Resolving Command Disputes

One of the most unorthodox things about Barfleet's command structure is a little thing we like to call "Commanding Officer Redundancy." When the second Barfleet vessel, the UBS Relax, was lost on Stardate 18709.19, her Commanding Officer returned to the Casual. This was the indispensable Commodore Flynn, former XO and Chief Medical Officer of the Casual. The loss of the Relax hit him hard. To help ease his pain, on Stardate 18709.22, I made one of my more questionable decisions, aided by several pints of Irish stout and the gentle ministrations of some visiting Orion females. I decided to share command of the Casual with him.

From that day on, I was in command of the Casual from 1201 to 2400 hours; Flynn had the job from 0001 to 1200. To maintain some consistency between commands, we decided to promote Commander Sulleven to Captain (merely a gesture; we never gave him a ship or anything) and assigned him as XO for both Commodores. This, of course, meant that Sulleven was on call 24 hours a day, and Flynn and I agreed that it would be great fun to see him pull it off. Since that time, there have been a number of Commanding Officer changes, but the traditions forged in the early history of the Casual live on.

Because of the redundant nature of the Commanding Officer, occasionally there arises a situation in which Commodore MacLaren and I cannot reach agreement on an issue. In such situations, the following protocol will be observed for resolving any dispute.

(Reprinted from Barfleet Regulations, Article 4, Section 5)

Article 4.5-B

The Executive Officer shall maintain about his person at all times a "quarter," of regulation size.


Article 4.5-C

In the event that a Command Dispute Resolution is required, the Executive Officer shall flip aforementioned "quarter" into the air with a swift upward motion of wrist and hand. While the quarter is airborne, the current CO will state in a clear voice which face of the "quarter" he believes will come to rest facing upward.


Article 4.5-D

The Executive Officer shall use his right hand to intercept the "quarter" on its downward path before it comes into contact with the deck. He will then, without looking upon the item, "slap" the coin onto the back section of his left hand. He will then remove his right hand and display the "quarter" to the Commodores.


Article 4.5-E

If the displayed face of the "quarter" matches that which was predicted by the acting CO, then the acting CO is right. If the opposite face is displayed, then the off-duty CO is correct.


Article 4.5-F

The decision of the coin is FINAL.

Back to the Barfleet Protocols