Isaac Brahms

General Isaac Brahms was a General of Starfleet Special Operations Division Special Projects Office from 2375 to 2385 (Star Trek: Excelsior)

Background

Isaac Brahms was born in Syracuse, New York, Planet Earth. His parents were unnamed, but he had an older sister, Tryla Brahms (Scott) A sweet, albeit a precocious child, Isaac worshiped his older sister , Tryla. They would often play 'Starfleet. Tryla the Captain, and Isaac, the Ensign. Isaac heartfully embraced Tryla's philosophy of; "When you join Starfleet you'll be friends forever." Isaac was also very protective of his older sister, and would do 'whatever it took' to protect her. (The Man From Syracuse)

Starfleet Career

Were it not for a strange turn of events, Isaac Brahms would have been a rising star in Starfleet's science community. From as far back as when they were children, Isaac, and his sister, Tryla, dreamed of careers in Starfleet. Tryla would be the Captain, and Isaac would be her science officer. Things went according to plan for the longest time. Tryla had attained her Captaincy at an early age. Isaac had graduated from Stanford and was in his final year at Starfleet Academy when Tryla was killed following her infestation with a Neural parasite (24th century). (TNG: "Conspiracy") Her death was officially listed as "Complications following routine surgery for an undiagnosed heart defect". Isaac scoffed at that explanation, choosing to investigate on his own. Demerits began to accumulate. A disciplinary board was to be convened, but Isaac was caught trying to infiltrate the quarters of Alex Rol. Rather than apprehend him, Rol recruited him for Starfleet Intelligence. Isaac accepted.

The next event to significantly alter Brahms' life occurred on a planet named Nakos. A cataclysmic earthquake uncovered ruins that began to send out transmissions in the low EM band. Taking the fastest ship available, Rol and Brahms sped towards Nakos. Five hours from Nakos, they picked up a distress signal from one of the scientists, Dr. Harley Warren. The science team had managed to translate two pages of the manuscript, and he was prepared to send the pages over the com, but Isaac declined. Concerned for their lives, he urged them to take cover and await rescue. He did this because he believed that's what Tryla would've done. By the time their ship arrived, the scientists were dead, the data was gone, save for one page, and all they could glean was one sentence from a dying scientist, "Machines in the Dark!" From that point on, the mission would take precedence over everything, including innocent lives.

Isaac finally crossed the line on a mission to a dark matter nebula. Inside was a vast graveyard of Borg and Bluegill ships. The numbers were so vast that they could scarcely be counted. Boarding one, they discovered some type of compound. The Borg identified it as "Compound 130385". It appeared to be an inoculation against infestation by the parasites. If an outside entity discovered either the existence of the compound or the knowledge of the compound was disclosed, The Sword of Damocles would fall, meaning total annihilation. Starfleet's presence at the cube could not be discovered at all costs. Without authority, Isaac destroyed the ship they arrived at the nebula in, the USS Yorktown (NCC-38712), killing over 1000 crewmembers.

Since then, Brahms and his team were racing from one crisis to another, killing without hesitation anyone that threatened disclosure of the Sword of Damocles. His most heinous act occurred when he ordered the attack on Planet New Victoria, slaughtering nearly 10,000 souls, for the sole purpose of slowing down the Excelsior so that his pursuing forces could catch up with and destroy it.

Brash, audacious, and always decisive. Isaac never hesitated to do what, in his view, needed to be done. On one occasion, he even hailed the Sizemore and Admiral Parker to inform him that there would be an "incident" onboard the ship, along with a stern warning not to investigate it.

Isaac Brahms did not regret one innocent life slain at his orders or because of his actions. His personal philosophy was this; "I have a theory I've been working on. My theory is this; For every bright-eyed idealist in the universe signing treaties, making discoveries, and inspiring children, there has to be someone else. Someone in the shadows who does terrible things, so the treaties and the discoveries, and the smiling children endure. And I believe that's a price worth paying. For the universe to be lit up by one Tryla Scott, is worth a hundred monsters like me protecting her legacy."

