Do officers 'inherit' positions in Starfleet?

[Richard S. Ta]

It's something I see get thrown around a lot. Most recently in reading the 'Would TNG work without Picard?' thread.

The idea was put across (and it's not the first time I've seen it) that if Picard left/retired/died, Riker would just become Captain and Data would be moved up to First Officer. Bam. Just like that.

But is that really how it works? (outside of exceptional field promotions?)

To me, Starfleet seems to operate as a meritocracy (most of the time) and it seems strange that officers would simply be automatically moved up the ladder, as opposed finding the 'right' person to do it.

So I imagine that if for some reason Picard left/retired/died, basically the Enterprise would be moved into a space dock or something and a new Captain would be installed who would have a say (as Picard did) in his crew. That Captain may not even want Riker as first officer etc. As Picard did in Farpoint, they'd move their own people and trusted others into their command staff.

I'm not saying it couldn't happen that Riker or Data would just moved up... but at the same time, the D being the flagship, if Starfleet didn't feel they were right for the job, surely they'd be reassigned?

Sorry if it's been asked before or even a million times. It's just an idea I've seen floated repeatedly on the board and it doesn't sit right with me.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Adm. Hanson made Riker Captain after the Borg took Picard, but I don't recall any indication or dialog that it was permanent (though if PS had decided to leave, it probably would have been permanent and they might have given Riker an all new XO).

They might have even gone the FO and XO route with Data being one of those.

 

[danellis]

Adm. Hanson made Riker Captain after the Borg took Picard, but I don't recall any indication or dialog that it was permanent (though if PS had decided to leave, it probably would have been permanent and they might have given Riker an all new XO).

They might have even gone the FO and XO route with Data being one of those.

I may be misremembering, but I think the Shelby character was created to step in as FO if Stewart did leave.

dJE

 

[The Wormhole]

It's circumstantial. If Picard had left at some point, it's possible Riker might have been bumped up and become Captain of the Enterprise, but it's just as possible another Captain might have been assigned and they could decide their own senior staff. That's looking at in-universe, of course. As far as production related decisions go, most likely the cast would stay the same, just Jonathan Frakes as the lead instead of Patrick Stewart.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Sure, I understand from a cast perspective.

Personally I’m not sure if I was head of the Federation that I’d be totally comfortable with Riker and Data in charge of the flagship.

Riker has a temper on him and lacks the diplomatic skills of Picard, while Data seems to get hacked and take over the ship on a semi-regular basis.

 

[DonIago]

Sure, I understand from a cast perspective.

Personally I’m not sure if I was head of the Federation that I’d be totally comfortable with Riker and Data in charge of the flagship.

Riker has a temper on him and lacks the diplomatic skills of Picard, while Data seems to get hacked and take over the ship on a semi-regular basis.

Other than in "Brothers", when did Data take over the ship?

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Other than in "Brothers", when did Data take over the ship?

I might be conflating a few things together due to elderly memory.

Regardless, he’s a potential liability.

 

[valkyrie013]

If you look back, Picard "Inhereted" the Stargazzer when the command crew bit the dust, and starfleet left him in charge. Granted it was a 40 year old ship at the time atleast.

I would say that some or most captains use the first officer position to groom them as a replacement for them if something happens, they can just slot right in. and if they prove themselves in the interem starfleet would just shrug there shoulders. But this would depend on the ship, Enterprise is the flag ship and a plum assignment.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Captain Jellico says hi.

 

[DonIago]

I might be conflating a few things together due to elderly memory.

Regardless, he’s a potential liability.

Given the number of times we saw other people commandeer ships, I'm not sure Data is ultimately more of a potential liability than at least any of the command staff.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Given the number of times we saw other people commandeer ships, I'm not sure Data is ultimately more of a potential liability than at least any of the command staff.

Okay, fine.

So to engage with the actual question in the OP, are positions on starships inherited?

 

[Jedman67]

In an emergency (such as in Gambit) the next in line senior officer (such as the XO) would take over as acting captain immediately. If the original captain is dead or permanently disabled, the acting captain would become the presumptive new captain and official promotion is would be likely forthcoming with little fuss.

If the XO is young, or inexperienced, then they would likely be restored to their former position once the emergency is over and a new captain can be permanently assigned.

In BOBW, Hanson told Riker "I'm granting you a field promotion to Captain" - indicating that such a promotion is temporary, for the duration of the crisis until Starfleet Command decides to ratify it or not. Had Picard/Locutus indeed been killed (and PS left the show) Riker would have been formally promoted and granted captaincy of the Enterprise.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

In BOBW, Hanson told Riker "I'm granting you a field promotion to Captain" - indicating that such a promotion is temporary, for the duration of the crisis until Starfleet Command decides to ratify it or not. Had Picard/Locutus indeed been killed (and PS left the show) Riker would have been formally promoted and granted captaincy of the Enterprise.

Just like that?

I can’t see it. There are presumably hundreds of officers at least who might be more experienced or flexible than Riker.

Riker is a hothead. He’s immature. This is visible in Gambit in which he sulks and has to have a strip torn off him by Troi to even start performing Captain’s duties.

