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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!uwvax!astroatc!johnw
From: johnw@astroatc.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Commodores, admirals, et. al.
Message-ID: <200@astroatc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Oct-85 04:40:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: astroatc.200
Posted: Wed Oct 16 04:40:33 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 18-Oct-85 20:43:11 EDT
Reply-To: johnw@astroatc.UUCP (John F. Wardale)
Distribution: net
Organization: Astronautics ATC, Madison, WI
Lines: 32

In article <275@ssc-vax.UUCP> adolph@ssc-vax.UUCP (Mark Adolph) writes:
>*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***
>Now that we have all of this naval expertise floating around the net,
>perhaps someone could finally explain to me that "personal authority as 
>Captain of the Big E" nonsense that Kirk pulled on Commodore Decker in
>"Doomsday Machine".  I never understood how that could hold any water
>whatsoever.  Sure, he was right, as usual, but was he really within his
>rights?

This is my memory, so if I'm having parity errors (which are 
nomral at 3:30, send flames to net.flames or /dev/nullm but not to me.)

Bones was telling Spock that Decker couldn't do it.
Bones wanted to declare Decker insane.
Spock was quoteing regulations, and being a good soldier (tho
perhaps not being logical, since he probably argreed with bones)
Spock makes Decker break off an attack via the insanity clause.
Scotty fixes the radio on Deckers ship and Kirk talk with the
folks on the big E.  IMPORTANT PART:  He orders Spock to assume
command.  His "personal authority" (in my opinion) means that
if starfleet objects, it falls on his head, not Spocks.  Given
these comflicting orders, Spocks choise is easy.

possible best line from same show: 
(happens twice I think)
Scotty to Kirk: x,y,z and even one pdq are now fixed
Kirk to Scotty, you've just earned your pay for the week/month.
Similar situation in a different show (name it as a trivia Q!)
"Scotty, your fired."

To err is human, to screw up world news required the net.
John W		{ anyplace-civilized } !uwvax!astroatc!johnw