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[[File:Kirk skydive.PNG|thumb|right|Kirk space-jumps onto the ''Narada''{{'}}s drill platform]]
 
[[File:Kirk skydive.PNG|thumb|right|Kirk space-jumps onto the ''Narada''{{'}}s drill platform]]
Kirk was made Acting First Office by Captain Pike, to serve under Spock, who would be Acting Captain in Pike’s absence. Kirk and two other officers: [[Lieutenant]] [[Hikaru Sulu]] and [[Chief Engineer]] [[Olson]], were assigned on a mission to [[orbital skydiving|space jump]] onto the drill platform and disable it. Kirk, Sulu and Olson successfully completed the mission, albeit with the death of Olson. During the mission, Kirk himself was almost killed by one of Nero’s crew, but was saved by Sulu. Kirk then saved Sulu from death when the latter fell off the drill platform, which was several kilometers above Vulcan’s surface. Kirk jumped off after him grabbed him in mid-air and attempted to use his parachute to save them both, but the chute, unable to accommodate the combined weight of both men, was torn off. They were beamed back to the Enterprise in mid-air just as they were about to hit the surface.
+
Kirk was made Acting First Office by Captain Pike, to serve under Spock, who would be Acting Captain in Pike’s absence. Kirk and two other officers: [[Lieutenant]] {{alt|Hikaru Sulu}} and [[Chief Engineer]] [[Olson]], were assigned on a mission to [[orbital skydiving|space jump]] onto the drill platform and disable it. Kirk, Sulu and Olson successfully completed the mission, albeit with the death of Olson. During the mission, Kirk himself was almost killed by one of Nero’s crew, but was saved by Sulu. Kirk then saved Sulu from death when the latter fell off the drill platform, which was several kilometers above Vulcan’s surface. Kirk jumped off after him grabbed him in mid-air and attempted to use his parachute to save them both, but the chute, unable to accommodate the combined weight of both men, was torn off. They were beamed back to the Enterprise in mid-air just as they were about to hit the surface.
 
{{bginfo|Kirk's rank insignia, visible on the [[transporter]] computer Chekov uses to rescue him and Sulu indicates that he was given the temporary rank of [[Lieutenant]].}}
 
{{bginfo|Kirk's rank insignia, visible on the [[transporter]] computer Chekov uses to rescue him and Sulu indicates that he was given the temporary rank of [[Lieutenant]].}}
   
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Kirk accompanied the elder Spock to a nearby Federation outpost, where they met [[Lieutenant Commander]] {{alt|Montgomery Scott}}, who was stationed there. Using Scott’s theory on [[transwarp beaming]], Kirk and Scott [[transporter|transported]] aboard the ''Enterprise'' even though she was [[warp drive|under warp]]. Before Kirk left, he was advised by the elder Spock on how to assume command of the ''Enterprise'' from the younger Spock: by showing him to be emotionally compromised by the mission as per a Starfleet regulation which dictated that a commanding officer so compromised had to relinquish his/her command.
 
Kirk accompanied the elder Spock to a nearby Federation outpost, where they met [[Lieutenant Commander]] {{alt|Montgomery Scott}}, who was stationed there. Using Scott’s theory on [[transwarp beaming]], Kirk and Scott [[transporter|transported]] aboard the ''Enterprise'' even though she was [[warp drive|under warp]]. Before Kirk left, he was advised by the elder Spock on how to assume command of the ''Enterprise'' from the younger Spock: by showing him to be emotionally compromised by the mission as per a Starfleet regulation which dictated that a commanding officer so compromised had to relinquish his/her command.
   
===Acting Captain of the Enterprise===
+
===Acting Captain of the ''Enterprise''===
 
[[File:James T. Kirk in the captain's chair.jpg|thumb|Kirk takes command of the ''Enterprise'']]
 
[[File:James T. Kirk in the captain's chair.jpg|thumb|Kirk takes command of the ''Enterprise'']]
 
On beaming aboard the ''Enterprise'', Kirk and Scott were captured by security officers and brought to the bridge, where Kirk was ordered by Spock to explain how they had beamed aboard, which should have been impossible with the ship under warp. Kirk refused and, remembering the elder Spock’s advice, he goaded Spock with assertions that Spock cared nothing for what had happened to Vulcan, nor about [[Amanda Grayson (alternate reality)|his mother]], who had been one of those killed. His provocation was successful, though it almost cost him his life as Spock, who was far stronger and faster than him, almost killed him in rage. His emotionally compromised state now evident, Spock relinquished command. Kirk, as Acting First Officer, took command and ordered pursuit course of the ''Narada'' to Earth.
 
