I was surprised to learn the real reason Captain Picard quit Starfleet in Star Trek Picard

The captain of the Starship USS Enterprise-D, Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart), is a much-admired figure in the world of Star Trek and beyond. We first meet the inspiring leader in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), a show that followed Captain Picard and his crew as they journey across the galaxy. In Star Trek: Picard Season 1 we see the now retired Admiral Picard living a serene life. The audience learns that the once renowned captain quit Starfleet as he felt that he no longer associated with Starfleet’s ideologies.

For a man who had dedicated his life to space exploration and was a celebrated Starfleet captain, the decision shocked many. The Starfleet had banned the Synthetics, who were working on shipyards orbiting Mars, where rescue fleets to save Romulans from a supernova were being constructed. Picard felt that the Federation abandoned the Romulans in a time of need, and he could not morally be part of their future endeavors.

What led to Captain Picard’s decision to quit Starfleet?

Following their split from the Vulcans, Romulans settled on the planet Romulus in the Beta Quadrant. In JJ Abrams’ Star Trek movie, we learn that in the prime timeline, a star in the Romulan Star Empire explodes in 2387. The supernova destroys the planet, killing many Romulans and displacing the remaining.

The Federation and the Romulans have had a long history of animosity. In The Original Series and The Next Generation, we learn about the enforced ceasefire between the two. But the need for war among Romulans always stayed as a threat to the fragile bond between the two races.

Nonetheless, before the supernova, the Romulans reached out for help. The Federation was not completely on board. Captain Picard advocated for the mission to rescue Romulans, as he felt it was their moral duty.

Starfleet finally decides to help rescue the Romulans from Romulus. They authorize Synthetics to work on rescue fleet construction in the Utopia Planitia shipyard orbiting Mars. Thousands of warp-capable ferries were being constructed to help relocate over nine hundred million Romulans.

However, a group of Synthetics suddenly turned against the officers and destroyed the ships. The attack not only resulted in the destruction of over 20,000 Starfleet ships but also the death of over 90,000 people. The shocking incident compelled Starfleet to stop the construction and put a complete ban on the Synthetics. The Federation pulled back on their mission to rescue the Romulans as well.

After his meeting with Starfleet, where he is informed of the decision, Picard felt that he could no longer work for Starfleet, as he felt morally wronged for abandoning Romulans. In the Star Trek: Picard first episode, titled ‘Remembrance’, Picard is interviewed about the destruction of Romulus and his decision to quit Starfleet. He says,

“Because it was no longer Starfleet! We withdrew. The galaxy was mourning, burying its dead, and Starfleet had slunk from its duties! The decision to call off the rescue and to abandon those people we had sworn to save was not just dishonorable, it was downright criminal! And I was not prepared to stand by and be a spectator.”

He added,

“And you, my dear, you have no idea what Dunkirk is, right? You're a stranger to history. You're a stranger to war. You just wave your hand, and it all goes away. Well, it's not so easy for those who died, and it was not so easy for those who were left behind. We're done here."

However, at the end of Season 1, we learn that Zhat Vash, a secret faction of the Romulan intelligence agency known as Tal Shiar, was likely responsible for the Synthetics going rogue and orchestrating the attack on Mars. The Federation ends up lifting the ban on artificial lifeforms.

Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry. The Original Series on NBC ran for three seasons between 1966 and 1969. Despite getting cancelled, due to low ratings, the series went on to gain a cult following. The Star Trek franchise expanded to comics, animated series, films, and spin-off shows.

Star Trek is available for streaming on Paramount+.

ALSO READ: This iconic character in Star Trek: The Original Series was supposed to be red

Trending

For more stories on shows, follow SoapCentral.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback