Flagship

[Timo]

Also, in that episode ["Chain of Command"] the Enterprise was also called the flagship of the fleet.

Nope, Nechayev again uses the term "Federation flagship" - no mention of "fleet" or "Starfleet" there, and thus no contradiction with the usual naval meaning of flagship.

Rather, full compatibility with Evans' take on the nomenclature: the E-D is simply the showpiece vessel of the Federation, and it's quite incidental that she also happens to be serving in the Federation Starfleet and performing a command task every now and then.

The ship is also called "the command ship for the sector" by Gul Madred. This is a plausible military designation allowing for a CO of Captain rank and not interfering with the concept of "flagship" in any way.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Sec31Mike]

The flagship is mostly a ceremonial designation. In naval days of yore the flagship got it's designation for simply carrying a specific flag, such as a Duke's flag, as it would have been the Duke's flagship.

The Ent-D was the Federation's flagship and made many many ceremonial appearances. In keeping with that the appointment of Starfleet's youngest captain, only Klingon, and only Android is entirely appropriate.

 

[TheSeeker]

3D Master said:

Jellica was and is one of the greats, every bit as great as Picard, if not greater.

How do you come up with that from only two episodes?

 

[3D Master]

TheSeeker said:

3D Master said:

Jellica was and is one of the greats, every bit as great as Picard, if not greater.

How do you come up with that from only two episodes?

Because we saw him perform.

 

[Vic Sixx]

I never thought there was such a thing as a Federation flagship, it's like every college football team chanting "We're number #1". Don't you think every ship in Starfleet thinks of itself as the Fed. flagship as being the best.

 

[Star Wolf]

Vic Sixx said:
I never thought there was such a thing as a Federation flagship, it's like every college football team chanting "We're number #1". Don't you think every ship in Starfleet thinks of itself as the Fed. flagship as being the best.

I don't know, when Sisko picked up Defiant she was just described as just an escort ship. I don't remember Paris seeming all so excited when Janeway recruited him. And when Ro was assigned it was made plain that she was going to Enterprise and she was not just a starship.

 

[nx1701g]

To be honest Paris didn't know what Voyager was according to the dialogue. He hadn't been informed that it was supposed to have one of the best engine assemblies available in the Fleet (at least according to Janeway).

The only ship to be specifically referred to on screen as the Federation Flagship was the Enterprise D. In Generations though Picard says something to the effect of "They're wondering if they're a match for a Federation Flagship." That does somewhat support there may be more than one.

I like the noncanon description though that an Admiral can assign a ship as a Flagship of a Fleet but not be aboard it (see earlier the thread).

 

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Picard's exact words in Generations are: "They're trying to decide if a 20 year old BOP is a match for THE Federation Flagship."

In the Episode "The High Ground," the terrorist/(freedom fighter???) leader also refers to the Enterprise as the "Federation Flagship."

I agree with those that support the idea that there are numerous fleet flagships used by the commanding Admirals of their respective areas of responsibility, but the the title of Federation Flagship is a separate and highly prestigious title given to the highest profile ship that is used as the Federation's show piece vessel. The Captain of this vessel (as Picard is always shown to be) is always one of starfleets most senior and well respected Captains, who is often given far more broader authority than other Captains, and could easily be promoted to the Admiralty in a heartbeat if he so chose. This makes the best since to me, since on several occasions during TNG I got the impression that Picard was far more influential and well connected than a typical ship Captain would be.

 

[TheSeeker]

Very good assessment Thomas E. Johnson. Things like being sent to make first contact with an alien race or negotiating trade agreements, both of which were seen in the series, certainly support the elevated status of the Enterprise and Picard.

 

[Forbin]

Thomas E. Johnson said:
Picard's exact words in Generations are: "They're trying to decide if a 20 year old BOP is a match for THE Federation Flagship."

Typical Trek movie writer, thinking "20 years old!!!" means "ancient" in ship terms - at that point a 20-year-old BoP would be one of the newer ones in the fleet! And if the Duras sisters got their hands on a surplus one for their piracy, it would have to be more like 80 years old.

 

[Star Wolf]

Thomas E. Johnson said:
Picard's exact words in Generations are: "They're trying to decide if a 20 year old BOP is a match for THE Federation Flagship."

In the Episode "The High Ground," the terrorist/(freedom fighter???) leader also refers to the Enterprise as the "Federation Flagship."

I agree with those that support the idea that there are numerous fleet flagships used by the commanding Admirals of their respective areas of responsibility, but the the title of Federation Flagship is a separate and highly prestigious title given to the highest profile ship that is used as the Federation's show piece vessel. The Captain of this vessel (as Picard is always shown to be) is always one of starfleets most senior and well respected Captains, who is often given far more broader authority than other Captains, and could easily be promoted to the Admiralty in a heartbeat if he so chose. This makes the best since to me, since on several occasions during TNG I got the impression that Picard was far more influential and well connected than a typical ship Captain would be.

I guess the biggest example would be First Contact where Picard arrives and takes command of the fleet. I never read the novel but in the movie there is no stopping to see if Enterprise was the senior ship in the fight.

 

[JM1776]

According to the Voyager episode "Equinox," if a question of seniority arises, captain of the most tactically formidable vessel has authority over the other ships and commanders. If Enterprise-E was, at that juncture, Starfleet's most advanced and powerful ship, Picard's orders were well within regulations as established.