10 Most Tragic Star Trek Characters

As depicted in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Too Short A Season, Mark Jameson was a veteran Starfleet officer who, as a young man, was sent to negotiate the release of hostages on Mordan IV, a world on the brink of civil war.

Officially the negotiations were successful. In reality, he had freed the hostages by giving weapons to the hostage-taker, Karnas. His attempt to even things out by also giving weapons to Karnas’s rivals led to a 40-year war.

Decades later, Karnas once again called for Jameson’s assistance with a hostage crisis. Jameson was now confined to a wheelchair by a chronic illness. He was also using an age-reversing drug.

After hearing about the hostage situation, Jameson took the rest of the medication and rapidly grew younger. Unfortunately, the drug was killing him. He told Picard about his part in causing the civil war. Picard acknowledged Jameson’s role while also stating the two sides could have negotiated peace at any time.

When Jameson learned that Karnas had taken the hostages out of revenge, he led the rescue attempt himself. He died just as he confronted Karnas. Jameson's attempt at making things right impressed Karnas and he released the hostages.