On beaming aboard the ''Enterprise'', Kirk and Scott were captured by security officers and brought to the bridge, where Kirk was ordered by Spock to explain how they had beamed aboard, which should have been impossible with the ship under warp. Kirk refused and, remembering the elder Spock’s advice, he goaded Spock with assertions that Spock cared nothing for what had happened to Vulcan, nor about [[Amanda Grayson (alternate reality)|his mother]], who had been one of those killed. His provocation was successful, though it almost cost him his life as Spock, who was far stronger and faster than him, almost killed him in rage. His emotionally compromised state now evident, Spock relinquished command. Kirk, as Acting First Officer, took command and ordered pursuit course of the ''Narada'' to Earth.
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===Destroying Nero===
 
===Destroying Nero===
 
 
The ''Narada'' chased Spock in the elder Spock’s ship, away from Earth, saving the planet. Spock piloted the ship on a collision course to the Narada, and was beamed back to the ''Enterprise'' just before the collision. This collision caused the red matter to form a black hole that began consuming the ''Narada''. Having returned to the ''Enterprise''<nowiki>’</nowiki>s bridge, Kirk ordered the ''Narada'' [[hail|hailed]] and offered Nero and his crew assistance, but Nero furiously refused. Kirk accepted his answer without argument and ordered full weapons on the disintegrating ''Narada'', hastening its destruction and that of Nero and his crew, ending Nero's threat.
 
The ''Narada'' chased Spock in the elder Spock’s ship, away from Earth, saving the planet. Spock piloted the ship on a collision course to the Narada, and was beamed back to the ''Enterprise'' just before the collision. This collision caused the red matter to form a black hole that began consuming the ''Narada''. Having returned to the ''Enterprise''<nowiki>’</nowiki>s bridge, Kirk ordered the ''Narada'' [[hail|hailed]] and offered Nero and his crew assistance, but Nero furiously refused. Kirk accepted his answer without argument and ordered full weapons on the disintegrating ''Narada'', hastening its destruction and that of Nero and his crew, ending Nero's threat.
   

Revision as of 22:21, 1 January 2010

AT: "nt" Template:Sidebar character

You may be looking for the prime reality James T. Kirk.
You may be looking for the mirror universe James T. Kirk

"Four years? I'll do it in three."
- James T. Kirk to Christopher Pike (Star Trek)

James Tiberius Kirk was a 23rd century Human Federation Starfleet officer. As a Starfleet cadet, he was instrumental in the defeat and destruction of Nero, a Romulan bent on the obliteration of the United Federation of Planets. As a result, he was commissioned directly to the rank of Captain and appointed as commanding officer of the service’s flagship, the USS Enterprise. (Star Trek)

Biography

Birth

Winona Kirk and newborn son, James

Kirk moments after his birth

James T. Kirk was the son of Starfleet officers Winona Kirk and her husband George Kirk, First Officer of the USS Kelvin. He was born aboard the Kelvin’s medical shuttle no. 37, in the midst of an unprovoked attack on the Kelvin by the Narada, a 24th century Romulan mining vessel commanded by Nero. Winona had been evacuated from the severely-crippled Kelvin along with the rest of the crew and gave birth to James while George Kirk sacrificed himself piloting the Kelvin into the Narada in a kamikaze attack. He was named James Tiberius after Winona’s father and George’s father respectively.

Early Life

Kirk was raised in Iowa, in midwestern North America, on Earth. His mother remarried. As a young boy, Kirk once stole his stepfather’s vintage 1969 Chevrolet Corvette convertible automobile and went joyriding. After a chase by a police officer, the vehicle plunged into a deep quarry. Kirk just managed to throw himself out and grab the edge of the precipice before the car went over. When asked his name by the police officer, he provided it boldly.

