Worf

[The_Baroness]

What's in-universe explanation as to why he was the Enterprise's tactical officer in Nemesis?

I get why he kicking about, he's obviously there for Riker and Troi's wedding, but why, when he's not even in Starfleet anymore - having become the Federation Ambassador to Qonos in DS9 - let alone a member of the Enterprise crew be working tactical.

At least in First Contact we saw him be rescued from the Defiant, and even in Insurrection we were given some explanation why he was there - (although one would argue why Sisko would let him go off gallavanting with Picard trying to rescue a mental Data when he's needed on the front lines of the Dominion war)

Am I missing something?

 

[Timo]

We don't know whether Worf ever actually left Starfleet. That matter was still rather open when DS9 ended; perhaps when Worf recovered from his Victory Day hangover, he rethought and decided not to become a diplomat after all.

We might of course debate whether Worf was serving on the E-E in NEM, or merely being a busy passenger who got to accompany the Captain to a surface foray as a gesture of courtesy. But in this movie, the ship didn't appear to suffer battle casualties until very late in the plotline, and still Worf was in charge of the big guns during the flight from Romulus towards UFP space, and in the subsequent battle. Perhaps Worf had decided not to pursue a diplomatic career, yet had relatively few openings left in Starfleet as well, and the best he could do was call Picard for a favor and get a posting as his TO, a position seemingly beneath Worf's rank and experience.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[JarodRussell]

The real-universe explanation is that the scriptwriter didn't give a fuck. Proudly stated in an interview that he hasn't watched a single episode of DS9.

 

[sonak]

I think there's a line in a Trek book that "diplomacy didn't work out" for Worf or something to that effect. That's been criticized a lot by some DS9 fans as supposedly wiping away a lot of character development of Worf on that show.


Personally, I think that's nonsense. To me, Worf was always way more of a TNG character than a DS9 one, and I'm glad that they found ways to involve him in all the Next Gen movies, as well as putting him back on Enterprise-E in the later books. I don't see how he'd have been happy as a desk-driving diplomat considering his personality.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm gonna say he did it out of nostalgia.

Actually, one of my biggest annoyances with NEM is that it got rid of Daniels, who had been introduced as the security officer in First Contact and Insurrection. Insurrection may not be the best movie ever, but it at least tried to pay attention to some of the details of the previous movie.

 

[The_Baroness]

I think they missed a trick in nemesis. It could have been very funny to have had Worf aboard the Enterprise as a passenger returning to Qonos following Riker and Trois wedding, wanting to get involved in the action to keep being told "No Mr. Ambassador, now sit down and shut up!" throughout the film, which would of course see Worf going batshit crazy as it went on.

 

[Mr Silver]

I'd imagine that since 3 years or so pass between the end of DS9 and NEM that Worf merely served a couple of years as an Ambassador and then chose to return to Starfleet, kind of like what Kirk did between TMP and TWOK, he left Starfleet, did some horseriding, shacked up with Antonia and then decided to return to Starfleet

As far as I'm aware during times of peace, Starfleet Officers can take leaves of absence and return at any point (McCoy, Spock) however they can also be drafted back in, at least in the 23rd Century during desperate times ("Invoked a little known, seldom used, reserve activation clause")... Still this doesn't explain Sisko's indefinite leave during the Dominion War, however I think its safe to assume that as a valuable officer, his return to the frontlines was welcomed back by Starfleet

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

At the end of DS9 it was pretty obvious to me that Worf was leaving Starfleet to become an Ambassador, after all his career had pretty much stalled (due to his firing on a civilian transport in the Federation-Klingon War, and then abandoning the mission to save Jadzia in the Dominion War).

Of course he would have been back for the Riker-Troi wedding, though if they'd had in in civvies and then put his uniform back on when things started to get serious would have made more sense, and then in the first meeting with Shinzon a little tip of the hat to his position would have been nice.

I agree that the writters probably weren't all that fussed with why. Also why Troi (a full Commander and bridge officer) needed to guide his hand at tactical when she was searching for the Viceroy didn't make mush sense to me either.

I've come up with an idea for a little fanfic to explain why Worf was back in Starfleet (as well as Wesley, but not really fussed about him to be honest).

As for replacing Daniels, I wasn't fussed with that. It was nice they had him onboard for two films for a little continuity, but seeing as how Nemesis threw that out the nearest airlock, he never stood much of a chance. The one thing that REALLY annoys me about Nemesis, was at the very end, when B-4 starts singing, obviously the memory transfer with Data was a success. So rather than have Data's sacrifice being a noble gesture to save his Captain and shipmates, they cheapen it with a unnecessary plot point.

