Captain Patrick McHenery

Type: Character — Captain, Ark Royal Status: Canon (confirmed via Medium article)

Overview

Captain of the Ark Royal during its journey from Earth to Maf. After the ship survived a Russian missile strike during launch, McHenery radioed Houston: "No damage," repeated for confirmation; Houston replied, "Good sailing — and God speed."

When sensors later detected nuclear explosions on Earth — the first confirmed strike hitting Berlin — McHenery reacted with dismay ("They did it, they bloody well did it") and briefly retreated to his quarters, before being heartened by news of the first baby born aboard the ship, Perold Jones (son of Anita and Eric Jones). He later declined a sedative from ship's doctor Roberta Huntington, insisting the crew focus on the future rather than what was left behind.

McHenery approved Science Officer Thui Ng's suggestion to name the newly-discovered planet "New Hope" (later renamed Maf). When the ship's damaged drives failed during final approach, he called "Brace for impact" — twice — as the crippled Ark Royal crash-landed in the ocean, ultimately settling on the seafloor roughly two miles below the surface.

Appearances

• Creator-provided detail (Medium articles, "Original Colonists" Parts One–Three)