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Tom Paris graduated from Starfleet Academy sometime in the 2360s and majored in astrophysics. A gifted pilot, he was a member of the Academy's honor squadron. His father, Admiral Owen Paris, was an instructor at the Academy at the same time.
Soon after his graduation from Starfleet Academy, Tom crashed a shuttle he was piloting near Caldik Prime, killing three other Starfleet officers. Afraid he would lose his commission, Paris falsified records that would reveal the cause of the accident as pilot error. [According to the novel "Pathways," authored by Star Trek producer Jeri Taylor, the accident took place during Paris' final year at Starfleet Academy and killed his three best friends, fellow Academy cadets Charlie Day, Odile Launay, and Bruno Katajavuori.] His efforts to cover up his error succeeded, but later, overwhelmed by guilt and regret, he confessed. He was court-martialed for his actions in covering up the truth, and was dishonorably discharged from Starfleet, causing a major rift between Paris and his father.
Following his discharge, Paris left San Francisco for Marseilles, where he drank and played pool in Sandrine's, a waterfront bar. Chakotay, a former Starfleet officer serving with the Maquis, discovered Paris in Marseilles and recruited Paris to serve as a mercenary pilot for the Maquis rebellion against the Federation. This adventure went no better than his earlier stint in Starfleet, as Paris was captured by Starfleet while he was piloting his first mission for the Maquis.
Tried and convicted of treason for aiding the Maquis rebellion, Paris was serving time in the Federation Penal Settlement near Auckland, New Zealand when Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the starship Voyager, obtained Paris' temporary release from the penal colony. Janeway, charged with finding and capturing the Maquis ship commanded by Chakotay, offered Paris an early parole in exchange for serving as her informant on Chakotay and the Maquis.
Janeway and the crew of Voyager successfully located Chakotay's ship, but never returned to Earth. As Voyager's crew attempted to capture the Maquis ship, both starships were caught up and thrown into the Delta Quadrant by a massive energy wave created by an alien known as The CaretakerCaretaker was the first episode of the American television series Star Trek: Voyager. It was originally shown as one double-length episode, but has been split into two parts for repeats. The episode (and the series) features Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathry, stranding them 70,000 light-years away from home. The Maquis ship was destroyed and its crew joined the Federation crew on Voyager.
The marooning of Voyager in the Delta Quadrant provided Paris with a new beginning. Janeway gave Paris a field commission as a Starfleet Lieutenant and made him chief pilot of Voyager. He had a rough start, however, as Starfleet and Maquis alike viewed Paris with suspicion. Paris worked hard to earn his crewmates' respect; during this time, he became best friends with Ensign Harry KimHarry Kim can be: A fictional Star Trek character on the American television series Star Trek: Voyager see Harry Kim (Star Trek . The first Korean American mayor elected in the United States; see Harry Kim (politician ., a young officer on his first mission who defied his crewmates to befriend Paris. Eventually, Paris was accepted by the crew and became one of Janeway's valued officers.
Tom Paris married Lieutenant B'Elanna TorresIn the fictional Star Trek universe, B'Elanna Torres is a half-human, half- Klingon engineer in charge of keeping the Starship Voyager's systems operational. She was played by actress Roxann Dawson in the television series Star Trek: Voyager which ran for, Voyager's half-Klingon chief engineer, in 2377. Torres gave birth to their daughter Miral Paris during the events that led to Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant and Earth.