Travis Mayweather
Encyclopedia
Travis Mayweather is a fictional character
, played by Anthony Montgomery
, in the television series Star Trek: Enterprise
, serving as a navigator
and helm officer aboard the starship Enterprise
. He holds the rank of Ensign, and is in the command division. Mayweather is one of the main characters throughout the show's entire four-season run.
, and visited many places such as Trillius Prime, Draylax, Vega Colony, and both Tenebian moons. He is a "boomer", meaning he grew up in space aboard cargo ships, and that he has more experience in space than even his commanding officer, Captain Jonathan Archer
.
Mayweather is a quiet and enthusiastic young man who is a highly skilled pilot and has some spelunking experience. He has at least one brother, Paul, who became the captain of the Horizon after the death of their father, the ship's previous captain, in January 2153. Their mother, Rianna, was the ship's medic and chief engineer. Mayweather returned home to the Horizon circa January 10, 2153 while the Horizon was heading to the Deneva colony. While heading to Deneva Station, the Horizon was attacked by pirates but Mayweather's experience with weapons from Starfleet
allowed the Horizon to defend herself against her attackers.
Over the course of the series, Mayweather has been injured, incapacitated, or even "killed" more times than any other character in the primary cast.
When Star Trek: Enterprise
was first conceived, Mayweather was intended to be a lieutenant, because of his experience in space. His rank was changed to Ensign because the producers thought that having Mayweather and the older Malcolm Reed
at a similar rank wouldn't be believable.
In the final episode of Enterprise, it is indicated that both Mayweather and Hoshi Sato
are still ensigns despite having served aboard Enterprise for ten years. The reason for this has yet to be chronicled, although it is not unheard of for Starfleet personnel to serve for extended periods of time without promotion, such as Harry Kim
, who remained an ensign for the entire seven years of Star Trek: Voyager
; the demotion of Tom Paris
in that series also sets precedent for an as-yet un-chronicled incident that may have had a bearing on the two officers' ranks. Part of this could have been that the Starfleet of the 22nd century does not seem to have the ranks of Lieutenant Junior Grade or Lieutenant Commander (thus making promotions fewer and further between).
in the MACO corps. He eventually allies himself with the Mirror Hoshi Sato
in her attempt to take over the Terran Empire.
's Uhura
on Original Trek
had more lines of dialog."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, played by Anthony Montgomery
Anthony Montgomery
Anthony T. Montgomery is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Ensign Travis Mayweather on the UPN science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise . Montgomery is the grandson of jazz musician Wes Montgomery...
, in the television series Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
, serving as a navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
and helm officer aboard the starship Enterprise
Enterprise (NX-01)
The Enterprise is a fictional starship in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise. It is commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer.-History:...
. He holds the rank of Ensign, and is in the command division. Mayweather is one of the main characters throughout the show's entire four-season run.
Character overview
Mayweather was born in 2126 aboard the ECS Horizon, a human J-class cargo shipCargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
, and visited many places such as Trillius Prime, Draylax, Vega Colony, and both Tenebian moons. He is a "boomer", meaning he grew up in space aboard cargo ships, and that he has more experience in space than even his commanding officer, Captain Jonathan Archer
Jonathan Archer
Jonathan Archer is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. He is the protagonist of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, where he is played by Scott Bakula...
.
Mayweather is a quiet and enthusiastic young man who is a highly skilled pilot and has some spelunking experience. He has at least one brother, Paul, who became the captain of the Horizon after the death of their father, the ship's previous captain, in January 2153. Their mother, Rianna, was the ship's medic and chief engineer. Mayweather returned home to the Horizon circa January 10, 2153 while the Horizon was heading to the Deneva colony. While heading to Deneva Station, the Horizon was attacked by pirates but Mayweather's experience with weapons from Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
allowed the Horizon to defend herself against her attackers.
Over the course of the series, Mayweather has been injured, incapacitated, or even "killed" more times than any other character in the primary cast.
When Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
was first conceived, Mayweather was intended to be a lieutenant, because of his experience in space. His rank was changed to Ensign because the producers thought that having Mayweather and the older Malcolm Reed
Malcolm Reed
Malcolm Reed, played by Dominic Keating, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: Enterprise. He is often confused with Martin Short, with whom he shares an uncanny appearance....
at a similar rank wouldn't be believable.
In the final episode of Enterprise, it is indicated that both Mayweather and Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato , played by Korean American actress Linda Park, is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise....
are still ensigns despite having served aboard Enterprise for ten years. The reason for this has yet to be chronicled, although it is not unheard of for Starfleet personnel to serve for extended periods of time without promotion, such as Harry Kim
Harry Kim (Star Trek)
Ensign Harry S. L. Kim, played by Garrett Wang, is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He serves as the USS Voyagers operations officer.-Depiction:...
, who remained an ensign for the entire seven years of Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
; the demotion of Tom Paris
Tom Paris
Thomas Eugene "Tom" Paris, played by Robert Duncan McNeill, is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Paris serves as the chief helmsman and an auxiliary medic aboard the USS Voyager...
in that series also sets precedent for an as-yet un-chronicled incident that may have had a bearing on the two officers' ranks. Part of this could have been that the Starfleet of the 22nd century does not seem to have the ranks of Lieutenant Junior Grade or Lieutenant Commander (thus making promotions fewer and further between).
Mirror Universe
In the two-part episode "In a Mirror, Darkly", the Mirror Universe version of Travis Mayweather is a sergeantSergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the MACO corps. He eventually allies himself with the Mirror Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato , played by Korean American actress Linda Park, is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise....
in her attempt to take over the Terran Empire.
Reception
According to author David Greven, "Ensign Travis Mayweather, the helmsman, is African American and a complete blank, rarely given even one non-technobabble line an episode; without the slightest exaggeration, it is entirely accurate to say that Nichelle NicholsNichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols is an American actress, singer and voice artist. She sang with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton before turning to acting...
's Uhura
Uhura
Nyota Uhura is a character in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, the first six Star Trek films, and the 2009 film Star Trek...
on Original Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
had more lines of dialog."
See also
- List of Star Trek: Enterprise characters