Isaac Brahms perished during the battle over Gevinon Prime. After being purposely infected with "The Wasting", a telepathically transmitted virus, an infested Brahms beamed down to Gevinon to spread the disease among the Bluegills. Though successful, he could not return to the ship in time and died when the planet was decimated by Hellfire torpedos launched from Excelsior. Only two people mourned his passing. Yubari Asuka and Alex Rol. (The Graceful End)

Following his 'demise', Isaac Brahms' next appearance was at a facility called Centaurus Foods located on a planet named Divitia within the Parenalthorias Union. He'd been resurrected by the Psions, and recruited to serve as an agent similar to Gary Seven (TOS: "Assignment: Earth"). His mission: to atone for his previous life by helping other beings being abused or oppressed by governments or corporations. With the assistance of Excelsior Chief engineer Kestra J'Naya, he freed thousands of enslaved humanoids being used as food by a race of extra-galactic predators. Despite his 'resurrection', most of his memories remained lost following the Excelsior's battle at Gevinon Prime (Star Trek Excelsior: Nurturing Life)

Relationships

With His Subordinates

Captain Yubari Asuka

Yubari Asuka came onto General Brahms' radar in a roundabout way. Asuka's older brother Bezu had been recruited by both Rol and Brahms, trained to infiltrate and expose the Reman smuggling operation. Bezu took to the training, but after his insertion, he simply took over their operation, becoming 'Prince Bezu of Remus'. They made a bad situation much worse. They thought the problem had been dealt with. Yubari Bezu allegedly died in a swordfight with Alex Rol in 2368. Bezu engineered the greatest outbreak of drug abuse on Earth in over 200 years. Brahms recruited Bezu's younger sister Asuka. She had graduated from Starfleet Marine Ranger Academy on Titan in 2377. Brahms quietly recruited and trained her. After making Captain (infantry) in 2379, Asuka was selected as point for "Operation Zephram", Special Project's attempt to identify and neutralize the kingpin of the Reman smuggling operation. Unknown to either Asuka or Brahms, Bezu had located, identified, and liquidated the informant, and was waiting for Asuka. The subsequent battle cost her right arm, and most of her left hamstring. Neither Brahms nor Rol forgave themselves for what Asuka went through that night. Brahms was such a powerful influence in her life he would reappear to her after his death on multiple occasions. At his funeral, she was one of two in attendence, the other being Alex Rol, and she was the only one who cried.

Colonel Sophia Hanas

As Isaac Brahms was Alex Rol's protégé, Sophia Hanas was Isaac's. At some point in the past, Isaac and Sophia were romantically involved but had a falling out. He still thought highly enough of her to continue working together, eventually making her his deputy, with the rank of Colonel. The Final straw occurred during the shakedown cruise of Brahms' Kindred-class Starship, the USS Renegade (NCC-S31-4). They had been jumped by pirates, but the Renegade had been retrofitted with highly advanced tactical and combat systems. The pirates were beaten, their leader captured. Hanas wanted to interrogate the prisoner. Brahms agreed, but knowing her propensity for 'flouting the rules', insisted "By the Book, Sophia". True to form, Hanas ignored the book and Isaac's orders, because she feared it might "Compromise the data". When she briefed Isaac, she told him what she had done. BRAHMS: "Did you not listen to a word I said, Colonel? I told you by. The. Book. If I review the security footage, will I see that you used the required sedative during the mind probing?" HANAS: "I was afraid that the sedative might have a negative impact on my results." BRAHMS: And now who knows when the hell he’ll regain consciousness, if ever? Your work entails a rather large amount of collateral damage, doesn't it? This is not the Marine Corps; we do not charge into situations relying solely on the thickness of our foreheads! What happened to you, Sofia? I used to be able to trust you!" HANAS: "What happened to you, Isaac? You never used to be a coward!" BRAHMS: "How dare you." HANAS: You know what you should do about Admiral Parker? Kill Captain Hst! Use that gray poison, make it an "accident," but leave just enough doubt to send a message to his [superiors!]" BRAHMS: "That is enough! (pause) I killed a thousand souls aboard the Yorktown because there was no other choice. You'd have killed them if it improved your odds by one percent!" HANAS: "For one whole percent? By God, Isaac, I'd have killed a million! There are ten thousand billion people in the Federation, and every one of them is dead if we fail!" BRAHMS: "I said that's enough!" HANAS: "Why?! Because you know I'm right! You know that's where our logic takes us, but you're too much of a coward to admit it! Who are you lying to, Isaac? To me or to yourself?!" BRAHMS: "I'm going to overlook the insubordination I just saw. You should be aware, however, that I have been asked to recommend a C.O. for the next Kindred-class starship. As of this moment, I have decided to postpone that recommendation. Get your house in order, Colonel." HANAS: The carrot instead of the stick? For someone who claims to dislike lording over others, you sure find a lot of chances to do it." BRAHMS: "I want you off this ship in ten minutes, Sofia. Dismissed." After Brahms' arrest, Hanas was promoted to General and posted as head of the Starfleet Special Projects Office, Special Operations Division. She even got her Kindred-class,ship, the Sentinel. (Bound to the Starless Midnight)

