Who Should Be the Next Captain of the Enterprise?

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Captain Clark Terrell, Jun 5, 2014.

  1. Elias Vaughn

    Elias Vaughn Captain Captain

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    Decker?
     
  2. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    Decker only had the center seat during the refit. Kirk yanked it out from under him. What happened between TMP and TWOK is anybody's guess. Most think Kirk commanded a second five year mission. But he did go back "upstairs" before the events of TWOK. I suppose there might be a novel about that out there. I doubt the ship became a training vessel so soon after the refit and Spock in TWOK seems to be fine commanding the ship as a teacher, but not on active duty. So there may have been a Captain between the end of Kirk's FYM and Spock's training ship.
     
  3. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    In Mere Anarchy: The Darkness Drops Again, I established that when Kirk was re-promoted to admiral, he had the Enterprise assigned as his personal flagship with Spock as its captain.
     
  4. Mage

    Mage Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I think the fanwanky idea comes from the fact that Worf is already there. Sisko just recieved new orders from Starfleet to go and explore the Gamma Quadrant, according the Peaceable Kingdoms. He is happy where he is, with his family. And the last time we saw Kira, she was transported onto an alien ship with Taran'Atar standing in front of her. Not only that, she left Starfleet to become a Vedek. It would not fit her character at all for her to suddenly become part of Starfleet again, because someone asked her to command the Enterprise. There is no appeal to her to rejoin.

    So, both characters suddenly finding themselves in a place where they would want to take command of the Enterprise, would be out of character. If the authors of Treklit decide to still put one of them in command, even though it makes no sense and only to gratify some fans, then that makes it fanwank.

    And yes, in a way, putting Worf in command of a prestigous ship like the Enterprise without never having commanded any other ship before that, can be considered odd aswell.

    However, Worf has been in command of a starship before, many times. When he took the Defiant out, while he was assigned to DS9, for patrol or what-not, he was in command. It wasn't like he had to call to the station and ask Benny what to do next.
    Nope, he commanded that ship. He might not have had the rank of captain, but he was IN COMMAND. So, he does have previous experience. Quite a lot, really.
     
  5. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    If Worf became captain, could Geordi fill the posts of XO and chief engineer simultaneously?

    Imho, because of the sheer life expectancy Humans have in the 24th century, I believe Picard is physically and mentally fit enough to command Enterprise for another two decades at least. So, when he leaves will depend on his and Beverly's family plans, which may or may not include settling down and ambassadorship. Beverly herself might still have career interests as well.
     
  6. Paris

    Paris Commodore Commodore

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    If Geordi became XO, I imagine he wouldn't have time for the Chief Engineer role as well. Taurik would probably take over as Chief. He's been Geordi's assistant chief for years..
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2014
  7. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    There's nothing fanwanky about Starfleet deciding to transfer Sisko to the Enterprise, because he's a qualified and experienced CO. Kira being out of Starfleet and MIA is harder to overcome. In both cases reasons could be created for them to say yes. In Sisko's case as a Starfleet officer he is expected to follow orders. A new assignment is an order.

    The only fanwanky part is the same as with Worf, they are existing Star Trek characters and it smacks of small universe syndrome.
     
  8. Mage

    Mage Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    IRL, yes, putting Sisko who's experienced on the flagship, makes sense.

    In TrekLit, where he's already a main character for another show, it's very small-universe.
     
  9. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    I've got an alternative solution that gets it all covered: fetch Mirror Picard from the FSS Enterprise!

    He's an experienced war-time commander and peace-time explorer, he's been in command of the Commonwealth flagship for years now; our Picard could retire and we'd still have a Captain Picard as TNG lead ($$$).

    Please roll your tongue back in and pick up your jaw from the ground at this nugget of ingeniousness. ;)
     
  10. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    I was gonna suggest Abramsverse Kirk... ;)
     
  11. Fer

    Fer Commander Red Shirt

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    If Picard & Crusher retire, that only leaves Worf and Geordi from the original TNG cast. (And sure, Data could return to the Enterprise, but his character arc seems to be moving away from that right now.) I'm not opposed to characters who originated in the novels like T'Ryssa or characters who had small parts in the TV series being expanded upon like Taurik, but when you reach the point where those type of characters have replaced nearly the entire crew then it really isn't TNG anymore, it's become the equivalent of New Frontier or SCE, so it should be rebranded. Kind of like Jefferson Airplane becoming Jefferson Starship.

    Not that I expect the TNG line to actually be renamed (Star Trek: Jefferson Starship Enterprise!); more likely new stories of Captain Worf on the E-E could still be included in events like The Fall, but any books under the TNG banner could then take place at any previous point when Picard was still in command.
     
  12. Elias Vaughn

    Elias Vaughn Captain Captain

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    Obviously what the Enterprise needs is an Emergency Command Hologram.

    That way we wouldn't have to get used to the commanding officer of the ship having hair. I don't know about you guys, but that'd be weird for me.
     
  13. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    It's almost af if the commander of Enterprise was a monarch, and we cannot agree on who has enough royal blood to be the next in line of succession. :rommie:
     
  14. zarkon

    zarkon Captain Captain

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    I don't really see that there's any physical reason for Picard to ever have to retire. Medical immortality should really be a possibility by the end of the 24th century. I mean, we don't seem more then three hundred and seventy years away from it right now.
     
  15. Tirius

    Tirius Captain Captain

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    Use Picard for its template. Problem solved. :p