Editing Tom Paris (section)

=== Prior to ''Voyager'' ===
In the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe, ''Star Trek: Voyager'' takes place in the years 2371 to 2378. Most of Paris' backstory takes place prior to the 2370s.

Tom Paris is the son of [[Starfleet]] Admiral [[Owen Paris]],<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Okuda|first1=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbYf2l7gczUC&q=Tom+Paris+Star+Trek|title=The Star Trek Encyclopedia|last2=Okuda|first2=Denise|last3=Mirek|first3=Debbie|date=2011-05-17|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4516-4688-7|language=en}}</ref> with most of his other family also hailing from Starfleet. Following his family's tradition, Paris attended [[Starfleet Academy]] sometime in the 2350s and majored in astrophysics.<ref name="caretaker">{{Cite episode|title=Future's End|episode-link=Future's End (Star Trek: Voyager)|series=Star Trek: Voyager|series-link=Star Trek: Voyager|credits=Braga, Brannon; Menosky, Joe|network=UPN|date=November 13, 1996|season=3|number=8 & 9|transcript=Voyager Episode Transcript|transcript-url=http://www.chakoteya.net/Voyager/304.htm}}</ref> A gifted pilot, he earned an assignment to the Academy's honor squadron.

His relationship with his father was not a good one; while Tom wanted to join the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] Naval Patrol due to his love for the [[sea]], Owen wanted him to enlist at Starfleet Academy.<ref name=":3">{{Cite episode|title=Thirty Days|episode-link=Thirty Days (Star Trek: Voyager)|series=Star Trek: Voyager|series-link=Star Trek: Voyager|credits=Biller, Kenneth; Miller, Scott|network=UPN|date=December 9, 1998|season=5|number=9|transcript=Voyager Episode Transcript|transcript-url=http://www.chakoteya.net/Voyager/508.htm}}</ref> Admiral Paris often disapproved of his son's tendency to get into fights and his resulting punishments.

After his graduation from Starfleet Academy, Paris was assigned to the ''USS Exeter''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite episode|title=Non Sequitur|episode-link=Non Sequitur (Star Trek: Voyager)|series=Star Trek: Voyager|series-link=Star Trek: Voyager|credits=Braga, Brannon|network=UPN|date=September 25, 1995|season=2|number=5|transcript=Voyager Episode Transcript|transcript-url=http://www.chakoteya.net/Voyager/202.htm}}</ref> During his initial tenure at Starfleet, Paris crashed a shuttle he was piloting near Caldik Prime, killing three other Starfleet officers. Afraid he would lose his commission, Paris falsified records to conceal the cause of the accident. His efforts to cover up his [[pilot error]] succeeded, but overwhelmed by guilt and regret, he confessed. He was [[Court-martial|court martialed]] for his actions and dishonorably discharged from Starfleet. This caused a major rift between Paris and his father.<ref name=":2">{{Cite episode|title=Caretaker|episode-link=Caretaker (Star Trek: Voyager)|series=Star Trek: Voyager|series-link=Star Trek: Voyager|credits=Berman, Rick; Piller, Michael; Taylor, Jeri|network=UPN|date=January 16, 1995|season=1|number=1|transcript=Voyager Episode Transcript|transcript-url=http://www.chakoteya.net/Voyager/101.htm}}</ref>

Following his discharge, Paris left [[San Francisco]] for [[Marseille]], where he started spending his time drinking and playing pool in Sandrine's, a waterfront bar that he frequented during his academy days.<ref name=":4">{{Cite episode|title=The Cloud|episode-link=The Cloud (Star Trek: Voyager)|series=Star Trek: Voyager|series-link=Star Trek: Voyager|credits=Szollosi, Tom; Piller, Michael; Braga, Brannon|network=UPN|date=February 13, 1995|season=1|number=6|transcript=Voyager Episode Transcript|transcript-url=http://www.chakoteya.net/Voyager/105.htm}}</ref> There, [[Chakotay]], a former Starfleet officer now serving with the [[Maquis (Star Trek)|Maquis]], recruited him 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 piloting his first mission for the Maquis.<ref name=":2" />

Tried and convicted of treason for aiding the Maquis Rebellion, Paris was sentenced to serve time in a Federation penal settlement near [[Auckland]], New Zealand.<ref name=":1" />