Who is your favorite starship captain?

[bjornolf]

Yeah, but Commander Adama commanded a single ship. Admiral Ackbar commanded a fleet. And Zaphod Beeblebrox didn't have any kind of rank (other than ex-President) but he was just one froody dude who ran a spaceship. So I wasn't really focused on that it had to be a Captain, but more someone who commanded a ship.

Some would argue that Adama commanded the fleet of human refugees.

[bjornolf]

Knight68 made me wonder, does Marvin the Martian count as a starship captain?

By DukeUsul's definition, he absolutely does.

[DukeUsul]

Knight68 made me wonder, does Marvin the Martian count as a starship captain?

By DukeUsul's definition, he absolutely does.

And apparently before he was ever known as Marvin, he was called "Commander"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_the_Martian

[DukeUsul]

Yeah, but Commander Adama commanded a single ship. Admiral Ackbar commanded a fleet. And Zaphod Beeblebrox didn't have any kind of rank (other than ex-President) but he was just one froody dude who ran a spaceship. So I wasn't really focused on that it had to be a Captain, but more someone who commanded a ship.

Some would argue that Adama commanded the fleet of human refugees.

Yes I suppose you could, although the fleet is mainly a civilian fleet and Adama commanded it insofar as he was the most senior officer available. I don't think he commanded a fleet the way an Admiral would command a fleet in our Navy - from the lead ship of that fleet while the lead ship also has its own Captain who commands the ship.

I always supposed that Admiral Ackbar commanded the rebel fleet but was not the captain of the Mon Calamari ship (Home One?). If it turns out that he also captains the ship, then I need to retract my earlier statement..... Time for research.

[DukeUsul]

Accoding to the Star Wars Wiki (Wookieepedia), it lists Ackbar as Commander of the Home One. Not sure how accurate that is, but I may need to retract. I find it odd that someone would be the Supreme Commander of the rebel fleet and also captain of the flag ship.

The Empire did it correctly. See how Admiral Ozzel commanded the Imperial fleet from the Executor, but Captain Piett was actually captain of the ship - until Ozzel's unfortunate mistake to come out of hyperspace too early at the Battle of Hoth.

[bjornolf]

Yes I suppose you could, although the fleet is mainly a civilian fleet and Adama commanded it insofar as he was the most senior officer available. I don't think he commanded a fleet the way an Admiral would command a fleet in our Navy - from the lead ship of that fleet while the lead ship also has its own Captain who commands the ship.

I think it kind of depends on which BSG you're a fan of. In the original, it seemed like the fleet just kinda went along with what Adama said, and we didn't really see much having to do with that. With the new one, you had the whole council and the president and all the infighting and arguing. There was a lot more civilian drama going on. Of course, the military forces of the BSG were the police force for the fleet, as well as the military protection, so that implies some crossover too. Not sure on that one in the new BSG. And, of course, in the new one, he became admiral after the Battlestar Pegasus appears and he has Admiral Cain taken out. At that point, he becomes Admiral and commander of the admittedly tiny fleet of two Battlestars for about two minutes ;).

[knights68]

Knight68 made me wonder, does Marvin the Martian count as a starship captain?

By DukeUsul's definition, he absolutely does.

What an interesting thought! I agree, he capitan'd his own ship as well as commended over his trusty dog sidekick K-9 and the instant martian army he was prone to create (only to be destroyed just as quickly by that wrasscally wabbit)

[wilson]

In The Highwaymen's version of the song "Highwayman", Johnny Cash sings the line, "I fly a starship/ across the universe divide/ and when I reach the other side/ I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can/ Perhaps I may become a highwayman again."
So I'm considering giving Han Solo the boot and picking Johnny Cash as my starship captain. He'd definitely whoop every other captain's ass.

[EarlJam]

In The Highwaymen's version of the song "Highwayman", Johnny Cash sings the line, "I fly a starship/ across the universe divide/ and when I reach the other side/ I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can/ Perhaps I may become a highwayman again."
So I'm considering giving Han Solo the boot and picking Johnny Cash as my starship captain. He'd definitely whoop every other captain's ass.

When I was just a baby;
Mama told me son;
Always be a good boy;
Never phasers just on stun.

I love me some Cash.

-EarlJam