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{{sidebar individual
 
{{sidebar individual
| image-top = Tim Watters.jpg
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|image = Tim Watters.jpg
| caption-top = Tim Watters ([[2374]])
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|caption = Tim Watters ([[2374]])
| gender = [[Male]]
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|gender = [[Male]]
| species = [[Human]]
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|species = [[Human]]
| affiliation = [[Federation]] [[Starfleet]]
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|affiliation = [[Federation]] [[Starfleet]]
| rank = [[Captain]]
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|rank = {{Captain}} ([[field commission|provisional]])
| occupation =
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|occupation = [[Commanding officer|CO]] of the {{USS|Valiant|NCC-74210}}
| status = KIA
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|status = Deceased ([[Killed in action|KIA]])
| born = [[2352]]
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|datestatus = 2374
| died = [[2374]]
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|born = [[2352]]
| actor = [[Paul Popowich]]
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|died = [[2374]],<br/>{{USS|Valiant|NCC-74210}}
 
|actor = [[Paul Popowich]]
 
}}
 
}}
   
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{{aquote|He may have been a hero, he may even have been a great man &ndash; but in the end, he was a bad captain.|Nog|2374|Valiant}}
'''Tim Watters''' was a [[2351|22-year-old]] member of the elite [[cadet]] group [[Red Squad]] that served aboard the {{USS|Valiant|NCC-74210}} as part of a training exercise just prior to the outbreak of the [[Dominion War]] in [[2373]]. After his [[commanding officer]] was [[death|fatally wounded]], he was given a [[field commission]] as [[captain]] and command of the [[starship]], choosing to continue its mission in [[Dominion]] controlled [[space]].
 
   
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{{Captain}} '''Tim Watters''' was a [[male]] [[Human]] [[Starfleet]] [[cadet]] in the [[24th century]]. He was a member of the elite [[cadet]] group [[Red Squad]] before he died in [[2374]].
In [[2374]], Watters ordered the ''Valiant'' to attack a [[Jem'Hadar fighter]] that was firing on the [[runabout]] {{USS|Shenandoah}}. The [[fighter]] was destroyed after ''Valiant'' rescued the two [[crew]]men of ''Shenandoah''.
 
   
 
Watters served on board the {{USS|Valiant|NCC-74210}} as part of a training exercise just prior to the outbreak of the [[Dominion War]] in [[2373]]. After his [[commanding officer]], {{Captain}} {{dis|Ramirez|24th century}} was [[death|fatally wounded]] on the way back to Federation space, he was given a [[battlefield commission]] as captain and command of the [[starship]]. He chose to continue its original mission in [[Dominion]]-controlled [[space]] to gain intelligence on a new [[Jem'Hadar battleship]], keeping the ship behind enemy lines for eight months. During this time, he came under intense pressure and started taking [[cordafin]] [[stimulant]]s for two months.
When [[Ensign]] [[Nog]] and [[reporter]] [[Jake Sisko]] were rescued, Watters informed them of his intentions to continue operating behind enemy lines, citing his strict orders from [[Starfleet]] and Captain [[Ramirez (Captain)|Ramirez]]. Watters offered Nog a [[field promotion]] to [[lieutenant commander]], as the ensign was the most experienced [[engineer]] aboard.
 
   
 
In [[2374]], Watters ordered the ''Valiant'' to attack a [[Jem'Hadar fighter]] that was firing on the [[runabout]] {{USS|Shenandoah}}. The [[fighter]] was destroyed after the ''Valiant'' rescued the two [[crew]]men of the ''Shenandoah'', [[Ensign]] [[Nog]] and [[reporter]] [[Jake Sisko]]. Watters offered Nog a [[field promotion]] to [[lieutenant commander]], as the ensign was the most experienced [[engineer]] aboard.
When [[Nog]] and [[Jake Sisko]] came on board the Valiant, Watters had been taking cordafin stimulants for two months, presumably to counter the overwhelming pressure of his job. Although Watters successfully conducted the ''Valiant'' to fulfilling its original mission, Watters became overconfident and ordered the ship to attack a [[Jem'Hadar battleship]], despite Sisko's strong objections. Watters claimed that the ''Valiant'' could exploit a key weakness in the battleship's antimatter storage braces, which would eventually tear the ship apart.
 
