Commodore Decker and Bones

[Cmdr_Blop]

^

I still think that should have been followed by:

BONES: "Sir, I believe you are psychologically unfit for command at this time, and on my authority as the Chief Medical Officer of Enterprise, I am ordering you to sickbay, where you will submit to a full examination. If I find you capable of returning to duty, you will be in command. Until then, Spock is in command of Enterprise."

 

[A.V.I.A.F.]

A CMO can't just order the CO to skip off to the Sick Bay during a crisis situation or during any situation for that matter. Here are just some cases in point:

I) The Enterprise Incident:

"Enterprise Medical Log, stardate 5027.3. Doctor Leonard McCoy recording. I'm concerned about Captain Kirk. He shows indications of increasing tension and emotional stress.

and later
​

"MCCOY [OC]: I can find no reason for the captain's behaviour, except possibly that we've been on patrol too long without relief and diversion. He has resisted all of my attempts to run a psychological profile on him."

If Bones can't get the sitting captain off for a physical how can he order a commodore to do so?

II) The Deadly Years: Aged Kirk falls asleep on the bridge and commits a number of other faux pas before a commodore, not the CMO, orders an inquiry.

III) Journey to Babel: Kirk has been almost fatally stabbed and is about to double over but McCoy does not stop him when he hatches his plot to fool Spock into thinking he is okay so that Spock will report to Sick Bay to give his father the much needed transfusion. When Kirk changes his mind and decides to stay on the bridge (instead of having Scotty relieve him) while in a crisis situation, no one from Medicine comes onto the bridge to cart Kirk away.

IV) The Enemy Within: Kirk is psychologically split into two, but McCoy is helpless to relieve him, so is Spock for that matter.

I am sure that there are other examples. The poster who referred to Obsession and of McCoy threatening Kirk's command has it a bit wrong in my opinion. McCoy is not threatening to have Kirk relieved of his command unless he justifies his decisions, rather he says that he will enter a doubt into his medical log which Kirk must then answer in his log. If anything, he is threatening Kirk with more paperwork...nothing more.

 

[Cmdr_Blop]

IDK... Decker was clearly unstable, and even Bones told Kirk that Decker was in a state of shock... he was in no position to assume command.

 

[Maurice]

Sorry Maurice:

ECKER: Mister Spock, I'm officially notifying you that I'm exercising my option under regulations as a Starfleet Commodore, and that I am assuming command of the Enterprise.
SPOCK: You have the right to do so, but I would advise against it.
DECKER: That thing must be destroyed.
SPOCK: You tried to destroy it once before, Commodore. The result was a wrecked ship and a dead crew.
DECKER: I made a mistake then. We were too far away. This time I'm going to hit it with full phasers at point-blank range.
SPOCK: Sensors show the object's hull is solid neutronium. A single ship cannot combat it.
DECKER: Mister Spock, that will be all. You have been relieved of command. Don't force me to relieve you of duty as well.
MCCOY: You can't let him do this, Spock.
DECKER: Doctor, you are out of line.
MCCOY: So are you, sir. Well, Spock?
SPOCK: Unfortunately, Starfleet Order 104, Section B, leaves me no alternative. Paragraph 1A clearly states
MCCOY: To blazes with regulations! You can't let him take command when you know he's wrong!

Sorry what? I said Spock was not keen to hand over command. How does this contradict that? He urges Decker no to do it. It's Bones who's forgetting to tell Spock what state he found Decker in. He did examine and treat him on the Constellation.

 

[BillJ]

Evidently a cursory examination isn't enough to relieve a commander.