A more realistic approach to away teams

[MikeS]

Since planets are so huge, wouldn't it make more sense to send a number of different away teams down - one per continent at least? Especially from a ship the size of the D. We came close to seeing this in Descent but I think in any revived series it should be a regular occurence. Each team would consist of a team leader, security and specialists in geology, diplomacy etc.

<Brain fart>

 

[Nebusj]

Since planets are so huge, wouldn't it make more sense to send a number of different away teams down - one per continent at least?

That'd kind of highlight how interesting stuff only happens to the people whose actors are named in the opening credits, wouldn't it?

(But yeah, it would be a nice touch to at least mention that there are other landing parties, even if they don't get to see the interesting stuff, at least on missions like explorations of uninhabited worlds where in principle the worst anyone can get is killed by the naturally-occurring land mines or whatnot.)

 

[Mario de Monti]

I guess it depends on why they are beaming down in the first place. With the ship´s sensors they can gather pretty much all the information on fauna, flora, geology, etc. that they could ask for, so that "scouting away teams" are not such big a necessity, IMO. On the show they mostly beam down for a specific reason and thus to a specific place, not so much to just have a look around.

Mario

 

[Commishsleer]

Since planets are so huge, wouldn't it make more sense to send a number of different away teams down - one per continent at least?

That'd kind of highlight how interesting stuff only happens to the people whose actors are named in the opening credits, wouldn't it?

(But yeah, it would be a nice touch to at least mention that there are other landing parties, even if they don't get to see the interesting stuff, at least on missions like explorations of uninhabited worlds where in principle the worst anyone can get is killed by the naturally-occurring land mines or whatnot.)

They did once mention other 'away teams' in an episode in TNG. I can't remember its name though. I think they were looking for something...
Of course all we saw were the main actors.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I also think that it would be more realistic to see drones, androids or holograms (with mobile emitter) do the initial away team missions so you are not putting your crew at risk on an alien planet. The real away team featuring all your senior officers should only beam down after everything checks out as secure.

 

[The Wormhole]

Since planets are so huge, wouldn't it make more sense to send a number of different away teams down - one per continent at least? Especially from a ship the size of the D. We came close to seeing this in Descent but I think in any revived series it should be a regular occurence. Each team would consist of a team leader, security and specialists in geology, diplomacy etc.

<Brain fart>

Sure, it would be more realistic, but not necessarily as interesting or entertaining.

 

[LobsterAfternoon]

I'd like to see better use/creation/development of secondary characters via away teams. Battlestar did this really well (the disasterous scouting mission to Kobal, where big characters like Baltar and the Chief shared screen time with Cally, Crashdown, etc.). The away teams on TNG, where Riker would take the entire bridge crew with him really bugged me.

 

[Romulan_spy]

The away teams on TNG, where Riker would take the entire bridge crew with him really bugged me.

Me too, especially since it meant that the entire bridge was manned by ensigns or something. What if an enemy ship or space anomaly appeared and threatened the ship? It would be toast! There is no way, you would leave something as powerful and advanced as a Galaxy class starship just parked in orbit, manned by mid level officers.

 

[T'Girl]

^ Which is what happen in Descent, the Captain left the ship's doctor in command, along with the third string support crew.

When attacked by the Borg they did just fine.

^(oo)^

 

[Romulan_spy]

^ Which is what happen in Descent, the Captain left the ship's doctor in command, along with the third string support crew.

When attacked by the Borg they did just fine.

^(oo)^

We have Crusher to thank for that. Without her, I think we know what would have happened.

 

[BillJ]

I guess it depends on why they are beaming down in the first place. With the ship´s sensors they can gather pretty much all the information on fauna, flora, geology, etc. that they could ask for, so that "scouting away teams" are not such big a necessity, IMO. On the show they mostly beam down for a specific reason and thus to a specific place, not so much to just have a look around.

Mario

This.

^ Which is what happen in Descent, the Captain left the ship's doctor in command, along with the third string support crew.

