Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirective?

[t_smitts]

The term "prime directive" and the fact that it's General Order #1 imply that it's pretty darn important. You'd think the consequences for breaking it would be pretty severe. A captain would at least be relieved of command, pending an inquiry.

But has anyone ever actually faced anything more severe than being reprimanded by a superior? Seems like Starfleet's oddly forgiving of people who break such an important rule.

 

[at Quark's]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Well, there's the demotion of young Kirk in 'into Darkness'... (and I believe the original punishment was to send him back to the academy). Of course after that stuff starts happening so quickly that he is rapidly back in the captain's seat

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

No doubt Ron Tracey got his wings clipped.

 

[Captain Rob]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

It could be argued that Captain Merrick got punished. Just not by Starfleet. The Pro Consul really stuck it to him.

 

[TheSubCommander]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Tom Paris did.

 

[T'Girl]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

I have a theory that Data stayed a Lieutenant Commander for so long because of the events of Pen Pal.

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

There does seem to be a lot of leniency when it comes to breaking the Prime Directive, especially since it's supposed to be so unbreakable that a Captain is authorised to sacrifice their ship and crew to uphold it. Yet they always break it to save their ship and crew with no lasting repercussions. Starfleet is weird at times.

 

[stardream]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Tom Paris did.

Actually he was never charged with that. Janeway rattled off a bunch of charges at him but breaking the PD wasn't one of them. He was guilty of disobeying orders, unauthorized use of a shuttle craft and reckless endangerment and conduct unbecoming an officer.

 

[Warped9]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

No doubt Ron Tracey got his wings clipped.

I'd say so.

It could be argued that Captain Merrick got punished. Just not by Starfleet. The Pro Consul really stuck it to him.

Saved a great deal in Federation court costs.

 

[InklingStar]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Nikolai Rozhenko, perhaps.

 

[Tracy Trek]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Nikolai wasn't in Starfleet. Would he be held to the same restrictions concerning the Prime Directive?

 

[TheSubCommander]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Tom Paris did.

Actually he was never charged with that. Janeway rattled off a bunch of charges at him but breaking the PD wasn't one of them. He was guilty of disobeying orders, unauthorized use of a shuttle craft and reckless endangerment and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Thirty Days. As in the name of the episode, AND the fact he was in the brig for 30 days, and demoted back to ensign. Janeway refused to act due to the PD. When Paris went against her orders, he was also violating the PD.

If he had done what he did in the AQ, he likely would have been kicked out of starfleet.

 

[Drone]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

I can't imagine that Ransom wouldn't have received the full Monty with no mitigating factors that might have been presented making a dent in his prosecution. The three surviving crewmembers of the Equinox could have been exemplars of good conduct during their two years of scrubbing conduits and such, but that wouldn't save them from being drummed out of the service "Branded" style at the very least IMO.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

There does seem to be a lot of leniency when it comes to breaking the Prime Directive, especially since it's supposed to be so unbreakable that a Captain is authorised to sacrifice their ship and crew to uphold it. Yet they always break it to save their ship and crew with no lasting repercussions. Starfleet is weird at times.

Maybe they should call it the Prime Suggestion.

 

[at Quark's]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

There does seem to be a lot of leniency when it comes to breaking the Prime Directive, especially since it's supposed to be so unbreakable that a Captain is authorised to sacrifice their ship and crew to uphold it. Yet they always break it to save their ship and crew with no lasting repercussions. Starfleet is weird at times.

Maybe they should call it the Prime Suggestion.

Reminds me of this scene from DS9 's Body Parts:

QUARK: You got to be joking. You're Gint. You wrote the Rules of Acquisition. The sacred precepts upon which all Ferengi society is based. You of all people can't expect me to break them.
GINT: Why not? They're just rules. They're written in a book, not carved in stone. And even if they were in stone, so what? A bunch of us just made them up.
QUARK: Are you saying they don't matter?
GINT: Of course they matter. That's why they're a best-seller. But we're talking about your life here. The Rules are nothing but guideposts, suggestions.
QUARK: Then why call them Rules?
GINT: Would you buy a book called Suggestions of Acquisition? Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?
QUARK: You mean it was a marketing ploy?
GINT: Shh. A brilliant one. Rule of Acquisition two hundred and thirty nine. Never be afraid to mislabel a product.

 

[stardream]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Tom Paris did.

Actually he was never charged with that. Janeway rattled off a bunch of charges at him but breaking the PD wasn't one of them. He was guilty of disobeying orders, unauthorized use of a shuttle craft and reckless endangerment and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Thirty Days. As in the name of the episode, AND the fact he was in the brig for 30 days, and demoted back to ensign. Janeway refused to act due to the PD. When Paris went against her orders, he was also violating the PD.

If he had done what he did in the AQ, he likely would have been kicked out of starfleet.

This is an old argument that's been around since the episode first aired and its not going to be settled now. I have just always wondered why it wasn't one of the charges that Janeway specifically brought against him. I would think it would be the first thing on the list.

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Nikolai wasn't in Starfleet. Would he be held to the same restrictions concerning the Prime Directive?

No he wouldn't. The Prime Directive doesn't apply to civilians, as established in Angel One. Now, Nikolai is in a bit of a unique situation, given he was on board a Starfleet ship at the time, and probably expected to follow their rules. Although, in the end if he did get any sort of punishment it would have been for unauthorized use of the transporter rather than violating the Prime Directive. Though for all we know, being Worf's brother probably protected him from any serious punishment. Starfleet's like that at times.

 

[Warped9]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

QUARK: You got to be joking. You're Gint. You wrote the Rules of Acquisition. The sacred precepts upon which all Ferengi society is based. You of all people can't expect me to break them.
GINT: Why not? They're just rules. They're written in a book, not carved in stone. And even if they were in stone, so what? A bunch of us just made them up.
QUARK: Are you saying they don't matter?
GINT: Of course they matter. That's why they're a best-seller. But we're talking about your life here. The Rules are nothing but guideposts, suggestions.
QUARK: Then why call them Rules?
GINT: Would you buy a book called Suggestions of Acquisition? Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?
QUARK: You mean it was a marketing ploy?
GINT: Shh. A brilliant one. Rule of Acquisition two hundred and thirty nine. Never be afraid to mislabel a product.

That rock's.

Insert any holy book and it works pretty much the same.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Of course they get punished, they all get promoted to the Admiralty and stuck behind a desk where they can do less damage, ie Kirk and Janeway.

 

[The Wormhole]

Re: Does anyone ever actually get PUNISHEDfor breaking the PrimeDirect

Of course they get punished, they all get promoted to the Admiralty and stuck behind a desk where they can do less damage, ie Kirk and Janeway.

To quote Admiral Toddman in DS9's The Die is Cast "If you pull a stunt like that again I'll court-martial you or I'll promote you. Either way you'll be in a lot of trouble."