   
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With Nog able to fix the ship's [[warp engine]] problems, the ship was able to find the battleship and Watters could successfully complete his mission. However, Watters then became overconfident, convincing himself the ship could exploit a key weakness in the battleship's [[antimatter]] storage braces, which would eventually tear the ship apart. He was able to rally the crew to that goal, despite Jake's strong objections and Nog's assessment of what would be required to achieve the ship's destruction.
However, the plan failed, and Cadet Captain Watters, with most of his crew, died in the destruction of the ''Valiant''. In summing up his experience with Watters, Nog noted: "''He may have been a hero... he may even have been a great man... but in the end, he was a bad captain.''" ({{DS9|Valiant}})
 
{{RedSquadMembers}}
 
==Controversial Decisions==
 
Watters was played by [[Paul Popowich]].
 
   
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Watters tended to micromanage his crew. As an example, when he found out [[Dorian Collins]] had been talking about home with Jake and feeling [[Homesickness|homesick]], he saw that as a distraction and ordered Jake to stay away from her. Later, he viewed Jake talking to Nog via a camera, trying to convince him the mission was foolish and could get them all killed. He then had Jake confined to the [[brig]].
The storyline of "[[Valiant (episode)|Valiant]]" strongly suggests that Watters intentionally hid the location of ''Valiant'' from Starfleet and continuing his "mission" merely to avoid returning to Starfleet and becoming a mere cadet again. Given that Jake and Nog had just left [[Starbase 257]] in the beginning of the episode, the ''Valiant'' was only a few days or weeks travel from that base and Watters could have returned to Federation space at any time. It is also possible that the drugs may have had some effect on his over-confident nature.
 
   
 
However, despite the successful blow to the ship, the plan failed, as the ship was not damaged. Forced into real battle, Cadet Captain Watters, with most of his crew, died in the destruction of the ''Valiant''. In summing up his experience with Watters, Nog noted: "''He may have been a hero... he may even have been a great man... but in the end, he was a bad captain.''" ({{DS9|Valiant}})
Furthermore, the rationale of his decision is flimsy; given that the ''Valiant''{'}s orders were eight months old by the time they were acted upon, the value of the intelligence that could be gained by the ''Valiant'' operating behind enemy lines was doubtful.
 
   
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{{Red Squad members}}
Finally, it must be noted that Watters's actions also led to the failure of the ship's original mission; when the ''Valiant'' was destroyed, the intelligence that it had been ordered to gather was also presumably lost.
 
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__NOTOC__
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== Appendices ==
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=== Background information ===
  +
Watters was played by [[Paul Popowich]].
   
 
The storyline of "Valiant" strongly suggests that Watters intentionally hid the location of Valiant from Starfleet and continuing his "mission" merely to avoid returning to Starfleet and becoming a mere cadet again. Given that Jake and Nog had just left [[Starbase 257]] in the beginning of the episode, the Valiant was only a few days or weeks travel from that base and Watters could have returned to Federation space at any time. The last standing orders of Captain Ramirez was to return to Federation space to get the cadets safely home and likely assumed that Watters would follow those orders in his stead ahead of orders meant for an experienced crew. It is also possible that the drugs may have had some effect on his over-confident nature. Furthermore, the rationale of his decision is flimsy; given that the ''Valiant''s orders were eight months old by the time they were acted upon, the value of the intelligence that could be gained by the Valiant operating behind enemy lines was doubtful. Finally, it must be noted that Watters's actions also led to the failure of the ship's original mission; when the Valiant was destroyed, the intelligence that it had been ordered to gather was also presumably lost.
==External link==
 
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* {{NCwiki}}
 
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===Apocrypha===
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The short story "Dorian's Diary" in ''[[Strange New Worlds III]]'' establishes that in 2374, Waters and the rest of the deceased Red Squad members was posthumously awarded the Drakon Cluster of Courage.
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In the reference book ''[[Star Trek: Celebrations]]'', it was established that [[Starfleet Academy]] created a service award to cadets who show exceptional leadership and named it the Watters Ribbon of Valor in honor of Watters and it commemorated Watters and the other Red Squad cadets who died aboard the ''Valiant''.
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===External links===
 