A deleted scene indicates that Kirk did this out of anger at his uncle Frank's verbal abuse of himself and his brother.

Enlistment in Starfleet

Kirk Beaten Up

Kirk beaten up

Despite performing on several aptitude tests at levels too high to be scored, Kirk had no sense of purpose, and by early adulthood had incurred a police record. One night however, he was in a bar and nightclub outside Starfleet’s Riverside Shipyard in Iowa. This establishment was frequented by Starfleet cadets. He attempted to win the temporary affections of a female cadet named Nyota Uhura but failed to do so. Instead he got severely drubbed by a group of burly male cadets, albeit after a spirited 4-against-1 fight. He was saved by the intervention of Starfleet Captain Christopher Pike, who exhorted him to enlist in Starfleet and make full use of his potential. At first Kirk was uninterested. However, Pike reminded him of his father’s valiant action on the day of his birth which had saved 800 Starfleet personnel. Could he do better?

Thinking about this, Kirk visited the shipyard. As he watched construction being done on the USS Enterprise, he decided to accept the challenge. He reported to the shipyard and boarded a shuttlecraft carrying new recruits to Starfleet Academy. On the shuttle he met another recruit, Dr. Leonard McCoy.

At Starfleet Academy

Kirk and McCoy became close friends at the academy, though Kirk frequently exasperated McCoy with his maverick nature. Kirk had an eye for attractive female cadets. He once ended up in the dormitory of an Orion female cadet names Gaila. When they were on the verge of engaging in sexual activity however, Kirk found himself having to hide under her bed because of the arrival of her roommate, who disapproved of her bringing men to their dormitory. The roommate turned out to be Cadet Uhura. On discovering him, she angrily ejected him.


James T

Kirk at his tribunal

It was at the academy that Kirk also met Commander Spock. Spock was an academy instructor who was responsible for designing the Kobayashi Maru examination, a test involving a non-winnable practical scenario that taught cadets the importance of controlling fear. Kirk, who did not believe in non-winnable scenarios, secretly reprogrammed the simulation to be winnable before taking the examination. Spock investigated, found Kirk’s tampering, and brought him up before a tribunal on charges of academic dishonesty. Kirk defended his actions by asserting the test itself was dishonest, as the scenario was designed to guarantee failure.

According to his dossier at the official Star Trek movie website, as a Starfleet Academy cadet, Kirk was top of his class in survival strategies and tactical analysis and the assistant instructor in advanced hand-to-hand combat. He was also Treasurer of Starfleet Academy's Xenolinguistics club.

Stowaway on the Enterprise

Not long after proceedings began, word arrived of a distress call from one of the Federation’s key member worlds, the planet Vulcan. A fleet was assembled to go to Vulcan and investigate. Cadets were instructed to report for duty as crew members on remaining ships, including the newly-completed Enterprise, commanded by Captain Pike. Kirk however was put on academic suspension until the tribunal could reconvene, and thus was not assigned to any vessel. He was however, surreptitiously brought aboard the Enterprise by Leonard McCoy. McCoy injected Kirk with a vaccine against a disease caused by the Melvaran mud flea. The vaccine caused Kirk to display the symptoms of the disease, and Kirk got aboard the Enterprise ostensibly as McCoy’s patient.

The Battle of Vulcan

Main article: Battle of Vulcan

File:Kirk Warns Pike.jpg

Kirk warns Pike and Spock of what awaits the Enterprise

En route to Vulcan, Kirk listened in the Enterprise’s sickbay to a ship-wide transmission from the bridge outlining the crisis. He realized that the cause was the same Romulan ship that attacked the Kelvin on the day of his birth. Despite his condition, he rushed to the bridge and informed Captain Pike and Commander Spock, who was serving as Pike’s First Officer. He was proven correct when, on arrival at Vulcan, the rest of the fleet, which had left Earth before the Enterprise, was found completely destroyed, and the Narada was found in synchronous orbit over Vulcan with an unfamiliar device deployed and firing a continuous beam into the planet’s surface. This was the Narada's drill platform, a device from the starship’s former function as a mining vessel, being used to drill a shaft to the planet’s core. Pike was instructed to come to the Narada alone, under threat of the Enterprise’s destruction.

