Cohabitation on Voyager

[Dingo]

I remember in the first season there were numerous references to people 'pairing off' and I wonder how cohabitation worked on Voyager. I imagine some drama can result if longtime relationships break up.

The reason I brought this up is because I'm writing a story series about Voyager with two original characters who both work on the night shift. A Starfleet Flight Controller and a Maquis Security officer. The Starfleet Flight Controller, LT Deborah Kinnian, is involved with LT Peter Durst and I imagine them sharing quarters. I wonder if that seems permissible by canon...

 

[T'Girl]

In the modern Air Force there's two main things, be discrete on duty and no dating a "direct" subordinate. In the case of the latter, that's why a captain really can't date anyone onboard. Off duty it's a different story, a certain amount of decorum is required in public areas, in private is private.

I'm planing to read your story as soon as I can. Which season is it set and is there still a adversarial relationship with the fleet and maquis crews?



T'Girl

 

[Guy Gardener]

PICARD: Mister Okona, you were welcomed aboard without any undue investigation. In turn it was assumed that you did not come under false pretenses. It now seems that you may have done.
OKONA: Captain, if you mean my socialising with the members of the crew?
PICARD: Mister Okona, you are free to socialise with the members of my crew.

Riker and Troi went through the entire crew compliment of one thousand souls to bury how much they meant to each other, and everyone was directly subordinate to those two given how their jobs on the promotion track relates to everyone except picard, bev and each other.

 

[Brit]

Guy is right, people being people are going to get together no matter what their rank, and you cannot make rules and regulations for attractions. We do not see the Trek Characters wearing Halos (the libido suppressing skin patches worn in "Defying Gravity"). As behind as the military usually is about such things, they will be over it all by the time of Trek.

From the last edition of "The Star Trek Encyclopedia"

fraternization - Intimate association between members of Starfleet. It was Starfleet's policy not to interfere with the personal lives of its personnel, so fraternization is not prohibited, so long as it was voluntary and desired by both parties.

There is no rule against Captains having relationships with subordinates. You are not going to attract many people into Starfleet if you tell them that they can't have relationships. We already know people in fulfilling relationships are not only physically healthier, they are mentally healthier. They make better decisions and they have a lot less stress. By the time of Starfleet, those in charge are going to know that healthy, less stressed command officers are way better than ill, depressed ones.

My best guess would be, in the future not only would cohabitation be allowed, it would be encouraged and encouraged for all Starfleet members no matter what the rank.

Brit

 

[Dingo]

I'm planing to read your story as soon as I can. Which season is it set and is there still a adversarial relationship with the fleet and maquis crews?

This will start in the first season of Voyager and follow the series and some AU projects of mine.

I've already partially finished a prologue laying how LT Deborah Kinnian of Starfleet and LTJG Carl Stevens the Provisional Maquis officer. The story is called The Guardian and is set just before Voyager's mission.

I'm planning to feature mostly lower decks characters as well as the main cast. In my first season arc of fics I'll play with the Maquis/Starfleet. LT Stadi will feature somewhat more prominently in some areas of the fic (the pre-Caretaker parts) and in several flashbacks as she is LT Kinnian's best friend. LT Peter Durst is also featured as LT Kinnian's boyfriend (whom she shares quarters with) and thus the basis for this thread's query.

I've also writing the Maquis/Starfleet friction in the adversarial relationship between LT Durst and LTJG Stevens. The two detest each other on sight for a variety of reasons. I was inspired by the Kes/Paris/Neelix triangle that Seasons 1 and early Season 2 up to Partuition explored and was inspired to play it out in the area of Maquis/Starfleet friction where my earlier fics take place.