Spock's Promotion

[J.T.B.]

I'm not sure what difference that is supposed to make in the Trek context, where indeed no difference is made between the two types of Lieutenant, and no flag officer identifies him- or herself by a specific grade of Admiral, in the most formal of occasions. (It is only in relatively informal occasions where the concepts of "junior grade" or "vice" are uttered instead - once or twice in the entire history of Trek.)

If the real-wold examples are not relevant, why bring them up? But anyway, "vice admiral" and "rear admiral" were used in official orders in TNG and DS9.

Two types of Lieutenant Commander or two types of Lieutenant - same difference. Even in courts martial, it seems, which is okay if it's okay for Starfleet.

The court martial transcript is an official record and would include exact ranks. The computer says "service rank," clearly more specific than what one would call someone in normal conversation. What you are saying is Spock and McCoy held two separate and distinct ranks (which titles are never heard anywhere), but according to the court martial transcript, and the computer that read their service record into the transcript, their ranks are the same. I don't find that at all plausible.

 

[Timo]

What are the alternatives, is my question here...

The computer making an error is a big bang level event the whole episode hinges on, so we can't accept that the computer would be in error here. OTOH, the computer need not be anal-retentively accurate to qualify for "working correctly". And if it is allowed to skip listing Spock's full name (or indeed any part of the name of the Personnel Officer!), then all bets are off, really.

Beyond this, the two rank markers are distinct. The everyday usage of rank names is not in conflict in applying Commander for Lieutenant Commander. And if Spock were being sold short rank- and prestigewise here, it would not only ruin the premise of the computer being infallible: either Spock himself or then Shaw or Cogley would bring it up, each of them having an interest in up- or downplaying the witness.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Or Spock just got promoted. He was called the best first officer in the fleet, y'know.

 

[Timo]

Under somewhat biased circumstances, though. And Spock never gets promoted, except if he stays off screen for years at an end...

Timo Saloniemi