*{{mbeta}}
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*{{mbeta|Watters Ribbon of Valor}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT|Watters, Tim}}
 
[[de:Tim Watters]]
 
[[de:Tim Watters]]
[[Category:Humans|Watters, Tim]]
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[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Starfleet command personnel|Watters, Tim]]
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[[Category:Starfleet Academy personnel]]
[[Category:Starfleet captains|Watters, Tim]]
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[[Category:Starfleet command personnel]]
[[Category:USS Valiant personnel|Watters, Tim]]
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[[Category:Starfleet captains]]
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[[Category:USS Valiant personnel]]

Revision as of 17:15, 2 April 2020

"He may have been a hero, he may even have been a great man – but in the end, he was a bad captain."
– Nog, 2374 ("Valiant")

Captain Tim Watters was a male Human Starfleet cadet in the 24th century. He was a member of the elite cadet group Red Squad before he died in 2374.

Watters served on board the USS Valiant as part of a training exercise just prior to the outbreak of the Dominion War in 2373. After his commanding officer, Captain Ramirez was fatally wounded on the way back to Federation space, he was given a battlefield commission as captain and command of the starship. He chose to continue its original mission in Dominion-controlled space to gain intelligence on a new Jem'Hadar battleship, keeping the ship behind enemy lines for eight months. During this time, he came under intense pressure and started taking cordafin stimulants for two months.

In 2374, Watters ordered the Valiant to attack a Jem'Hadar fighter that was firing on the runabout USS Shenandoah. The fighter was destroyed after the Valiant rescued the two crewmen of the Shenandoah, Ensign Nog and reporter Jake Sisko. Watters offered Nog a field promotion to lieutenant commander, as the ensign was the most experienced engineer aboard.

With Nog able to fix the ship's warp engine problems, the ship was able to find the battleship and Watters could successfully complete his mission. However, Watters then became overconfident, convincing himself the ship could exploit a key weakness in the battleship's antimatter storage braces, which would eventually tear the ship apart. He was able to rally the crew to that goal, despite Jake's strong objections and Nog's assessment of what would be required to achieve the ship's destruction.

Watters tended to micromanage his crew. As an example, when he found out Dorian Collins had been talking about home with Jake and feeling homesick, he saw that as a distraction and ordered Jake to stay away from her. Later, he viewed Jake talking to Nog via a camera, trying to convince him the mission was foolish and could get them all killed. He then had Jake confined to the brig.

However, despite the successful blow to the ship, the plan failed, as the ship was not damaged. Forced into real battle, Cadet Captain Watters, with most of his crew, died in the destruction of the Valiant. In summing up his experience with Watters, Nog noted: "He may have been a hero... he may even have been a great man... but in the end, he was a bad captain." (DS9: "Valiant")

Appendices

Background information

Watters was played by Paul Popowich.

The storyline of "Valiant" strongly suggests that Watters intentionally hid the location of Valiant from Starfleet and continuing his "mission" merely to avoid returning to Starfleet and becoming a mere cadet again. Given that Jake and Nog had just left Starbase 257 in the beginning of the episode, the Valiant was only a few days or weeks travel from that base and Watters could have returned to Federation space at any time. The last standing orders of Captain Ramirez was to return to Federation space to get the cadets safely home and likely assumed that Watters would follow those orders in his stead ahead of orders meant for an experienced crew. It is also possible that the drugs may have had some effect on his over-confident nature. Furthermore, the rationale of his decision is flimsy; given that the Valiants orders were eight months old by the time they were acted upon, the value of the intelligence that could be gained by the Valiant operating behind enemy lines was doubtful. Finally, it must be noted that Watters's actions also led to the failure of the ship's original mission; when the Valiant was destroyed, the intelligence that it had been ordered to gather was also presumably lost.

Apocrypha

The short story "Dorian's Diary" in Strange New Worlds III establishes that in 2374, Waters and the rest of the deceased Red Squad members was posthumously awarded the Drakon Cluster of Courage.

In the reference book Star Trek: Celebrations, it was established that Starfleet Academy created a service award to cadets who show exceptional leadership and named it the Watters Ribbon of Valor in honor of Watters and it commemorated Watters and the other Red Squad cadets who died aboard the Valiant.

External links