If/When Picard retires, who should be the next captain?

[MatthiasRussell]

Imagine you are in the Starfleet admiralty in the mid 2380s when Picard leaves command of the Enterprise for some reason. Who would you recommend to be the next captain of the Federation flagship? What would be your arguments for that individual? What do think are the important skills and traits for that particular post as opposed to other commands in the fleet?

 

[MatthiasRussell]

I've ran a similar thread at startrek.com if anyone cares to see the thoughts there.
http://www.startrek.com/boards-topic/33345999/next-captain-of-the-enterprise?page=1

 

[BillJ]

Anyone but Worf.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Data, as per Countdown. I love the idea of a guy who once had to prove his sentience in court and who was treated poorly when he took command of the USS Sutherland (in "Redemption") eventually commanding Starfleet's flagship.

I know it's not really an in-universe justification, sorry. I don't think he ever made the sort of bad decisions that later-Captain Spock made during TOS.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'd rather it be somebody new personally. Somebody that both readers and characters alike would say "Who the hell is this?" and then we gradually learn why this person was chosen to command the Enterprise and why he or she was indeed the right person for the job.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

My candidate is Sisko.

For one thing, the flagship has never had a black captain so he is a good franchise choice. I also think the captain should also remain human for reader appeal. Sisko also works because fans know him and he has an established relationship with Worf, but would Worf feel offended at not being given command and feel slighted at being put under Sisko again like Starfleet feels he has more to learn?

From a fictional world perspective, Sisko has lots of battle and diplomacy experience.
He is also highly respected by some in the admiralty and UFP allies. But would command trust Sisko with the flagship since Akaar didn't seem comfortable giving him a ship to begin with.



I believe the captain of the flagship should have previous experience as a captain of his own ship. Though I like the concept of following the Countdown story, I just don't think Data would be resurrected and immediately given command; it seems they would want to test him out first to make sure he is reliable and stable.

 

[BillJ]

I could get behind Sisko.

 

[Cybersnark]

I can see Worf eventually becoming captain material, but I'll agree he's not there yet.

I honestly can't see Geordie as a captain; he's too happy as an engineer.

Data is still dead.

After Rough Beasts of Empire I'm a little cool on Sisko, honestly. And besides, he already has his own ship.

Riker -busy
Chakotay -busy
Kira -retired
Vaughn -unavalable
Gold -retired
Gomez -busy
Mueller -busy
Calhoun -God no.
Soleta -quit
Morn - not actually part of Starfleet.

I'd have to go with someone new.

 

[JD]

I would love to see a non-human character in command of the Enterprise, we've never seen a non-human character command one of the E. How many alien Starfleet ship captains have we seen? Kira, Calhoun, Sisko's CO in the Emissary prolouge, and the Vulcan from "Take Me Out To The Holosuite", are the only ones I can think of right now.

 

[Paris]

I also wouldn't mind Sisko, but I think Riker or Worf would also work. A Klingon in command of the Federation flagship would be quite a vote of confidence, and it would also solidify the Federation/Klingon alliance even further, especially since the head of Worf's house is the Chancellor.

Riker would be a great choice as it would reunite him and Troi with Worf and Geordi and it would feel very TNG-like, which is what people want. I can't count how many times people have whined about how the TNG book series doesn't feel TNG enough. Riker would satisfy this desire. He'd have to leave Titan; but the Enterprise is Riker's dream command, so i think he wouldn't have too big of a problem...

 

[Lonemagpie]

Think I'd go with giving Titan to Shelby, and having Riker and Troi brought back into TNG by giving Riker the E-E

 

[zarkon]

Data or Riker's beard.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I'm trying hard not to throw in "resurrected Janeway" as a thread-bomb...

 

[BillJ]

I can see Worf eventually becoming captain material, but I'll agree he's not there yet.

It has nothing to do with where the character is at... Worf is simply overexposed. Eleven television series, four movies and countless novels.

I could roll with Sisko, but would much prefer a brand new character.

 

[zarkon]

I'm trying hard not to throw in "resurrected Janeway" as a thread-bomb...

She still has more people's futures to kill!

 

[DimesDan]

How about Ezri Dax?

 

[MatthiasRussell]

Worf- I'm not sure if he has the diplomacy abilities for the flagship and being in the family/house of the Klingon Chancellor is an odd situation where he could be put in a conflict of interests scenerio.
Calhoun- Too much of a cowboy.
Shelby/resurrected Janeway- they are admirals and you typically don't see admirals commanding ships in trek.
Riker- I think Titan would die without Riker. He personally compiled the crew and sets its personality. I would like him "finally having a shot at that chair" though.
Ezri- Okay with that but would she want to give up the Aventine?

I would be okay with an alien as it hasn't been done before which seems racist (species-ist). I think the general audience may have a hard time latching on to a non-human-like character but us regular readers wouldn't. I am against an unknown as I think TNG books would die without a known character at the center.

Someone recommended Saavik to me and I like this one. Alien, female, and familiar. Much of the upcoming diplomatic missions will no doubt be around the Romulans so a Vulcan whose husband is living on Romulus could be interesting but perhaps a conflict of interests.

 

[JWolf]

I would love to see a non-human character in command of the Enterprise, we've never seen a non-human character command one of the E. How many alien Starfleet ship captains have we seen? Kira, Calhoun, Sisko's CO in the Emissary prolouge, and the Vulcan from "Take Me Out To The Holosuite", are the only ones I can think of right now.

Non-human. That fits Worf perfectly. And yes, I do think it should be Worf as captain of the Enterprise.

Think I'd go with giving Titan to Shelby, and having Riker and Troi brought back into TNG by giving Riker the E-E

Shelby is an Admiral. That won't work.

How about Ezri Dax?

Why would she want such an obsolete ship? The one she has a a lot more modern.

 

[Anika Hanson]

Worf, Ezri Dax, Kira, Tuvok.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

^ Kira has left starfleet for a religious career and Tuvok is Lt Cmdr(?) so he doesn't have near the rank for consideration, nor I would wager the diplomatic credentials.