Pug served as Picard's chief of security on the Stargazer for 22 years, until the vessel was lost at the Battle of Maxia Zeta in 2355. In 2354, the Stargazer encountered what would later be called the Nensi phenomenon, a ball of matter and energy that was believed to have its origin in a special category of supernova. The encounter left the ship powerless with her starboard nacelle about to explode. With no other options, Picard ordered Joseph and Lieutenant Commander Jack Crusher to sever the nacelle before it destroyed the ship.