Talk:Piersall

Rank
Someone just changed this guy's rank from Lieutenant junior grade to lieutenant commander. This guy wore the pips of a j.g in the episode, but was identified as a lt. cmdr. in the script. Which one do we go with? Doesn't what was seen in the episode trump what's in the script, regardless of how little sense it makes? --From Andoria with Love 01:21, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
 * O'Brien still isn't a Lieutenant during 2365, but rather that is noted as a costuming/dialog error. --Alan 01:23, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

It doesn't matter if was a lt. cmdr. or lt. j.g., neither would usually be in permanent command of a Nebula-class starship. Personally I go by the rank insignia because that's what has been determined to indicate rank, costuming "error" aside. Though it is possible he was breveted a lt. cmdr. (advanced temporarily) due to the mission. Breveting is common in the U.S. military during wartime (not that the Federation was at war around the time of this episode, I'm just trying to find a logical explanation). Since I think he was a lt. j.g. based solely on his rank insignia, I think the command crew of the Prometheus was re-assigned or on leave for the mission, and he was actually the second or third officer (third officer makes the most sense to me, since Paris was lt. j.g. in Voyager and fourth-in-command). Or b/c of the nature of the mission (re-ignitating a dead star), Piersall could have been chosen by Starfleet Command from another assignment and only be in command of the Prometheus for the mission. Doesn't really matter anyway, it's a fictional show. 74.69.11.229 15:49, January 2, 2013 (UTC)