markv@dartvax.UUCP (Mark Vita) (05/09/84)
I'll agree that there is probably no definite answer to the command precedence question. The progession of command seems entirely too arbitrary. I disagree that the command goes to whoever has the most 'command experience'. How many episodes are there when an Incompetent Commodore takes over command in Kirk's absence? The one that really sticks out in my mind is the Commodore (Ferris?) who appears in "The Deadly Years". With Kirk out of action in Sickbay and Romulans threatening the ship, this guy takes the conn and then comes to the realization, "I don't know what to do. (Gulp.) I've never commanded a starship before." (I recall that at one point Kirk refers to him as a "paper-pusher".) Anyway, the real decision about who got to command the Enterprise was made by the director and production personnel working on the show, and was probably more often influenced by who was available for what part then by any kind of internal logic. -- Mark Vita Dartmouth College {decvax,cornell,linus}!dartvax!markv
rjnoe@ihlts.UUCP (Roger Noe) (05/10/84)
> I disagree that the command goes to whoever has the most > 'command experience'. How many episodes are there when an > Incompetent Commodore takes over command in Kirk's absence? I don't think anyone has suggested that command goes to whomever has the MOST command experience, but suitable command training. Besides, command is never given to these incompetents, but taken by them, as with Commodore Decker in "The Doomsday Machine" and Commodore Stocker in "The Deadly Years". (High Commissioner Ferris, of "The Galileo Seven" did not take command of Enterprise but did force Kirk to abandon the search.) Roger Noe ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe