Was Solkar the Vulcan Captain?

[Elessar]

You know the whole debate about how Solkar came to be the first ambassador to Earth -- Whether he was actually the vulcan that got off the ship & greeted Cochrane or whether he showed up at some later date?

A number of theories have been proposed, as I have been very interested in this topic since Solkar has become such an important character in my YMAM series. Ideas include that he was on the ship but not the captain; that he was a diplomatic envoy present on a scout ship *just in case* they made a first contact so it could be done properly; that he was not a diplomat but was on the ship or was captain and simply became a diplomat later because of his unique experience and relationship with Cochrane and early Human-Vulcan relations; and that he just inherited the ambassadorship even though he wasn't really the Vulcan who stepped off the ship.

Well, without further ado, for your consideration and critique, I present some new evidence on MEmory Alpha:

According to the Star Trek Customizable Card Game, Solkar was the Vulcan captain of the T'Plana-Hath who greeted Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact.
In an unpublished interview with Larry Nemecek, "The Catwalk" writer Mike Sussman believes this as well, citing the wording in Archer's dialog in "Horizon" in which he refers to Cochrane's first contact and says, loosely, "I don't remember anyone going after the Vulcan ambassador with pitchforks and torches when they first landed."

[WarpGirl]

Well that's what I always thought basically. But I don't think he was an official Ambassador because I don't think there is a logical reason to have one on a survey mission. I think he just found he had an affinity for humans, so he trained as a diplomat and got assigned to Earth for a while not too long though. But if you want to know more, you'll find out in my fic.

[Asso]

Elessar, it's difficult for me to find an answer.
I'm under the impression of YOUR Solkar.

[WarpGirl]

I have a feeling things are going to get complicated.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

I don't think it would make sense to have a fully trained Vulcan ambassador on a survey ship. However, I suppose one can go by the notion that any Captain of a vessel is considered the representative of the home government, and thus the de facto ambassador if and when you meet new people. So Solkar could have been the Captain of the T'Plana-Hath that just happened to become the first "ambassador" as soon first contact happened. Later, I suppose the Vulcans would send a properly trained diplomat for a more permanent mission on Earth. That ambassador could also have been Solkar and he could be considered the first "real" ambassador to Earth, while the Captain we saw could've been someone else entirely.

[Asso]

Agree.

[Elessar]

I don't think it would make sense to have a fully trained Vulcan ambassador on a survey ship. However, I suppose one can go by the notion that any Captain of a vessel is considered the representative of the home government, and thus the de facto ambassador if and when you meet new people. So Solkar could have been the Captain of the T'Plana-Hath that just happened to become the first "ambassador" as soon first contact happened. Later, I suppose the Vulcans would send a properly trained diplomat for a more permanent mission on Earth. That ambassador could also have been Solkar and he could be considered the first "real" ambassador to Earth, while the Captain we saw could've been someone else entirely.

Both are entirely plausible.

While I'm not outright defending the concept of it, I think some consideration should be given the idea of an ambassadorial detachment on survey missions... I mean they realize that 99/100 they are going to find nothing but comets, rocks and lifeless planets... But Vulcans are ever-the-careful and meticulous planners. If even one time out of a hundred they could make mistakes initiating first contact because there is no legitimately trained ambassador on staff, they could come to the conclusion that such a personnel assignment makes sense.

Then again, we know nothing about the details of the mission or the Vulcan first contact procedure of the time. We only know from Riker saying "They have no interest in Earth... too primitive..." that means they are at least aware of us as a race, they just don't think we've obtained warp flight. That could mean they know that contact is at least a remote possibility.

I'm just throwing stuff to the wall to see what sticks. I also like the idea that a Vulcan captain is simply trained as a diplomatic official in a triage-fashion. Sort of like Captains of maritime vessels today being able to marry people, , just sort of one of those things you have to learn as a Captain!

[Linda]

As always, call it any way you want in fan fiction! Whatever fits YOUR story. Statements of canon "fact" from people and canon scripts are so sketchy and often contradictory you could go nuts trying to be true to canon.

[WarpGirl]

Elessar Do you need some pasta to throw at your wall? Anyway Linda's right, when writing you have to take the information you have and make it fit you OWN story. I don't like the idea of anything being "right" or "wrong" I either like it or I don't.

[Elessar]

Elessar Do you need some pasta to throw at your wall? Anyway Linda's right, when writing you have to take the information you have and make it fit you OWN story. I don't like the idea of anything being "right" or "wrong" I either like it or I don't.

Well the only part that's important is that my Solkar refers to having met Cochrane, which can happen a number of ways.

[CX]

Seems a bit contrived to me. I think he was simply chosen for his skills at the time. The survey team should have just been a survey team, and they checked out an unfamiliar warp signature that was in a system where they knew there was an advanced civilization they'd been keeping tabs on.

As for Solkar meeting Cochrane, as the inventor of humanity's first FTL system, he'd be something of a celebrity, and no doubt the Vulcan ambassador to Earth would want to meet him.