Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) got to skip a huge step on the path to commanding the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Picard season 3. Because the USS Enterprise is usually Starfleet's flagship, commanding the Enterprise is a noble aspiration for Starfleet Academy cadets that most never achieve. Even after waiting 15 years to become Captain, Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) didn't become Captain of the Starship Enterprise, since Riker took command of the USS Titan instead. Like the Enterprise, the Titan became a legacy ship, and it's on the USS Titan-A where we find Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
In Star Trek: Voyager, former Maquis crew members were given a provisional rank based on previous experience working in a command structure similar to Starfleet's. Most of the USS Voyager's crew members from the Maquis were either former Starfleet officers, like Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran), or Starfleet Academy dropouts, like Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson). After getting home, Voyager's Maquis crew members who joined Starfleet were pardoned and retained their field ranks from service on Voyager. This wasn't so with Seven of Nine, who had been assimilated by the Borg at age six, and had no provisional rank or official Starfleet experience.
Seven Of Nine Became Enterprise Captain But Never Attended Starfleet Academy
Starfleet Rejected Seven Of Nine But Later Recognized Their Error
In the epilogue of Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 10, "The Last Generation", Seven of Nine is Captain of the USS Enterprise-G, despite the fact that Seven of Nine never attended Starfleet Academy. It's not for lack of trying, because Seven of Nine tried applying to Starfleet after Voyager's Alpha Quadrant return in 2378, but was rejected for the same reason that Seven didn't have a provisional rank on Voyager: Seven was a former Borg drone. Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) tried to convince Starfleet that Seven of Nine was reformed, but Janeway's endorsement wasn't enough to convince Starfleet Academy, so Seven of Nine joined the Fenris Rangers instead.
Like Seven's Maquis crewmates did in Star Trek: Voyager, Seven of Nine receives a field commission from a superior officer based on her experience in similar roles. In Seven's case, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard determines that Seven of Nine's 20 years as a Fenris Ranger and 4 years serving on Voyager equate to the rank of Commander, which is probably the rank that Seven would have been if Starfleet had allowed Seven of Nine to join in the first place. By the time Picard assigns Seven's field rank in 2401, more ex-Borg had been de-assimilated, so Starfleet recognizes their prejudice in initially rejecting Seven of Nine.
What Qualities Make Seven Of Nine A Worthy Captain Of The Enterprise?
Starfleet Values Captains Who Follow Their Instincts
Throughout Star Trek: Voyager, but especially in Star Trek: Picard season 3, Seven of Nine demonstrates the qualities that make a worthy Captain of the Enterprise. As First Officer of the USS Titan-A, Seven of Nine follows her gut instincts and steps up to take the lead. Seven knew the risks that would come with ignoring Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), and makes the calculated choice to side with Admiral Picard and Captain Riker —a choice that ultimately helps save the galaxy from the Borg. When the Borg compromise Starfleet's youngest officers, Commander Seven rallies every officer who can hold a phaser to take back the Titan.
Captain Seven of Nine's stint as Captain of the USS Enterprise-G must leave a lasting legacy regardless, since Seven of Nine is still known as an historical figure in Star Trek: Discovery 's 32nd century.
Seven of Nine's journey to the captain's chair is unique, since Seven of Nine seemed to bypass a lot of the rigors of a traditional Starfleet career trajectory, like the grunt work of junior officers — but there's not much more of a grunt in Star Trek than a Borg drone. Seven still shows empathy for those in Starfleet's lower decks, in particular by connecting with Ensign Sidney La Forge (Ashlei Sharp Chestnut). Whether Seven of Nine's potential Star Trek: Picard spinoff, Star Trek: Legacy, will ever see the light of our screens, Seven of Nine is a unique USS Enterprise Captain worthy of the title, with or without Starfleet Academy training.
