Voyager's Rank Structure

[Farscape One]

In "BEFORE AND AFTER" during the birthday party for Kes, Neelix said he became a security officer. Almost certainly that's the reason.

Though Linnis wore a blue uniform with no pips, which implies more what you say.

 

[Oddish]

in "BEFORE AND AFTER" during the birthday party for Kes, Neelix said he became a security officer. Almost certainly that's the reason.

With the security force probably decimated by the Year of Hell (which actually happened in that timeline), and Tuvok now first officer, there would be space for a new security officer.

Though Linnis wore a blue uniform with no pips, which implies more what you say.

She might have been a med tech, I think their typical rank is Crewman.

 

[Farscape One]

That's another reason why the Year of Hell should have actually happened... it would have forced some changes and growth for the crew.

A stark example was there being doctors, plural, in "BEFORE AND AFTER". Because The Doctor was offline for months, the need for an organic doctor was clear. Chakotay understood that, and apparently took steps to assure this.

Since The Doctor was never in any real danger of being destroyed or gone for great lengths of time, it seems they didn't have the urge to have an organic backup other than Tom being a medic.

 

[Lynx]

Morale officer is a position, not a rank.

In Neelix's mind, it was both!

Regarding the Maquis pips, I agree everyone should have used the Starfleet ones. It was clearly an out-of-universe way to tell the audience 'these are the Maquis crewmen'. In-universe, the only thing I can think of is that since none of them graduated from the Academy, it would be 'improper' for them to wear actual pips.

Which brings me to Chakotay and Tom.

Since he did graduate and he was booted as a lieutenant, Janeway simply restored his status. Another reason... Paris was the only former Maquis who was not on Chakotay's ship.

Chakotay is a harder one to figure out. By all rights, he did the honorable thing and resigned and then joined the Maquis, which means he still had good standing in Starfleet, since he didn't go the traitor route that Eddington and Hudson did. (Despite being labeled a criminal and Tuvok being tasked with bringing him in.) Resignations can be overturned, as we've seen it done in the past. (Picard granting Worf his commission back in "Redemption II".) Maybe it was a request by Chakotay himself... a way of showing his Maquis people, at least at first, that while he has adopted the Starfleet way again, he still will represent the interests of the Maquis crew.

Eventually, everyone should have had regular pips. Unless Janeway felt that unless she got full authority from Starfleet pardoning each Maquis crewman, she couldn't give them the full status of a Starfleet officer.

But that could have been a nice side story in late season 6 or in season 7... with regular contact being made monthly with Starfleet, Janeway could have fought for those rights and pardons to be given.

I agree.

Voyager had problems with handling progressions of any sort.

B'Elanna could have slowly progressed from violent Maquis renegade to valued crew member. Didn't happen, she just got from point A to point B in pretty much one episode.

Harry could have gone from Starfleet noob who was out of his depth to seasoned and capable spacefarer. He was stuck in limbo between the two.

By extension, the Maquis could have gone from wearing leathers and agreeing to an uneasy alliance, to wearing uniforms with normal insignia... didn't happen either.

Voyager has a nice "comfort food" aspect to it, but it's not the show you watch if you want character growth.

That's correct. Voyager had great characters and agreat premise. But unfortunately it had lousy writers who never used the opportunities for character development.

As for B'Elanna, her development from violent Maquis renegade to valued crew member should at least have taken place during 2-3 episodes, not the too quick way it happened in Parallells.

The same for Harry. Here I can compare with Tim McGee in the series NCIS who during the years have developed from the series "whipping boy" to a responsible and skilled agent for the team.

I must also mentioned the break-up between Neelix and Kes which should have taken place during two-three episodes in season two instead of the forced and unrealistic break-up we did see in the season 3 episode Warlord.

It's a little like "why didn't Kes and Neelix wear uniforms too", a question that has no satisfying answer. Neelix would probably have jumped with joy at getting a set of Starfleet pajamas, while many of the Maquis undoubtedly felt exactly the opposite.

Well, Neelix and Kes were civilians whose people were not part of the Federation, so they couldn't technically wear it unless they got a letter of recommendation from a command level officer. (Nog in DS9.)

Having said that, Janeway could have done it herself. Though maybe legalities got in the way, too.

If Sisko could, then janeway coud have done it to, especially when they were about 70 000 light yeras from federation space.

Not to mention that Kes should have looked good in a Starfleet uniform.

In "BEFORE AND AFTER" during the birthday party for Kes, Neelix said he became a security officer. Almost certainly that's the reason.

Though Linnis wore a blue uniform with no pips, which implies more what you say.

Unfortunately the future fashes in Before And After never really happened. But those changes would have been plausible.

 

[Oddish]

As for B'Elanna, her development from violent Maquis renegade to valued crew member should at least have taken place during 2-3 episodes, not the too quick way it happened in Parallells.

I'd have given it longer, made her play second fiddle in engineering for awhile. And I think a cool way of disposing of Carey would have been for him and a few Maquis to jump ship on Planet 37's. By then, a calmer and more "Starfleet" B'Elanna is ready to take the reins.

The same for Harry. Here I can compare with Tim McGee in the series NCIS who during the years have developed from the series "whipping boy" to a responsible and skilled agent for the team.

McGee was a "whipping boy" because DiNozzo was a prick. Thankfully, Voyager didn't have anyone like him. But yes, he was developed nicely.

Not to mention that Kes should have looked good in a Starfleet uniform.

I can't grab a pic, but I thought that gold uniform looked pretty slick on Neelix.