Robert April

Robert T. April is a fictional character in the "Star Trek" universe. April is listed in the "Star Trek Chronology", "The Star Trek Encyclopedia" and at startrek.com as the "Enterprise"'s first commanding officer, preceding Captain Christopher Pike.
The character's only television/movie appearance is in the ' episode "The Counter-Clock Incident", in which he is voiced by James Doohan and portrayed as the first captain of the USS "Enterprise". April appears in the novels "Final Frontier" and "Best Destiny" by Diane Carey as the captain of the "Enterprise". "April, Robert" is listed in an alphabetical list of most-decorated Starfleet captains in the ' 2017 episode "Choose Your Pain". On June 27, 2007,
Pilot development.
When Roddenberry submitted his first proposal for "Star Trek" to MGM Studios in 1964, his name for the starship commander was "Robert M. April" (another name, Captain James Winter, was also considered). The proposal was rejected, and "Star Trek" did not become a television reality until later that year when NBC accepted the premise, by which time the captain was changed to "Christopher Pike".
Character history.
"The Counter-Clock Incident".
Fred Bronson (writing as John Culver) created the character Commodore Robert April for his episode "The Counter-Clock Incident". Bronson came up with the idea of the "Enterprise" having a first Captain, a predecessor to Christopher Pike. He selected the name "Robert April" from the list of names from which Roddenberry selected the name of the "Enterprise" Captain, as published in the book "The Making of Star Trek". In "The Counter-Clock Incident", the character's middle initial is "T" and not "M" as in Roddenberry's original proposal. In the episode, the "Enterprise" crew begins to rapidly age in reverse. The old age of Commodore April and his wife Sarah (voiced by Nichelle Nichols) affords them more time at maturity, allowing them to save the crew and undo the reverse aging process. The episode establishes that Sarah was the chief medical officer of the "Enterprise" during Robert April's time as the ship's commanding officer.
In print.
Carey's books indicate that April comes from Coventry in England. He wears various cardigan sweaters over his uniform due to a rare blood disorder that causes him to feel slightly chilly most of the time. Commander George Kirk, father of future "Enterprise" commanding officer James T. Kirk, serves as April's executive officer. Carey's books also feature Sarah as the ship's chief medical officer. However, "Crisis on Vulcan" by Brad and Barbara Strickland portrays Pike as first officer under April when Spock visits the ship.
In comics.
A unique version of April appeared in the final issues of "" where he appeared as a stubborn and extremely militaristic person, who ordered an attack against an unknown ship that was making provocative moves against the "Enterprise", despite the fact that Number One was in command. The enemy counter-attacked, leaving Number One injured and April in command. The ending is unknown since the series ended on a cliffhanger.
Another version of April appears in the new J. J. Abrams "Star Trek" continuity in a comic prologue to "Star Trek Into Darkness", "Countdown to Darkness".
In computer games.
Commodore Robert April is mentioned in the computer game "" during the early part of the "TOS" campaign, where he is still in Starfleet service in 2270. In the series, it would be between seasons 4 and 5, though the Commodore is only mentioned in the missions.
"Star Trek: Discovery".
In the fifth episode of "Star Trek: Discovery", "Choose Your Pain", he is included in an alphabetical list from the Starfleet Database as one of Starfleet's most decorated Captains as of 2256. Also included in the list are: Jonathan Archer, Matthew Decker, Philippa Georgiou, and Christopher Pike.
Reception.
Timothy Donohoo, writing for CBR.com, noted that "Robert April was the name of the "Enterprise" captain in the original pitch for "Star" "Trek"'s inaugural series" and that "had elements of both Kirk and Pike", noting that "his personality was described as openly heroic, he would have also been racked with self-doubt and worry over his own leadership style" and noting that for its time, the character concept was "revolutionary in many ways" as "the idea of the hero doubting himself and questioning his own actions" was rare in the movie and television scripts of that era.