Lieutenant Commander Kestra J'Naya

Following his 'resurrection' by the Psions of the Stars, one of Agent Isaac's first missions was to rescue Aleczahnder Lohrok and Neeva from the clutches of psionic lifeforms that had infiltrated Centaurus Foods, a massive food processor corporation with its campus of 10,000 located on Planet Divitia within the Perenalthorias Union. The company had been supplanted by a species of extragalactic lifeforms that fed on sentient thought processes, then physically consuming them when they were no longer viable. Chief engineer Kestra J'Naya was supposed to meet with one the employees, but it was too late. Kestra was about to be captured by security bots when Brahms intervened and retreated to a safe area. Brahms recognized Kestra as "The clumsy one'. Kestra retorted, "Chief Engineer". "Not really. Kinash Adow is ten times the engineer." After sorting out the circumstances, Kestra aided Brahms in freeing not only Lohrok and Neeva, Brahms eventually came to appreciate the Chief Engineer's skill and improvisation. He offered her the chance to join him on his missions. Kestra politely declined, as she was right where she wanted to be. (Nuturing Life)

Lieutenant Aleczahnder Lohrok

Aleczahnder Lohrok became friends with Alex Rol, just as Isaac Brahms had once been. After Brahms gave the 'kill order' to Rol, he managed to detonate the escape transporter with a phaser, filling the compartment with radiation. Alecz found the both of them, unconscious, Alex had lost all color, nearing death. It was that moment that Alecz Lohrok swore eternal hostility against the soon to be former General . Their first face to face conversation occurred at Centaurus Foods, on planet Divitia. BRAHMS: "You must be Mister Lohrok. You've done so much to me, it's strange to think we've never met." LOHROK: "What are you playing at, Brahms? I arrested you!" BRAHMS: "But the report said Commander Masterson..." LOHROK: "She was there, but I was the one... What do you care what the report says? Don't you remember the hatred in my eyes? In yours?" BRAHMS: "Lieutenant, do you remember Alex Rol's voice? "LOHROK: Every day." BRAHMS: "I can't. His face is in the files. But that's all. His voice, his laugh, gone. The last thing he ever said to me -- no one else was there at the end, in that garden, and I can't remember any of it. I'll never know how he saved me. Because you got him killed. So you will forgive me if I'm not worried about forgetting some half-cooked junior officer who fancies himself my nemesis." (Nurturing Life)

Operations

The USS Renegade's Operations manager (Never named) served Isaac Brahms with unwavering loyalty and devotion. The greatest test occurred following Excelsior's escape from Starbase 911 in pursuit of The Sword of Damocles. Nearly out of options, Brahms ordered pirate mercenaries in his hire to slaughter and enslave the colony of New Victoria. Brahms hoped it would slow Excelsior down enough for them to catch up and finish them off. Needless to say, this order was highly divisive and damming. But Operations stood with his General. "General, I don't want my wife and daughters to wake up one day with a Borg fleet hovering in the sky. I don't want them to wake up one morning with roaches screaming enslavement in their heads. I want to keep my family safe from the Sword of Damocles, sir. I think the people of New Victoria would, too." (The Pursuit) Operations also loved to play darts. (Nuturing Life) He perished over Gevinon with the rest of the crew of the Renegade. He had the habit of saying "Noted" instead of "aye, sir."

