So its been a little while since I've done a watch-through of the Next Gen...so my details/timing may be off a bit.
When the series starts, Picard is obviously Captain. We also see that Riker is promoted to Commander & First Officer (go Number 1 go!).
True.
Then we have Lt. Commander Data, Lt. Geordi, Lt. Worf, and then Dr. Crusher & Coulsilor Troi. I do not remember their ranks being mentioned at the start of the series beyond the doctor remarking that she's the CMO.
Lt. Yar too.
Dr. Crusher is mentioned when she is sent back to Earth to take over Star Fleet Medical. She's a Commander too. We do also see her take over the Bridge on night shifts (like you mention below). I can't recall when we first learn Troi's rank though.We do not see then Data becomes a full Commander. Post season 1, he is just generally regarded as the Second Officer, and takes/is given command whenever Picard & Riker are not on the bridge.
Again, agreed.
I do not remember when Geordi is promoted to Commander either. But when he is promoted to Chief Engineer at the start of Season 2, he just sort of takes command every now and again. There aren't many instances when he is in command of the ship, as he's typically in engineering.
I believe he goes Lieutenant, to Lt. Commander during the series, and then full commander during one of the movies. It might have happened off screen, in fact it probably did.
We see when Worf is promoted to Commander. That takes place on the movie Star Trek Generations. Remember the whole thing on the HMS Enterprise sailing vessel. He has to jump up and get his "badge of office". The only time we see that....
Fun scene... especially when he doesn't fall into the water.
The biggest insight we see into the "who can take command" thing is in regards to Dr. Crusher & Counsilor Troi. If you remember, there is an episode in....Season 5?....when the ship is hit by the Quantum Filliment. It severely damages the ship. Troi is trapped on the bridge with O'Brain, Rho, and some scrubbs. One of which was in command of the ship when it was hit. Troi was not. When red-shirt scrub died, there was a question as to who was in command. O'brian points out that although not a bridge officer, Troi had the highest rank.
I enjoyed that episode.
We then see in Season 7 (I think) that Troi is talking with Crusher, and how Crusher likes to take a few shifts as command. That's also the episode when Troi needs to take the bridge command test.
Again, agreed.
As per your original question...why so many officers on the Enterprise? I'm guessing that they don't have it set up like we do our own military...where there are only a certain percentage of officer positions available. Instead, based upon accomplishments/merit and all that...they are promoted. If they so desire, they take the bridge officer command test. And well...the Flagship of the Federation, with over 1,000 people on board in a variety of disciplines, and no quota...I'm guessing that many would have a higher ranking.
Good take on it... it still seems odd to me that there are so many high ranking bridge officers by the end of their time in the series/movies. Yes, at the end Riker and Troi break off and take over the Titan, but still.
Call me crazy. *shrug*
~Jeordam
I was Phelix on wotmania, I will always be Phelix in the "real" world, and now I am Phelix on RAFO.
You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.- Churchill
*MySmiley*
You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.- Churchill
*MySmiley*
Star Trek
- 07/09/2010 05:29:20 AM
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Well I'm a huge Trek fan.
- 07/09/2010 06:00:10 AM
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Nice. 
- 07/09/2010 07:06:44 AM
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- 07/09/2010 07:06:44 AM
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I love a good Star Trek post to start off my morning.
- 07/09/2010 04:54:17 PM
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Glad to be of service!
- 07/09/2010 09:23:49 PM
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- 07/09/2010 09:23:49 PM
839 Views