Galar system, before being bitten by a Galardonian insect and bringing a rage virus aboard the ship. (LD: "Second Contact")

While Ensign Sam Rutherford was considering a transfer to the command division, Commander Ransom observed his performance during two command trainer holodeck programs. (LD: "Envoys")

Ransom and Mariner in prison together

Ransom and Mariner debating rank and protocol in a prison on Gelrak V

Ransom led a gift giving-mission to Gelrak V shortly after they had been signed into the Federation, when an incident led to the team being attacked and imprisoned. While being pitted against Vindor in a match to the death, Ransom stabbed Ensign Beckett Mariner in the foot to prevent her from being able to fight so that he could defend his team. Vindor conceded the match, freeing the team. (LD: "Temporal Edict")

According to Brad Boimler's simulation of Ransom, he had used Captain Freeman's fondness for sweets (specifically cookies) to manipulate her. It was likely in one such attempt he found she was allergic to chocolate. (LD: "Crisis Point")

In 2382, while herding the buhgoon and during the Clicket invasion, Ransom spent most of his time showing off his strength and sleeping, forcing delta shift to work together. It was revealed that Ransom's idiot jock persona was actually just an act that he put on in order to trick the junior officers into working together and getting along by having them focus their ire on Ransom rather than on each other. (LD: "Upper Decks")

Later that year, when Freeman was transferred to Starbase 80, Ransom was promoted to captain of the Cerritos. He then made Boimler and Mariner his provisional first officers. To their dismay, Ransom chose a workout joke as his catchphrase. (LD: "The New Next Generation")

Personal interests[]

Ransom practiced martial arts, had a large collection of free weights, and was a fan of the double-fist punch. (LD: "Temporal Edict", "No Small Parts") As a result, Ransom was incredibly strong, able to effortlessly catch a punch from a Klingon warrior with just one hand. However, this also resulted in Ransom using a workout joke as his catchphrase, much to the crew's dismay. (LD: "The New Next Generation")

Personal relationships[]

Besties[]

Ransom, Westlake, Matt and Honus

Ransom and his besties

According to Ransom, he considered Westlake, Matt, and Honus his besties. (LD: "Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus")

Carol Freeman[]

By 2380, Ransom and Freeman had a cordial working relationship. Ransom had a noted tendency to suck up to his commanding officer, however.

Beckett Mariner[]

Ransom and Mariner had a generally antagonistic relationship, in which she thought him too obsessed with regulations and career advancement to be effective, while he thought her an overly impulsive rule-breaker who posed a danger to herself and others. However, they did find each other physically attractive, which disturbed them both. (LD: "Temporal Edict")

When Ransom found out that Mariner was Freeman's daughter, he briefly attempted to ingratiate himself to her, much to her annoyance. After a time, he also became jealous of the leeway that Mariner enjoyed under Freeman. (LD: "No Small Parts", "Strange Energies")

Ransom lays it down to Mariner

"As far as you're concerned, Mariner, I'm your mama now."

After Freeman was arrested for conspiring in the destruction of Pakled Planet but was ultimately proven innocent in court, she found out that her daughter attempted to steal the Cerritos to prove her innocence. Knowing her daughter wouldn't listen to her as an authority figure, Freeman assigned Ransom the job of overseeing and evaluating Mariner's conduct and behavior and would have the final say over whether Mariner is allowed to remain in Starfleet. Ransom took great delight in the task, much to Mariner's horror. (LD: "Grounded")

In 2382, after being promoted to captain of the ship, Ransom promoted both Boimler and Mariner to his provisional first officers. However, they were quickly dismayed by his use of a workout joke as a catchphrase. (LD: "The New Next Generation")

Bradward Boimler[]

In early 2380, Ransom didn't know Boimler, who had been with the Cerritos for less than a year at the time, very well, treating him with professional cordiality but mostly as an extremely junior officer. Throughout 2380 and 2381, Ransom and Boimler began interacting more frequently, and Ransom grew to respect the young man as a capable budding officer, and Boimler in turn looked up to Ransom. Following his promotion to lieutenant junior grade and transfer to the USS Titan, Brad Boimler kept a decorative plate with Ransom's face printed on it in his quarters. (LD: "No Small Parts")

After Boimler's return from the USS Titan, in mid-2381, Ransom began to note Boimler's quick thinking and leadership potential, thinking of him as an officer ready for more dangerous away missions and more prestigious assignments, and citing his leadership potential, and quick thinking in resolving a dangerous situation involving Ensign Tendi being transformed into a giant scorpion by an Ataxian mood shifter. (LD: "Where Pleasant Fountains Lie", "The Spy Humongous") Ransom later directed one of the ship's provisional-officer cadets to Boimler for mentoring, citing Boimler as the most organized officer on the ship. (LD: "wej Duj")

In 2382, after being promoted to captain of the ship, Ransom promoted both Boimler and Mariner to his provisional first officers. However, they were quickly dismayed by his use of a workout joke as a catchphrase. (LD: "The New Next Generation")

Key dates[]

  • c. 2380–2382: First officer of the USS Cerritos
  • 2382:
    • Promoted to captain
    • Assumes command of the USS Cerritos

Memorable quotes[]

"Oh, what happened? Where am I? And… did I eat flesh?"
"Uh, hardly any."
"HOW MUCH DID I EAT?!"

- Jack Ransom and Ensign D'Vana Tendi, after the former returned to normal (LD: "Second Contact")


"In thousands of simulations that has literally never happened before. Let's try another one, on a ship with even MORE children!"

- Jack Ransom, after watching Sam Rutherford spectacularly fail Command Trainer 4 (LD: "Envoys")


"Ugh. Landru."
"I know, it's always weird revisiting planets from the TOS era."
"TOS?"
"It's what I call the 2260s. Stands for 'those old scientists' – You know, Spock, Scotty, those guys. Seems like they were stumbling on crazy new aliens every week back then."

- Carol Freeman and Jack Ransom, on Landru and the 2260s (LD: "No Small Parts")


"From now on, I'll make sure to give you special attention."
"No! Be as hard on her as you always are!"
"Yeah, be hard on me!"
"I'm only hard on you when you make me hard! I mean I'm – I'm not hard right now! I mean I could – I could get hard, if I wanted to, but I'm not hard right now. I'm so sorry! You're both great!"

- Jack Ransom, Freeman, and Beckett Mariner, on being harsh on Beckett Mariner (LD: "No Small Parts")


"Looks like we'll have to repel them the old-fashioned way. Setting my fists to stun and my kicks to kill."

- Jack Ransom, on repelling the Pakleds (LD: "No Small Parts")


"Deanna, can you introduce me to any of your Betazoid friends?"
"Jack, I sense you exaggerate your confidence in order to mask an ocean of insecurity."
"Oh, will they sense that too? I can make that work for me."

- Jack Ransom and Deanna Troi, on Ransom's personality (LD: "No Small Parts")


"Once again, we're cleaning up a mess for a bunch of outpost scientists. You know why these guys are always getting eaten, disappearing, or getting eggs laid in their chests?"
"'Cause they're working on the frontier?"
"Because they're weirdos! You wanna explore space? Join Starfleet. Go to the Academy. But no! That's too much effort! They just got to get their degrees in studying spores or whatever, then head off into the quadrant and get devoured by a plant!"

- Jack Ransom and Beckett Mariner, on having to clean up another mess made by outpost scientists (LD: "Mining The Mind's Mines")

Appendices[]

Appearances[]

Background information[]

Ransom was voiced by Jerry O'Connell.

External links[]

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