Tactical

The USS Renegade's Tactical officer (Never named) was one of Brahms most loyal Officers. The exception was when Brahms ordered the pirate attack on New Victoria. Brahms knew it was a heinous and barbaric order. Still, it was the only way to slow Excelsior down enough to stop them from reaching the Anbar. In a singular act of insubordination, he refused to participate. TACTICAL: "General... you know I've never refused an order of yours." BRAHMS: "No, you haven't, Tactical. Nor are you refusing one now. Go. With my blessing." (The Pursuit) Tactical and Operations also stood their ground, pinning down Excelsior's Marine Detachment, enabling his escape. (Golden Things) Tactical was first to note anomalous readings, the first signs that the Psions were in the Gevinon system. He perished along with the rest of the Renegade's crew over Gevinon. (The Graceful End)

With His Peers

Vice Admiral Athos Roarke-Parker

The relationship between the Commanding officer of Starbase 911 and the head of the Special Projects Office of the Special Operations Division could best be described as 'uneven'. The Excesior was almost home following the failure that was the Valandrian Expedition. Brahms hailed the Admiral directly. He was not in uniform, and would only identify himself as a General. A brief conversation over subspace advising there would be an incident with a terse warning not to investigate, or there would be 'dire consequences'. Moments later a warp plasma conduit exploded, incinerating the USS Sizemore's Chief engineer, Lieutenant David Robins. (The First Two Deaths) Despite The Admiral's admonition, Alcar Dovan and the Excelsior crew pressed their investigation. The trouble was, that Admiral Parker knew about the Sword of Damocles, while Dovan did not. Parker's attempts to suppress their investigation were for naught. Following Yubari's kidnapping, the bombing of the Excelsior's flight data recorder, and Ensign T'Kala's as well as Leo Amara's murder, Dovan was convinced that not only was the Admiral not investigating, but that Parker wanted to keep the Excelsior held in spacedock where Brahms and his Special Projects Office could pick them off, one by one. PARKER: "Commander, you did fantastic work here last week. I was very pleased with the apprehension of Isaac Brahms, and for that reason I did not stand in the way of your extremely irregular promotion by Captain Cortez at her deathbed. But I am not an idiot, Commander. Your record is one of the most heavily reprimanded in Starfleet. You're insubordinate and self-rightgeous. Now, those qualities have made some great Starfleet captains. I'm very optimistic about your future, Commander. But not this time. This time, I need you to follow my orders. Commander Underwood is my guarantee that you will." Later, after the flight recorder was blown up, Ens T'Kala Dead, Ens Ermez dying, Dovan was fed up. DOVAN: "Can't you see? Captain Cortez was right. Brahms is trying to keep us in spacedock where he can get to us. And he's filling you up with lies so you'll help him. If my crew won't be protected by Starfleet, I'll take my chances with the public." PARKER: "Dovan. Commander. I understand why you think what you do. But... it's wrong. You're not correct to trust Cortez. And you are getting very... very dangerously close to a line that... If you cross it, there's no coming back. I don't want to give your chair to Underwood. But I cannot allow this information to go to the press. I'll meet you tomorrow at Berth Nine, Airlock One. We're going to go down to see Brahms together. I'll see that you learn everything I know. Then you'll understand the position I'm in. Until then, I have no choice but to place the Excelsior under General Order TwentyOne. All incoming and outgoing communications from your vessel are prohibited under all 40 circumstances. The Starbase will use an electromagnetic pulse to automatically jam any attempt to communicate with your vessel. This order will remain in effect until oh-eight-hundred tomorrow and cannot be otherwise revoked except by entering my personal command codes into the Excelsior mainframe. Is that clear?" Despite the Admiral's efforts, Excelsior launched. After being told of Excelsior's departure, Parker told Brahms, followed shortly by his crew breaking him out. He then hijacked his ship, taking off after Dovan. (Every Good Captain has Admiral Issues, The Pursuit)

