my thoughts on Resistance. spoilers

[wizkid]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

Christopher said:

wizkid said:
I am also confused to as why Data can't be brought back, heck, this seems to be the easiest to pull off when you look at Spock and Kirk.

It's not a question of whether it can be done, but of whether it should be done. And the fact that it's been done before is itself the best reason of all not to do it yet again. Why should Trek fiction repeat itself? Haven't enough deaths been trivialized by subsequent resurrections?

It keeps happening so at this point not doing it would be curiously awkward. I miss the character and I hate the fact Trek insists on killing off the good characters as a token sacrifice to Sto-Vo-Kor.

Data would be the easiest and the easiest since he is a machine. People coming back alive is just stupid, IMHO.

 

[David Mack]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

Hammer said:
I wonder how the "ensign" rank could be skipped so quickly?

Most officers of any intelligence or capability advance beyond the rank of ensign very quickly. Some specialists, such as lawyers and doctors, enter service as lieutenants. However, it takes many years and some effort for an officer to distinguish himself or herself sufficiently to advance to the lieutenant commander ranks and higher. As a result, there are many more lieutenants than there are officers of higher rank or ensigns.

Most navies rely heavily on their lieutenants and their petty officers.

 

[JD]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

Hammer said:

David Mack said:

Some smaller vessels might be commanded by officers of lieutenant commander or commander rank.

I think that was the case for Starfleet, too, with Data's debate with would-be CO Chris Hobson of the Sutherland in "Redemption, Part II."

Yeah, but the only times we saw that happen was when they were parts of large fleets commanded by a Captain (like R II). The only time I can think of when we saw someone below Captain in command of a ship was the episode with the cadets were on the ship by themselves (can't remember the ship/episodes name).

 

[Malleus]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

David Mack said:

Hammer said:
I wonder how the "ensign" rank could be skipped so quickly?

Most officers of any intelligence or capability advance beyond the rank of ensign very quickly. Some specialists, such as lawyers and doctors, enter service as lieutenants. However, it takes many years and some effort for an officer to distinguish himself or herself sufficiently to advance to the lieutenant commander ranks and higher. As a result, there are many more lieutenants than there are officers of higher rank or ensigns.

Most navies rely heavily on their lieutenants and their petty officers.

Yeah, one thing that REALLY bothered me in the later spinoffs is the rather prolific usage of the Ensign rank instead of the Lieutenant, Junior Grade rank. Also, in general, the idea of a mere lieutenant or lieutenant commander commanding the ship sounds so archaic (because the word "lieutenant" in public usage implies the stereotypical subordinate).

Heck, I'm working on a fanfic rank in the distant Starfleet future (past the "24th century") that simplifies things: 4 ranks of Commander (akin to the three Russian rankings for Captains) - depending on the type of ship being commanded - Subcommander, and the same 2 ranks of Lieutenants.

Why have ensigns in sci-fi when "petty officer" sounds so much better (while taking into account non-commissioned officers), especially for the smaller ships?

 

[David Mack]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

^ Forgive the nitpick, but any ensign outranks any petty officer.

That aside, no ensign with two brain cells to rub together would pull rank on a master chief, and most master chiefs would counsel the ensign discreetly to make sure the right thing got done while upholding the chain of command.

Do as you like in your fanfic, of course, but there's no need to invent new commander and subcommander ranks. Most of the confusion stems from the fact that many civilians confuse the rank of captain with the billet of captain, and vice-versa.

 

[J47]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

JD said:

Some smaller vessels might be commanded by officers of lieutenant commander or commander rank.

I think that was the case for Starfleet, too, with Data's debate with would-be CO Chris Hobson of the Sutherland in "Redemption, Part II."

Yeah, but the only times we saw that happen was when they were parts of large fleets commanded by a Captain (like R II). The only time I can think of when we saw someone below Captain in command of a ship was the episode with the cadets were on the ship by themselves (can't remember the ship/episodes name).

DS9 showed this in the arc that opened the 6th season, where Jadzia was in command of the Defiant while Sisko was off working for Ross. She maintained her rank of Lieutenant Commander, but was addressed as Captain.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

David Mack said:
Most of the confusion stems from the fact that many civilians confuse the rank of captain with the billet of captain, and vice-versa.

Well, to be fair, it would help if the military didn't use the same word for both.

 

[Dayton Ward]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

Why should they, if they're able to distinguish between the two?

 

[Malleus]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

David Mack said:
^ Forgive the nitpick, but any ensign outranks any petty officer.

That aside, no ensign with two brain cells to rub together would pull rank on a master chief, and most master chiefs would counsel the ensign discreetly to make sure the right thing got done while upholding the chain of command.

Do as you like in your fanfic, of course, but there's no need to invent new commander and subcommander ranks. Most of the confusion stems from the fact that many civilians confuse the rank of captain with the billet of captain, and vice-versa.

On your first two comments, it would seem more "logical" for the master chief to give advice to junior lieutenants (again, that's just me).

On the third, the purpose there is specifically to eliminate the proper rank of captain. After all, the "captains" of various non-human ships (not all, of course) are ranked "Commander."

 

[David Mack]

Re: Roman Reviews "Resistance" (Hey - Alliteration!)

^ Master chiefs frequently do advise lieutenants and even higher-ranked officers; it's part of their job. I was using the example of the ensign as an illustration of the fact that even the most junior officer still technically outranks even the most experienced noncom, but that rank, while it must be respected, is not everything. On any ship, a master chief is a person of great experience who commands a lot of respect from officers and enlisted personnel alike.