You Are The Captain #13

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

You have just been promoted to the rank of captain and have been promised the command of a ship in the near future. Two ships in particular have been suggested as possibilities; the Wanderer and the Everest.

The Wanderer is a combat ship with a crew of 300. Its current captain has held the position for nine years, three of which were due to a battlefield promotion one year into his original assignment as security chief. Initially dispatched to the Hautrous sector during border tensions with the Auwace, the ship continues to patrol the region on an ongoing peacekeeping mission. Though the Federation has the upper hand, rebel splinter groups continue to cause problems - firing on other ships passing through, enacting spontaneous temporary blockades to slow down trade, etc.

The Everest is a science ship with a crew capacity of 730, and a current crew of 511. Its former captain was forced into retirement following a disastrous away mission on Gersata in which a rockslide killed several members of a geology team and their Gersatan planetary guides, which the captain was blamed for because those under her command ignored a safety warning from their subordinates and orders from her and went ahead with the mission. It's not an isolated incident, but the latest in a series of chain of command issues that has marred what was an otherwise average career.

Which task would you rather take on; putting out wildfires (Wanderer) or being the new sheriff in town (Everest)?

 

[Artoo Atari]

Sounds like the Wanderer already has an experienced commander with a crew that is most likely efficient and loyal given the circumstances of his advancement.

I'd probably choose the Everest and immediately begin cleaning house.

 

[Nyotarules]

I'd take USS Everest and transfer the command crew and promote the subordinates

 

[FredH]

I’m simply more interested in science missions than combat ones, so Everest for me.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Nobody's spoiling for a fight?

@Artoo Atari good point - why mess with what works, is that your thought?

 

[Artoo Atari]

Nobody's spoiling for a fight?

@Artoo Atari good point - why mess with what works, is that your thought?

Yes, my thought exactly.

 

[FederationHistorian]

The Wanderer. Its where the action is.

Then request those command officers from the Everest be transferred over to the Wanderer and send them on dangerous away missions near where those splinter rebels operate…in the name of science. Maybe something useful will be discovered.

Is there no reason to believe the previous Wanderer captain won’t be promoted to a flag officer rank? Or even transferred to the Everest?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Interesting. I hadn't thought their problems could solve each other.

 

[Oddish]

As someone who's known to always be spoiling for a fight, Wanderer would be up my alley.

 

[Jedi Marso]

My 25 year old self would have gone for the combat vessel. Pew pew, fire the phasers, huzzah!

My 56 year old self would take the science ship. I've lost people since I was 25 and I know what a combat assignment would mean. I also see the science ship as a leadership challenge where a disjointed crew that has lost trust and confidence needs to be brought back together with competent leadership, a refocused command climate, and perhaps a hard evaluation of the senior staff with some replacements being in order. I think I could 'fix' that ship and crew.

 

[Takeru]

I take the Everest.

But it doesn't feel very starfleet like to force the captain into retirement when her orders were ignored while the people ignoring her orders and warnings from subordinates are presumably still working on the ship?
I guess it's my job to clean house, everyone ignoring the previous captains orders gets removed from their positions and is dropped off at the next starbase.