General Alex Rol

Isaac Brahms shared a most unusual relationship with the Head of the Special Projects Office, Special Operations Division General Alex Rol. They first met following the death of Brahms' sister, Tryla at Starfleet Headquarters. TNG: "Conspiracy" At that point, Alex held the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Starfleet Special Projects. He found then-Cadet 1st Class Isaac Brahms hiding in his apartment, searching for evidence regarding a conspiracy theory he was working on. After a brief struggle, Rol recruited Brahms into Special Projects. For a long while Rol and Brahms were 'doing the good work'. Their relationship was forever altered a few years later on a mission to the Dark Matter Nebula near the Galactic Boundary. With imminent discovery by the bluegill fleet following a transmission from the Borg cube they had boarded, Brahms was adamant that the ship they arrived on, The Galaxy-class USS Yorktown be destroyed to protect something called "The Sword of Damocles". Alex refused to allow Isaac to murder 1000 innocent people, and ordered him to stand down. "The word is no." Brahms quietly responded, "I am therefore going anyway." and blew up the Yorktown. It was then that Alex realized that his conscience wouldn't allow him to make the hard choices that would have to be made. He took responsibility for the destruction of the Yorktown, allowing Brahms to escape blameless. As a result, Rol was demoted by Special Operations all the way back to Second Lieutenant. Brahms was promoted to General and assumed Alex's old office as head of Special Projects. Brahms knew the destruction of the Yorktown had emtionally compromised his former boss, but would not, however allow conscience or free will to stand in the way of guarding the Sword of Damocles. He implanted genetic controls into Alex's brain so he could transmit instructions directly into his head. These genetic enhancements also allowed him faster than normal comprehension and reflexes. It was after his confrontation with Chief engineer Alecz Lohrok that Rol finally decided to renounce Special Projects and reform. Alex's final confrontation with General Brahms occurred onboard the General's ship, the Renegade. After Brahms realized that Alex had overcome the genetic controls, he uttered a control phrase that would have killed Alex. Luckily, Rol was found and treated. He recovered. He was given command of Excelsior's fighter wing and pursued the escaped General Brahms. He then rejoined the crew as fighterwing commander, as well as Flight controller. During the battle over Gevinon, he joined Isaac and Pseudo in Brahms' head as they battle the 3 High Kings. One by one, the Kings engaged the trio, razing, bit by bit the garden that was the consciousness of Isaac Brahms. Alex fought hard to defend his friend, and one by one, the first two kings fell to the plague Brahms was carrying. It came down to the last standing King, Melchior. It came in the image of his dead sister, Tryla. PSEUDO-ERMEZ: "Hang on. I hear someone on the path." ROL: "Number three." PSUEDO-ERMEZ: "No doubt this will be Brahms’s biggest fear of all. Do you know what it is?" ROL: "I can’t see. But we’ve never faced anything scarier than that monster. I don’t know –" TRYLA SCOTT: "Isaac? Isaac, I’ve been looking for you." ROL: "Oh, no." PSEUDO-ERMEZ: "What? Just some human woman." ROL: "Of course. It’s Tryla Scott. Isaac’s sister." PSEUDO-ERMEZ: (with a contemptuous chuckle) "The thing Brahms fears more than anything in the universe... is his sister?" It was indeed the image of his dead sister. She managed to all but destroy the garden that were the good memories in Brahms consciousness. Restrained, unable to fight, The third king razed everything in sight. When the third king finally fell, only one flower remained, an asphodel. The battle won, Rol left Brahms' head and was evacuated back to the Excelsior just before the hellfire torpedos finished off the planet. Only two people attended Isaac Brahms' funeral. Yubari Asuka, and Alex Rol. (The Graceful End) Months later, following Excelsior's escape from a Iconian warning beacon guarding a white hole, the orb took on the form of Isaac Brahms, giving a telepathic message to Yubari Asuka to relay to Alex; The asphodels are blooming. Later, Rol explained, "I never told anyone. The psychic battle we were waging was important; the details of how it looked didn’t matter. But we fought the bluegill kings in that very garden. Nearly everything was destroyed – Isaac was on the brink of death. But we managed to save one flower, just one, right in the center of the garden. It was an asphodel." (Fear Itself) Rol was later killed in action while returning from an archeological dig site. (And Miles to go Before I Sleep)

