From: ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: Replacement for Picard
Date: 8 Jan 93 20:49:16 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
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.

In <rawdon.726434283@cs.wisc.edu> rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu (Michael Rawdon) writes:

>>Okay, I won't quibble over words.  The Admiral intended it to be 
>>permanent at the time, but it turned out not to be because he
>>hadn't read the end of the script.

>>Satisfied? :-) 

>No. :-)  I think that the position was intended to be temporary from the word
>go - to be terminated when a more qualified captain could be brought to the
>ship. 

I see.  In other words, you think the Admiral mean to say something
quite different from what the screenwriter made him say.

That fits in quite well with a theory of mine.  I think the Admiral
was really supposed to be a six-foot talking carrot -- the one from
Lost in Space -- but the casting department made a mistake.


>(Of course, if it had turned out to be impossible to do that, then no
>doubt the assignment would have been permanent - for about two months. :-)

The events in BoBW took two months?  Do you have any evidence for
that?  It appeared to me that the entire episode, like most TNG
episodes, took over a few days.  Or do you assume the script was
wrong about that, too?


>>Do you believe that, if Riker defeated the Borg, Star Fleet would 
>>doubt his ability to handle lesser threats.  

>Sure, there's plenty of room for doubt.  For one thing, not all missions
>involve combat. 

Oh, I see.

"Sure he can defeat the Borg, but how well would he handle Luxanna
Troi?  Better not chance it." ;-)


>Funny, though, that Riker is (by your assessment, it seems) such a qualified
>officer, and there was this shortage of captains after the Wolf battle
>(depending on how you define "a lot"), and yet Riker was never offered the
>captaincy of any of the vessels built in the following year (according to
>Shelby's estimates).  Maybe Starfleet isn't too enamored of Riker after
>all...?

Now I'm sure you watched a different episode (if not a differerent
series) than I did.

Shelby said that Riker would be offered his choice of any command
in the fleet.  That fleet includes other Galaxy-class starships.
Wonder why Riker would be considered qualified to command one of
them? 


>>>Because it was thought necessary that the commander of the Federation
>>>flagship at that time should be a Captain, since it seemed likely that the
>>>Enterprise would have to interact with other ships.


>Really?  EVERY SHIP IN STARFLEET is under command of an admiral?  I don't
>think so.  I'm not saying that Riker would just be interacting with those
>ships at Wolf 359.  If the Borg had taken Earth and the Enterprise survived,
>he probably would have had to dealt with other ships in the fleet.

Who would have refused to accept the help of a ship commanded by
an officer with rank less than Captain????!!!!

Come on, now!

Besides, if Star Fleet is like the US Navy, there are probably
more ships commanded by Commanders than by Captains.


>Interacting with other captains is made easier if you is yourself a captain,
>rather than a commander who happens to be in command of a ship.  Since 
>you are of equal rank, they HAVE to listen to you, whereas if you aren't, 
>they can simply overrule you without listening.  Chain of command, you know.

I know.  You don't.  The captain of a ship, whatever his rank, has
sole command and responsibility for his ship.  He cannot be overrule
or be overruled by another ship's captain, of whatever rank.  The
chain of command does not go from one ship to another, it goes from
the ship up to the battle-group or fleet commander, a Commodore or
Admiral. 


>>Oh, but they haven't.  At least, not entirely.  Recall Riker's 
>>reaction when he heard the Enterprise was being given to Captain 
>>Jellico.  He fully expected to take command.

>Though he seems to have been unjustified in his expectations.  Again, 
>it seems Starfleet doesn't have that stellar an opinion of him after all, 
>since he's refused three commands now...

No, it seems that Shelby was right: "If you wait to long, it could
look like you're standing still."  Or maybe the Admiral really did
just want a captain who had experience with the Cardassians.