Robert April

Star Trek character|if=|Title = Robert T. April
bgcolor = #ccccff


Size = 160px
Caption = Captain Robert April (as "portrayed" by series creator Gene Roddenberry)
Species = Human
Gender = Male
Planet = Earth
Affiliation = Starfleet
Position = USS "Enterprise" commanding officer
Rank = Captain
Commodore

Robert T. April is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. April is listed in the "Star Trek Chronology", "The Star Trek Encyclopedia" and at startrek.com as the "Enterprise"'s first commanding officer, preceding Captain Christopher Pike.cite book|title=Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future|publisher=Pocket Books|year=1996|isbn=0-671-53610-9|author=Okuda, Michael and Denise Okuda] [cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/ships/article/70377.html|title=Enterprise, U.S.S.|date=2007-04-21]

The character's only appearance is in the "" episode "The Counter-Clock Incident",cite episode|title=The Counter-Clock Incident|series=] in which he is voiced by James Doohan and portrayed as the first captain of the USS "Enterprise".cite book|title=The Star Trek Encyclopedia|author=Okuda, Mike and Denise Okuda, with Debbie Mirek|publisher=Pocket Books|id=ISBN 0-671-53609-5|year=1999] However, the decision by Paramount Pictures, studio owners of the franchise, and series creator Gene Roddenberry to not consider the animated series to be part of the official "Star Trek" canon has led to debate as to whether April and his place as first captain, is actually a part of "Star Trek" continuity.cite book|author=Ayers, Jeff|title=Voyages of the Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion|publisher=Pocket Books|date=2006|id=ISBN 1416503498]

A photograph in the Star Trek Encyclopedia depicts Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wearing a Starfleet uniform. Additionally, April appears in the novels "Final Frontier"cite book |last=Carey |first=Diane|authorlink=Diane Carey|title=Final Frontier|publisher=Pocket Books|year=1989|isbn=0-671-69655-6] and "Best Destiny"cite book |last=Carey |first=Diane|authorlink=Diane Carey|title=Best Destiny|publisher=Pocket Books|year=1993|isbn=0671795880] by Diane Carey as the captain of the "Enterprise".

Pilot development

When Roddenberry submitted his first proposal for "Star Trek" to MGM Studios in 1964, his name for the starship commander was "Robert T. April" (another name, Captain James Winter, was also considered). [cite book|author=Whitfield, Stephen E. and Gene Roddenberry|title=The Making of Star Trek|publisher=Ballantine|date=1968|id=ISBN 345246918] The proposal was rejected, and "Star Trek" did not become a television reality until later that year when NBC accepted the premise, by which time the captain was changed to "Christopher Pike".

Character history

"The Counter-Clock Incident"

The animated series' writers included Commodore Robert April in "The Counter-Clock Incident", making the character's middle initial "T" and not "M" as in Roddenberry's original proposal. In the episode, the "Enterprise" crew begins to rapidly age in reverse. Commodore April's and his wife Sarah's old age affords them more time at maturity, allowing them to save the crew and undo the reverse aging process. The episode establishes that Sarah was the chief medical officer of the "Enterprise" during Robert April's time as the ship's commanding officer.

In print

Carey's books indicate that April hails from Coventry in England. He wears various cardigan sweaters over his uniform due to a rare blood disorder that causes him to feel slightly chilly most of the time. Commander George Kirk, father of future "Enterprise" commanding officer James T. Kirk, serves as April's executive officer. Carey's books also feature Sarah as the ship's chief medical officer. However, "Crisis on Vulcan" [cite book|title=Crisis on Vulcan|series=Starfleet Academy|author=Strickland, Brad and Barbara Strickland|publisher=Alladin|year=1996|isbn=0671000780] by Brad and Barbara Strickland portrays Pike as first officer under April when Spock visits the ship.

In comics

A unique version of April appeared in the final issues of where he appeared as a stubborn and extremely militaristic person, who ordered an attack against an unknown ship that was making provocative moves against the Enterprise, despite the fact that Number One was in command. The enemy counter-attacked, leaving Number One injured and April in command. The ending is unknown since the series ended on a cliffhanger.

In computer games

Commodore Robert April is mentioned in the computer game "" during the early part of the TOS campaign, where he is still in Starfleet service in 2270. In the series, it would be between seasons 4 and 5, though the Commodore is only mentioned in the missions.

References

External links

* [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/character/bio/1119568.html STARTREK.COM : Biography of Robert April]