Questions on "Chain of Command"

[Mojochi]

But that means they didn't really need Picard in the first place. If they don't need the defense plans for Minos Korva, then they only need the casus belli, and any random Cassus or Billy can be trapped for that.

That is, they certainly did not win anything by removing Picard from the E-D; Starfleet readily sent the next fellah, who proved tough enough a nut. I seriously doubt Picard had better specific skills for defending Minos Korva specifically than Jellico or some other random skipper did.

The remaining question here is, how important was Minos Korva in the end? That is, is there a real connection in that the trap was tailored to capture the man currently tasked to defend Minos Korva? Or would it simply be natural for the trap to be tailored to lure in somebody from a ship operating in the general Cardassian front, which wholly incidentally includes the intended breaching point Minos Korva? I suspect Picard and the audience here jump to conclusions about the importance of the Picard/Minos Korva connection...

Timo Saloniemi

That's weird. I always felt like the Picard/Minos Korva connection was understated in the episode, in fact, the original script had them talk slightly more about it. It does feel to me like it's a solid piece of the puzzle, because they DO plan to attack it, if Starfleet doesn't bend at the negotiating table. Having that info for how it's to be defended would be useful. Possibly it might not be as advantageous as the nebula fleet, that no one knows about, but still... It's another pin on the board that could be a factor in them getting it back somehow. I get the impression that they only back off it, once they realize Picard has been kept in the dark. It's a dead end & they probably figured it out

As to why they want it back so badly, who knows. Suffice to say, it's one of those border worlds that Jellico barks about them not being able to take by force, but want to bully back at the negotiation

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

According to the information provided in the episode, Picard was one of three Starfleet captains who had prior experience with theta-band carrier waves, and the other two captains were already retired. The Enterprise had also been designated by Starfleet to serve as the command ship in case of a Cardassian invasion of Minos Korva and hence Picard had knowledge of the defense plans for that sector.

 

[USS Firefly]

I think that Jellico prepared the Enterprise better for war than Picard, especially if Riker would grow up and do his job

 

[Mojochi]

According to the information provided in the episode, Picard was one of three Starfleet captains who had prior experience with theta-band carrier waves, and the other two captains were already retired. The Enterprise had also been designated by Starfleet to serve as the command ship in case of a Cardassian invasion of Minos Korva and hence Picard had knowledge of the defense plans for that sector.

Actually, he doesn't, as it happens, which was likely kept that way on purpose, expressly for this very reason. They can't extract what he hasn't been told. However, since the ship is assigned to it, it would be reasonable to assume he would know them. So in that sense, Starfleet was kind of shrewd. Sad they couldn't also see through the dumb theta band bio weapon ruse

 

[SpyOne]

For what it's worth, Marina Sirtis refers to this episode as "When they brought in Captain Jelico in case Patrick wanted more money."
Apparently the episode was written as a way to write Picard off the show, should that be needed. So feeling that the reasons for sending Picard seem a little forced may be due to the fact that the plot was created as a way to get Picard off the ship.

 

[Timo]

Sad they couldn't also see through the dumb theta band bio weapon ruse

It's a question of who exactly couldn't see through it, too. Perhaps Starfleet felt it would be a great idea to let the Cardassians kidnap and mutilate a Starfleet officer and a Federation citizen - a perfect excuse for blasting them to bits and annexing the ruins to the Federation as a cultural heritage site. A hostage crisis could well work to the advantage of Starfleet here, making the Cardassians complacent in their cleverness and willing to sit at the negotiating tables while Starfleet heroes tie their shoelaces together. After all, if Cardassia was initiating something, this suggests Cardassia was ready - so the Feds would need to buy time to get ready, too.

