Commodore Stocker: Why "Sir" and Why The Hearing?

[BillJ]

If so, perhaps Stocker could be Starbase 10's "portmaster" as well. But what does not make sense is that Stone indicated he commanded a starship just as Kirk is doing. Stocker, if Kirk's brusque appraisal holds water, has no such command experience. Look at it this way: if Stocker had been at Starbase 11 instead of Stone, would Stocker be able to handle the situation as Stone did?

Stone likely jumped tracks from Command to Support. Much like Kirk probably did when moving to Chief of Starfleet Operations.

 

[J.T.B.]

If so, perhaps Stocker could be Starbase 10's "portmaster" as well. But what does not make sense is that Stone indicated he commanded a starship just as Kirk is doing. Stocker, if Kirk's brusque appraisal holds water, has no such command experience.

If Stocker and Stone held the same position, it would mean that starship command wasn't a requirement, but not that a former starship captain couldn't also fill that billet.

Also, another question: is it possible that, though Stone and Mendez are the same rank, could it be that Mendez is still Stone's superior officer and overall commander of both the starbase and the overall sector of space around it?

It's possible. If there are two officers of the same grade, one always out-ranks the other by seniority, there are no ties.

Stone likely jumped tracks from Command to Support. Much like Kirk probably did when moving to Chief of Starfleet Operations.

There wouldn't really be a reason for Kirk to change "track," IRL it is standard for officers to alternate between operational/field command and staff assignments. I thought it gave a realistic touch that is often lacking in Trek.

 

[Ithekro]

Had Mendez commanded a starship prior to assignment to Starbase 11? I fail to remember. Stone had commanded a starship as he says so to Kirk.

 

[BillJ]

Had Mendez commanded a starship prior to assignment to Starbase 11? I fail to remember. Stone had commanded a starship as he says so to Kirk.

I don't think we get any real background on Mendez in "The Menagerie".

 

[Timo]

...All we know is that for him, Captain Kirk is "Jim", and for Kirk, Commodore Mendez is "Jose".

We have previously heard of Kirk knowing various bigwigs and their vices to some detail - in "Man Trap" already, he was ready to dismiss orders from "Space Commander" Dominiguez because he knew this other "Jose" was just waiting for his regular chili pepper dose. We are not privy to the nature of the close-knit fraternity, though: does Kirk know these people because he served with them? Trained with them? Operates in their turf? Met them in a party held by Captain Mallory once?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mister Spock]

Perhaps he was just raised well and with good manners.

 

[Trevacious]

"I've got to do something!"

 

[Cicero]

What is strange and ironic is the suggestion that Stocker, already a commodore, is being assigned to command an entire Federation starbase, just like Stone (another starship command veteran) yet Stocker supposedly has no such command experience himself.

This seems entirely possible to me. A modern example: The naval base my family lived on when I was in high school had four permanent (rear admiral) commanding officers while we were there. They had previously commanded:

• A guided missile frigate, a destroyer squadron, and a carrier group.
• A guided missile frigate and a destroyer squadron
• The carrier Independence.
• Two medium-size naval support facilities.

The last officer had never been assigned to a ship at sea, much less in command of one. (As it happened, she came up through the support structure for the Military Sealift Command – and was probably the best base flag officer we had).