We are told time and again that the Enterprise is a plum assignment. That a higher standard is expected. Riker stays this directly to Barclay in Hollow Pursuits. The Captain of the Enterprise would be expected to perform a wide variety of duties and some of them, such as diplomacy, are just not within Riker’s wheelhouse.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Just like that?

I can’t see it. There are presumably hundreds of officers at least who might be more experienced or flexible than Riker.

Riker is a hothead. He’s immature. This is visible in Gambit in which he sulks and has to have a strip torn off him by Troi to even start performing Captain’s duties.

We are told time and again that the Enterprise is a plum assignment. That a higher standard is expected. Riker stays this directly to Barclay in Hollow Pursuits. The Captain of the Enterprise would be expected to perform a wide variety of duties and some of them, such as diplomacy, are just not within Riker’s wheelhouse.

I thought BobW was all about Riker NOT being a hothead anymore compared to Shelby with the solution to the crisis him pulling off an unconventional risky strategy no one expects.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I thought BobW was all about Riker NOT being a hothead anymore compared to Shelby with the solution to the crisis him pulling off an unconventional risky strategy no one expects.

Gets dropped after that to various degrees though. Been rewatching a lot of TNG from all seasons recently. He calms down a bit after BobW, but he never loses his temper.

 

[XCV330]

Starfleet has a peculiar habit of leaving one captain on a ship too long. I know its just for tv reasons but captains should be changed out after 2 years

 

[Mojochi]

Other than in "Brothers", when did Data take over the ship?

He locked out transporters to protect exocomps in The Quality of Life, & represented a danger to the ship & crew when Lore controlled him in Descent, & potentially so, when Ira Graves took him over. He was also at the center of the hostage situation in Power Play. However, that brings up another point.

Given the number of times we saw other people commandeer ships, I'm not sure Data is ultimately more of a potential liability than at least any of the command staff.

In fact, the conditions where we've seen Data hijack the ship or be a similar liability, it's largely because he's been hijacked himself, which in Star Trek lore happens just as frequently to the rest of the crew as to him, if not more, e.g. Picard, Geordi, O'Brien, Barclay & Troi have all been similarly hijacked, some more than once, & the whole crew but him got controlled in The Game. I'd agree Data is no more a liability than anyone else in that narrative. It's just different conditions that bring it about.

As to the topic. I wouldn't expect Riker has any special claims to get posted as the ship's captain merely due to proximity, least of all when you account for him never having served in a post as one, whereas Picard served decades on the Stargazer building his rep, for that esteemed posting.

I suspect the BoBW promotion was a rather special circumstance, where they'd just lost its captain, & were in a fix to quickly man up, for an upcoming invasion. Had Picard remained lost, & they still prevailed, he might've been likely to retain the commission, under those circumstances, especially given the loss of leadership at Wolf 359, but even then it's not a guarantee IMHO.

It is possible though, & there does seem to be a culture of promoting from within, for most other command ranks, even including captain sometimes. Picard rose to captain of the Stargazer by assuming command from a fallen captain, thereafter being given the post officially... but The Stargazer is not The Enterprise. It's pretty presumptuous imho for Riker to think he'd "get a shot" at her top spot, just by being grandfathered in.

 

[The Wormhole]

Just like that?

I can’t see it. There are presumably hundreds of officers at least who might be more experienced or flexible than Riker.

In the aftermath of TBOBW? Actually, I can see it going either way. Were Picard lost, Starfleet could make Riker the permanent Captain of the Enterprise on the grounds that he did just save the Federation and therefore would have some celebrity status, and really when you get down to it, command of the flagship would be more about politics than anything else. Though I would imagine in that scenario, reflecting the fact Riker is a new and untested Captain, Starfleet would likely assign an experienced XO.

Though it's true, through political maneuvering some of the more experienced Captains might be able to spin the matter into proving the Enterprise needs a more experienced commanding officer. Yes, Riker did just save the Federation, but at the cost of one of Starfleet's greatest Captains. Give Riker command of a Nebula class or something and hand command of the Enterprise over to one of the other Galaxy class Captains, or to Jellico.

 

[David cgc]

If you look back, Picard "Inhereted" the Stargazzer when the command crew bit the dust, and starfleet left him in charge. Granted it was a 40 year old ship at the time atleast.

A lot of people IRL conflate those in the retelling, but it's possible they were two separate incidents, and Picard just took over when the captain and first officer were killed, but a new captain (and maybe first officer) were assigned after the crisis, and it was a while before Picard was actually made captain.

 

[Takeru]

I may be misremembering, but I think the Shelby character was created to step in as FO if Stewart did leave.

dJE

Elizabeth Dennehy herself said on the 7th Rule podcast she had a two episode contract for the 3rd season finale and the 4th season premiere and that was it, there was no option to become a regular and not even informal talks to her or her agent if she was theoretically willing to come back in any capacity.
The entire "They weren't sure if Patrick Stewart was coming back" story is also something fans most likely made up not knowing better. Patrick Stewart was under contract, it was not his decision if he returned or not. He could have asked to be released but the studio would have had to agree to that, there would have been no uncertainty. Shelby was created to clash with Riker and to create conflict, that's what they used guest stars for all the time.