Pseudo

Prior to the battle over Gevinon Prime, Brahms took on the King Neural parasite (24th century) that had infested Ensign Ermez, allowing his consciousness to pass into oblivion. As he had been inoculated with 'Bettlejuice', the Bluegill could not forcefully take over his body anymore. However, Brahms has allowed it to take control from time to time, causing some unusual (As well as unsettling) conversations. After His 'Death', the Psions resurrected the Bluegill as well as Brahms, allowing it to share Brahms' body, but leaving control with Isaac.

With Her Superiors

Psion Triassa

Triassa was one of ten Psion defenders that broke with their people and joined the crew of the Antares class (freighter) SS Anbar in their run for the passage. (Sunset) After helping the Anbar complete the transit, Triassa, along with the other defenders vanished. Their next appearance was over Gevinon near the end of the battle. They finished off the last of the Zero armada. "Excelsior, the crew of your ship has done enough damage for many yahrens. We shall attend to the remainder. You will now be withdrawn." (The Graceful End) Prior to the Psions departure, they retrieved and resurrected Isaac Brahms. Though most of his memories had been destroyed, his intellect was intact. Triassa became another shared mind in Isaac Brahms. On Divitia, Kestra J'Naya asked Triassa if he was Isaac's boss. They replied, "No, Kestra J'Naya of the Starship Visionary. I am merely a fellow penitent." (Nuturing Life)

Chronology

• 2328 Isaac Brahms is born in Syracuse, New York, Planet Earth

• 2346 Enrolls at Stanford University at age 18.

• 2360 Defends his astrophysics dissertation, wins his PhD, and enters Starfleet Academy.

• 2364 Is recruited for Starfleet Special Operations Division Special Projects Branch by Lieutenant colonel Alex Rol while still a cadet following sister Captain Tryla Scott's mysterious death (Star Trek: Excelsior - The Man From Syracuse, TNG - Conspiracy).

• 2365 Rol and Brahms take command of the courier ship U.S.S. Kallina for a mission to Pnakos. Stardate 42297[.9], Pnakos archaeology team is attacked after nightfall in an incident that is known to involve the Borg. The Pnakotic manuscript and other unknown artifacts are taken. Something kills the archaeologists – possibly the Borg… or possibly something else that followed the Borg to Pnakos. The archaeologists have no idea who the Borg are, referring to them as “machines in the dark.”(the next morning, #306)

Rol and Brahms arrive, too late to save the team or recover the manuscript, save “one page of unreadable glyphs”.

• 2373 Brahms and Rol procure morphogenic virus from secret Cardassian facility on Loval. [#S2EA “The Line”] Section 31 soon uses this virus to infect Odo and the Female Changeling with a disease that will eventually threaten the Great Link. [Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – “Tacking Into the Wind”]

• 2375 Isaac Brahms and Alex Rol, making use of Starfleet’s new access to the Delta Quadrant, discover the Entry Nebula and the Sword of Damocles [#306]

U.S.S. Yorktown destroyed by Isaac Brahms. [#306] Rol takes responsibility with Special Operations Division, and is demoted to Second lieutenant. Brahms, who actually destroyed the Yorktown, is made head of the Division of Special Projects, which is dedicated primarily (though not exclusively – note the reference in #306 to the TNG novel The Devil’s Heart, which also featured DSP) to protecting the Sword of Damocles [#306]

• 2382 Is arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder. Escapes imprisonment on Union III, and is once again apprehended.

