Changes: Benjamin Maxwell

Revision as of 17:50, 12 January 2014

Benjamin Maxwell was a Human Starfleet officer and veteran of the Federation-Cardassian War, during the late-24th century.

The Rutledge

During the Cardassian conflict of the 2350s, Maxwell served as captain of the USS Rutledge, and was present for the massacre at Setlik III, wherein Maxwell's wife and children were killed. 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. By the end of the conflict, Maxwell had been twice decorated with the Federation's highest citation for courage and valor. (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.

Later, while being pursued by the USS Enterprise, Maxwell ordered the destruction of a Cardassian warship and a supply vessel, killing approximately six hundred-fifty Cardassians in the process.

Eventually, Maxwell agreed to a meeting with Enterprise-D Captain Jean-Luc Picard, explaining that 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.

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 vessel, which Maxwell claimed 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 Miles O'Brien who, by this point, was serving as the transporter chief aboard the Enterprise-D. Realizing that he had lost, Maxwell willingly surrendered to Picard, turning over command of the Phoenix to his first officer. (TNG: "The Wounded")

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 martialled and imprisoned after the incident shown in "The Wounded".

External links

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+{{Sidebar individual
-[[Image:Benmaxwell.jpg|thumb|Benjamin Maxwell in [[2367]].]]
+|image          = Benjamin Maxwell.jpg
-'''Benjamin Maxwell''' was a [[human]] [[Starfleet]] officer, serving in the [[24th century]].
+|imagecap       = Benjamin Maxwell
+|gender         = Male
+|species        = [[Human]]
+|affiliation    = [[Starfleet]]
+|rank           = [[Captain]]
+|occupation     = [[Starfleet]] [[officer]]
+|status         = Under arrest
+|datestatus     = 2367
+|marital_status = Widower
+|actor          = [[Bob Gunton]]
+}}
+__NOTOC__
+'''Benjamin Maxwell''' was a [[Human]] [[Starfleet]] [[officer]] and veteran of the [[Federation-Cardassian War]], during the late-[[24th century]].
+== The ''Rutledge'' ==
-By the [[2340s]], Maxwell had risen to the rank of [[captain]], and was in command of the [[USS Rutledge|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]], in which his wife and children were killed. The incident haunted him for many years.
+During the [[Cardassian]] conflict of the [[2350s]], Maxwell served as [[captain]] of the {{USS|Rutledge}}, and was present for [[Setlik III massacre|the massacre]] at [[Setlik III]], wherein Maxwell's [[wife]] and children were killed. 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. By the end of the conflict, Maxwell had been twice decorated with the [[Federation]]'s highest citation for courage and valor. ({{TNG|The Wounded}})
+== The ''Phoenix'' ==
-In [[2367]], Maxwell was the commanding officer of the [[USS Phoenix|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 over 700 Cardassians. When the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-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 could in the end be convinced by [[Miles O'Brien]], his former officer, to give up. Maxwell turned over the ship to his [[first officer]] and transferred to the ''Enterprise'', where he was confined to his quarters to await a [[court martial]]. ([[TNG]]: "[[The Wounded]]")
+[[File:USS Phoenix.jpg|thumb|left|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.
-:''Maxwell was played by [[Bob Gunton]].''
+Later, while being pursued by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}}, Maxwell ordered the destruction of a [[Cardassian warship]] and a [[supply vessel]], killing approximately six hundred-fifty Cardassians in the process.
+Eventually, Maxwell agreed to a meeting with ''Enterprise''-D Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]], explaining that 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.
+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 vessel, which Maxwell claimed 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 Miles O'Brien who, by this point, was serving as the [[transporter chief]] aboard the ''Enterprise''-D. Realizing that he had lost, Maxwell willingly surrendered to Picard, turning over command of the ''Phoenix'' to his [[first officer]]. ({{TNG|The Wounded}})
+== 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 {{w|Vladimir Lenin|Lenin}}. Or {{w|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.''" [http://www.st-minutiae.com/academy/literature329/186.txt]
+Author and writer [[Larry Nemecek]] noted that Maxwell's "''Queeg-like turn''" echoed [[Matt Decker]] from the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' episode {{e|The Doomsday Machine}}. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', p.152)
+=== Apocrypha ===
+The [[Emissary (novel)|novelization]] of the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' 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 martialled and imprisoned after the incident shown in "The Wounded".
+=== External links ===
+* {{startrek.com|maxwell}}
+* {{NCwiki}}
+[[de:Benjamin Maxwell]]
+[[ja:ベンジャミン・マックスウェル]]
+[[pl:Benjamin Maxwell]]
+[[Category:Humans|Maxwell, Benjamin]]
+[[Category:Starfleet command personnel|Maxwell, Benjamin]]
+[[Category:Starfleet captains|Maxwell, Benjamin]]