chain of command discrepancies

[Perrryyy]

On TOS, chain of command went from

Captain
First Officer/Chief Science Officer
Doctor
Chief Engineer

on TNG it seemed to go

Captain
First Officer
Doctor
Ops
Chief Engineer
Counselor

Or am I wrong & the ranks just happened to work out that way? Where's the discrepancy (if any)?

[Phantom]

The Ship's Doctor is not in the chain of command per se. He/She can "dismiss" the Captain if given proper medical reasons, however, the Captain can ignore the Doctor's order...Under pain of court martial.

[Anomaly]

It is my understanding that 'Chief Engineer' and 'Third Officer' are two different titles shared by one individual. So, Data just happened to be Second Officer, even though he was already Dept Head of the Ops Dept. It does not mean that all Chief of Ops positions gets 2nd officer spot.

In theory, any branch could hold the 2nd officer spot.

This is, at least, how I've approached the various positions on my ships.

[Perrryyy]

Originally posted by Anomaly
It is my understanding that 'Chief Engineer' and 'Third Officer' are two different titles shared by one individual. So, Data just happened to be Second Officer, even though he was already Dept Head of the Ops Dept. It does not mean that all Chief of Ops positions gets 2nd officer spot.

In theory, any branch could hold the 2nd officer spot.

This is, at least, how I've approached the various positions on my ships.

Thanks. Exaclty what I was wondering, & how I'd probably approach it too.

[Hirogen Alpha]

But what about even higher ranking officers? (such as commodores in TOS, admirals in TNG and beyond) What authority do they have? Can a doctor still remove them from active duty?

[Perrryyy]

Originally posted by Hirogen Alpha
But what about even higher ranking officers? What authority do they have? Can a doctor still remove them from active duty?

I would assume so: Medical prerogative. Crusher practically ordered Picard to Risa, Bashir did something similar to Kira when she was showing signs of stress.

[Phantom]

If the Doctor is of the professional opinion and can prove his findings he can remove any superior officer from his post. Especially if their are other crewman under him who can become injured by the said officers action or in-actions while under those circumstances.

[qerlin]

Chain should run something like this...
Commanding officer
Executive Officer
Operations Officer

After that it would be based on the rank of line officers. Guys like science officer, medical officer and cheif engineer are not necessarily that high up the chain of command.

[Owen E Oulton]

qerlin is correct. Quite frankly, I thought TNG made a huge mistake as regards military-style protocol when they had the CMO and Counsellor doing turns as Officer of the Watch. For instance, in <i>Disaster</i>, Ro should have been in command rather than Troi (unless they were still in a reality where O'Brien was a Lieutenant, but that's a whole different issue of causality).

In TOS, Spock held both the XO's position and that of Science Officer - filling two billets. He was not XO because he was Science Officer, he was Science Officer in addition to his position as XO.

[Perrryyy]

Originally posted by qerlin
Chain should run something like this...
Commanding officer
Executive Officer
Operations Officer

After that it would be based on the rank of line officers. Guys like science officer, medical officer and cheif engineer are not necessarily that high up the chain of command.

That was the direction I was leaning too.

[Michael Barratt]

Hrm. I've always had it fairly free-form: ie, there's a Captain, an XO, and then the "2nd Officer," and onward down from there. But the "2nd Officer" isn't really a position all on its own insomuch as it is a title given to the next senior person on the ship.

That said, in my USS Perseus Campaign, beyond the Captain and the 1st officer (Commander), there's a Full Lieutenant Night Bridge Officer, Command branch, who is basically the one in charge during the night shift. While there are a few people on board who outrank him (ie: the Lt. Commander in Engineering, who is technically the '2nd officer' as well; and Lt. Commander Michael Barratt, the CMO), he's more "senior" during his shift: he would be in charge over the Doctor for sure, and depending on the situation, even the Chief Engineer.

Basically, it's a situational and plot driven idea to me: though technically it is a Captain, 1st Officer, 2nd Officer progression, there are other command officers, most notably that lieutenant, who, by virtue of being in the Command Track, have a bit more oomph than their rank would would suggest against the rank of a different department...

Hrm. I'm not sure if I'm making sense. Basically, I figure Command people should be a bit more ahead of the Ops/Engineering/Medical/Science folk...

The Doc

[jahn]

I thought that in "Disaster" Troi was in command because she had finished Bridge Qualifications or whatever in a previous episode. I remember that being a "wow, they kept to continuity!" sort of shock that surprised people.

[Phantom]

She went for the Bridge Cert. about two months after that occasion. She was in "Command" since she technically held the highest rank on the bridge Lt. Cmdr. In reality Ro should have been in charage, she was only a Lt. but was from command branch and was a watch officer IIRC.

[Capt.Hunter]

Ro was an Ensign in "Disaster". She didn't get the extra pips until that ep where she joined the Maquis. But yes, technically as a line officer, she should have had perogative over Troi for command.

[Dan Gurden]

The way I see and run it is;

Captain
XO
2nd Officer (whichever Department)
(also roughly equal with Chief of the Boat)
Line Officer by Department head and then senior rank onwards.
Other Officers (as above).