Flare Sci-Fi Forums: A question

This is topic A question in forum General Trek at Flare Sci-Fi Forums.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flare.solareclipse.net/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/353.html

Posted by Saboc on :

What are the chances of Riker being offered the Federation's flagship, USS Enterprise-E, as his first command?
I mean if he DOES get offered the Enterprise as his first command, I'll kill myself. I think that NO officer should be given a flagship as his/her first command NO matter how "GOOD" or "experienced" he/she is!!!

------------------
The Doctor: "...with my heart, my experiences, and my soul..."
Tincoo (sp): "...I have duplicated that too..."

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

For one thing, we don't know that the Enterprise E is the flagship. Of course, we also don't really know what flagship means in a Starfleet context. Having said that, the Enterprise is a symbol, so who commands her is probably a political decision of some importance. But I fail to see any real reason Riker wouldn't be up for consideration.

------------------
"Oh, it's an anti-anti-WTO song. It's essentially a pro-Starbucks song. I saw this picture of a guy sticking his foot through a plate-glass window in a Starbucks in Seattle, and he was wearing a Nike. Man, couldn't you just change your shoes?"
--
M. Doughty

Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :

But Riker has already passed down at least three other oppertunities at a command of his own. He must be good if he get's an offer about every 3 years...

------------------
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

(-=\V/=-)

Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :

Don't forget, though, that Riker has already commanded the flagship. In "Best of Both Worlds, Part II," he was given a field commission to captain and given the Enterprise-D.

Now you might say that he was only given the Enterprise because he was the only one available. Maybe. In "Parallels," there were A LOT of other universes existing where Riker stayed on as captain of the Enterprise.

I also think it might count for something that he is / was the first officer of the flagship.

------------------
694 consecutive rejections by women since January 1993.

Posted by nx001a (Member # 291) on :

However, there are a lot of talented people in starfleet especially after the war with the dominion. Maybe they would be offered the job and lets not forget in a system such as the federation there will be decisions made not on merit but on politics etc.

Unless of course captain picard gives his first officer his support for the job when he retires/promoted.

------------------
"We set sail on this new sea because their is new knowledge to be gained and new rights to be won" John F Kennedy

members.aol.com/mfwan/index.htm

Posted by Michael Dracon (Member # 4) on :

You've got some very good points there Siegfried!

Riker had the Enterprise in a surprising lot of parallel universes.

Also I too think that being 'Number One' on both the Enterprise D and E will count.

------------------
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

(-=\V/=-)

Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :

From a Naval standpoint, I am told that Riker wouldn't even be in uniform anymore. Noone turns down a command. Certainly not four times. Now I grant, there seems to be a little more leeway in accepting or declining assignments in Starfleet than there is in the present day Military.

That being said, if Stewart decides to quit, we will see Riker in the captain's chair of the Ent. E.

------------------
"A gathering of Angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said..." -Styx

Aban's Illustration www.thespeakeasy.com/alanfore

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

Related Thread: http://flare.solareclipse.net/Forum6/HTML/000347.html

The only reason Riker will be in command of the Ent-E is because the producers wanted it.

In Starfleet terms, Picard's reccomendation can increase his chances of getting command of the Ent-E are pretty good. Sulu probably got the command of the Excelsior (then the Fed's best ship) due to strong backing from Captains Kirk and Spock.

However, the Feds would want a more seasoned captain to run the Ent-E. Note that Riker was offered command of smaller ships like the Melbourne, which was an Excelsior, now a much smaller ship compared to the rest of the fleet. Starfleet would continue to offer Riker these kinds of command, rather than give him the Ent-E.......

------------------
"My Name is Elmer Fudd, Millionaire. I own a Mansion and a Yacht."
Psychiatrist: "Again."

[This message has been edited by Tahna Los (edited May 10, 2000).]

