Military Assault Command Operations

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » 2004-05-13 08:58pm

The MACO's are arguably some of the best examples of an infantry unit ever seen in Star Trek. Their training, weapons, and tactics reflect those of a 21st century special forces unit. They were perhaps the best thing to happen to Enterprise. I was really getting tired of seeing valuable crew members leading boarding parties or defending the ship against such. The phase pistols were just getting boring. We needed "real" soldiers on Star Trek to make it a good show.
Therefore, we got the MACOs to serve as a defense for Enterprise and to act as a ground and shipboard combat force. They are the most exciting thing I've seen.
Not much is known about the MACO organization as of yet, only that they are a military ground organization with a chain of command similar to ours. Apparently they do paralell Starfleet as a military organization though.

Unfortunately their performance was slightly upstaged by Starfleet personell in episodes like "Hatchery", "Extinction" and "The Shipment". However it is quite rare that they ever lose to adversaries. Even so, their casualties are not bad and their objectives are acomplised with some exceptions.
But when they do perform they do put on a show. It is quite interesting to watch the MACOs in action.
What do you think of the MACO's in Star Trek and will we see them sometime in the future?

http://www.phasers.net/2150/maco.htm
http://maco.phasers.net/
http://www.geocities.com/lairofthesith/MACO.html

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2004-05-13 10:42pm

I really can't comment too much on the Maco since I've seen a grand total of episode with them in it. In that episode, the Maco commander 1and Archer and Reed (three of the top five aboard) went on a recon mission on some planet.

This is not a good change, merely a change. If they still do dumb shit like that then introducing the Maco has little impact. Why would the commanding officers go on a recon mission with a whole squad of troopers just kicking it?

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » 2004-05-13 10:55pm

Knife wrote:I really can't comment too much on the Maco since I've seen a grand total of episode with them in it. In that episode, the Maco commander 1and Archer and Reed (three of the top five aboard) went on a recon mission on some planet.

The commander you are talking about is Major Hayes, the CO of the resident MACO group on Enterprise.

This is not a good change, merely a change. If they still do dumb shit like that then introducing the Maco has little impact.

Right. I have always disagreed with sending senior officers on non-diplomatic away missions. However the MACO presence has added a sense of security here.
Without the MACOs we probably would not have gotten off that planet in "The Xindi".
Enterprise would likely not have been retaken without MACO assistance in "Chosen Realm".
In "North Star", their presence was influential.
In Damage, a Starfleet Security team would not be able to conduct such an oragized and swift raid on that alien vessel. The MACO's were efficient.

The MACO's can do cruicial things that Starfleet officers cant and that's why their presence is important.

Why would the commanding officers go on a recon mission with a whole squad of troopers just kicking it?

I have no idea. If they dont do that in a modern navy, why do it in the 22nd century?

Publius · Post by **Publius** » 2004-05-15 02:04am

In the XVIII and early XIX centuries, it was not unheard of for captains of ships to lead their crews -- along with any embarked marines -- in shore raids or boarding actions. Indeed, this is precisely how the Lord Nelson of the Nile lost his right arm and his vision in one eye. The influence of the Age of Sail upon Star Trek is rather obvious; the spaceborne adventures of James Kirk remind one the seaborne adventures of Horatio Hornblower, in style if not in detail.

PUBLIUS

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » 2004-05-15 02:25am

Publius wrote:In the XVIII and early XIX centuries, it was not unheard of for captains of ships to lead their crews -- along with any embarked marines -- in shore raids or boarding actions. Indeed, this is precisely how the Lord Nelson of the Nile lost his right arm and his vision in one eye. The influence of the Age of Sail upon Star Trek is rather obvious; the spaceborne adventures of James Kirk remind one the seaborne adventures of Horatio Hornblower, in style if not in detail.

PUBLIUS

I completely agree. The Naval Thme is inherent no matter which way you look at it. I still dont know why the Captain leaves the ship in Star Trek. Surely with efficient communications this would be unnessesary. perhaps the need for field commander is inherent here?

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-05-15 02:34am

I like the idea of the MACO's being introduced, but I was sick of the bullshit conflict between Reed and them. Trained ground troops are going to be better infantry than a ship borne security officer.

If they wanted conflict they could have made the MACO's a men only infantry unit. But that would upset the "everyone is equal" utopia of Star Trek.