GRRRRRRR.

Now, back to other people's thoughts on Worf.

-Bry

 

[Mr Silver]

The Ent-E deviated from the 24th Century norm, in terms of Bridge Configurations

Picard- Captain
Riker- 1st Officer
Troi- Communications (apparently)
Data- Ops/Science
Geordi- Chief Engineer (both in Engineering and at the Station on the Bridge)
Daniels- Security
Worf- Tactical (took over, due to experience in FC)


It would seem the Tactical and Security stations were no longer combined, however considering that Worf is one of the most experienced officers in combat against the Borg, it made sense to have him lead one of the security details along with Picard in FC

Troi seemed to be the person in FC monitoring Communications, it gave her something to do on the Bridge at least

With Daniels, a production explanation could be that the actor wasn't available to do NEM or simply put, the casting team didn't bring him back for it, In Universe, who knows, maybe he transferred ships? (its not to everyone satisfaction serving onboard the Enterprise) We also see Worf and Riker engaging the Reman Boarding Party in NEM, perhaps suggesting that Tactical and Security duties have been merged once again

 

[Timo]

To be sure, the only ships for which Tactical and Security were combined to our knowledge were the E-D and the Voyager. And in both cases, we could argue it was due to combat casualties: Worf got the double job because Tasha Yar died in "Skin of Evil", and Tuvok got the double job because the unnamed Tactical Officer died in "Caretaker".

As for Worf having to leave Starfleet in order to become UFP Ambassador to the Klingon Empire, I don't see this as a necessity. Klingons would certainly appreciate dealing with diplomats who were warriors by profession... And might even distrust a diplomat who had no "proper" job in addition to the sprouting of hot air and holding of cocktail glasses (or warnog mugs, or whatever).

For all we know, Worf remained an ambassador throughout the events of ST:NEM, but also happened to remain a qualified, experienced and rather senior Tactical Officer and thus was allowed to serve in that role when Picard's ship suddenly found herself in a "tactical situation".

Although really, I'd be much happier thinking that Worf never became a diplomat. It's just so unlike him, and also quite contrary to the spirit of TNG "Firstborn".

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Picard Alpha]

To be sure, the only ships for which Tactical and Security were combined to our knowledge were the E-D and the Voyager. And in both cases, we could argue it was due to combat casualties: Worf got the double job because Tasha Yar died in "Skin of Evil", and Tuvok got the double job because the unnamed Tactical Officer died in "Caretaker".

Timo Saloniemi

Tuvok was always Janeway's chief of security, as revealed toward the end of Caretaker Part 1 when he informs Chakotay that...he's actually Janeway's chief of security...I don't think anyone ever intended to separate the positions, especially since the station literally was labeled security/tactical. So I guess I don't get your reference on that. Funny memory, didn't that Lt. Rollins dude serve throughout the episode at tactical, he seemed to be some kind of bridge relief officer (Worf, S1 TNG). Janeway briefly put him in charge of the bridge. Not sure if we ever saw that fellow again, I don't think he died...

 

[JarodRussell]

I was disappointed that Lt. Daniels didn't return. You know, Enterprise-E's tactical officer from First Contact and Insurrection.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Yeah, that's been brought up already. The screenwriter wasn't familiar, because lol.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

The question of Security Chief and Tactical Officer being one and the same in the series' would be due to budget. In the Trek universe I would say that it is the Captain's discretion if two people are in the jobs or just the one.

Logically I would say that they should be split up. For example in Nemesis, when the Remans board the ship, the Security Chief would be needed to head up the teams repelling them, whilst the Tactical Officer would still be on the brideg to deal with the Scimitar.

-Bry

 

[Trek Survivor]

This is real simple. There's a deleted line from Nemesis in which Worf states "I was not suited for the life of a diplomat" or words to that effect e.g. he tried being an ambassador, but realised Starfleet was where he belonged.

Really, why do some fans get so excited about this. Even if you don't take the above WHICH WAS MEANT TO BE IN THE FILM, three years pass between DS9 Season 7 and Nemesis. Plenty of time for career changes, people to move around etc. Not everything needs to be explained in a 2 hour movie.

 

[Timo]

Tuvok was always Janeway's chief of security

Nobody disputes that. My claim was that he never was Janeway's Chief Tactical Officer, until that duty fell on his able shoulders when the ship suffered casualties in the pilot episode.

In "Ashes to Ashes" we learn that the ship lost several very high-ranking officers in addition to LtCmdr Cavit. We know the Chief Engineer (of unknown rank and name) and the Chief Medical Officer (of unknown name but LtCmdr rank) died, but at least one further Commander or Lieutenant Commander also perished; possibly Tuvok's predecessor at Tactical, possibly Kim's predecessor at Ops. And possibly both, since we only have a minimum figure on high-rank casualties, not the sum total.

