Commodore Decker and the Enterprise

[Wingsley]

In "The Doomsday Machine", Commodore Decker is brought aboard the Enterprise by Doctor McCoy, who found Decker dazed and "in a state of shock". In the confrontation with the Planet Killer, McCoy apparently forgot the medical state he found Decker in, and failed to report it to Spock.

Upon surviving another attack by the Planet Killer, Decker insists upon assuming command, citing General Order 104, Section B, Paragraph 1a to give him authority to do so.

Does this sound like any military or pseudo-military command structure you've ever heard of? Does it make any sense? If it doesn't resemble any kind of authority known in human naval or maritime law, could it be derived from somewhere else? I've read in another forum that in the U.S. Navy, Decker would not have the authority to give any orders aboard the Enterprise.

 

[Timo]

Intuitively, it makes sense that Decker would be able to pursue the important Starfleet mission he's in charge of, with the Starfleet resources at his disposal. In accordance with tradition and practicability, Spock would remain in command of the individual starship (and he does - Decker's attempt at wrestling command of the ship to himself comes to nought, but that never stops him from commanding the mission and ordering the ship to perform to that end).

McCoy's failure to report Decker's state of health to Spock is debatable, and ultimately forgivable - the situation is hectic, and Decker is very much needed on the bridge in an advisory role at least. When he seemingly pulls himself together, shouldn't McCoy's medical judgement make him withdraw his earlier diagnosis as outdated? That is, shouldn't he stay mum, just like he does?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[blssdwlf]

In "The Doomsday Machine", Commodore Decker is brought aboard the Enterprise by Doctor McCoy, who found Decker dazed and "in a state of shock". In the confrontation with the Planet Killer, McCoy apparently forgot the medical state he found Decker in, and failed to report it to Spock.

I think the key point is that McCoy didn't have time to run a full medical examination to have detailed evidence for Spock to prevent Decker's assertion of authority. Even though Decker was shell-shocked on the Constellation, he pulled it together on the Enterprise bridge to be convincing enough to take command.

 

[Wingsley]

Intuitively, it makes sense that Decker would be able to pursue the important Starfleet mission he's in charge of, with the Starfleet resources at his disposal. In accordance with tradition and practicability, Spock would remain in command of the individual starship (and he does - Decker's attempt at wrestling command of the ship to himself comes to nought, but that never stops him from commanding the mission and ordering the ship to perform to that end).

McCoy's failure to report Decker's state of health to Spock is debatable, and ultimately forgivable - the situation is hectic, and Decker is very much needed on the bridge in an advisory role at least. When he seemingly pulls himself together, shouldn't McCoy's medical judgement make him withdraw his earlier diagnosis as outdated? That is, shouldn't he stay mum, just like he does?

Timo Saloniemi

I've wondered about that for years.

I can't shake the feeling that McCoy (my favorite character in TOS) backed off too easily.

Let's not forget that Kirk first discovered Decker in this state, and that McCoy had to hypospray the Commodore after he seemed only semi-conscious. And it's not entirely true that McCoy hadn't had time to run an examination on the Commodore. True, McCoy never gave Decker a complete physical, but McCoy did examine and treat him where he was found in the Constellation's auxiliary control room. And part of that treatment included a medi-scanner pass and a hypospray. Those would both be an automatic matter of record, I would think.

I guess the big thing for me is that I wouldn't want Decker behind the wheel of anything after that.

I think the key point is that McCoy didn't have time to run a full medical examination to have detailed evidence for Spock to prevent Decker's assertion of authority. Even though Decker was shell-shocked on the Constellation, he pulled it together on the Enterprise bridge to be convincing enough to take command.

Let me just pause here to note that William Windom did an outstanding acting job with Decker, not just in the scenes aboard the Constellation but also aboard the Enterprise as well. You can regard it as a throwback to the Vietnam era if you like, but when Decker started playing Moby Dick a second time after the disastrous results to his first crew, it really was effective. And that was in no small part because of Windom's performance. And the story still resonates surprisingly well to this day, 43 years later. Amazing!

As far as "pulling it together", Decker was very nearly catatonic when Kirk and McCoy first found him. And then when he assumed command and did that twirl around in Kirk's chair, that spoke volumes about what we were in for.



In the end, though, this isn't really about McCoy's obvious blunder. It's about whether Decker had the legitimate right to demand that Spock relinquish command. Decker relieved Spock of command of the Enterprise, and threatened to relieve him of duty as well. What would give Decker that right?

 

[Cloud William]

I think the key point is that McCoy didn't have time to run a full medical examination to have detailed evidence for Spock to prevent Decker's assertion of authority.

I agree.

I remember the episode something like this:

(Of course, these aren't actual quotes - just my memory)

Spock: Doctor, if you can certify that Commodore Decker is medically unqualified for command, I can relieve him on that basis.

McCoy: *slaps arm of command chair for emphasis* I'll certify that right now!

Spock: You will of course be asked to provide the results of the examination you gave Commodore Decker.

McCoy: Dammit, Spock. You know I haven't had time to examine him!

Spock: Then your statement is invalid.

