What Would Jellico Do?

[Ragitsu]

Uh, I don't think we're talking about anything analogous to Pa'nar Syndrome here. Alkar was more akin to a vampire.

He would "offload" condensed/toxic quantities of lust, jealousy and anger...without consent; those extreme emotions steadily aged and would have ultimately killed Troi (in fact, Riker likens Alkar's inability to handle these emotions to a man without an immune system).

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Exactly. Sort of a "reverse vampire." He knew what he was doing, and was doing it intentionally. It wasn't some sort of disease, except in the sense that he was a walking, talking, pathogen.

 

[Brobdingnag]

He would "offload" condensed/toxic quantities of lust, jealousy and anger...without consent; those extreme emotions steadily aged and would have ultimately killed Troi (in fact, Riker likens Alkar's inability to handle these emotions to a man without an immune system).

Alcar used Deanna and many like her before as his personal emotional trashcan.

 

[Ragitsu]

Exactly. Sort of a "reverse vampire." He knew what he was doing, and was doing it intentionally. It wasn't some sort of disease.

There have been cases where men (and presumably woman too) had sex while fully aware that they were carrying STDs. In this instance, the analogy isn't perfect, but there is a similarity in how he's infecting his "receptacles" while keeping them in the dark. Anyhow, I guess "vampire" also works. The comparison to The Picture of Dorian Gray speaks for itself.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

The comparison to The Picture of Dorian Gray speaks for itself.

Quite.

(Although your mention of The Picture of Dorian Gray [or actually any mention of that book] immediately brings to mind a 5th-season episode of Get Smart, "Age Before Duty.")

 

[Oddish]

As much as Jellico rubs me wrong way, I cannot see him agreeing with Alkar's decision to foist mental STDs on Deanna without her consent.

I think that he would be disgusted by the man's actions, but would understand that forcing Alcar to stop would render him unable to do his job, killing thousands. He wouldn't like it, but I think he'd do it.

 

[Orphalesion]

I think that he would be disgusted by the man's actions, but would understand that forcing Alcar to stop would render him unable to do his job, killing thousands. He wouldn't like it, but I think he'd do it.

Sorry but I cannot agree with that idea.. Neither he, nor any of the Star Trek captains who actually helmed shows would just allow some alien to violate a member of their crew like that, no matter the reason.
One of the duties of a captain is to their crew after all.

 

[Oddish]

Sorry but I cannot agree with that idea.. Neither he, nor any of the Star Trek captains who actually helmed shows would just allow some alien to violate a member of their crew like that, no matter the reason.
One of the duties of a captain is to their crew after all.

Possibly. Did you notice that the actual episode sidestepped this... even though Picard was ready and willing to allow the death of thousands to save Troi, it didn't actually happen. By the time Troi "died", Alcar had already completed the negotiations. I wonder if Picard had had to set a course away from the planet, where the war had resumed and hundreds were dying, if he would have regretted his decision. And I wonder what Troi would have thought, knowing that thousands had been sacrificed to save her.

 

[Ragitsu]

Sooner or later, someone is going to mangle Spock's quote.

 

[Oddish]

You certainly do have to give it some thought. It would have been nice if Alcar could have been convinced to conduct the negotiations with his negative emotions intact. But, he either could not or would not do so (probably the former). So the problem is right in front of you. Do the needs of the one you know outweigh the needs of the many you don't? Or do you bite the phaser and commit to the greater good for the greater number?

 

[Ragitsu]

You certainly do have to give it some thought. It would have been nice if Alcar could have been convinced to conduct the negotiations with his negative emotions intact. But, he either could not or would not do so (probably the former). So the problem is right in front of you. Do the needs of the one you know outweigh the needs of the many you don't? Or do you bite the phaser and commit to the greater good for the greater number?

Spock volunteered to sacrifice himself; Spock did not advocate sacrificing someone else in his stead. I hate how people - unintentionally or intentionally - misinterpret the context of his words. Also, as Picard once said...

PICARD: "Exactly. How do I explain my refusing to obey their laws down there. Not permitting the Crusher boy to be executed. And by so doing do I endanger this vessel and more than a thousand other lives?"
DATA: "Would you choose one life over one thousand, sir?"
PICARD: "I refuse to let arithmetic decide questions like that."

That aside, how good can Alkar be if he can't handle his own negative emotions? Send down Picard, Riva, Odan or any other number of skilled diplomats/negotiators.

 

[dupersuper]

1. Q Who. Would he tolerate Q's antics as much as Picard? Would he exhibit the necessarily humility at the crucial moment?
I doubt Q would be pulling for humanity or asking to join the crew in the first place with Jellicho being the captain he meets.