Why Picard would go along with that is less clear. If he's the "they" too dumb to see through the ruse, he's definitely having an off day.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mojochi]

It's a question of who exactly couldn't see through it, too. Perhaps Starfleet felt it would be a great idea to let the Cardassians kidnap and mutilate a Starfleet officer and a Federation citizen - a perfect excuse for blasting them to bits and annexing the ruins to the Federation as a cultural heritage site. A hostage crisis could well work to the advantage of Starfleet here, making the Cardassians complacent in their cleverness and willing to sit at the negotiating tables while Starfleet heroes tie their shoelaces together. After all, if Cardassia was initiating something, this suggests Cardassia was ready - so the Feds would need to buy time to get ready, too.

Why Picard would go along with that is less clear. If he's the "they" too dumb to see through the ruse, he's definitely having an off day.

Timo Saloniemi

I'd prefer to think our morally advanced Starfleet is above that grim a level of Coventry Blitz type scandal. I can accept that maybe they suspected it was a hoax, but honestly didn't expect that anyone would get captured, & in the end, still deemed it a larger obligation to be certain it was a hoax, given the dire threat it posed. I'd say that would explain Picard's blind obedience here too. No one wants to be wrong & then a nasty bioweapon is unleashed.

 

[Roundabout]

"Chain of Command" was on H&I over the past two nights. I couldn't resist watching. Resistance was futile. I still enjoyed it even after many viewings.

It's a chicken-and-egg question... But choosing one over the other makes things easier for us.

1) Was Picard the target?

Yes. According to Picard's torturer Gul Madred, the set up, with the cave and the theta band carrier wave, was indeed a ruse to specifically ensnare Picard.

The Cardassians wanted Picard because...

3. Minos Korva was a key planet along the cardassian border and had strategic importance. The cardassians assumed Picard would have knowledge of the federation’s defence plans since the enterprise would be assigned as the command ship of the sector encompassing Minoan Korva.

.

But once Madred realized that Picard didn't have what the Cardassians wanted, it wasn't about squeezing info out of Picard anymore. Madred wanted to break Picard for the sake of breaking him. I still consider the "There are four lights!" scene to be one of the most memorable -- perhaps infamous -- line and scene in the whole franchise.

For what it's worth, Marina Sirtis refers to this episode as "When they brought in Captain Jelico in case Patrick wanted more money."
Apparently the episode was written as a way to write Picard off the show, should that be needed. So feeling that the reasons for sending Picard seem a little forced may be due to the fact that the plot was created as a way to get Picard off the ship.

That is interesting. I did not know that.

I am curious, if Picard and the show did part ways at that point, was it the showrunners intention to bump Riker up to the center seat? Oddly enough, if that did happen, it would have fulfilled Riker's desire to inherit the captaincy of the Enterprise. But it also would have smacked of nepotism. For an organization that is suppose to be based on merit and rules, Riker's inheriting the Enterprise would have reeked.

 

[SpyOne]

I don't know, but my impression from her comment was that Jellico would tske over the Enterprise in that scenario.

Which could have been very interesting.

 

[Makarov]

It occurs to me when Madred asks if Picard has any ailments he should know about, Picard should have mentioned his artificial heart. Who knows if that pain device might interfere with his heart in some unexpected way

 

[Mojochi]

It occurs to me when Madred asks if Picard has any ailments he should know about, Picard should have mentioned his artificial heart. Who knows if that pain device might interfere with his heart in some unexpected way

I literally thought about that right from the very 1st time I heard it, but frankly, I'm not sure I'd want my torturer to know such a thing, if they already didn't (Which they probably do, if they know about his Theta Wave experience & invasion assignments)

One could imagine that knowing about his heart might be another thing they can use against him, for either physical or psychological torture

 

[Doc Mugatu]

I have a few questions regarding the two-part Season Six episode called "Chain of Command".

1. Why did Starfleet select Picard for this mission to Celtris III? Surely it could not consider someone with experience in intelligence?"

Because Picard was the only one with a reality TV series.

"2. Why did the Cardassians assume that Starfleet would send Picard to Celtris III?"

Because Gul Kim the Cardassian never missed an episode of Picard's TV series and saw the one where Starfleet selected him.

"Why did the Cardassians needed Picard, in particular, for information to annex Minos Korva?

They really didn't. They were just hoping to score a spin-off.

Hope this helped.