With the wonderful world ofStarTrekthere have been many legacy creating icons scattered throughout the franchise. Such characters range from the founders of the Federation, all the way to the many who sacrificed their lives to save others. One name that often gets overshadowed by the incredible legacy left from their son, however, is Lieutenant Commander George Samuel Kirk. He was not only the father of theOriginal Serieshero and captain ofthe iconic USS Enterprise, but a hero in his own right.
When comparing him to some of the feats other captains have accomplished throughout the franchise, George’s legacy might not sound as impressive or grand. He didn’t repeatably save the universe from total destruction or win battles with literal gods. However, his legacy is potentially far greater, and more in line withthe ethosStar Trektries to teach. It is a legacy of kindness, love, empathy, and doing the right thing no matter the cost.
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George Kirk was promoted to captain of the USS Kelvin (yes, that Kelvin, the onethe Kelvin timelineis named after) in the middle of an impossible battle against the Narada. This enemy ship outmatched anything that the Federation had ever seen. They had technology far more advanced, and firepower that could obliterate anything that stood in its way. Kirk’s field promotion came with the death of this captain at the time, and suddenly, the heavy burden of defending a science vessel from the Nerada fell on his shoulders.
Despite being captain for a mere 12 minutes, George Kirk managed to save over 800 lives. This staggering achievement puts into perspective his fast thinking and ingenuity. With his ability to quickly adapt to his new role flawlessly, he wasa man born to lead. Some fans have calculated that statistically, other captains in the franchises across their normal-length carriers would have to save an entire planet’s worth of people from extinction all by themselves to call it square. Comparatively, only a few others have come close to lives saved in such a short time. Spock tried, and failed, to save Romulus from destruction. And George’s son, James Kirk, successfully manages to save Nibiru — although this resulted in betraying the trust of his crew, lying to his commanding officers, and consequently destroying another culture in the process.
George saved a life for every .9 seconds in his short run as captain, all with absolutely no time to prepare or plan. He relied solely on his own confidence and ability as a leader, and while he lost his life in the process he did so without violating any moral or ethical codes. While this act shows great heroism by the short time captain, this article is about legacy specifically. So what legacy did Captain George Kirk leave behind?
For starters, this battle would inspire the creation ofthe Kobayashi Maru. This vital training exercise was employed by Starfleet to train their cadets, and to show them the importance of command and the hard decisions they would be required to make. In a way, George’s legacy stands as the pinnacle of what a captain should be, heralded by Starfleet as perfection. While the situation was impossible, George still managed to survive for longer than anyone could have expected. The Nerada destroyed a whopping47 Klingon birds of preybefore being temporarily disabled by George and his heavily damaged science vessel, of all things. With one ship facing off against an unstoppable force, he showed no fear or hesitation. Even knowing the mission was to end in his own death, he didn’t falter for a second.
While his combat prowess and quick thinking may be what went down in Starfleet history, there was another side of him that truly elevated him as not only a great captain, but a great man. Within these 12 minutes of command, his wife gave birth to their newborn child and latertraumatized heroof the Federation: James Kirk, a legacy in of itself. Despite all the pressures he had commanding the USS Kelvin, George Kirk used this time to ensure his family were safe. He spent every second of his limited time being honest, open, and supportive of his wife, learning everything he could about his new son without any judgment or fear. He even managed the typical, yet severely profound, “I love you” moment.
So often,Star Trekaudiences see captains who prioritize their job over family, their relationship breaking down time and time again while focusing on being a good officer. Here, though George Kirk left a legacy not only as a Starfleet hero, but a loving husband and father to the best of his ability, even if it was mere moments.
