ST: The Last Starship

[Poohbah]

Mexican food from a replicator just seems . . . wrong.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Mexican food from a replicator just seems . . . wrong.

That’s why we don’t use them for chili.

Though chili isn’t Mexican. It’s Greek.

[Poohbah]

Mexican food from a replicator just seems . . . wrong.

That’s why we don’t use them for chili.

Though chili isn’t Mexican. It’s Greek.

How do you get proper tamales on a starship?

[Johnnie Lyle]

Mexican food from a replicator just seems . . . wrong.

That’s why we don’t use them for chili.

Though chili isn’t Mexican. It’s Greek.

How do you get proper tamales on a starship?

Clandestine rendezvous with a shuttle off Chintoka.

[MikeKozlowski]

It’s back!

Again, your best characters are your Klingons. Karzz is a delight. Very much in the hussar tradition.

One question - does Starfleet follow Royal Navy age of sail practice when it comes to captains, assigning junior ones to the big boys, especially flagships, and more senior ones to the independent cruisers? Or more modern practice of bigger ship = more senior captain?

Given that the cruisers are usually furthest from Federation headquarters, it makes sense to put your most experienced and trusted officers on them, and a newer captain on a makey-learnie cruise as a dreadnought, battleship or home fleet captain. Especially if I have a senior admiral on board.

Conversely, it seems Kirk was assigned ENTERPRISE as his first command, which is very much a feather in his cap. But both he and Harriman, at least, look to be very green captains when assigned ENTERPRISE. Conversely, Picard is very senior when assigned to ENTERPRISE, and other GALAXY class captains are equally experienced, which fits their explorer role (they don’t appear to be very good battleships).

John,

...It's complicated.

StarFleet does have regulations and procedures for command selections, but an unofficial/unwritten tradition from the Old Days also still has a lot of pull: Command Recommendation (more on that in a minute).

As you mention, the RN custom of command assignment tends to be what ends up happening. Even at the time of the Mikeyverse, the CAs/CLs and variants are still the point of the spear, and you have got to be good to get one. If you're not, the Type Command Detailer at HQSF gets a message - SKIPPER BLUE, meaning a relief for cause has been directed by the Commodore, or SKIPPER RED, which means the captain has shuffled off this mortal coil and is now communing with the Great Bird Of The Galaxy. But, I digress.

Command of a ship of the line (CL/CA/DN/CV) in StarFleet means you are very, very, very good at what you do. But things start to diverge at this point. CA skippers need to be diplomatic warriors, but DN skippers need to be Diplomats who are exceptional at wielding a blunt instrument in concert with others of the same kind. They also need to be galactic-level technical and organizational leaders. In CAPT (O-6) Lyle's case, he showed himself to have all those things, but also showed a unique and complex understanding of Klingon culture and military capabilities, sufficient that one of his staff reports ended up on the desk of Important People(TM). He was already serving as XO aboard STAR DOMINION and had gone through the PCO School with the understanding that he would get FEDERATION when she came out of overhaul - but STAR EMPIRE and STAR LEAGUE were having the usual X-class conversion issues and needed a CO ASAP to get things moving.

The issue here is that STAR EMPIRE and STAR LEAGUE were highly coveted commands - once they got them working, they would be the most powerful starships in the galaxy, bar none - and military custom and courtesy required that a senior DN skipper get them. But the first DNX out the door was going to be STAR EMPIRE, and her first job was going to be making a point to the Klingons. DREADRON 1's commodore knew Lyle, knew his reputation, and knew exactly what kind of skipper he needed - a decision pushed along by ADM Smillie's gentle, polite request to get a DNX into RIMFROST, lest ye find yourself the StarFleet liason to Rura Penthe. The Commodore went to the TCD and, in an exquisitely phrased Command Recommendation memo, suggested that the TCD send young Mr. Lyle to his ship and PDQ, please and thank you. With that, CAPT Lyle became CO STAR EMPIRE and got her sorted out in time to join RIMFROST. The issue now was that the TF33 flagship was going to have to have the best, most state-of-the-art C3 facilities available - and that meant STAR EMPIRE got the job. The other two DN commanders, with considerably more seniority and angling for their own stars, were miffed and said so.

