Was Data the lead science officer aboard the Enterprise-D & E?
James
James
Data
- Thread starter James Wright
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Why wasn't he lead science officer?
James
James
Who are you asking? Because I'm pretty sure the writers of The Next Generation are the only ones who can answer this.
Red was chosen for command, and gold was chosen for engineering and security, because it was thought that Patrick Stewart looked better in the red uniform than he did in the gold uniform. Because it was thought that Brent Spiner in android make-up looked better in the gold uniform than in the blue uniform, Data was given the engineering-related position of "operations manager," although for all intents and purposes on the show, he was the science officer.
I don't think they ever used the term "science officer" on TNG. I know it was Spock's position on "Star Trek" and I vaguely recall Jadzia Dax being referred to as such on DS9 (I should know better, since she's my favourite character, but for the moment I'm not sure), but I thought they just skipped assigning someone that position on TNG. Can anyone clarify if this position was used in DS9, but neglected by TNG?
They did refer to various science officers throughout the show's run. A science officer Swenson (I think) was mentioned once, but never shown. In "Conspiracy." Admiral Quinn and Riker both referred to a "science officer."
I was always bothered by the decision to put Data in yellow, and use him as a science officer. OTOH, Spock was in science division, but clearly was high in the chain of command, so some crossover seemed the norm for Starfleet.
I was always bothered by the decision to put Data in yellow, and use him as a science officer. OTOH, Spock was in science division, but clearly was high in the chain of command, so some crossover seemed the norm for Starfleet.
Vic Sixx hit the nail squarely on the head, Data had a computer for a brain,any time there was a science question who would Picard ask, not the science officer, he'd ask Data. If the E-D had a lead science officer they never showed on the bridge.
James
James
I've always been under the impression that Data was the E-D's chief science officer as well as its ops guy/second officer.
Was a science officer besides Data ever seen on the bridge of the E-D, and were they addressed as science officer?
James
James
Dax is indeed explicitly referred to as Science Officer, in the first episode and others.
I can remember Data refering to himself as "second officer, science officer" somewhere. I think he was speaking to the computer at the time.
Anyone else have a memory cell fire off about that? I have no idea what episode it might have been, but its a fairly clear memory. He's standing on the back section of the bridge when he says it.
Anyone else have a memory cell fire off about that? I have no idea what episode it might have been, but its a fairly clear memory. He's standing on the back section of the bridge when he says it.
I can't remember a single time in TNG's history where Data was ever referred to as a science officer. I think it's just fan assumption based on nothing.
Personally, I think that Ops served as a liaison between the bridge and various departments across the ship--including the science department--and Data was relaying collected sensor information being transmitted to the bridge.
On the other hand, Data may have simply held three jobs on the Enterprise--ops manager, second officer, and chief sciences officer--and only a Soong-type android may have been able to pull off all three simultaneously and so easily...
On the other hand, Data may have simply held three jobs on the Enterprise--ops manager, second officer, and chief sciences officer--and only a Soong-type android may have been able to pull off all three simultaneously and so easily...
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