When attacked by the Borg they did just fine.

^(oo)^

We have Crusher to thank for that. Without her, I think we know what would have happened.

Picard should've been busted down to Ten-Forward dishwasher for leaving a capital ship in the command of the Chief Medical Officer during what could be a crisis situation. Either Picard should have stayed aboard or left Riker in command.

 

[Use of Time]

I guess it depends on why they are beaming down in the first place. With the ship´s sensors they can gather pretty much all the information on fauna, flora, geology, etc. that they could ask for, so that "scouting away teams" are not such big a necessity, IMO. On the show they mostly beam down for a specific reason and thus to a specific place, not so much to just have a look around.

Mario

This.

^ Which is what happen in Descent, the Captain left the ship's doctor in command, along with the third string support crew.

When attacked by the Borg they did just fine.

^(oo)^

We have Crusher to thank for that. Without her, I think we know what would have happened.

Picard should've been busted down to Ten-Forward dishwasher for leaving a capital ship in the command of the Chief Medical Officer during what could be a crisis situation. Either Picard should have stayed aboard or left Riker in command.

Yeah, you just know that that tactical LT just kept saying to himself "we're all gonna die, we're all gonna die." He probably requested a transfer as soon as they left the system.

 

[Phanton]

Futures End Part 1 (VOY) - Janeway: "Ensign Kim you have an impeccable sense of timing".

After a keen ensign Kim gets the opportunity to show off some awesome command skills by swooping into early Earths atmosphere to save Janeway and Chakotay from the deluded Henry Starling, just at the right time.

Always bugged me why Captain Braxton went crazy homeless mental, why didn’t he just settle down have a family and chill out a bit? *shakes head*

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

Maybe the away teams (or landing parties) we see are sort of the 'first wave', just to check things out first. Of course they are also the ones who run into all sorts of trouble, which puts the kibbosh on the follow-up teams. I seem to remember on at least some occasions, after the danger was over, Kirk would tell the ship to start sending down teams.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Re: A more realistic approach to landing parties

They're landing parties damn it!

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

Re: A more realistic approach to landing parties

They're landing parties damn it!

I was trying to bridge the generational divide.

 

[Mario de Monti]

^ Which is what happen in Descent, the Captain left the ship's doctor in command, along with the third string support crew.

When attacked by the Borg they did just fine.

^(oo)^

We have Crusher to thank for that. Without her, I think we know what would have happened.

Picard should've been busted down to Ten-Forward dishwasher for leaving a capital ship in the command of the Chief Medical Officer during what could be a crisis situation. Either Picard should have stayed aboard or left Riker in command.

Oh, absolutely. On a ship with such a large crew there just has to be someone better qualified to take care of the ship than the doctor! I mean, there must be some sort of watch officers aboard, that take over when the main bridge crew goes off duty. They don´t work 24h shifts, do they?

Mario

 

[Grendelsbayne]

We have Crusher to thank for that. Without her, I think we know what would have happened.

Picard should've been busted down to Ten-Forward dishwasher for leaving a capital ship in the command of the Chief Medical Officer during what could be a crisis situation. Either Picard should have stayed aboard or left Riker in command.

Oh, absolutely. On a ship with such a large crew there just has to be someone better qualified to take care of the ship than the doctor! I mean, there must be some sort of watch officers aboard, that take over when the main bridge crew goes off duty. They don´t work 24h shifts, do they?

Mario

I don't remember what episode(s) it was - TNG isn't my strong suit - but I remember it being shown at some point that Data was typically left in charge of the bridge on the third shift. (I guess because he didn't need sleep anyway, it wasn't a problem for him to do two shifts a day.) Of course, Data wasn't on the ship at this point, either.

 

[MikeS]

^You're thinking of Data's Day.

 

[Mario de Monti]

"Data´s Day" came to my mind, too. But that was really the only time we saw Data do the "night shift". On the other hand we saw him off-duty quite frequently, which wouldn´t work if he had to be on duty 24/7.

Mario