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From: rjnoe@ihlts.UUCP (Roger Noe)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: A Command Question
Message-ID: <455@ihlts.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 7-May-84 13:20:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlts.455
Posted: Mon May  7 13:20:32 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 8-May-84 00:34:25 EDT
References: <1388@dartvax.UUCP> <19800004@uiucuxc.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 17

Actually, in "The Menagerie" Spock did not 'release command' to McCoy.
He surrendered himself for arrest on the charge of mutiny, but McCoy
did not take command.  But when Kirk and Mendez are beamed aboard
Enterprise from the starbase shuttle, someone says to Kirk, "Transferring
command to you."  Who was that?  Was it Sulu?  I won't be able to check
my videotapes until tonight.

I think it would make the most sense just to say that the order of succession
to command would depend not just on rank and division but mostly on command
experience and ability.  Thus (after Kirk) Spock would have the most command
experience followed by Scott, Sulu, and DeSalle.  McCoy probably has no
command training.  Kirk does refer to command school now and then, so it
seems to me that training specifically for starship command would be one of
the prime factors under consideration here.
--
	"Sorry, neither!"
	Roger Noe		ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe