Organization: Penn State University
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 13:32:39 EST
From: Jeffrey S. Payne <JSP6@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: East-Coast Defense: Chain of Command I *Spoilers*

Way out here, on the east coast, ST-TNG episodes show a week later than the
rest of the civilized world.  Every week, I get a thorough preview of every
episode (I read spoilers before I watch the episode) It gives me an
opprotunity to scrutinize an episode in light of the Paramount flaming going
on.  It also becomes quite apparent that people argue about details of an
episode after only watching it once, and often major miscoceptions arise
from people guessing at details of an episode.

To get to the point.  This will be sort of a review column, to clear up some
of the confusion arising from speculation of the first week of reviews, and
to present my own speculation and rationalization of episodes, based
strongly on the show's content.  Warning: I am a mega-rationalizer, and
there are very few (<10) episodes I haven't liked.


Spoilers: Chain of Command I


First: Net-screwups over the last week

Geordi was asked to increase the efficency of the warp coils needed to be
raised 15%, not the shields.  If the shields were not optimized, *I* would
worry.

The phrase "other friends" was never used in the conversation between the
Admiral and Jelico.  The transcript of that discussion is as follows:

Data: Captain on the Bridge
Jelico: What have you got Will?
Riker: I'm not sure, we're picking up alot of coded messages
       from a Cardassian planet near the border.
Jelico: Which planet?
Riker: Seltris 3
Jelico: Can you detcet any Theta-Band sub-space emmisions comming
        from Seltris?
Riker: There are some residual traces.  It seems that there were emmisions
       until a few minutes ago.
Jelico: *sigh* Open a secure channel to Admiral Nechayev, priority 2, put
        it through to my ready room.
Riker:  Aye sir.
 (Jelico goes to ready room)
Nechayev: Captain?
Jelico: Those emmisions you were so concerned about just stopped.  I'd say
        one way or another our friends have finished their task.
Nechayev: Have you heard from our friends?
Jelico: No.
Nechayev: Let me know if you do.  I would very much like to see them again.
Jelico: So would I, Admiral.


Ok...Here goes...the speculation and rationalization. I don't think Jelico is a
bad-guy.  He is by no means Captain Picard, but the only mistake I have seen
him make is how he chose to relay his directives to the senior staff.  If he
were to have sat down with Riker and said: "Will, I know it is going to be
hard, but we might be headed into a war.  I need to count on you to work with
the staff to get what I need done as smooth as possible.  This mission
depends on how well we can be prepared, and we don't have much time to do it.
This is what I wan you to do, this is how I want you to do it. Get it done."
Wow...then he would have the *support* and cooperation of his first officer...
the rest would have fallen in line.  (Geordi to Riker "what are we going to do
Commander?" "Hang in there Geordi, we are all doing the best we can")  It would
have altered the tone of the entire episode.

I submit this hypothesis:  Nechayev is in some sort of conspiracy, Jelico is
clueless.  Evidance:

1) This is the first time (maybe since "Conspiracy") that Picard hasn't been
chummy with an Admiral, a la "Hey Bob, how are the wife and kids?"  "Doing
well Jean-Luc, how has you fencing been coming along..." all that crap...
There have been times when Admirals have come to Picard with "Jean-Luc, I have
something very difficult to discuss with you..." but none have ever had
such complete disregard for respect as Nechayev.
2) I don't see anything that would lead me to believe that Jelico is being
deceptive...in fact neither has Troi.  It would make sense that such a
conspiracy would have to take into consideration that having an insider
subject to a Betazoid would be dangerous.  Troi would have sensed duplicity
from the moment he stepped onto the ship.  I think Jelico just has a healthy
respect for the Cardassians.
3) The conversation above was clearly a discussion with one subject.  Either
they were talking about Picard and co, or they were talking about the Cards.
From the tone of Jelico's voice, and his apparent discouragement, he seems
genuinly concerned about Picard's team.  If he knew about the conspiracy, he
would have know about the trap,  and there would be little doubt about the
success or failure of that trap...Everything seems to be going ok for the
Cards, but he still seems upset.

Other notes:  I like Troi in uniform,  she looks more professional.  Jelico did
emphasize that he wanted to maintain a certain formaility on the bridge, he
didn't say she had to wear it to her counseling sessions.

Ok: Future speculation (Possible DS9 / COCII Spoilers)

Anyone following the FAQ's, Creation Conventions, etc, know that Picard will
be back in the 7th season, and also, that COCII is going to be a lead-in to
DS9.  If I remember correctly, the big E is supposed to pick Picard up from
the station at the beginning of the DS9 Pilot.  So, he does survive, and
in no way is Jelico going to be the permanent replacement for Picard. (yet)
When Stewart does leave the series, everything I have heard says that
Riker will get the nod as Captain of the Big E.

So: here's the plot guess for next week:  Bev and Worf rescue Picard,
Nechayev gets exposed, and Jelico gets away with "Gee Jean-Luc, sorry 'bout
that"  (Maybe if Paramount gets enough Cox fan mail, they might consider
bringing him back to captain the E...*shrug* doubt it...)

Next week (or two..I'm on vacation...):  Did I make a close enough guess
and weather the flames well enough to stay in this business?

(Please E-Mail responses to this post to me, as well as posting them for
discussion...Like I said, I will be away for awhile, and this list will be
purged before I get back)

Jeff Payne
Penn State Ogontz Campus              |Bitnet:   JSP6@PSUVM
Computer Assisted Learning Center     |Internet: payne@toto.oz.psu.edu
"What else have you done? Telekinesis? Teleportation? Spontaneous
 combustion of someone you don't like? That sort of thing..."
       -Q to Amanda in "True Q", ST-TNG