Captain Picard

Early Life

On July 13, 2305, Jean Luc Picard was born to Maurice and Yvette Gessard Picard in Le Barre, France (Though he, quite ironically, speaks with a British accent.) He along with his brother, Robert, grew up in the vineyard which their father owned, where they helped keep healthy and running. Maurice and Yvette, wishing to preserve their style of life, raised Jean Luc and Robert without much technology. As he grew up, Jean Luc saw his grandfather, who he deeply cared about, slowly lose his mind.

Despite his parent’s best efforts, Jean Luc began to hold a fascination with starships. He would build multiple models of different starships, which was a pass time he would cherish into his much later years. He had a special interest in the Phoenix, a shuttle built by Zefram Cochrane in the year 2063. The Phoenix was the first ever human craft to reach warp speed. He would often visit the Phoenix at the Smithsonian, where it was housed. He would go as far as to an essay on starships. This essay went on to win an award.

Leaving the Family and Joining Starfleet

In 2322, Jean Luc took the entrance exam to get into Starfleet Academy. His first attempt failed, but the attempt distanced himself from his traditional family, and when he passed his test the next year, he was in essence exiled from his home. He would even be criticized by his father many years later.

At Starfleet Academy, Picard quickly became one of the most successful students. Picard was immature at best on his first appearance at Starfleet, and he found the amount of work stressful. The schools groundskeeper, Boothby, would later be credited with helping Picard survive the strict curriculum.

At the Academy, Picard became good friends with Donald Varley, Cortin Zweller, and Marta Batanides. He also became well known for carving the initials A.F. into Boothby’s favorite elm, which put him at odds with the old groundskeeper, though the two still remain close friends.

At the Academy, Picard discovered a liking for archeology, and was even encouraged by his teacher, Richard Galen, to pursue a career in archeology. Though he appeared to be tempted by the offer, he eventually turned down Galen’s offer. (Picard would later take on the alias of Galen, a man who seemed to have some sort of historical and archeological knowledge, though whether this was a reference to his Richard Galen or just a coincidence is unknown.)

Picard also distinguished himself in the athletic field in Starfleet. In April, 2323, he became the first freshman in Starfleet Academy history to win a marathon on the planet Danula II, and he was able to pin a Ligonian with a reverse body lift within the first fourteen seconds of their wrestling match.

In his sophomore year at the academy, Picard was sent to Morikin VII, where he encountered his first Nausicaan, a race that he would have a life changing experience later in his life.

Picard Graduated from the academy on April 20, 2327, and the graduation ceremony was held in the Yuri Gagarin Hall.

A Rough Start

Shortly after Picard’s Graduation, he was laid over at Starbase Earhart. There, his friend Corey distinguished himself as a good Dom-Jot player, and a Nausicaan challenged him to a game. The Nausicaan cheated his way to victory, and Corey realizes the alien’s fowl play. In a moment of blind anger, Corey vowed revenge on the Nausicaan, and he and Picard rigged the table that night. The next day, Corey challenged the Nausicaan to a rematch, and due to his rigging, the Nausicaan lost the game. The Nausicaan, figured out that Corey had cheated, just as he had done the night before, and he and two other Nausicaans attack Corey. Picard gets in the way, and defeats two of the Nausicaans. The third pulls out a concealed knife and stabs Picard through the heart.

Picard is rushed to a medical facility, and is implanted with an artificial heart. This experience has a lasting effect on Picard, and he realizes just how simply life can be taken away. He soon decides to get out there, and begins to take advantage of every chance he can get, no matter how dangerous.

Out of the Academy

After his near-death experience, Picard met Mr. Walker Keel, another academy graduate, at an exotic bar Tau Ceti III. The two would become close friends, and Picard also befriended Jack Crusher and his fiance, Dr. Crusher.

Early on in his career, Picard proved that he was of commanding material when he lead an away team to save an ambassador on Milika III. This event was one of Picard's most personality shaping moments.

Picard also assisted in Spock's wedding, where he briefly met Spock's father, Ambassador Sarek.

There is much speculation on whether a connection exists between these two events. One common idea is that the ambassador who Picard saved on Milkia III was Spock, Sarek, or Spock's wife. It is highly unlikely that it was Spock or Sarek saved, as Picard has stated that he had only met the two of them once at the wedding. It is still possible, though, that he did save Spock's wife and recieved an invitation to the wedding.

The Stargazer

At some point in his service, Picard was assigned the position of Flight Controller for the NCC-2893, the USS Stargazer. He would not remain in this position for long though, as in 2333, when he was a lieutenant commander, his captain was killed on the bridge, and Picard took over control of the ship. For this act, Picard was promoted to the rank of captain on the Stargazer, and he became one of the youngest Starfleet captains in all of Starfleet history.

In 2342, Picard began dating a young woman named Jenice. A date was arranged for the two at the Cafe des Artistes, a restraunt in Paris, France, but he became afraid of their relationship getting in the way of his job, and he never went to the Cafe, instead returning to Starfleet.

During the Cardassian War, The Stargazer was assigned a job in the truce meetings with the Cardassian. He discovered a Cardassian Ship, and lowered his shields as a gesture of peace. Unfortunately for him, the Cardassian Ship ignored the gesture and fired on the Stargazer. The Stargazer's defenses and weapon systems were disabled by the attack, but Captain Picard was able to get the ship out of the assault in one piece.

In 2354, Picard led an away mission. The away mission fell apart, and Picard was forced to save a crew member at the expense of another, Jack Crusher. Picard was able to retrieve the body, and delivered it to his widow, Dr. Crusher and her son, Wesley. This event would become one of Wesley's earliest memories.

One year after Jack's death, Picard and the Stargazer were attacked by an unknown ship, later revealed to be the Ferengi. Picard was able to destroy the enemy ship by warping directly in front of the Ferengi ship and firing phasers at it. The damage to the Stargazer proved to be to much, though, and the team was forced to evacuate the ship. Picard's actions during the attack were called into question by Phillipa Louvois, a prosecutor. The inquiry backfired though, and Picard was awarded a Grankite Order of Tactics (Class of Excellence) for his maneuver that destroyed the Ferengi Ship, which would be called the Picard Maneuver. The battle would later be called "The Battle of Maxia."