(again, not exact quotes but I think I got the gist of it)

 

[darkwing_duck1]

In the end, though, this isn't really about McCoy's obvious blunder. It's about whether Decker had the legitimate right to demand that Spock relinquish command. Decker relieved Spock of command of the Enterprise, and threatened to relieve him of duty as well. What would give Decker that right?

Decker was the senior officer aboard in a crisis situation. In his opinion, Spock was not taking the appropriate action to combat the threat the ship was under, not to mention the threat to nearby solar systems. It would be the same as if Spock had "froze up" and not taken any action at all. (Not that a Vulcan would ever do that, but you take my meaning...)

 

[Wingsley]

But Decker wasn't stationed aboard the Enterprise. Wouldn't his authority be limited there, if not invalid?

 

[darkwing_duck1]

^Possibly. Certainly under NORMAL conditions, but they were in an emergency situation. Commodore Stocker did the same thing in "The Deadly Years". At the inevitable post-mission Board, they would have argued that "the situation was dire enough that to protect the lives, etc, etc, etc...."

Kirk did a turn around of the same principle ON Decker with his "personal authority" order. It may have been bullshit (Decker certainly called him on it), but would a Board have seriously considered convicting Kirk given the way things turned out?

 

[Wingsley]

Or it could simply be that Starfleet stationed Kirk as captain of the Enterprise, and Kirk left Spock in command, so it was Kirk's call and the security guards would back Kirk's legitimate authority on his own ship over Decker's.

In the case of Stocker, it could be argued that the Enterprise was given a specific mission (or overlapping missions) at the time they visited Gamma Hydra IV. So maybe Stocker had authority over the ships in that area, rather than a direct claim on the Enterprise.

The only way I can see that it makes sense in "Doomsday" is if Decker was sent to L-374 by Starfleet to investigate, given broad authority to address whatever was going on in that sector (maybe civvie ships had reported something wrong, but their transmissions were garbled) and then Starfleet sent the Enterprise to find and assist Decker when contact with the Constellation was lost. Does that make sense?

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Well, here's an emergency operations manual (real life) for fire and police. There are several instances where it refers to situations where a late arriving senior officer may/should assume command...

http://www.bcfirechiefs.org/Guidelines/ics.htm

Also, within the ep itself, we have Decker flat STATING that Regulations allowed him to take command on the basis I stated earler: perceived lack of effective action against the standing threat.

Kirk was going WAY out on a limb with his "personal authority", effectively ordering Spock to mutiny against the lawful chain of command.

Ok, more data, this time USAF regulations:

1.3. In addition to the traditional principles governing appointment to and assumption of command as established by law, regulation, custom, and policy, a basic responsibility exists for the senior officer eligible to command to assume command temporarily in an emergency or when essential to good order and discipline, except when specifically prohibited from doing so by superior competent authority.

...

2.4. Assumption of Command. When not otherwise prohibited by superior competent authority, command passes by operation of law to the senior military officer assigned to an organization who is present for duty and eligible to command. The authority to assume command is inherent in that officer’s status as the senior officer in both grade and rank. The term “grade” equates to the office held (Captain, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, etc.). The term “rank” is generally used to denote seniority within a grade, although it also refers to the relative precedence among the different grades. [See 10 U.S.C. § 101(b)(7) and (8)].

http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI51-604.pdf

Yes, it's not Starfleet, but it is military, and Starfleet operates under military rules and proceedures.

 

[Wingsley]

How do navies handle this kind of situation?

 

[Birdog]

Well, here's an emergency operations manual (real life) for fire and police. There are several instances where it refers to situations where a late arriving senior officer may/should assume command...

http://www.bcfirechiefs.org/Guidelines/ics.htm

Also, within the ep itself, we have Decker flat STATING that Regulations allowed him to take command on the basis I stated earler: perceived lack of effective action against the standing threat.

Kirk was going WAY out on a limb with his "personal authority", effectively ordering Spock to mutiny against the lawful chain of command.

Ok, more data, this time USAF regulations:

1.3. In addition to the traditional principles governing appointment to and assumption of command as established by law, regulation, custom, and policy, a basic responsibility exists for the senior officer eligible to command to assume command temporarily in an emergency or when essential to good order and discipline, except when specifically prohibited from doing so by superior competent authority.

...

2.4. Assumption of Command. When not otherwise prohibited by superior competent authority, command passes by operation of law to the senior military officer assigned to an organization who is present for duty and eligible to command. The authority to assume command is inherent in that officer’s status as the senior officer in both grade and rank. The term “grade” equates to the office held (Captain, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, etc.). The term “rank” is generally used to denote seniority within a grade, although it also refers to the relative precedence among the different grades. [See 10 U.S.C. § 101(b)(7) and (8)].

http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI51-604.pdf

Yes, it's not Starfleet, but it is military, and Starfleet operates under military rules and proceedures.

Decker was not assigned to the Enterprise. If you use the logic in the USAF quote he could not take command.

 

[blssdwlf]

Is there any history regarding 17th and 18th century naval procedures regarding high ranking officers temporarily taking command when the captain of the ship has been rendered incapacitated or not on board the ship?

