- This page details Robert April in the primary universe; for Robert April in the mirror universe see Robert April (mirror); for the Robert April in the Kelvin timeline created by Nero's temporal incursion see Robert April (Kelvin timeline).
Robert Timothy April (also known as Robert M. April) was a Human man who served in Starfleet during the 23rd century in a branch of the prime timeline. In his reality, he was notably the first commanding officer of the USS Enterprise in the late 2240s. Prior to the Enterprise, he commanded the USS Tiberius, and later rose to positions as a Starfleet commodore, and Federation ambassador.
- When Bob April met the Enterprise crew in TAS - Log Seven novelization: The Counter-Clock Incident, a great deal of the circumstances of that visit were revealed to be fabricated by beings called the Wanderers Who Play, who apparently had the ability to create differing versions of reality, such as the negative universe where April was able to age backwards and take command of the Enterprise. While this plot device was not specifically referenced as having anything to do with other aspects of April's life being from an alternate history, the appearance of a somewhat different Robert April in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could be an indicator that reality ended up being changed in this or some other unspecified manner.
History[]
Early life and career[]
Robert Timothy April was born in Coventry, England on Earth on 14 October 2194. (TOS novels: Final Frontier, Captain to Captain)
- Startrek.com gives April's birth year as 2195; Captain to Captain establishes his middle name.
April entered Starfleet Academy. (EV comic: "Flesh of My Flesh")
As an ensign, he served aboard the USS Gates. Eventually he transferred to the USS Los Angeles where he served for three years. During his time in this post, April started to develop plans for what would eventually become the Constitution-class vessel. After the Los Angeles assignment, he was transferred to Starfleet Logistics where he recruited Lawrence Marvick and Richard Daystrom to assist him in developing his starship design. (ST reference: Federation: The First 150 Years)
April eventually became a captain in 2229. (TOS - Countdown to Darkness comic: "Countdown to Darkness, Issue 2")
Captain April.
At one point, April was made captain of the USS Tiberius. He commanded the Tiberius for three five-year missions. (EV comic: "Flesh of My Flesh")
Captain of the Enterprise[]
Captain April.
In 2242, Commodore Van Anling placed April in charge of construction of the Constitution-class, USS Enterprise, at the San Francisco Fleet Yards. (TAS novelization: The Counter-Clock Incident)
Six months into construction, April took the empty shell of the Enterprise on a secret mission to retrieve the lost colony vessel, SS Rosenberg, trapped in an ion storm. April handpicked a command crew he could trust, including his oldest friend George Samuel Kirk, Sr. and his future wife, Sarah Poole. While underway, sabotage threw the Enterprise into the Romulan Neutral Zone, and nearly sparked another war with the Romulans. With some assistance from a defecting Romulan, April and Kirk managed to defuse the situation and rescue the colonists. (TOS novel: Final Frontier)
In 2244, April married his long-time friend and vet, Sarah Poole, and she agreed to sign aboard the Enterprise as chief medical officer. (TOS - Enterprise Logs short story: "Though Hell Should Bar the Way")
On April 11, 2245, April was officially promoted to the rank of Captain and placed in charge of the Enterprise. (ST reference: Federation: The First 150 Years)
In July 2245, construction of the Enterprise was completed and she was launched on shakedown cruises by Federation President Samuel Solomon Qasr. The shakedowns were successful, and the Enterprise began her first five-year mission of exploration in 2246, with April in command (TAS novelization: The Counter-Clock Incident, ST reference: Federation: The First 150 Years) and Commander Christopher Pike as first officer (DSC episode: "Brother").
- Pike's service as April's first officer was not mentioned in dialogue, but appeared on Pike's service record as shown on the USS Discovery's viewscreen.
In October 2246, the Enterprise was assigned to deliver urgently needed food to the colony on Tarsus IV after a deadly mutagenic virus had attacked and destroyed the crops. Before entering the Tarsus system, the Enterprise was intercepted by the IKS Kut'luch, commanded by Commander Kor, who was under orders not to let in Federation vessels into the system.
April tried to explain to Kor that they were on a mission of mercy, but Kor attacked. April had no option but to fight back as the Enterprise took heavy damage. He had the Enterprise bring all her weapons to bear on the Kut'luch and overwhelmed its systems. With the Kut'luch disabled, April ordered the Enterprise to continue on to Tarsus IV, leaving Commander Kor dismayed that April never destroyed his ship.
