Commodore Decker and the Enterprise

[kkozoriz1]

And studied Art History.

McCoy gave Decker a quick exam on the Constellation. The requirements for removing an flag officer from duty are probably much more stringent.

 

[Timo]

And in any case, McCoy would have to give his expert opinion on Decker's current health, not on his possible earlier ailments or problems. McCoy had seen the Commodore in a sorry state some hours previously, but now a seemingly fit and composed man was sitting in the command chair. Data on his current state of mental health would have to come from some sort of a standard evaluation (which McCoy couldn't perform under the current crisis), or then from a blatantly obvious display of mental shortcomings.

The only way McCoy was going to get the latter was to pull a dirty one on Decker, to goad him into going all Queeg again by hammering him with painful memories of his lost crew or something like that. McCoy was certain that Decker would crack, that he in fact was unfit. But he would win nothing by actually demonstrating that; our heroes didn't need Decker hauled away in disgrace, they needed Decker kept from grabbing more power than was healthy for him and the mission.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Wingsley]

Hours?

More like minutes.

It was obviously a very short time between when Decker was discovered aboard the Constellation and when he seized command from Spock.

 

[Hofner]

"Going all Queeg", that's a good one. I'm picturing Decker nervously clicking ball bearings in his hand.

Robert

 

[James Wright]

Hours?

More like minutes.

It was obviously a very short time between when Decker was discovered aboard the Constellation and when he seized command from Spock.

Am I correct in remembering that the next thing Decker did after taking command of the Enterprise was to order McCoy to leave the bridge?

 

[Wingsley]

Well, McCoy spoke up (not forcefully and intelligently enough), Spock rejected what McCoy said, Decker dismissed McCoy, and then the fun started.

 

[kkozoriz1]

And in any case, McCoy would have to give his expert opinion on Decker's current health, not on his possible earlier ailments or problems. McCoy had seen the Commodore in a sorry state some hours previously, but now a seemingly fit and composed man was sitting in the command chair. Data on his current state of mental health would have to come from some sort of a standard evaluation (which McCoy couldn't perform under the current crisis), or then from a blatantly obvious display of mental shortcomings.

The only way McCoy was going to get the latter was to pull a dirty one on Decker, to goad him into going all Queeg again by hammering him with painful memories of his lost crew or something like that. McCoy was certain that Decker would crack, that he in fact was unfit. But he would win nothing by actually demonstrating that; our heroes didn't need Decker hauled away in disgrace, they needed Decker kept from grabbing more power than was healthy for him and the mission.

Timo Saloniemi

Similar to what NuKirk did to Spock although that was taking command, no regaining it.

 

[Captain Robert April]

"Going all Queeg", that's a good one. I'm picturing Decker nervously clicking ball bearings in his hand.

Robert

You didn't notice Decker fidgeting with those data tapes?

 

[Bob Karo]

I always saw it as McCoy saying it was his opinion that Decker wasn't fit for command. He just hadn't yet had the chance to get every thing necessary to prove it in order. He knew the man was cracking up, he just couldn't yet show it on paper.

As far as Kirk exercising his "captain's prerogative"?
That was one of those gray areas where very specific circumstance determined how it was treated. If things had gone badly, it would have been Kirk's ass. Because Decker had begun to show obvious signs of cracking (and later committed suicide) it's easy enough for everyone to say he was completely justified.