VADM Prescott invited them into his office for a cup of coffee and discussion. It was made clear that no reflections were being made on them personally or professionally, and it is possible that suggestions were made that if, after quiet thought and contemplation, they could not work amicably within this admittedly temporary framework, that there were some APA command slots opening up in the near future that could certainly use their years of skills and experience. With that, VADM Prescott blessed them and bid them return to their duties.

Mike

[gtg947h]

Mike,

A meme I saw yesterday brings this question to mind, from someone with only casual familiarity with TOS and the movies... what's the deal with redshirts in the Mikeyverse? As in, do they actually suffer the casualty levels that pop culture believes them to? Do they have a reputation for such, does it affect recruitment, or what is the real deal with them?


I love it when authors give the backstory and explanation for things outside the story itself, thank you! I guess it's the advantage of the "message board serial" format...

[jemhouston]

Please tell me VADM Prescott maybe a future Commander Starfleet.

[MikeKozlowski]

Mike,

A meme I saw yesterday brings this question to mind, from someone with only casual familiarity with TOS and the movies... what's the deal with redshirts in the Mikeyverse? As in, do they actually suffer the casualty levels that pop culture believes them to? Do they have a reputation for such, does it affect recruitment, or what is the real deal with them?


I love it when authors give the backstory and explanation for things outside the story itself, thank you! I guess it's the advantage of the "message board serial" format...

gtg,

I think it's actually been demonstrated on a couple of occasions that redshirts had the second or third highest casualty rates in TOS and in the Mikeyverse, they're lower than that - SFMC, combat shuttle crew, and StarFleet Corps of Engineers have the dubious distinctions of being the top three on a day-to-day basis - but Fleet lore has created a legend around Security Forces/Security Police that to put on the DEFENSOR FORTIS shield (actual red shirts went away decades ago) is a sure way to put yourself in danger.

StarFleet recruiting had the good sense to lean into this, and the "So You Want To Be A Redshirt?" ads are classics that cast SF/SP as the guardians of the guardians with a touch of humor thrown in, and they've been successful enough to draw occasional sniping from the Marines.

And it's my pleasure to do backstory, believe me - my only problem there is keeping track of it, because you guys are going to keep me honest.

Mike

[MikeKozlowski]

Please tell me VADM Prescott maybe a future Commander Starfleet.

Jem,

Not in TLS, but in ST: Valedictory he'll be back with a couple more stars.

Mike

[Poohbah]

VADM Prescott invited them into his office for a cup of coffee and discussion. It was made clear that no reflections were being made on them personally or professionally, and it is possible that suggestions were made that if, after quiet thought and contemplation, they could not work amicably within this admittedly temporary framework, that there were some APA command slots opening up in the near future that could certainly use their years of skills and experience. With that, VADM Prescott blessed them and bid them return to their duties.

Perchance, is VADM Prescott a mustang?

[Johnnie Lyle]

VADM Prescott invited them into his office for a cup of coffee and discussion. It was made clear that no reflections were being made on them personally or professionally, and it is possible that suggestions were made that if, after quiet thought and contemplation, they could not work amicably within this admittedly temporary framework, that there were some APA command slots opening up in the near future that could certainly use their years of skills and experience. With that, VADM Prescott blessed them and bid them return to their duties.

Perchance, is VADM Prescott a mustang?

Sounds more like VADM Prescott is well acquainted with the benefits and drawbacks of being a flag captain, especially if the admiral is inclined to . . . meddle.

[MikeKozlowski]

VADM Prescott invited them into his office for a cup of coffee and discussion. It was made clear that no reflections were being made on them personally or professionally, and it is possible that suggestions were made that if, after quiet thought and contemplation, they could not work amicably within this admittedly temporary framework, that there were some APA command slots opening up in the near future that could certainly use their years of skills and experience. With that, VADM Prescott blessed them and bid them return to their duties.

Perchance, is VADM Prescott a mustang?

Poohbah,

As a matter of fact, yes. He started out as a shuttle maintenance specialist, and was urged to try for a commission. While at the Academy, he found he had a knack for command and ended up on the CA/CL track, ultimately commanding Polaris (CC) and Agincourt (CG) before taking over as Commodore CRUDIV 18. From there he made Flag rank with a series of sector and in-space commands. He's currently assigned to 2nd Fleet.

Mike