Posted by Saboc on :

I agree with Los. It would be illogical to offer such a large and advanced ship to an officer who turned down 3 too many offers, for whatever reasons.
It does not matter how experienced you are as a COMMANDER. It also does not matter how many times you've been offered a command. If you have not have a solid command for a relative long period of time, you're not considered a "season" officer to be captain.
By giving the egocentric Riker the Enterprise, they, obviously, consider Riker to be a BETTER captain Janeway, DeSoto, and a bunch of other older, more experienced captains.

------------------
The Doctor: "...with my heart, my experiences, and my soul..."
Tincoo (sp): "...I have duplicated that too..."

Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :

Speaking of Janeway, she was in command of the Billings (I think) before taking Voyager which is considered one of the most advanced ships in Starfleet. This also goes to say a captain will command a smaller, less advanced ship before getting something like Voyager or Enterprise-E.

------------------
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you."
Federation Starship Datalink - On that annoying Tripod server.

Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :

>"there are a lot of talented people in starfleet especially after the war with the dominion."

Actually, I'm none too sure about this part. Did the War raise the number of talented individuals in Starfleet, or seriously diminish it? After all, one would expect that the most talented commanders would be out there on the front lines frequently leading the assaults into the most dangerous space.

That said, I suppose the argument could be made that only the craftiest, most brilliant folks SURVIVED those days on the front line... but there wouldn't be all that many of those, I would think.

------------------
"Nobody knows this, but I'm scared all the time... of what I might do, if I ever let go." -- Michael Garibaldi

Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :

Although the producers have frequently made Riker the CO of the Enterprise-D in parallel universes and will probably give him the E-E if Picard leaves, this would be very unlikely in real Starfleet. I think promotion to captain would almost necessarily mean that Riker would have to change the ship. This is how it goes in present-day companies and I think in the military too. You are not promoted to the head of your previous department/ship.

------------------
"Species 5618, human. Warp-capable, origin grid 325, physiology inefficient, below average cranium capacity, minimum redundant systems, limited regenerative abilities."
Ex Astris Scientia

Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :

In present day Navy, CO's rotate ships regularly. The goal is to get command of a bigger and better ship. This is unlike the Starfleet system of seemingly "lifetime membership", at least for captains with their own shows.

Realistically, Riker (assuming anyone ever offers him a command again) would be offered another smaller ship. Think about this. When Wesley (ick) left for the Academy, Geordi said that POicard would request him if he was still in command of the Enterprise. Surely Riker would've requested him too if he was promoted to Capt of the ship. Geordi likely considered it a possibility that outside resources might be brought in if Picard left or was promoted.

------------------
"A gathering of Angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said..." -Styx

Aban's Illustration www.thespeakeasy.com/alanfore

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Although at the time when Riker was offered the Melbourne, it was a Nebula-class

Now, I'd say there's a huge difference between the two in terms of prestige. The Excelsior's seem to be the backbone of the fleet. The Nebula's would have a lot more prestige, since they share so much with the then-brand new Glaxy class. Being offered a Nebula would seem to be only one step away from being offered a Galaxy.

The Excelsior-class OTOH...pah. My nan could command one of them.

------------------
*Amusing quote not available, please call back later*

Posted by Curry Monster (Member # 12) on :

Oh ya. I saw the USS Toothless do a fly by in an episode. I believe your nan was knitting at the time. Making you one of those oh so cute turtle neck pull-overs.

------------------
"Blind faith is the crutch of fools"

Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :

Doesn't she know the uniform style has changed? I mean, the turtlenecks already disappeared before "Yesterday's Enterprise" or "Dark Page", whichever comes first.

Or is she knitting for the enemy (say, the Agnosians)?

Timo Saloniemi

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Production wise, "Yesterday's Enterprise" was the first show to use the movie uniforms without tutrlenexks. Although "Tapestry", set earlier, showed the movie uniform with a very low collar.

Still, my nan doesn't knit my jumpers. Oh no. Combat trousers, and hair bands (she's not quite gotten over not getting a granddaughter).

