OF5 Regnant: A Captain Enthroned

"So, Skipper, what do you think, now that she's finally finished?"

"I don't know, Maddie. I mean, she's big, she's beautiful, and she's certainly brand new, but..."

"But?"

"Do you think she likes me?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself? The chair's waiting."

"It's comfy. Got a nice bounce to it."

"Well then, mon capitan, I think she likes you."

-Commander Madeline Jeanne Carpentier and Brevet Captain M. Tobias Sun aboard U.S.S. Farrington (NX-2010), circa 2287.

***

I thought I'd take a short "break" from nostalgically uploading photos from last year's Otakon to bring up another one that was taken last October.

I don't know what was up with school spirit - or the lack thereof - at Winthrop University, but I soon found that I was one of the only students on the whole campus who spent the day in costume.

Of course, I "cheated" a bit, too. The heeled leather Durango boots and uniform trousers that came with my outfit were not the most practical things to go to campus with, especially since I like to hook things to my belts or belt loops such as my keys, my wallet, and a holster for my cell phone.

Instead, I "modified" the outfit by taking my usual grey-black slacks and attaching a long strip of red adhesive tape down the pant legs to try to mimic the look of the blood stripe on my uniform pants and instead of boots, I wore my usual laceless black leather working shoes. It was still pretty obvious that there was a mismatch going on, but it worked well enough for just going around class.

Of course, I like to say that you can't dress as a Star Fleet Captain without doing some sort of Command Chair pose and this was no exception. I had this photo taken by a faculty member right after I left class. The chair is one of several that are provided in the hallways of Bancroft Hall at Winthrop University, where I was taking Biology 540 (Evolution and Political Theory).

The "OF5" in the title of this submission is a reference to the official NATO-recognized international table of military ranks. OF-5 is the fifth recognized officer rank. In the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA and Public Health Service/Commissioned Corps, this is a Captain, the highest of the Senior Line Officers. But in the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, the rank is a "full-bird" Colonel, the highest of the Field Grade Officers.

Finally, the title itself is a reference to something I tend to say about the role of a commanding officer in the "Star Trek" world. Gene Roddenberry was a huge fan of the Great Age of Fighting Sail, and in many ways "Star Trek" was meant to be "Horatio Hornblower" in space. In those days, British navy warships were often far out of reach of home and unable to receive instructions from base in any practical length of time. So at sea, a Captain had immense powers and responsibilities and was tantamount to the King of the ship, especially since he was appointed by will of the King (through the Commission he carried), and his subordinates were beholden by law to obey his commands.

Moreover, on the bridge of any Star Fleet vessel, it's pretty obvious that the Captain's got the biggest, fanciest, comfiest chair. It's not that much of a stretch to start calling it "The Throne."