File:Kirk skydive.PNG

Kirk space-jumps onto the Narada's drill platform

Kirk was made Acting First Office by Captain Pike, to serve under Spock, who would be Acting Captain in Pike’s absence. Kirk and two other officers: Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu and Chief Engineer Olson, were assigned on a mission to space jump onto the drill platform and disable it. Kirk, Sulu and Olson successfully completed the mission, albeit with the death of Olson. During the mission, Kirk himself was almost killed by one of Nero’s crew, but was saved by Sulu. Kirk then saved Sulu from death when the latter fell off the drill platform, which was several kilometers above Vulcan’s surface. Kirk jumped off after him grabbed him in mid-air and attempted to use his parachute to save them both, but the chute, unable to accommodate the combined weight of both men, was torn off. They were beamed back to the Enterprise in mid-air just as they were about to hit the surface.

Kirk's rank insignia, visible on the transporter computer Chekov uses to rescue him and Sulu indicates that he was given the temporary rank of Lieutenant.

But they could not disable the drill before the shaft to the core was excavated. The Romulans used the shaft to facilitate a successful plan to destroy Vulcan using red matter to form a black hole at the planet’s core. This consumed the planet, nearly annihilating the Vulcans as a people.

Marooned on Delta Vega

With the Romulans now en route to Earth to destroy it as it did Vulcan, Kirk vehemently voiced his opinion to Spock that they should try to stop the Narada themselves, instead of rendezvousing with the primary fleet against it, as Spock was doing. Spock did not agree. Kirk became more and more heated in his objections, until Spock ordered him removed from the bridge. Kirk offered vigorous physical resistance the two security officers attempting to do so, but was subdued by Spock. Unconscious, he was put in an escape pod and ejected over Delta Vega, a planet near to where Vulcan had been.

Spock & Kirk Mind-Meld

Kirk mind melds with the mainline reality Spock

On Delta Vega, Kirk ignored the warning from the pod’s computer to stay in the pod. Not long after he emerged, he was chased by two hungry ferocious predatory creatures, one of which nearly caught him. He was saved by an elderly Vulcan man who revealed himself to be Spock from a future time. This future Spock revealed to Kirk through a mind meld that Nero was also from the future and was seeking revenge for what he perceived to be a calculated attempt by the Federation to destroy the Romulan people in his time. Kirk could stop him, but he needed to be in command of the Enterprise, and to work with the younger Spock, to do so.

Return to the Enterprise

Kirk accompanied the elder Spock to a nearby Federation outpost, where they met Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott, who was stationed there. Using Scott’s theory on transwarp beaming, Kirk and Scott transported aboard the Enterprise even though she was under warp. Before Kirk left, he was advised by the elder Spock on how to assume command of the Enterprise from the younger Spock: by showing him to be emotionally compromised by the mission as per a Starfleet regulation which dictated that a commanding officer so compromised had to relinquish his/her command.

Acting Captain of the Enterprise

James T

Kirk takes command of the Enterprise

On beaming aboard the Enterprise, Kirk and Scott were captured by security officers and brought to the bridge, where Kirk was ordered by Spock to explain how they had beamed aboard, which should have been impossible with the ship under warp. Kirk refused and, remembering the elder Spock’s advice, he goaded Spock with assertions that Spock cared nothing for what had happened to Vulcan, nor about his mother, who had been one of those killed. His provocation was successful, though it almost cost him his life as Spock, who was far stronger and faster than him, almost killed him in rage. His emotionally compromised state now evident, Spock relinquished command. Kirk, as Acting First Officer, took command and ordered pursuit course of the Narada to Earth.

The Battle of Earth

Main article: Battle of Earth

Kirk and the senior officers brainstormed ideas as to how to get close enough to the Narada to beam aboard without being detected to capture the red matter store and possibly rescue Captain Pike. Kirk accepted a proposal by Chief Tactical Officer Ensign Pavel Chekov that if they came out of warp hidden behind Titan, one of the moons of Saturn, the planet’s magnetic rings would cloak them. Spock, again in full control of himself, agreed. Deferring to Kirk as Captain, he asked Kirk to be allowed to go. Kirk agreed and went with him.