 

[Captain Robert April]

Under Navy rules and tradition, if you're not actually assigned to that ship, you have no authority to take command. Ensign Chekov would be in line to assume command before Commodore Decker under those rules.

However, under Army tradition (and presumably Army Air Corps, which was Roddenberry's experience), then, under the right circumstances, whoever is the highest ranking person present is in command.

Just remember, Starfleet is "a combined service".

 

[STR]

^Could be a hybrid. Anyone assigned to Enterprise's regional command could take control. Which might make a lot of sense, in that someone from half-way across the Federation wouldn't necessarily be well versed in all the civilizations and threats from the half he isn't on.

It's also convenient in that you can take two commodores, and by the arbitrary way the chain-o-command is set up, can have someone eligible or not based on the story you want to tell.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

How do navies handle this kind of situation?

Don't have the Navy version, but military protocol is fairly standardized, with exceptions being things like rank equivilancies, specific protocol rules, and such.

Decker was not assigned to the Enterprise. If you use the logic in the USAF quote he could not take command.

1) Depends on what is meant by "organization". Ship? Squadron? Fleet?

2)See also below:

3.3.1. In the event of death, prolonged absence, or disability of the commander, the next senior
officer assumes command until relieved by proper authority. Alternately, the appropriate superior
competent authority can appoint an officer to command
.
3.3.1.1. Prolonged Absence or Disability. It is not possible to establish a rule or advance
determination as to what is a prolonged absence or disability justifying assumption of or
appointment to command of another officer. The expected length of the absence or disability,
the types of command actions and decisions that will be necessary during the absence or disability,
and the communication vehicles available for use during the commander’s absence or
disability are factors affecting the determination of whether an interim commander is necessary.

Decker would have been the next most senior officer (assigned or not), and would have had the inherent authority by grade (what we call rank) and rank (time in grade) to do so, as discussed in my first set of quotes.

Not that my case rests on "real world" procedure in any event. The canon dialogue clearly shows that Starfleet Regualtions gave Decker (and Stocker later on) the authority to do as they did.

I'm only pointing out that such regulations are consistent with real life military regs and protocols.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Dialogue also indicates Kirk's authority to override that, based on his "personal authority as captain of the Enterprise." Also note how Stocker suddenly wasn't in command the second Kirk reappeared on the bridge, all hale and hearty. Not even a "I relieve you, sir"/"I stand relieved" exchange. Granted, they were being fired on at the time, but the point remains, Kirk didn't have to relieve Stocker, he just showed up.

It probably comes down to a) the commodore having a damn good reason to assume command of someone else's ship, and b) someone assigned to that ship having the authority and justification to tell that commodore to get stuffed.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

^Kirk was at the very least stretching the concept to the breaking point. Decker even called him on it, but Spock backed Kirk (correctly so, in this case). If Kirk had been wrong, Starfleet would have had his ass (and likely Spock's) for mutiny.

 

[J.T.B.]

How do navies handle this kind of situation?

Because of the hazards and specialized knowledge involved, navies have traditionally been very strict about who can command at sea. Under US Navy regulations, a line flag officer who is designated as "eligible to command at sea" can legally give orders to the commanding officer of a navy vessel, even if the flag officer is only aboard as a passenger. The principle behind this is that flag officers who can command at sea have been selected from those who have already commanded vessels themselves, and their greater experience is presumed sufficiently valuable to supersede the CO's authority. An officer below flag rank, even if senior to the vessel's CO, cannot give orders in the same kind of situation.

We know that Starfleet considers commodore to be a flag rank ("The Deadly Years") so, if Decker's medical condition were not a consideration, his taking command would have been legal in the US Navy. The situation of Commodore Stocker seems more questionable.

--Justin

 

[Wingsley]

I wonder if there could be an additional consideration that could cover both the Decker situation and the Stocker situation:

Let's say that Starfleet gives a flag officer orders to do something. (Investigate a problem, take command of a base or sector, whatever). That's the flag officer's mission.

Now let's say Enterprise also receives orders from Starfleet, not just to find or rescue or transport a flag officer, but to become part of the flag officer's mission. ("pick up Commodore Stocker and take him Starbase Ten" or "Find and join with Decker's mission in the L-374 area"). That would place Kirk and the Enterprise under a flag officer's mission, giving the flag officer mission command as he sees fit. Even if Decker didn't know Starfleet sent the Enterprise to rescue him, he can assume command because he is empowered by his mission to investigate and deal with the disturbances in that sector of space.

Perhaps under regulations, short-term missions like this can be structured so that a line flag officer (Mendez also just came to mind) would have powers to direct any available Federation space vessel to participate in the completion of the mission. Once the mission is completed, the vessel or vessels would be released from the flag officer's charge.

Note that while Galactic High Commissioner Ferris and Special Ambassador Robert Fox were not commissioned Starfleet officers, their respective missions gave each of them "the power of command" and thus the ability to give direct orders to Captain Kirk. So Starfleet must use the same "power of command" regulation to empower senior civilian officials.

Does that make sense?