Captain Styles' Swagger Stick

USS Triumphant · September 4 2012, 07:09 PM

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Swagger_stick

It has recently occurred to me that his "swagger stick" could have been intended to be something along the lines of the force lance carried by Commonwealth officers on Andromeda...

http://andromeda.wikia.com/wiki/Force_lance

... or, if not *intended* to be, then that there is still nothing in canon that would prevent someone from using it in a way similar to that in fan fiction or other further stories.

Thoughts?

sbk1234 · September 4 2012, 11:42 PM

I just thought he was a pompous ass who got off carrying a "scepter" like he was a friggin' king or something. It also reminded me of the "tension balls" that Capt. Queeg carried in The Caine Mutiny. Perhaps it was a real stress-related "security blanket" of some sort.

But some type of weapon makes sense, too. I've no problem with this idea.

JarodRussell · September 4 2012, 11:45 PM

It always reminds me of Captain Harris in Police Academy.

MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT! MOVE IT!

T J · September 4 2012, 11:56 PM

My understanding is, and I don't remember where I got this but it was a universal translator. Due to the Excelsior having more non-human crew members... wonder if I got it from the novelization... hummm... It was along time ago!

UssGlenn · September 5 2012, 12:04 AM

if I remember correctly, one of the books had it something he took from a Klingon he had bested in hand to hand combat.

CoveTom · September 5 2012, 04:05 AM

^ It certainly does not look Klingon.

CorporalClegg · September 5 2012, 10:05 PM

I think it's a lot of this:

sbk1234 wrote:

I just thought he was a pompous ass

And maybe something like this or similar:

T J wrote:

My understanding is, and I don't remember where I got this but it was a universal translator.

I wonder if it was in the script or if Nimoy's choice.

I'm guessing Nimoy figured giving Styles a vitis would make him seem more of a "polished brass" type of officer (See: pompous ass) in contrast to the man of action, Kirk.

Or it could simply be a 23rd C. riding stick and Styles is an avid equestrian.

cardinal biggles · September 5 2012, 10:46 PM

I always associated it with the riding crop General Patton liked to carry.

CorporalCaptain · September 5 2012, 11:38 PM

It reminded me of a reflex hammer.

doubleohfive · September 6 2012, 12:41 AM

Maybe it was just the stick he had up his ass all the time?

Transwarp Drive · September 6 2012, 01:18 AM

I always thought it was a pacing stick beloved of drill instructor types.

Ronald Held · September 6 2012, 08:27 PM

I vote for the pompous part and likely the equine as well.

JarodRussell · September 6 2012, 08:29 PM

UssGlenn wrote:

if I remember correctly, one of the books had it something he took from a Klingon he had bested in hand to hand combat.

Did they REALLY have to go there?

Styles was the stereotype of the typical stiff, arrogant British officer. Carrying that stick around was part of that.

Alpha Romeo · September 6 2012, 08:29 PM

UssGlenn wrote:

if I remember correctly, one of the books had it something he took from a Klingon he had bested in hand to hand combat.

Prime Directive...he was an LT then. Scotty smashed it!

September 7 2012, 12:38 PM

I agree that it was just a way to show his as a by-the-book arrogant jack-a**. Someone we don't have to like since he acts so uppity about himself and his ship.

I do like the reference to Captain Harris too. "Lets go to warp. MOVE IT! MOVE IT!"

September 4 2012, 07:09 PM	#1
USS Triumphant Commodore Location: Go ahead, caller. I'm listening...	Captain Styles' Swagger Stick http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Swagger_stick It has recently occurred to me that his "swagger stick" could have been intended to be something along the lines of the force lance carried by Commonwealth officers on Andromeda... http://andromeda.wikia.com/wiki/Force_lance ... or, if not intended to be, then that there is still nothing in canon that would prevent someone from using it in a way similar to that in fan fiction or other further stories. Thoughts? __________________ As the brilliant philosopher once said... Everybody, have fun tonight. Everybody, Wang Chung tonight.

September 4 2012, 11:42 PM	#2
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick I just thought he was a pompous ass who got off carrying a "scepter" like he was a friggin' king or something. It also reminded me of the "tension balls" that Capt. Queeg carried in The Caine Mutiny. Perhaps it was a real stress-related "security blanket" of some sort. But some type of weapon makes sense, too. I've no problem with this idea. __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

September 4 2012, 11:45 PM	#3
JarodRussell Vice Admiral	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick It always reminds me of Captain Harris in Police Academy. MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT! MOVE IT!

September 4 2012, 11:56 PM	#4
T J Commodore Location: milky way... there abouts	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick My understanding is, and I don't remember where I got this but it was a universal translator. Due to the Excelsior having more non-human crew members... wonder if I got it from the novelization... hummm... It was along time ago! __________________ One of the great revelations of space exploration is the image of the earth, finite and lonely bearing the entire human species through the oceans of space and time. ~ Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

September 5 2012, 12:04 AM	#5
UssGlenn Captain Location: New Orleans, LA	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick if I remember correctly, one of the books had it something he took from a Klingon he had bested in hand to hand combat. __________________ "What are you going to do?" "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go."

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

September 5 2012, 04:05 AM	#6
CoveTom Rear Admiral Location: CoveTom	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick ^ It certainly does not look Klingon.

September 5 2012, 10:46 PM	#8
cardinal biggles FECK OFF!!! Location: potrzebie	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick I always associated it with the riding crop General Patton liked to carry.

September 5 2012, 11:38 PM	#9
CorporalCaptain Vice Admiral Location: In pre-production	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick It reminded me of a reflex hammer. __________________ John

September 6 2012, 12:41 AM	#10
doubleohfive Fleet Admiral Location: Los Angeles, CA	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick Maybe it was just the stick he had up his ass all the time? __________________ "I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it." -Voltaire

September 6 2012, 01:18 AM	#11
Transwarp Drive Lieutenant Location: New Zealand	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick I always thought it was a pacing stick beloved of drill instructor types.

September 6 2012, 08:27 PM	#12
Ronald Held Rear Admiral Location: On the USS Sovereign	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick I vote for the pompous part and likely the equine as well.

September 7 2012, 12:38 PM	#15
SimpleLogic Guest	Re: Captain Styles' Swagger Stick I agree that it was just a way to show his as a by-the-book arrogant jack-a**. Someone we don't have to like since he acts so uppity about himself and his ship. I do like the reference to Captain Harris too. "Lets go to warp. MOVE IT! MOVE IT!"