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Table of Contents
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In Project Ark, I reference the retirement of Admiral Bennett as Starfleet's Commanding Officer. It's purely a conjecture on my part. However, it explains his absence in subsequent movies. Unfortunately, I had a real difficult time in determining just who is actually in charge and even what Starfleet Command is.
It seems that 'Command' is a loosely defined position or division of Starfleet. Often orders from Command are not attributed to any single person. This is true throughout the original series and actually in subsequent series as well.
Inconsistencies abound and it seems the question of Command is largely ambiguous and almost evasive. That was probably done intentionally so that Command could be reinterpreted or reassigned as needed in future stories.
Unfortunately, this practice continued into the movies. Using Star Trek I-VI as source material for a who's who is in Command, I located the following from the latest-released Blu-rays and the Star Trek Encyclopedia (STE), all three editions (2016, 1999 & 1994), as there are differences between those as well.
- Star Trek I: The Motion Picture -- Kirk states he is going to see Admiral Nogura and have orders changed but never says who Nogura is. However, he's listed as Starfleet's Commanding Officer in (STE).
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan -- Kirk asks Uhura to contact Command but no names, positions or ranks are mentioned.
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock -- Kirk asks Admiral Morrow for permission to return to Genesis. Morrow is listed as Chief of Starfleet Command. (STE) 1999 & 2016, but listed as Starfleet Commander. (STE) 1994
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home -- Admiral Cartwright seems to be in charge as he works with the Federation Council President regarding the whale probe. He's listed as Starfleet Command Officer, but not what he was (STE) 2016 and an unspecified Starfleet Command Officer (STE) 1999 & 1994. In the 1999 & 2016 editions of (STE), but not the 1994 edition, it states Morrow was "replaced as Starfleet Commander shortly after S.T. III, since Cartwright held the post in S.T. IV." So that makes the unspecified Cartwright Chief of Starfleet Command.
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier -- Kirk receives orders from Admiral Robert Bennett who is listed as Chief of Staff (STE).
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country -- Again Admiral Cartwright is prominent but his position is not mentioned, despite what is listed above in ST IV, while an actor named Leon Russom is introduced as C.N.C., meaning Commander in Chief, but listed as Chief in Command, (STE) 2016 & 1999 but not 1994. He's the one who presides over the meeting where the Klingon situation is reviewed but Cartwright merely attends. Russom is referred to only by first name, Bill, by another officer during the meeting.
As you can see, it is rather confusing so I took some liberties. In previous stories I have used the title of Admiral of the Fleet for the person in overall charge to clarify the position, rank and person. In Project Ark, I state that Bennett retires and Cartwright returns to the post, therefore both are Chief of Starfleet Command in that time frame.
I hope this explains my thought process and that you agree with my logic or at least, don't disagree with it.
© 2024 Brad McDonald / U.S.S. Kitty Hawk
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