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Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) offered prophetic advice in Star Trek Generationsthat changed the lives of two other Star Trek Captains. Premiering in 1994, Star Trek Generations saw the historic meeting of Captain Kirk and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) as the passing of the torch to the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation inheriting the Star Trek movie franchise.
Believed dead for 78 years, Captain Kirk was transported to the extra-dimensional space ribbon called the Nexus, where Captain Picard found him after he was similarly banished. Picard needed Kirk's help to return to the 24th century and stop Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) from destroying the Veridian star system and killing millions.
At first, Kirk preferred to remain in the Nexus, where he could live a different life without the consequences of his past mistakes. However, Kirk quickly realized the Nexus' reality is inauthentic, and he reconsidered the plea for help from the bald man who called himself the Captain of the Enterprise.
Captain Kirk died in Star Trek Generations, but the advice he gave to Captain Picard had a cascading effect on Jean-Luc and Commander Will Riker's (Jonathan Frakes) futures.
Kirk's Quote To Picard Changed 2 Star Trek Captains' Lives
Before Captain Kirk agreed to join Captain Picard's mission, he asked his successor as Captain of the Enterprise whether he had plans to retire. Picard said that he wasn't planning on retirement, to which Kirk offered the last advice he would ever give:
Captain Kirk: Well, let me tell you something. Don't! Don't let them promote you. Don't let them transfer you. Don't let them do *anything* that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you're there... you can make a difference.
Captain Kirk's advice turned out to be prophetic as Picard took it to heart. After seven years as Captain of the USS Enterprise-D, which was destroyed in Star Trek Generations, Picard chose to remain as Captain of the USS Enterprise-E for another nine years. Only a handful of those voyages were seen in Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis.
Meanwhile, Picard's choice to remain Captain of the Enterprise directly impacted the career of his First Officer, Commander Will Riker. Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Best of Both Worlds" revealed that Riker turned down several promotions to become Captain of different starships. Riker made it clear that he wanted the Enterprise.
Commander Riker waited 16 years for Picard to step down so he could take command of the United Federation of Planets' flagship. By Star Trek: Nemesisin 2379, however, Jean-Luc still wasn't ready to leave. Will, who was marrying Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), couldn't wait any longer to become Captain or for the Enterprise. Riker finally accepted a promotion to Captain of the USS Titan.
What Happened To Picard & Riker's Careers As Star Trek Captains
Captain Picard's stranglehold on the Starship Enterprise was finally broken by Starfleet Command. With the Romulan sun going supernova, the Federation tapped Picard to lead their mission to rescue the Romulan people. Picard accepted a promotion to Admiral and left the USS Enterprise-E. Picard's First Officer, Worf (Michael Dorn), became Captain of the Enterprise.
However, the attack on Mars by rogue synthetics in 2385 (later revealed to be the work of the Romulan Zhat Vash) destroyed the Federation's Romulan rescue fleet under construction. The Federation retreated within its borders and abandoned the Romulan rescue mission. Admiral Picard resigned from Starfleet in protest and retreated to his family's vineyard in La Barre, France.
Captain Riker commanded the USS Titan until 2385, when his young son, Thad Troi-Riker, contracted a fatal illness, mendaxic neurosclerosis. Riker and Troi left the Titan and active Starfleet duty to settle their family on the planet Nepenthe in 2385. In 2399, Admiral Picard and Soji (Isa Briones) sought temporary refuge with Will and Deanna in Star Trek: Picard season 1.
At the end of Star Trek: Picard season 1, Captain Riker took command of the USS Zheng He to rescue Picard and his new motley crew of La Sirena from the Romulans on the planet Coppelius. In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Riker and Picard reunited to hijack the USS Titan-A before they reformed their entire USS Enterprise-D crew to defeat the Borg one last time.
Captain Picard may have considered retirement in Star Trek Generations, perhaps after learning his family died in a fire. However, Captain Kirk's advice undoubtedly impacted him, perhaps reaffirming his commitment as Captain of the Enterprise if it ever wavered. Sadly, this also meant that Will Riker never got to become the Captain of the Enterprise.