• 2383 Escapes imprisonment on Union III. Hijacks his Kindred-class ship, the USS Renegade (NCC-S31-4) in Pursuit of Alcar Dovan and the escaped Excelsior. (The Pursuit)

Murders 10,000 Colonists on Planet New Victoria in the hopes of slowing down the Excelsior. (The Pursuit) Brahms beams over to the Excelsior and explains the Sword of Damocles. [#306] Dies on Planet Gevinon Prime after infecting the populace with 'The Wasting'. (The Graceful End) An ancient Iconian warning bouy in the image of General Brahms tells Yubari Asuka to find the Mapstone, because they can’t find Avalon without it. (Fear Itself) Appears to Excelsior's away team on a desert planet (The Mapstone) Brahms joins Kestra J'Naya to rescue Aleczahnder Lohrok and Neeva from Centaurus Foods on Planet Tulia (Nuturing Life)

Memorable Quotes

"I have a theory I've been working on. My theory is this; For every bright-eyed idealist in the universe signing treaties, making discoveries, and inspiring children, there has to be someone else. Someone in the shadows who does terrible things, so the treaties and the discoveries, and the smiling children endure. And I believe that's a price worth paying. For the universe to be lit up by one Tryla Scott, is worth a hundred monsters like me protecting her legacy."

— (The Man From Syracuse)

". I can’t tell you very much, Commander. But I can tell you this: If your people are the least bit competent, you’ll have everything you need to know--with or without my help--in the next forty-five minutes. Perhaps sooner. Once your senior staff has put all the pieces together--if they haven’t already--someone is going to come to you and tell you a story. It’s a good story, full of brave men and hard times and dark deeds. Deeds... ...deeds worthy of song. (pause) The story also happens to be true. But when you’re listening to it, I want you to consider a couple of points. Consider them very carefully. First: it does not explain why we cracked down so hard when our officer, Asuka Yubari, defected to your ship."

— (The Man From Syracuse)

"Captain Cortez was a... “tough cookie,” Commander. When it came down to it, she never shrank from her duty. A few months ago, she shot her own captain dead in front of the entire bridge crew and assumed command."

— (The Man From Syracuse)

": Asuka... (pause) Believe me when I say that I never wanted you to be drawn into this. But also believe me when I tell you that the gravity of your failure and the ease with which you abandoned your division shocked even me. This wasn’t something I did. It was you: you who vindicated every single doubt our colleagues ever had about you. You who threw away everything I’ve tried to bring to you, all to save one Federation starship and one backwater world. I’m the only reason you weren’t killed the day we received the Valandria report."

— (Golden Things)

"Lieutenant, do you remember Alex Rol's voice? I can't. His face is in the files. But that's all. His voice, his laugh, gone. The last thing he ever said to me -- no one else was there at the end, in that garden, and I can't remember any of it. I'll never know how he saved me. (pause) Because you got him killed. So you will forgive me if I'm not worried about forgetting some half-cooked junior officer who fancies himself my nemesis."

— (Nuturing Life)

"All hands, this is the General. I have just ordered the extermination of nearly ten thousand innocent Federation citizens on planet New Victoria. I have done this because I believe there are no better choices. If I refused to give this order, my refusal would consign all the trillions of life-forms in the Federation – including the people of New Victoria – to a far more painful enslavement and eventual death. I must give this order. Therefore, I will give this order. Let there be no doubt, however, that what I am asking you all to do is nothing less than a monstrous atrocity. This goes far beyond anything this crew has ever done before – far beyond society's most extreme moral lines. If you stand by me now, your hands will be stained with blood, and civilization will never forgive you. Nor, I think, should it. For that reason, any officer or crewmember on the Renegade who wishes to withdraw from this action may, at this time, leave their posts and be confined to quarters for the remainder of this mission. I will think no less of you, and your recusal will not affect your position on this ship – nor the pride I take in having each and every one of you serving with me aboard the Renegade. Please make your decisions immediately. This operation will proceed in one minute. Brahms out."

— (The Pursuit)

Background

Isaac Brahms is played by Julian Bane in all his appearances in Star Trek: Excelsior.