Once the Enterprise arrived at Tarsus IV, April uncovered the horror that had taken place on the planet at the hands of Governor Kodos. Though he was relieved that young James T. Kirk had survived, he couldn't help but wonder if it could have been prevented had the Klingons not engaged him, and the Enterprise reached the colony sooner. (TOS - Enterprise Logs short story: "Though Hell Should Bar the Way")
Meeting with Captain Aurobindo Korrapati of the USS Narbonne, and Starfleet officers Philippa Georgiou and Gabriel Lorca he informed them that his wife had made signifiant progress in isolating the source of the fungal infection and that the cure would likely be ready within a week. April and the Enterprise remained at Tarsus IV for another 79 days, leading the relief efforts after the departure of the Narbonne. (DSC novel: Drastic Measures)
Among other exploits during his tenure, the Enterprise conducted an emergency evacuation of Ursa II. While visiting non-aligned Signara, Pike exposed the leader of a coup attempt, for which the Federation Council officially reprimanded him. (Last Unicorn RPG module: Star Trek: The Original Series Core Game Book)
Later Starfleet career[]
Admiral April.
In 2251, following completion of the Enterprise's first five-year mission, April addressed the Federation Council on the continued success of the Starship Program, and the need to continue the program to further science and exploration. April also announced that he was stepping down as captain of the Enterprise and that Captain Christopher Pike, currently commanding the USS Yorktown, was to assume command for the second five-year mission. April personally escorted Pike to the Enterprise in spacedock to give his old ship's new captain a few words of advice for his adventures yet to come. (TOS novel: Final Frontier; EV comic: "Flesh of My Flesh")
Later that year, newly-promoted Commodore April ensured, with the help of Admiral R. Mallory, that James T. Kirk was admitted into Starfleet Academy. (TOS novel: Best Destiny)
As a Commodore in Starfleet Command, April was able to keep an eye on his old ship. In 2253 he recommended Spock as Pike's new science officer, and later he selected Mia Colt (who had served under him on the Tiberius previously) as Pike's new Yeoman, after the death of Dermot Cusack. (EV comics: "Flesh of My Flesh", "Nor Iron Bars a Cage")
After then Enterprise's encounter with the Talosians, the then Admiral April flagged Pike's report for the Federation Council. (ST reference: Federation: The First 150 Years)
Later in 2254 April returned to the Enterprise to temporarily take command while Captain Pike conducted a mission on the planet Temazi; at this time the Enterprise engaged a pair of Klingon ships and April's command decisions resulted in damage to the Enterprise and injuries to Number One. (EV comics: "Thanatos", "Nemesis")
- April's appearance in the last issues of Early Voyages as an Admiral is inconsistent with what was established in TAS, Pocket Books novels and earlier EV comics. However given the events of his appearance as an Admiral it is possible he was demoted for his actions.
By 2256, April was considered one of the most decorated captains in Starfleet history, along with Jonathan Archer, Matthew Decker, Philippa Georgiou and Christopher Pike. (DSC episode: "Choose Your Pain", DS9 novel: Ascendance)
Admiralty overseeing Enterprise missions to strange new worlds[]
April in 2259.
By the year 2259, Admiral April had direct responsibility for directing Captain Pike's missions on the Enterprise. (SNW episodes: "Strange New Worlds", "Spock Amok")
Ambassador at large[]
After several years as a flag officer, he retired, becoming a guest lecturer at Starfleet Academy. (Last Unicorn RPG module: Star Trek: The Original Series Core Game Book)
April retired from Starfleet on reference stardate 1/9501, but still worked for the Federation as an ambassador-at-large. (FASA RPG modules: Star Trek III Sourcebook Update, Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook, The Four Years War) He explained his reasons for retiring in his book, View from the Center Seat: An Autobiography. He and his wife also co-edited the Encyclopedia of Spaceflight. (FASA RPG module: The Four Years War)
In 2269, Robert and Sarah boarded the Enterprise, commanded by Kirk, enroute to Babel. During the voyage, the Enterprise seemingly entered an antimatter universe where the crew began to get younger. While the Enterprise crew regressed to infants, April was in his prime and once again assumed command of the Enterprise. April discovered that it was an illusion created by telepathic beings who were testing the Federation and Klingons. (TAS novelization: The Counter-Clock Incident)
Starfleet service record[]
| location | assignment | dates | rank or rate | assignment insignia | rank insignia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USS Tiberius | commanding officer | until 2240s | captain | 
| |
| |||||
| USS Enterprise | 2245-2251 | 
| |||
| Starfleet Command | flag officer | from 2251 | commodore |  |
|
| circa 2254 | admiral | ||||
| ambassador-at-large | 2270 | commodore |  
|
Appendices[]
Connections[]
Appearances[]
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References[]
External links[]
- Robert April article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.