First Commands?

[Red Ranger]

People,

I'm not exactly clear on this, but I'm of the impression that in most of the series, our central character isn't shown assuming his or her first command.

While not officially established, circumstances would seem to indicate Kirk has had a command before Enterprise.

Picard is definitely established as being in command of at least one starship before the Enterprise-D, the Stargazer.

It seems Sisko is the only one shown with his first command, notwithstanding his stint as first officer aboard the Saratoga at Wolf 359.

Janeway, it's not clear if she had commanded a ship before Voyager. I know she had served on other ships before that posting.

Archer, it's less clear. We know he was some kind of c.o., but it's not clearly stated, as far as I know, if Enterprise is his first command, or his first major command. But my ENT knowledge is sketchy.

As always, I know there's someone on this board more knowledgeable, so have at it!

Also, if there is ever another ST show with a new cast, should it be established it's his/her first command? I can see some interesting stories if that were the case, our character being a "newbie" in the center chair.

Thanks.

Red Ranger

 

[cultcross]

Red Ranger said:
Janeway, it's not clear if she had commanded a ship before Voyager. I know she had served on other ships before tht posting.

I'd say it wasn't her first command. The way she does the 'call me Captain' scene in Caretaker suggests she's had experience with the issue before.

 

[Jack Bauer]

I forget which episode it is but Janeway does menton her previous command. I forget the name of the ship.

 

[EnsignJulka]

I think if it was her first command the writers would have made a point of it in the series...

 

[Timo]

The only hint at Kirk's previous command jobs is from "Where No Man", where it is said he asked for Gary Mitchell to accompany him for his first command. The wording sorta suggests this is not the Enterprise he's talking about.

In turn, Janeway in "Caretaker" mentions serving aboard the Al-Batani with Tom Paris' dad, but obviously not as the ship's commander ("Shattered" in fact establishes this as Ensign Janeway's first starship tour of duty).

In "Revulsion", Janeway says Tuvok critiqued her performance on her first command, but there is nothing there to indicate that this would have been a starship command. It can't refer to the command of the Voyager, either, because it happened when Janeway and Tuvok first met - some 20 years before the series. Janeway would have held a very low rank back then. If she's in her late thirties in the show, like the actor, then she'd have been fresh out of the Academy when meeting Tuvok. So her first command spoken of in "Revulsion" apparently didn't involve telling an entire starship where to go and what to do.

"Night" has Tuvok mentioning that Janeway served aboard the Billings at Commander rank. The phrasing doesn't suggest she would have been the captain of the ship at the time. More probable is a role as Science Officer or perhaps Executive Officer.

There are no other references to Janeway's past starships or commands that I know of.

I'd assume Archer had prior command merits, but none of the episodes really touches on this. Apart from Tucker, he hasn't really served together with any of the other heroes before the series, so this traditional way of slipping a trivia reference into the plot is out. And he and Tucker never talk about any previous shipboard tour of duty.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[AdmiralGarak]

DS9 isn't Sisko's first command. He was in charge when the Defiant was designed and constructed at Utopia Planitia.

 

[JoeZhang]

no I'm pretty sure he was involved in the construction but there is nothing to suggest he commanded the ship (from what I remember).

 

[Timo]

From DS9 "Defiant", as Sisko tries to convince Dukat that he is of value in defeating Tom Riker and the ship Tom commandeered:

Sisko: "I was in charge of the shipyard where the Defiant was built... I helped design it."

So Sisko had a previous command, of a shipyard (the dedication plaque suggests the Beta Antares yard). No doubt he had other, lesser commands as well, all the way back to his days at the Academy - away teams, cadet assignments, whatnot. But there is no hint that he commanded a starship or other such vessel before taking charge of DS9.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Red Ranger]

People,

Thanks for your answers. I do wish there were clearer answers for all the characters' command histories, but it's fun to speculate.

So, I ask my question at the end of my o.p.: If there is another ST series, would you prefer it established that the main character is assuming his/her first major command of a starship/base? I always thought that would be a good dynamic for a character who had until recently been a second banana, but was now working "without a net." Thoughts?

Red Ranger

 

[cultcross]

People,

Thanks for your answers. I do wish there were clearer answers for all the characters' command histories, but it's fun to speculate.

So, I ask my question at the end of my o.p.: If there is another ST series, would you prefer it established that the main character is assuming his/her first major command of a starship/base? I always thought that would be a good dynamic for a character who had until recently been a second banana, but was now working "without a net." Thoughts?

Red Ranger

I'd have agreed, pre-ENT. But Archer had the whole fish-out-of-water vibe going originally, but they wrote him so arrogant and foolhardy that it made me wish for the more experienced captains of old.
If it was written a bit better, so it was more about an experienced XO realising the pressures of command (such as a Riker-on-the-Titan series), I think that would make a good and original premise for a 'captain' character.

 

[jimbo1973]

I think it would be cool to see a young Captain get his or her first command..would be some interesting stories.

 

[C.E. Evans]

It's also possible that the first command of any starship skipper might have been a brief brevet command. An example of that would have been Data's command of the Starship Sutherland during the TNG episode "Redemption, Part 2." That could really be considered Data's first command, IMO.

Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway could have all had similar experiences...

 

[Red Ranger]

It's also possible that the first command of any starship skipper might have been a brief brevet command. An example of that would have been Data's command of the Starship Sutherland during the TNG episode "Redemption, Part 2." That could really be considered Data's first command, IMO.

Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway could have all had similar experiences...

An interesting idea. I suppose. I would also guess all command-track officers have to get experience by serving turns as a duty officer in command of the bridge -- as we've seen Sulu, Data, Geordi, and Harry Kim do -- before getting any kind of brevet then permanent command.
BTW, CE, that's some avatar you have there!

Red Ranger

 

[C.E. Evans]

Yeah, but I had to get rid of it, unfortunately.


But the idea of temporary brevet commands could be looked at as "training wheels" for new prospective captains in which their performance is evaluated afterwards and goes towards them eventually earning a permanent command...

 

[Turbo]

Picard had two brevet commands in The Buried Age, as I recall.