If/When Picard retires, who should be the next captain?

[Defcon]

Voyager seems to be doing fine without Janeway and I'm sure the defections of many Janeway fans.

IIRC a great number of those who opposed Janeway's death in the books have stated that they hadn't bought the books with her either, because she was "mishandled" there, too, so I'm not so sure their "boycott" (how can you boycott something you haven't bought before?) really has that big an impact sales-wise.

 

[Admiral_Young]

The DS9 relaunch worked without Sisko because at the time the series had the Captain with the Prophets. We knew he was alive but in a different plain of existence. Something totally different than the novels establishing new status quos.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

I also doubt Picard's leaving anytime soon. He's almost 80 which in the 24th Century doesn't seem to be peek retirement age.

But if he somehow did go my nominees would be Tuvok, Saavik, or Worf. Maybe a long way into the future Nog.

Picard was making comments and thinking things in Paths of Disharmony that led me to believe he is considering stepping down. He is feeling worn out being a captain and the father of a small child. Sure he can still command at 80 but geez, my kids wear me out at 30 and I know he doesn't feel fresher than me. He is also enjoying fatherhood and seems to want to be able to give his son more attention and a more stable planet-side life.

I would be curious to see if TNG could survive without Picard. I think it would fair better with a familar face, though. The issue of TNG survivability would be is TNG hinged upon Picard. I don't think DS9 and VOY hinged on their captains; they hinged on their running plot/theme. But TNG doesn't have that central issue that ran the length of the show like these others did.

 

[DarKush]

^
An interesting summation of the various later Trek series. I never thought about it that way. Even though both Sisko (especially) and Janeway were central to their shows, like all Trek captains, perhaps they weren't as necessary to each shows' success because of the central theme/arc, for DS9-you had Bajor rebuilding and the Dominion War and for Voyager getting home. These things could've been achieved with or without either captain. With TNG there was no central theme, beyond the vague exploration, so I guess it did rely more on the force of personality of it's characters, centered on Patrick Stewart's great performance.

Ironic because even though I feel that DS9 had far better written/developed characters than TNG, Picard's personality, his character, becomes more essential to his series than Sisko's. Then again, since DS9 had so many better written characters, Stewart's performance stood out. I mean, outside of Picard, Worf, and Data, you had a drop off in terms of development, it got fitful, with snatches here and there for Riker and Troi and crumbs for Dr. Crusher and Geordi.

Even though Enterprise had the weakest character development of all the series, I could see that show doing without Archer because of the overall themes-Xindi Crisis, Romulan War, birth of the Federation, unlike TOS going it alone without Kirk, because like TNG, it relied more on Kirk's force of personality. In fact, with ENT, I think many fans wouldn't have minded if Tucker had become captain anyway. If he had, because he was the best written/developed character, arguably, on the show, it might have shifted into an interesting mix of character and arc both driving the series.

 

[Ronald Held]

Maybe Picard(or the editor) could pull a "Kirk", where Picard get promoted to Admiral or Ambassador, but several years later circumstances allow him to go back to being the Captain of a single ship?

 

[JD]

I could see that happening if they did decide to bring in a new Captain and the readership dropped, or perhaps if the series went on a temporary hiatus for some reason.

 

[Paris]

I think it would make everyone happy, especially Picard, if he was able to get that promotion to Admiral but also continue to be the master of the Enterprise. Hasn't he basically been on dispatched duty to the President for the last little while anyways? Hasn't he (along with his crew) been trouble shooting since the end of the Borg affair of 2381? Would it be out of the question to give him the rank and also leave him on the bridge of the E-E for the forseeable future? He's already one of the most trusted Captains/officers in the UFP. I don't think it would be a leap...

 

[BrotherBenny]

^And he would have a lot more clout with that extra pip on his collar, not to mention having a lot more leeway.

 

[BillJ]

But an extra pip doesn't allow him to spend more time with his son and give him a stable planet-side environment.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Maybe Picard(or the editor) could pull a "Kirk", where Picard get promoted to Admiral or Ambassador, but several years later circumstances allow him to go back to being the Captain of a single ship?

I don't know about him being demoted again, but I can see Ambassador Picard, although officially assigned to Vulcan (as per Countdown), having a roving diplomatic troubleshooter role just as Admiral Kirk did in the Lost Years novels.

And the TNG crew reuniting on Captain Data's Enterprise or Captain Riker's Titan occasionally for The Ashes of Eden/The Fearful Summons/The Last Roundup/Crossover/Avenger -style over-the-hill reunion adventures.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

But an extra pip doesn't allow him to spend more time with his son and give him a stable planet-side environment.

Exactly, the reasons why Picard would leave are family and feeling like he can't adequately give the center chair the attention and stamina it deserves. He doesn't care about promotion. He keeps making clear to the admiralty he doesn't want promotions. I think if the admiralty said you either take the admiralty and leave the bridge or retire, he would choose retirement.

In GEN, Picard agreed with Kirk that he had no desire to move past the captain's chair. He also felt that continuing the family line was important. With Rene the only heir, no doubt he feels it is important to properly protect and nurture that lineage.

