posted
Order of rank and chain of command aren't necessarily the same. Granted, one would expect the captain to outrank the XO and the XO to outrank or be equal to the rest of the ship's officers. But it isn't absolutely necessary, especially down the rest of the chain of command. I mean, look at the E-D. Worf was in the middle w/ a rank of lieutenant, while Crusher and Troi were both below him w/ ranks of commander (at the end, anyway, but Troi still outranked him even when she was a LC). This is also why O'Brien would have gotten command of the Defiant before most of the ensigns and lieutenants and such. He may only have been a SCPO, but he was the chief engineer, putting him pretty high up the chain of command.
And, just so this has something to do w/ Voyager... The same applys to Kim. Despite being an ensign, he's the head of the operations department (and, hence, a senior officer). If anything happened, he would certainly get command before LC Bubba in stellar cartography or Lt. Howdy-Doody, head of the holodeck maintenance team, or whatever.
------------------ "The Earl of Sandwich invented the sandwich. Samuel Morse invented the Morse Code. Plato invented the plate." -Holly, Red Dwarf: "Parallel Universe"
posted
This may be over and above since the question seems to have been answered, but any officer put in command, stays in command until relieved by the CO or XO. Therefore, when Kim is given command of the night watch, he outranks everybody else on the ship except Janeway and Chakotay, until thay take command again.
------------------ "A gathering of Angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said..." -Styx
[This message has been edited by Aban Rune (edited January 13, 2000).]
Topic Closed
I now understand a why Harry is a goes to the senior bridge meetings 
Printer-friendly view of this topic
