When SHOULD Riker have left?

[Angry Fanboy]

By my count Riker was offered his own ship four times that we know of:

He was offered the Drake at the age of 29, but turned it down in favour of the first officer position on the Enterprise. He was offered the Aries a year later and turned down that ship too. Next was the Melbourne just before the Borg attack of 2366. Then the offer of the Titan rolled round fourteen years later in 2379.

Starfleet may well have offered him his own ship between 2366 and 2379 - maybe they were offering him ships regularly from the age of 29 with the Drake to 44 when he finally accepted the Titan. Or Starfleet may have taken the view 'we''ve offered him three ships and had three refusals, he can stay on the Enterprise for all we care...'

He was clearly a rising star within Starfleet, Picard described him as 'quite simply the finest officer he'd ever served with'. But his career stalled after a year or two on the Enterprise, he and everyone else around him knew that.

To my mind he was essentially a captain serving as a first officer from about 2366 onwards after the Borg attack, after which his stock was probably as high as it had ever been after his field promotion and the part he played in stopping the Borg.

Was he right to stay as long as he did? Curious to know what others think?

 

[Discofan]

Well he had that problem with Jellico, plus the Pegasus incident. These two events must have slowed down the ship offers a little. I can only imagine the report that Jellico must have written about his capabilities and the imbroglio with Admiral Pressman likely didn't help things along either. So that could explain why he had to wait so long to get another offer.

 

[Angry Fanboy]

I wonder if the Enterprise being lost on his watch may also have had an impact (if you'll excuse the pun).

 

[Discofan]

I wonder if the Enterprise being lost on his watch may also have had an impact (if you'll excuse the pun).

Indeed, like was it wise to put Deanna at the helm at such delicate time?

A better helmsman could have saved the ship... the saucer section that is.

 

[Doctor Bombay]

You know, I never saw that as Deanna's fault... I saw it as a result of the physics of the whole scenario. Is there some aspect to that I missed that puts it in her lap?

As to Riker's long tenure as XO: I think Starfleet by this time was less of a military service and more exploratory/peace keeping. If a guy wants to camp in a spot for X number of years, and he seems to fit well, especially with the recommendation of Jean-Luc Picard, why not?

 

[Discofan]

You know, I never saw that as Deanna's fault... I saw it as a result of the physics of the whole scenario. Is there some aspect to that I missed that puts it in her lap?

As to Riker's long tenure as XO: I think Starfleet by this time was less of a military service and more exploratory/peace keeping. If a guy wants to camp in a spot for X number of years, and he seems to fit well, especially with the recommendation of Jean-Luc Picard, why not?

Can we really surmise that nothing happened during all this time? I mean The Enterprise D must have been in danger of being destroyed about a hundred times in seven years!!! Is it likely that this would stop because we're not looking?

 

[Tenacity]

Well he had that problem with Jellico, plus the Pegasus incident.

The events of Insurrection might not have help much either.

Indeed, like was it wise to put Deanna at the helm at such delicate time?

To be fair, who else on the bridge at the time was availible?

 

[Discofan]

The events of Insurrection might not have help much either.To be fair, who else on the bridge at the time was availible?

It's a big ship. Why put a counselor at the helm at all?
Can we really believe that she was the best choice available at the moment?

I can understand that in a very small firm people have to wear several hats but in a BIG starship? How can that happen?

 

[Tenacity]

I think Starfleet by this time was less of a military service and more exploratory/peace keeping.

Going through a rewatch of the multi-year Dominion War, getting harder and harder to grasp the "Stafleet isn't a military" concept.

It's a big ship. Why put a counselor at the helm at all?

RIker didn't have a long list of options, he need someone at the helm immediately. She was on the bridge at the moment, as a qualified bridge officer she knew the helm.

 

[Angry Fanboy]

He didn't cover himself in glory with the whole Veridian Three incident - five minutes spent letting Worf and Data bang on about some scheme to get the bird of prey's shields to drop while the Enterprise was getting smashed to pieces.

What happened to "FIRE ALL WEAPONS!" and literally launch fifty photon torpedoes and fire all twelve phaser banks?

 

[Mysterion]

After being courts-martialed for being an insubordinate moron in the Chain of Command two-parter. At least that's how it should have happened.

 

[Doctor Bombay]

Going through a rewatch of the multi-year Dominion War, getting harder and harder to grasp the "Stafleet isn't a military" concept.RIker didn't have a long list of options, he need someone at the helm immediately. She was on the bridge at the moment, as a qualified bridge officer she knew the helm.

Well, I didn't say "isn't a military." I said "less of a military." But yeah, the whole Dominion War thingie, coupled with the previous Cardassian War does blur the line a little, doesn't it?

 

[Tenacity]

After being courts-martialed for being an insubordinate moron in the Chain of Command two-parter. At least that's how it should have happened.

Maybe Jellico had a sternly written letter of reprimand put in Riker's record?

 

[Mysterion]

Maybe Jellico had a sternly written letter of reprimand put in Riker's record?

Well, at the very east one could only hope. Otherwise, got to have some serious doubts about how Starfleet can be run as a viable organization responsible for not only being the first line of defense for the UFP, but also it's (oftentimes) diplomatic first impression. It is either being run with some degree of discipline or folks are just running around willy nilly. Can't be both,

 

[Angry Fanboy]

I'd say anything negative added to Riker's record by Jellico would almost certainly be cancelled out and then some the glowing reports from someone of Picard's stature.

 

[Orphalesion]

At the end of season 4. In part 2 of BOBW they said the fleet would be returned to strength within a year and Riker would have his pick of ships to command. There could have been a mini arc over the course of season 4 in which Riker prepares for command and at the end he could have left to become Captain Riker.
It also leaves them enough time to introduce Thomas Riker to keep Frakes on the show.

In-universe he should have also left at that point.

 

[Discofan]

I'd say anything negative added to Riker's record by Jellico would almost certainly be cancelled out and then some the glowing reports from someone of Picard's stature.

Jellico was put in charge because he was held in high esteem by Admiral Nechayev and the mission was a success, he not only solved the Cardassian problem but managed to get Picard set free. I'll say that whatever he had to say about Riker's involvement would be listened to with great attention. And we know that he hated him.

 

[Discofan]

At the end of season 4. In part 2 of BOBW they said the fleet would be returned to strength within a year and Riker would have his pick of ships to command. There could have been a mini arc over the course of season 4 in which Riker prepares for command and at the end he could have left to become Captain Riker.
It also leaves them enough time to introduce Thomas Riker to keep Frakes on the show.

In-universe he should have also left at that point.

Plus it would have been interesting to have a Riker with a different personality and one that was more in love with Deanna. If a writer I would have used that opportunity.

 

[NCC-73515]

It's a big ship. Why put a counselor at the helm at all?
Can we really believe that she was the best choice available at the moment?

I can understand that in a very small firm people have to wear several hats but in a BIG starship? How can that happen?

She became a bridge officer in Thine Own Self.

Well, I didn't say "isn't a military." I said "less of a military." But yeah, the whole Dominion War thingie, coupled with the previous Cardassian War does blur the line a little, doesn't it?

It only takes on military duties in times of war, not when there's peace.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

After Best of Both Worlds.