From: tarrall@horton.Colorado.EDU (The Admiral, actually)
Subject: Re: Characters on Deep Space Nine
Organization: _USS Christopher Pike_, NCC-1779-A
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 08:30:14 GMT

Spoilers for "The First Duty" ahead....

The original poster (KPS@psuvm.psu.edu) suggested that, while he's out of
Star Fleet, Locarno might an interesting addition to the cast of Deep
Space Nine (and its supposedly grittier surroundings) in some capacity
or another.

Warning.  Possible _Star Trek: Deep Space Nine_ spoilers lie ahead.
























Myself, I had a peculiar feeling while watching the show.  We've heard
rumor that the commander of Deep Space Nine will have hard feelings
against Picard, due to his wife's death at the hands of Locutus (at
Wolf 359).  Now I noticed that Josh Albert's father was there for all
the proceedings in "The First Duty" and that he and Picard a) never sat
on the same side of the room as one another and b) never talked to one
another.  (Granted, this might not be that unusual, especially for a
grieving parent, but continue reading.)  Next, I never noticed Josh's
mother anywhere in the episode, even though Lt. Cdr. Albert did mention
her when discussing Josh's problems with calculus (in his youth).  That
suggests to me that she is no longer with us (or that the producers/writers
considered her unimportant to the plot).

Conjecture:  It is possible that Lt. Cdr. Albert might become the Deep
Space Nine commander a year or so from now.

Granted, there are some things that work strongly against this opinion.
First of all, he is only a Lt. Cdr.  The producers might figure that
someone running a deep space station full of danger needs at least the
*rank* of captain.  But maybe not.  What if it's a small station?
If a full Commander could run the station, Albert could conceivably
receive that one promotion in the meantime.  Second, some of the DSN
rumors have suggested that the station commander will have a son (~12
years?).  Well, unless Josh has a younger brother we don't know about,
that's another mark against.

Still, the idea of Cdr. Albert running DSN is an interesting one.  He'd
harbor certain hard feelings against Locutus, which would be displaced
on to Picard (naturally).  After Wesley's admission at the end of "The
First Duty," he's also going to harbor some hard feelings against Wesley.
Yes, Wesley and Josh were friends, and yes, Wesley did come forward with
the information, but Wesley WAS one of those responsible for Josh's death
and the first two items really won't stack up that well in Wes' defense
in the victim's father's mind, will they?  (Maybe if he were Vulcan or
Klingon, but Albert looked quite human to me.)  Now, Picard has helped to
raise Wesley these past few years, giving him perhaps too much leeway
around the _Enterprise_, encouraging him, etc.  Would it not be possible
that Albert would blame Picard for Wesley's actions?  I think so.

Double whammy.  With his son and wife both gone, he'd be more alone
(fitting the darker nature of the show, right?) and would now have several
reasons to hate Picard.

Anyway, it's just an idea.  I don't imagine that Berman, et al are going
to run with it or anything remotely close.  (And if they do, I don't imagine
they're going to credit me for any of it.)

Next:  Robert Patrick as Jello Man?  (Just kidding. ]-)

-- 
-- The Admiral          Email address:  tarrall@horton.colorado.edu
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