Benjamin Maxwell

Benjamin Maxwell was a Human Starfleet officer serving in the 24th century.

During the Federation-Cardassian War, Maxwell had risen to the rank of captain and was in command of the USS Rutledge. He received the highest citation for courage and valor two times, and was present during the Setlik III massacre, during which his wife and children were killed. Even though he seemed to take it well, the incident would in fact haunt Maxwell for many years.

In 2367, Maxwell was the commanding officer of the USS Phoenix. Believing in secret Cardassian preparations for a new war, he destroyed a Cardassian outpost in the Cuellar system and two Cardassian ships, killing nearly 700 Cardassians. When the USS Enterprise-D was sent out to stop him, he initially pretended to return to Federation space and remained in command, but then changed his course to intercept a supply ship heading for the Kelrabi system to find proof for his allegations. Though the ship indeed had something to hide, Enterprise captain Jean-Luc Picard refused to board the Cardassian ship and threatened to fire upon the Phoenix to prevent a new war. Maxwell remained stubborn, but was convinced in the end by Miles O'Brien, his former tactical officer, to give up. Maxwell turned over the ship to his first officer and transferred to the Enterprise, where he was confined to his quarters to await a court martial. (TNG: "The Wounded")

Background and Notes

 * Maxwell was played by Bob Gunton.


 * "The Wounded" gave the impression that the Setlik III massacre took place during the late 2340s, but later evidence from the DS9 episode "Tribunal" indicated the year 2362. Many fans sites go by the information from "The Wounded" and place the attack in 2347, but Star Trek: Pendragon goes by the (more concrete) timeline established in Deep Space Nine.