------------------
*Amusing quote not available, please call back later*

Posted by Captain Richard Miloshkin on :

About the number of cunning and/or great captains after the Dominion War...

Even the "craftiest" captains would have much trouble fighting against the massive, disposable Dominion fleets. I think the large fleet actions that the Alpha Quadrant races engaged in seriously diminished the number of able, experienced captains.

Special emphasis on "I think"

I think that Riker is not only loyal to his captain, but loyal to his ship - the Enterprise. It'd destroy him if in the long run he didn't receive command of the Big E.

*steps off of soap box*

------------------
Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do on a rainy afternoon. --- Susan Ertz

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

I think the Captain-Sulu-got-a-pretty-good-ship-his-first-time-out argument sums up my thoughts.

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

Captain Keogh was a very well-seasoned Captain who got command of a Galaxy Class Starship. And it was bashed to bits by the Dominion. Mind you, that could have been the Enterprise-D. Even more seasoned Captains could get into trouble without a way out.

I'm not so sure if Riker would have lasted as long as Keogh if he was in command of the Oddysey instead.

I do have one question regarding Sulu's captaincy. How many years was ST:V before ST:VI? I mean, Captain Sulu was appointed Captain of the Excelsior three years before ST:VI. Without any first-officer experience, I must add. Unless he had some form of command between the events of ST:V and when he was appointed Captain of the Excelsior. Mind you, the Excelsior is a very delicate toy during that period of the Federation.

------------------
"My Name is Elmer Fudd, Millionaire. I own a Mansion and a Yacht."
Psychiatrist: "Again."

Posted by Dat (Member # 302) on :

ST V was 2285-86. Sulu got the Excelsior in 2290. ST VI was 2293. So there's an 8 year difference. It's very well possible for Sulu to have been an XO between ST V and VI.

------------------
7 alarm clock: "Do not touch me."
Dilbert: "Then how do I turn you off?"
7: "Believe me, I am plenty turned off."

Posted by Obi Juan (Member # 90) on :

We don't even know where Sulu was posted prior to 2285. He made a comment in STII that indicated he not posted to the Enterprise. I believe he was a commander at the time, so for all we know he could've been an XO of a vessel before being TADed to the Enterprise for a training mission

Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :

Just the other day, I was looking at the time periods between the movies...

Between 1 and 2 I reckon there was another 'five year mission' and then between V and VI I reckon there was another 5 year mission - this gives the Enterprise A, some history... cause why would they go to all the trouble of giving them the new Enterprise in IV then straight into V (its first mission) - once they got back I reckon the ships problems were fixed, maybe even that carpet ripped out of the bridge and sent on another V year mission...

Kirk as Captain
Spock as XO and Science officer
Checkov at Navigation and Second officer (see ST:V and VI)
McCoy CMO
Uhura CCO
Scotty as CEO

someone before Valeris at the Conn.

Sulu would have been puttering around with the Exxy.

Actually Sulu could have been there for the five year mission, and then for the next three until VI been the Excelsior captain.

Then in that V years, They did there own thing... Uhura probably started her Academy classes in those five years before VI, Kirk may have even left in those Five years - and gone to live with whats her name in Iowa (as seen in Generations) that was at least seven years before Generations... so after the five year mission: 3 years break + 2 years in and around VI and then say another 2 years before the E-B is launched.

Andrew

------------------
"chocolate cherries allamanda" - Datura, Tori Amos

Posted by Vacuum robot lady from Spaceballs (Member # 239) on :

What is the Exxy? Is that your made up nickname for the Excelsior? It sounds like a gas station...

------------------
"Ultra Magnus is Undeniably Fun!" David Stevens, New York Magazine.
"Total Complete excitement from start to finish!" -WPIX-TV, New York
"This isn't a thrill ride, it's a rocket..." -Richard Caves, Time Magazine.