What if Gary Mitchell had survived and been cured?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I got to thinking of this over in the "What ifs never considered yet" thread. So I'm reposting it here, I'm curious as to what this forum thinks.

What if Gary Mitchell had survived the events of WNMHGB and somehow been cured of his condition? (such as, if he overextended his powers so much that he "short-circuited" and became human again)

I mean, think about it. Even assuming Gary would have expressed remorse at the things he did while "under the influence", what would Starfleet have done with him in a situation like that?

You can't tell me they'd just let him waltz right onto the bridge and take up his normal duty shift again, as if nothing had happened. There should be all sorts of consequences from an episode like this:

- Would Lee Kelso's family go after Gary somehow?
- Would Gary be ordered to take a medical rest leave?
- Would he be cashiered out of Starfleet?
- Would he have actually stood trial for his actions?

 

[dahj]

He'd make a return appearance on "Whom Gods Destroy"

 

[Shawnster]

He'd make a return appearance on "Whom Gods Destroy"

OOhhh, that'd make an interesting twist to that episode.

 

[Kor]

Yes, I suspect that he would be locked away in an institute to be studied and to ensure that he never relapsed into that condition.

Kor

 

[Gary Mitchell]

They would have given me command of my own ship.

 

[Kor]

He speaks!

Kor

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Yes, I suspect that he would be locked away in an institute to be studied and to ensure that he never relapsed into that condition.

Kor

I suppose Starfleet would be rather skeptical that Gary was indeed "cured" and was not, in fact, faking it...

 

[Lord Other]

I think they would have brought him before a court-martial, as soon as was feasible, and then sent away to an institute for a time like Kor put forward. With how resourceful, charismatic, and brash Mitchell seemed to be, I think he would have attempted to escape multiple times, only to end up like dodge suggested, on Elba II with him to make a reappearance in "Whom Gods Destroy".

 

[Poltargyst]

I can't imagine that he would be allowed to remain in Starfleet, but I don't think he'd be imprisoned either. He'd be put through a battery of tests, and when it turned out he was back to normal, he'd be free to seek another career.

 

[The Old Mixer]

He'd be sent back to the academy to learn Kirk's middle initial.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

He'd be sent back to the academy to learn Kirk's middle initial.

 

[Phoenix219]

I suppose Starfleet would be rather skeptical that Gary was indeed "cured" and was not, in fact, faking it...

Or if the abilities ever came back, even if diminished capacity.

I've always speculated on / wished for a narrative connection between Mitchell, the outer barrier, psychic abilities, Sybok, his psychic abilities, the inner barrier and the god-thing. A connection could have been interesting, and a Sybok/Mitchell showdown could have been fun.

I can't watch the show Heroes (Season 1) without thinking of Mitchell when watching Sylar fake death and manipulate the medical sensors. Oh, how I wished for Quinto to play Mitchell in '09, and leave the rest of the TOS characters for future movies.

 

[urbandefault]

Mitchell had to be a bit unstable in the first place, to automatically start thinking he was a god. Liz was a little more humble about it.

 

[BillJ]

Desk job. Kirk was offered one instead of standing trial for Ben Finney's death.

Picard killed 39,000 Starfleet personnel while under control of the Borg, and was back on the bridge the next week.

 

[Timo]

As far as we know, Picard didn't even as much as have to discuss his experiences with Troi...

So yes, it would be back to work for Gary, simple as that. It's not as if anybody ever worried about Kirk having tried to kill Finney or Scotty having murdered several women or Spock having murdered Kirk!

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Forbin]

He was your BEST. FRIEND. dammit!

 

[Nyotarules]

He'd be promoted to Admiral, TOS Starfleet is run by incompetent Terrans.

 

[Lord Other]

While it is true "Family" offers no suggestion of any kind of psychological counseling/therapy for Picard, let alone any kind of Review Board, it would be likely to my mind something of that sort did in fact occur, but was "off stage". That the writer/director/producer didn't feel it was pertinent/relevant to the story for whatever reason leaves that outside of our perspective, but doesn't mean it did not in fact occur, we as the audience will just never be privy to that aspect of the story. As for how easily Review Boards/Board of Inquiry and Court Martials are called and conducted, we can look to "Court Martial" and "The Menagerie". In regard to the differences between Picard and Mitchell's actions- Picard acted as an agent agaInst the Federation under duress, whereas Mitchell willfully murdered Kelso while in full possession of his faculties. That alone, the pre-meditated murder of a fellow officer, I believe would get him cashiered out of Starfleet.

 

[Timo]

I'm not sure the "under duress" excuse would work any better or worse than the "under the influence of supernatural forces" one in court. People would hate Picard's and Mitchell's guts nevertheless, while other people would wish to see them remain in service; the decision of the court would depend on the sympathies of the judges more than anything else.

Picard murdered tens of thousands; Mitchell murdered two. The friends of the countless deceased did not manage to get Picard hanged; the friends of Kelso and Dehner might not have a prayer there, either. Neither murderer "was himself", but neither was demonstrably controlled by outside forces utterly against their own, potentially quite murderous will, either.

Indeed, it would be simple to argue that Picard wilfully killed the tens of thousands because the Collective without Picard would have had no motivation to do so. The Cube could have skipped doing battle with Starfleet and proceeded to assimilate Earth instead. By deliberately and actively luring the Borg into thinking that murdering Starfleeters for target practice was a splendid idea, Picard may well have saved Earth.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Kor]

Mitchell had to be a bit unstable in the first place, to automatically start thinking he was a god. Liz was a little more humble about it.

The BS numbers on their personnel files showed that he had greater ESP/psi/whatever ratings than she did. I think he was affected first, and more deeply, for that reason.

What if Gary went on having the god complex, but without any powers to go with it? Then he's the laughingstock of the insititute because he always demands that the orderlies pray to him.

Kor