Barring destruction, the E has a longer career ahead of her than Picard does. It will require another captain. But what if it needed one next week?

 

[DimesDan]

Barring destruction, the E has a longer career ahead of her than Picard does. It will require another captain. But what if it needed one next week?

Then the Executive Officer will be promoted to the Captainsy and who's the EX again? Worf

 

[MatthiasRussell]

Then why was Jellico given the D and not Riker?

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ It was implied in the episode that Jellico had previous experience dealing with the Cardassians for that specific mission and I believe was familiar with those specific representatives of the Union which is why he was assigned temporary command of Enterprise instead of Riker being given a temporary promotion.

 

[DimesDan]

Then why was Jellico given the D and not Riker?

Pretty much what Admiral Young said, also, Jellico was known to the Cardassian's, it makes sense that such a heavy weight when it comes to Cardassian/Federation relations would be handed command of the Federation flagship while it's normal captain was off carrying out a more clandestine mission to try and prevent a war.

Regardless of your opinion and possibly even prejudice against Worf, being the EX of the Enterprise, he would make the most sense to become the captain once Picard decides to move on. Same with Chakotay becoming captain of Voyager once they returned to the Federation, Kira became CO of Deep Space Nine once Sisko ascended to be with the Prophets and Spock become captain of the Enterprise once he had returned to Starfleet and Kirk remained in the Admiralty. The only real other contender is Riker, but he is out in the Beta Quadrant at the command of Titan and he seems very happy there.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

Which is why if Picard were to step down right now, I think Sisko, Riker, or Saavik would be in better positions to take the E. With the Enterprise probably about to face the Romulans or that other species from RBoE, Sisko would be most qualified "temporarily" and, of course, Saavik or Riker would be good choices for Romulan diplomacy. I would rather them taking point when facing Romulans than Worf; if for no other reason the Romulans are less likely to respect a Klingon captain.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Riker would not relinquish command of the Titan. He's moved on from the Enterprise. The Romulans might have less respect for a Klingon Captain but it's not like they have a whole ton of respect for any other Federation member either. Your logic is flawed in that regard I think.

 

[DimesDan]

Which is why if Picard were to step down right now, I think Sisko, Riker, or Saavik would be in better positions to take the E. With the Enterprise probably about to face the Romulans or that other species from RBoE, Sisko would be most qualified "temporarily" and, of course, Saavik or Riker would be good choices for Romulan diplomacy. I would rather them taking point when facing Romulans than Worf; if for no other reason the Romulans are less likely to respect a Klingon captain.

Well buddy, that's your opinion, one that you are certainly entitled to, one that I certainly do not agree with.

Parashooting Sisko in is wishful thinking, I should hope that if any writer even suggesting that to an editor is told no in no uncertain terms.

Riker is on board Titan, why after taking the time and energy to make a crew and life for himself out where no one has gone before want to come back to the Federation - maybe in a decade or two, but right now, he's doing what he is enjoying, sorting out bush fires within the UFP and just outside would be very humdrum and boring.

As for bringing in Saavik? When was she last in any novel?

There is a precedence of promoting the EX to the commanding officer when he or she leaves, why not do the same with Worf? Given his track record, Security/Tactical officer on board the Enterprise D, Strategic Operations officer on board Deep Space Nine, the Federation Ambassador on Qo'nos and now the Executive Officer to one of the mostly highly decorated officers in Starfleet and the most prestigious posting within the fleet, he deserves that command and to bring in someone else because he is a Klingon, a Klingon I might add who was raised by humans and even sided with Starfleet when Gowron attacked Cardassians and then Deep Space Nine just sticks of prejudice and is monumentally unfair on he man.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

I persoanlly don't care enough to where I would be angry with a given choice. I am just bringing up the arguments I expect to be made. I agree that Riker wouldn't want to leave Titan. I like Worf, but I personally don't understand why he left the Klingons. I missed whatever books filled the gaps between the end of DS9 and NEM. He seemed happy to be reconsiled with his people and to be able to live among them. I disagreed with Sisko when he told Worf he would not be able to command; I mean, how often did Sisko put the prophets ahead of the UFP? He kinda flip flopped in his priorities.

I suppose the most relevant question in this discussion would be around the mentality of Admiral Akaar. If Akaar received Picard's resignation, what would be his thought process and selection? Sure the entire admiralty has a say and Bacco would weigh in but Akaar's voice in this discussion would be the most powerful. So, who would Akaar choose?

 

[BrotherBenny]

I suppose the most relevant question in this discussion would be around the mentality of Admiral Akaar. If Akaar received Picard's resignation, what would be his thought process and selection? Sure the entire admiralty has a say and Bacco would weigh in but Akaar's voice in this discussion would be the most powerful. So, who would Akaar choose?

The President has no say in the day to day operations of the fleet any more than Obama does today. Her view is irrelevant. Akaar is the Starfleet C-in-C but he may well defer to the Chief of Starfleet Operations or Personnel or whatever.