Kirk and Spock successfully beamed onto the Narada. After an intense firefight in which they killed several Romulans, they made it to the elder Spock’s ship, which stored the red matter the Romulans were were using to destroy Federation planets. Leaving Spock to secure the ship, Kirk went to retrieve Captain Pike.

File:Pike's Rescue.jpg

Kirk has successfully rescued Captain Pike

En route to Pike’s location, Kirk encountered Nero himself, who, along with his First Officer Ayel, came personally to stop him. Kirk was overwhelmed by Nero’s strength but Nero broke off and rushed to the bridge on being informed over the ship’s com that Spock had absconded with the red matter. This left Kirk to face Ayel. Manhandled by the gloating Ayel, Kirk ended his gloating by killing him with his own gun. Kirk continued on, found Pike and rescued him. Both he and Pike were beamed back to the Enterprise.

Destroying Nero

The Narada chased Spock in the elder Spock’s ship, away from Earth, saving the planet. Spock piloted the ship on a collision course to the Narada, and was beamed back to the Enterprise just before the collision. This collision caused the red matter to form a black hole that began consuming the Narada. Having returned to the Enterprise’s bridge, Kirk ordered the Narada hailed and offered Nero and his crew assistance, but Nero furiously refused. Kirk accepted his answer without argument and ordered full weapons on the disintegrating Narada, hastening its destruction and that of Nero and his crew, ending Nero's threat.

The black hole however, after obliterating the Narada and with it Nero and his crew, began pulling in the Enterprise. Kirk kept in full control of the situation as Lt. Commander Scott, acting as Chief Engineer, suggested a plan to escape by ejecting and detonating the warp core. Kirk approved, the plan succeeded, and they escaped.

Commission

Kirk as Captain

Kirk takes the Enterprise out as her new Captain

With Nero’s threat neutralized, the Enterprise returned to Earth. For his actions, which demonstrated his ability as an extremely able commanding officer fully capable of leading a Federation starship crew in the direst of situations, Kirk was decorated, commissioned directly to the rank of Captain and officially appointed as commanding officer of the Enterprise, replacing Captain Pike, who had been promoted to Admiral. After the ceremony, Kirk reported for duty on the Enterprise. As he was about to order her departure, Commander Spock came aboard and requested of Kirk to be his First Officer. Kirk was honored to accept. Kirk then gave the departure order, and the Enterprise left Earth on her first mission under the appointed command of Captain James T. Kirk.

Relationships

Friendships

James T

Kirk and Spock discussing the fate of Nero

Spock

Kirk initially had a largely antagonistic relationship with Spock, mainly due to their vastly different philosophies and approaches to command. The frictions began first at Starfleet Academy when Kirk cheated on a test Spock had designed, and then later continued when the disparate pair worked side by side on the USS Enterprise, eventually resulting in Spock throwing Kirk off the ship altogether. However, their attitudes towards each other softened after an encounter with an older version of Spock from an alternate future, who revealed that in fact the two had shared a great friendship in his timeline.

Spock (Prime)

Spock helped Kirk understand the alternate reality and to know that he was captain of the Enterprise and friends with Spock in the Prime Spock's timeline.

Leonard McCoy

Kirk and McCoy met on a transport shuttle to Starfleet Academy, when the pair found themselves in adjacent seats where a slightly neurotic McCoy instantly opened up to the rebellious and somewhat incredulous Kirk. The two remained good friends throughout their time together at the Academy. When the time came, McCoy always had Kirk's back, such as helping to get him aboard the Enterprise after his suspension and berating Spock for throwing Kirk off the ship and marooning him on Delta Vega.

Nyota Uhura

Kirk first met Nyota Uhura at a bar in Iowa in 2255, audaciously flirting with her while intoxicated, angering some other Starfleet cadet patrons of the bar, resulting in a fight. He met her again when the two studied at Starfleet Academy, although she preferred to keep a distance from him - not even ever telling him her first name - as she saw him as brash and uncouth. The pair ended up serving together aboard the Enterprise, but she continued to maintain her distance from him. It was Kirk and his dependency on her xenolinguistics that got her stationed on the bridge. When Kirk was granted permanent command of the Enterprise, he chose Uhura as one of his senior officers.

