From: rotheroe@convex.com (Dave Rotheroe)
Subject: Re: The Official Dorm-Rec Review of "Chain of Command -1" (spoilers)
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 16:18:14 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
Keywords: Kick-ass captain!  troi gets slammed!   
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

>  Spoilers ahead.  
>

>  We love Captain Jelico! He was amazing, brilliant, and he kicked some
>serious ass!  It's about time someone gave this crew a kick in their 
>complacency.  It's about time someone demonstrated a little discipline
>and command authority.  With all due respect, Picard has been a bit of a
>softy lately.  Also, it's about time someone put Troi in her place and 
>made her get a real job!  

What???  He's a moron who should be chief petty officer.  He's so unsure
of what he's doing he resorts to intimidation.  And as for changing
everything *right before and important mission*, ask a Navy captain what
the best way to insure a mission's failure is.  I mean come on now -
screwing with schedules and overworking the entire engineering dept
right before they need everyone on their toes?

>  As far as the implications of this episode are concerned, this should prove,
>beyond a doubt, that Star Fleet is a military organization.  Not a very good
>one, but military nonetheless.  Of course, the tree huggers out there who
>happen to like startrek will remain unconvinced, but who cares.  Proof is 
>proof.

Wait, I agree...

>  We simply have to reiterate, Jelico is brilliant.  He instantly took 
>control of the ship, and made the shit fly.  Not only did he demand the kind
>of excellance in performance that should be expected of the Flagship, but he
>demonstrated it within himself first.  He immediately demonstrated his 
>mastery of ship operations knowledge as well as having the complete biography
>of his senior officers memorized.  This man knows his shit!  He knew what
>had to happen before he got there, and he ensured that everyone could, and 
>would, get it done.  

He was lously, we can only hope they trade him to the Cards for Picard.
He did not take control, he bullied people.  If he was to stay, you could
bet the others would request a transfer.  Where is Guinan when you need
her.  And like any captain would really study the relays for power
distribution.  That's like asking a aircraft carrier to know the brand and
type of each valve controlling the cooling flow for his eight reactors.
Not something he should be spending his time one, but something he should
rely on his senior (or even junior) officers for.

>  Troi's worthlessness is proven, and finally we've seen someone with enough
>guts to put her in her place.  She came in, whimpering and whineing about the
>bellyaches of the crew, so Jelico made it her problem.  Beautiful!  It was
>simply brillant how Jelico threw Troi condescention right back in her face.
>And getting her out of the Counselor-cleavage suit and back into a real 
>uniform was a great idea.  (Her butt doesn't look nearly as monstrous in a 
>real outfit) We would just like to say that anyone who treats Troi like
>shit is OK in our book.

The lack of concern for the officers (Riker, Troi, ...) and their experience
with the rest of the crew shows the stupidity of this "captain".  He's a
control freek.

>  This episode wasn't perfect, however.  We sincerly question the logic of
>Star Fleet high command sending three of its most decorated and honored
>officers into a suicide mission.  First of all, we highly doubt that they
>are the three most qualified people, in all of Star Fleet, for this mission.
>Surely Star Fleet must have some specially trained Marines somewhere who are
>up to the task (the appearance of Colonel West in STVI gives credance to this
>theory)  Second of all, even if you could prove that Picard, Crusher, and 
>Worf are the most qualified, it makes much more sense to send peons on 
>a suicide mission.  If peons are captured, you can always deny your affiliation
>with them and no one really cares.  If Picard is captured, you won't be able
>to keep the mission secret.  Sooner or later some big-wig diplomat will
>notice his absence and bam, intersteller incident.  Covert operations and
>famous people simply don't mix.

This was stupid.  That's why we train Navy seals.  Physically and mentally
trained for this type of mission, and they have specialists for the various
disciplines.  Chances are, they also wouldn't have allowed themselves to
be captured alive.  But have, we can't have killing going on in a family
show.  We need to go back to the good old days of Hawaii-50.

>  One among our ranks did suggest the interesting hypothesis that some corrupt
>admiral wanted Picard to get captured, and therefore set him up for an ambush.
>But if this is the case, we're afraid its an old story.

No, it was just a stupid script that should have been trashed.

>  We're eagerly awaiting next weeks episode.  But if it's a dissapointment, 
>we're gonna be pissed!  

It couldn't have been more of a disappointment than this episode.  This has
been my least favorite episode in the last 12 months.  Really.  Most of last
season and all of this season have been better than this!  Grade: D

==================================================================8--<
Dave Rotheroe                rotheroe@convex.com              DoD#0045
CONVEX Computer Corporation, Richardson, TX 75083-3851, (214) 497-4512
Death is a reward for being responsible.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current