2. The Survivors. Would he catch on to Kevin's true nature (or as quickly as Picard)? Would he ask Kevin to go along with imprisonment or would he similarly give him up without a fight?
I don't see him catching on, and if he didI see him insisting impotently on arresting Kevin but giving up because he couldn't rather than not trying.

3. Final Mission. Hell, how would Jellico handle/mentor Wesley (if at all)?
Without a personal connection, why would he?

4. The Wounded. Jellico may have sympathized with Maxwell more, but would he go along with Maxwell's plan or would he also take the man in for questioning/punishment?
I think he'd hunt him down the same, but may have boarded the ship at the end.

5. Darmok. Yikes?
We're at war now.

6. Man of the People. I don't *think* he could play greater hardball with Alkar, but I could very well be wrong.
He may just deck him.

7. Starship Mine. This would be a treat to watch.
But he has no saddle...

8. The Pegasus. Would Pressman find an ally in Jellico?
They do both hate Will now...

 

[Orphalesion]

You certainly do have to give it some thought. It would have been nice if Alcar could have been convinced to conduct the negotiations with his negative emotions intact. But, he either could not or would not do so (probably the former). So the problem is right in front of you. Do the needs of the one you know outweigh the needs of the many you don't? Or do you bite the phaser and commit to the greater good for the greater number?

I would argue it's the latter. He would not. The old theme of male arrogance and female exploitation. Because, as said above if he can't conduct negotiations with his emotions intact he's not very good. And as also said above the Federation has access to a wide pool of legendary diplomats and negotiators to help that planet.
I think that's what Picard (and Jellico too) would have proposed if push had come to shove, provide alternate negotiators.

In any case it's an attack on a member of the Enterprise's crew by a malicious outside force. And a Captain has the duty to defend his crew. And I agree with @dupersuper Jellico might have defended Troi more aggressively than Picard did. Probably not because she's Troi or any personal sentiment he might have developed towards her at that point, but because she's a member of his crew and a Starfleet officer. I don't think he would have stood for anybody victimizing a member of Starfleet like that.

 

[Ragitsu]

Can we take a moment to appreciate the dangerous precedent this sets?

"You sacrificed that person? Why?"
"For the greater good."
"Carry on, then. Carry on."

 

[Oddish]

Or this?

TROI: "I know that. Geordi, could you repair the conduit?"
LAFORGE: "Yeah, I think I could."
TROI: "Then do it. That's an order."

 

[Mojochi]

Or this?

TROI: "I know that. Geordi, could you repair the conduit?"
LAFORGE: "Yeah, I think I could."
TROI: "Then do it. That's an order."

Knowingly pledging your life to the service like Laforge has done, is miles of difference away from arbitrarily allowing lives to be ended without their say so.

Laforge pledged his life to ship & crew & mission. Troi had no say in having years siphoned off her life from Alkar

 

[Orphalesion]

Can we take a moment to appreciate the dangerous precedent this sets?

"You sacrificed that person? Why?"
"For the greater good."
"Carry on, then. Carry on."

It would also pretty much sends the message that his crew is an open buffet for anybody (or anything) who wants to use them for something as long as they can claim (or pretend to claim) some "greater good"

Knowingly pledging your life to the service like Laforge has done, is miles of difference away from arbitrarily allowing lives to be ended without their say so.

Laforge pledged his life to ship & crew & mission. Troi had no say in having years siphoned off her life from Alkar

^ This and Troi was also not conscious to consent or refuse. In the situation with Geordie (if it had happened in reality) Geordie could still have refused (he would have faced serious consequences, but he could have refused) Troi was in no capacity to give or withhold consent.

Let alone that the imminent destruction of the ship is a completely different situation than "some alien diplomat mind-rapes people and siphons their life away so he can further his career"

 

[Ragitsu]

Or this?

TROI: "I know that. Geordi, could you repair the conduit?"
LAFORGE: "Yeah, I think I could."
TROI: "Then do it. That's an order."

Come now.

 

[Mojochi]

(he would have faced serious consequences, but he could have refused)

I'd be interested in seeing that scenario actually lol

Commanding Officer: We need you to sacrifice your life for the crew!
Junior Officer: F### that! I resign my commission. Find some other guy to do it & then drop me off at the nearest port of call... I'll be in 10 Forward getting drunk on Picard's Aldebaran Whiskey, incase we all end up dead.

 

[Oddish]

The statement "that's an order" was pretty ridiculous under those circumstances... if Geordi refuses, the whole ship goes pfoom. Kind of impossible to court martial a guy when you and he are both reduced to ions.