Kirk always had separate Tactical and Security Chiefs in TOS. In the movies, his ship was usually short on staff, and everybody more or less did everything. Picard had a nondescript mixture in the first season of TNG (Yar was Security Chief, but seldom got to fire the guns, while Worf at times did fire them), and Worf thereafter. The various guest starships never were indicated to have a combined Tactical and Security Chief.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[The_Baroness]

This is real simple. There's a deleted line from Nemesis in which Worf states "I was not suited for the life of a diplomat" or words to that effect e.g. he tried being an ambassador, but realised Starfleet was where he belonged.

Really, why do some fans get so excited about this. Even if you don't take the above WHICH WAS MEANT TO BE IN THE FILM, three years pass between DS9 Season 7 and Nemesis. Plenty of time for career changes, people to move around etc. Not everything needs to be explained in a 2 hour movie.

Noones getting excited. I was just wondering what everyone thought about it when it occured to me after seeing Nemesis on TV the other day.

Having never seen the deleted scene...because it was...y'know...deleted...

 

[Picard Alpha]

Tuvok was always Janeway's chief of security

Nobody disputes that. My claim was that he never was Janeway's Chief Tactical Officer, until that duty fell on his able shoulders when the ship suffered casualties in the pilot episode.

In "Ashes to Ashes" we learn that the ship lost several very high-ranking officers in addition to LtCmdr Cavit. We know the Chief Engineer (of unknown rank and name) and the Chief Medical Officer (of unknown name but LtCmdr rank) died, but at least one further Commander or Lieutenant Commander also perished; possibly Tuvok's predecessor at Tactical, possibly Kim's predecessor at Ops. And possibly both, since we only have a minimum figure on high-rank casualties, not the sum total.

Kirk always had separate Tactical and Security Chiefs in TOS. In the movies, his ship was usually short on staff, and everybody more or less did everything. Picard had a nondescript mixture in the first season of TNG (Yar was Security Chief, but seldom got to fire the guns, while Worf at times did fire them), and Worf thereafter. The various guest starships never were indicated to have a combined Tactical and Security Chief.

Timo Saloniemi

Not quite sure what you mean about Yar not being the Tactical officer? I'm pretty sure it's safe to assume that by the 24th century security and tactical are a combined position aboard most starships, atleast that's always the thought I've run with. I doubt that either position is so involved that it requires 2 manned officers by the time of the 2300's. Even if the Cheif is needed, a replacement officer can easily take over the tactical station. Background extra's are a dime a dozen in Star Trek. In Voyager that maquis fellow seemed to be Tuvok's underling...To that note, I'm pretty sure Worf's job in the first season was simply that of a bridge relief officer, used as Picards cannonfoder. He got pretty lucky when Yar died, it's like going from department lackey to dept. manager.

 

[alica]

Worf was the first character that was appeared in klingon, Star Trek,. Worf was the only character to be a regular in more than one live-action Star Trek series was featured in both in The Next Generation and Deep Space.

 

[Timo]

Not quite sure what you mean about Yar not being the Tactical officer?

Well, she was never stated to be one, for starters.

The only time the word "tactical" is associated with Tasha Yar is in "Heart of Glory", where she is unsure whether she should stay at the tactical station where she currently happens to be standing or whether she should lead the security team. Of course, she gets sent to do the latter job, which probably is her actual job anyway.

I doubt that either position is so involved that it requires 2 manned officers by the time of the 2300's. Even if the Cheif is needed, a replacement officer can easily take over the tactical station.

By that logic, there'd be no need for separate Chief Engineer and Chief Medical Officer. The same guy could patch up the ship and the crew, or a "replacement officer" could do the other half of the job if the primary one for some mysterious reason couldn't be in two places at once, doing two completely different jobs.

I'm pretty sure Worf's job in the first season was simply that of a bridge relief officer, used as Picards cannonfoder.

Out of the 22 episodes where he worked alongside Yar, he was at the Tactical/Security station in 20, at Helm in 1, at Ops in 1 ("The Naked Now" where he also was at T/S at first). Yar was at Tactical/Security in 21 (she didn't visit that station in "Code of Honor"). Basically, the only episode where Yar was at Tactical/Security but Worf was not was "Code of Honor", where there was no space battle or other work for the Tactical Officer. In "Haven", Worf was absent from the entire episode.

One could just as well argue that Yar was the "cannon fodder" officer, then.

Timo Saloniemi