Hikaru Sulu

Kirk seemed to have been surprised at Hikaru Sulu's special training in close-hand combat, specializing in fencing. Kirk committed a selfless act when he dove off the drill platform to save Hikaru Sulu from death on Vulcan.

When Kirk appointed himself as acting captain, Sulu reminded everyone that he was already first officer and therefore was technically captain after Spock had stood down from the post.

Enemies

Nero

Nero killed Kirk's father George in 2233. Despite this, Kirk was willing to offer assistance to his father's killer when his ship was caught in between a black hole created by the remaining red matter. However, the Romulan refused his assistance and stated that he'd "rather suffer the end of Romulus a thousand times" and "die in agony". Kirk obliged him by completing the destruction of the Narada as it was consumed by the black hole.

Key dates

Memorable quotes

"Citizen, what is your name?"
"My name is James Tiberius Kirk."

- Iowa Cop and a young Kirk (Star Trek)


"If you don't give me a name, I'm gonna have to make one up."
"It's Uhura."
"Uhura? No way! That's the name I was gonna make up for you!"

- James Kirk and Nyota Uhura (Star Trek)


"Two Klingon vessels have entered the Neutral zone and are locking weapons on us."
"That's ok."
"That's ok?!"
"Yeah, don't worry about it."

- McCoy and Kirk in the Kobayashi Maru scenario (Star Trek)


"I don't believe in no-win scenarios."

- Kirk (Star Trek)


"Who was that pointy-eared bastard?"
"I don't know. But I like him."

- Kirk and McCoy after meeting Spock for the first time (Star Trek)


"I am Spock."
(Pause)
"Bullshit."

- Spock Prime and James Kirk (Star Trek)


"Attention crew of the Enterprise, this is James Kirk. Mr. Spock has resigned commission and advanced me to acting captain. I know you were all expecting to regroup with the fleet, but I'm ordering a pursuit course of the enemy ship to Earth. I want all departments at battle stations and ready in ten minutes. Either we're going down... or they are. Kirk out."

- Kirk, after taking command (Star Trek)


"I got your gun."

- Kirk to Ayel right before he shoots and kills him with his own disruptor (Star Trek)


"I would rather suffer the end of Romulus a thousand times. I would rather die in agony, than accept assistance from you."
"You got it. Arm phasers, fire everything we've got."

- Kirk's response to Nero after suggesting Nero to surrender peacefully (Star Trek)


"Bones... buckle up!"

- James Kirk to Leonard McCoy, as his first words on the bridge of the Enterprise as its assigned captain (Star Trek)

Template:EnterpriseCommandingOfficers

Background information

James T. Kirk was portrayed by Chris Pine. Younger versions were portrayed by Jimmy Bennett and an unknown performer.

Originally, Winona would not have remarried, but left her boys to be cared for by her brother (or brother-in-law) Frank (Brad William Henke), who was abusive to them whenever she was off-world. This forced George Samuel Kirk to run away from home, and Jim, who was a good pupil who always obeyed orders, to steal George's antique car that Frank treated as if it was his own.

The novelization of 2009's Star Trek by Alan Dean Foster states that Winona Kirk was given an inhibitor that would help slow the birth of James until the Kelvin's return to Earth. However, the impacts to the ship by the Narada's attack cause her to go into early labor. Screenwriter Roberto Orci joked in a message board post that the radiation from Kirk's premature birth in space caused his eyes to go blue. [1] The novelization also merges the conflicting abusive-adult characters, making "Frank" the boys' step-father, and revealing that he wanted the car washed because he planned to sell it behind Winona's back, which is what truly drives Jim to steal it.

Orci and Kurtzman based Kirk and Spock's relationship on Paul McCartney and John Lennon, two very different musicians who bonded early in life, partly because they both lost a parent (in Kirk's case, his father, and in Spock's, his mother). [2]

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