There are officers in chatge of different watches on naval vessels. You don't want someone equal to the captain running things, potentially undermining each other. A senior officer would oversee the night watch while the captain sleeps.
They have duty shifts, each will have an officer in command. In a three-shift system (i.e. where each shift lasts 8 hours), you might have the captain commanding the day shift, the first officer the second shift, and another more junior officer on the night shift. Other times (like when Jellico commanded the Enterprise) there can be a four-shift system. If something important happens when the captain is off duty or asleep then the shift commander can always wake the captain - but the vast majority of the time (i.e. all the days in between episodes, which we never see) then nothing eventful happens during the night shift.
On the Enterprise D, Data often commanded the night shift since he didn't need any sleep, but in principle any officer (even at Lt Junior Grade or Ensign) could be put in command.
I ended reading up a load on this for a Star Trek Adventures game.
Jellico was absolutely right. The only thing you can really argue he did that was wrong was suddenly change shifts with zero notice, even if they were to shorter shifts.
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Do they mistake it for odo?
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I've always wondered: who is in charge of the ship while the Captain and their Number One are asleep?
Like, wouldn't a starship realistically need a rotating staff and be manned at all times?
Edit: Doody shifts. Hehehehehehe.
There's one episode where Data takes over for night watch.
Yes, Beverly Crusher, too.
Crusher actually took the Bridge Officers test solely so she could stand watch.
Wasn't there an episode where Troy took that test and kept failing it?
And he ordered everyone to bed.
I'm pretty sure I've seen Star Trek episodes where they wake the captain because something happened during one of the other shifts.
Edit: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Duty_shift
edit: spelling
What a yutz!
[clarinet noises]
The night crew, of course.
NIGHT CREEEEEEW!!!
Beer me!
There are officers in chatge of different watches on naval vessels. You don't want someone equal to the captain running things, potentially undermining each other. A senior officer would oversee the night watch while the captain sleeps.
They have duty shifts, each will have an officer in command. In a three-shift system (i.e. where each shift lasts 8 hours), you might have the captain commanding the day shift, the first officer the second shift, and another more junior officer on the night shift. Other times (like when Jellico commanded the Enterprise) there can be a four-shift system. If something important happens when the captain is off duty or asleep then the shift commander can always wake the captain - but the vast majority of the time (i.e. all the days in between episodes, which we never see) then nothing eventful happens during the night shift.
On the Enterprise D, Data often commanded the night shift since he didn't need any sleep, but in principle any officer (even at Lt Junior Grade or Ensign) could be put in command.
I ended reading up a load on this for a Star Trek Adventures game.
Ensign Harry Kim
Picard ran the ship with the shifts per day. Jellico tried moving to a four shift rotation, there was some resistance from the senior staff.
The delta shift is non standard on the enterprise, only being utilized by Captain Jellicle
Well yeah, Picard was having everyone work extra hours by only having three shifts. Jellico gave people a break.
There's a reason the Cerritos has a delta shift even though it's a smaller ship.
It's frustrating the amount of times Jellico was right or did good captain things. I want to not like him but he's so damn competent.
That was sort of the point, I think. And to show that Picard's way was not the only way captains did things.
He got Troi to dress like a professional instead of a cheerleader.
Jellico was absolutely right. The only thing you can really argue he did that was wrong was suddenly change shifts with zero notice, even if they were to shorter shifts.
Now an image of Jellicle Jellico won't leave my mind, and I don't like it
Jellicle songs for jelllicle capts
Roger Wilco, is that you?
Nah, it's Kurt Hectic.
Make sure you bring plenty of lemon pledge for the away mission