Picard's age:

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by Kobayshi Maru, Jul 27, 2014.

  1. Kobayshi Maru

    Kobayshi Maru Commodore Commodore

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    But after the court martial, why would their next move be to promote him as captain of the Enterprise? That's what I have a hard time understanding. It would make more sense if there was at least another ship in the meantime. I mean, the Star gazer was a rust bucket compared to the Enterprise.
     
  2. Ithekro

    Ithekro Vice Admiral Admiral

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    What do we know about Picard's career between the loss of Stargazer and his taking command of Enterprise? There is about eight years between these commands. What was he doing for those years following the court martial hearing for the loss of Stargazer?
     
  3. Kobayshi Maru

    Kobayshi Maru Commodore Commodore

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    It's a mystery.
     
  4. Timo

    Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Only one fact is known, from TNG episode "Legacy":

    So this happens before the start of TNG, but after the loss of Stargazer or else Picard would have requested that she be assigned to that ship instead.

    Since it's before the start of TNG, but Picard is aboard a ship, we might deduce that Picard was commanding a ship between the two known by name. But he could also have been aboard as a passenger. (The ship in question is unlikely to be the E-D, because that ship supposedly did not perform any operational missions before Tasha Yar came aboard, in the flashback scene from "All Good Things..". Of course, the E-D could have been involved in "unofficial business" before formal launch to a mission, like the E-B, but would Starfleet prematurely send a ship when there already was another, supposedly fully operational ship available, namely Tasha's?)

    Timo Saloniemi
     
  5. Gotham Central

    Gotham Central Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Its worth noting that Picard's career was of such distinction that not only was he given command of the Flagship, before the end of his first year of duty in command of the Enterprise he was already being offered a promotion to admiral. Walker Keel wanted to make him an Admiral and Commandant at SFA. Admittedly he was doing that so that he could keep an eye on ominious things happening on Earth, but he could have done so if Picard was actually worthy of the position.
     
  6. Avro Arrow

    Avro Arrow Vice Admiral Moderator

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    There's also this, from "The Next Phase":

    We have no idea what Picard was inspecting, but it sounds from the phrasing that he is between commands at the time. And it would appear that the "next command" ended up being the Enterprise.

    That being said, I would presume he would have commanded something between Stargazer and Enterprise.

    (I really should re-read The Buried Age. I remember *really* liking the book, but a lot of the details have faded...)
     
  7. Timo

    Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    And the exploits of the Stargazer appeared to be suggested or otherwise popular reading at the Academy - that's probably telling something, considering how many ships Starfleet has out there...

    Would an adventurous career of exploration be enough to boost Picard to high positions (and not merely to popular fame), though? Or did he need to spend those eight or nine years between the commands honing his political skills, sucking up to a number of Admirals, and otherwise buying votes?

    It would rather seem likely that a skipper who has been Out There for twenty years would be out of the loop and lacking in connections. But perhaps that's why Picard was such a good candidate - he didn't have too much San Francisco muck on his uniform yet.

    Timo Saloniemi
     
  8. LMFAOschwarz

    LMFAOschwarz Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Pretty fascinating to me, is how Picard's background ended up "emulating" Kirk's, in that both men have vague back stories with contradictory details which defy cohesive explanations.
     
  9. Armored Saint

    Armored Saint Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Perhaps Picard had non-permanent command during these 8 years. Exemple: He's assigned to a diplomatic mission, so, for the occasion, he takes command of a small ship. On the other hands, how many Star Trek characters had their full pedigree stated on screen. Picard always talked about the Stargazer because she was her first love and they had been together for a really long time. So in fact, Picard's past isn't so mysterious, it's only the contrast made by the importance of the Stargazer.
     
  10. Timo

    Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    ^^Isn't that universal in televised entertainment, though? At least careers in a fictional Starfleet are more easily handwaved than careers in, say, NYPD or USAF or UCLA.

    Timo Saloniemi
     
  11. Armored Saint

    Armored Saint Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Shhhhhhhhh! Star Trek is an unique product. It has nothing in common with other tv-shows, especially other american tv-shows produced during the same time-period.
     
  12. LMFAOschwarz

    LMFAOschwarz Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    You're right. Just this past winter, during my re-watch of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., in a handful of episodes, Sergeant Carter was said to have been in the Marines for fourteen, thirteen, fifteen and eighteen years! :wtf: