Why did President Sheridan choose Gideon?

[P-90_177]

Ok I have a theory on this but I can't be bothered to type it all out just for the moment. I'll do it later.

Anyway in crusade, we are told that Gideon was handpicked by Sheridan to command the Excalibur. So why do you think Gideon was chosen? They don't appear to have ever met eachother. Gideon probably never served under Sheridan and seeing as Gideon was a Ensign 10 years previous he couldn't have been a Captain long. So why Gideon? What do you think?

[Night Marshal]

Well we know Galen met Sheridan during "A call to Arms" it doesn't seem like to much of a stretch to think that Galen might have asked or simply pushed Sheridan to Gideon since Galen knew he would be able to work with Gideon better than most other humans(saving this life and all). I think in the Second pilot(War Zone) They talk about Gideon being an explorer Class Captain while your right he most likely hasn't done that for long we know thats captaining and explorer class ship is something that Sheridan wanted to do himself before he was sent to Babylon 5 (A Distant Star). Gideon also trouble, a lose canon, and those are things that Sheridan might have been looking for. But I think that Galen is the most likely since he is the one that had the most to gain from Gideon a appointment.

[Ice Wolf]

I think it was a mix of Galen's influence as well as chosing the right kind of man for the job, Gideon was an explorer, he was also an unconventional thinker both things that would serve the mission well. A by the book officer would be too restricted in their thinking.

[P-90_177]

Well we know Galen met Sheridan during "A call to Arms" it doesn't seem like to much of a stretch to think that Galen might have asked or simply pushed Sheridan to Gideon since Galen knew he would be able to work with Gideon better than most other humans(saving this life and all). I think in the Second pilot(War Zone) They talk about Gideon being an explorer Class Captain while your right he most likely hasn't done that for long we know thats captaining and explorer class ship is something that Sheridan wanted to do himself before he was sent to Babylon 5 (A Distant Star). Gideon also trouble, a lose canon, and those are things that Sheridan might have been looking for. But I think that Galen is the most likely since he is the one that had the most to gain from Gideon a appointment.

I think it was a mix of Galen's influence as well as chosing the right kind of man for the job, Gideon was an explorer, he was also an unconventional thinker both things that would serve the mission well. A by the book officer would be too restricted in their thinking.

Ah good you guys seem to have the same ideas I have. I need to go out now but when I get back i'll try to explain how how i think he may have been chosen in the end.

[peragrin]

I think it was a mix of Galen's influence as well as chosing the right kind of man for the job, Gideon was an explorer, he was also an unconventional thinker both things that would serve the mission well. A by the book officer would be too restricted in their thinking.

exactly for the mission of traveling to new worlds to find an unknown cure, you need someone willing to change directions mid thought. Galen probably had a short list(very short most likely) of people who could find a cure. Galen choose people based on what they brought to the table. A Call to Arms shows this. Galen Choose Sheridan for a leader who has resources, and is willing to go it alone if he needs to, The Captian as a guy who is loyal and has a twinge of guilty conscience about past choices, and a loyal crew(most important). A thief to point out what a shadow sees in the shadows. A Drazi pilot with current intel.

Gideon had a desire and a willingness to follow a circle in a circle until it no longer was a circle.

[nx01a]

Do what the technomage says, I suppose. Remember how the Minbari vetoed everyone until they got to Sinclair to head B5?
Galen rescued him after the EF shadowship attack and knew he'd have a stake in taking down that line of research. Pity the show didn't last.

[P-90_177]

Right well now that i've got my thoughts collected here's what I reckon........unfortunately this has sort of expanded to a brief history of Gideon/ potential fan fic that I may do at some point. Anyway here goes.

According to wikipedia: "Captain Matthew Gideon (Gary Cole): captain of the Excalibur. He was specifically chosen by Interstellar Alliance president John Sheridan because he would be willing to take chances and would not let diplomacy get in the way of completing the mission. "

So basically I've just expanded on that and had a bit of a think about actual events that would have led up to this.

After The EAS Cerberus was destroyed in 2257, Gideon was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. This could possibly have something to do with him being due for a promotion anyway or it could be a sort of publicity stunt by earth force. At any rate after that Gideon was extremely bitter about the loss of his ship and the fact that no one seemed to believe him about Galen.

However he remained a exmplary officer and was promoted again, possibly around 2259 and then again during the Earth Civil War. At this point I believe he may have served as a First officer. Most likely on board a ship loyal to president Clark, however he himself saw so through much of the propaganda being broadcast and silently saw Sheridan as a liberating force and Hero figure.

After the war I suspect he may have debated leaving Earth Force and join the Rangers, however at this point his carrer was going quite strong, though he had become disillusioned by the Earth Civil War and realised that not all orders are neccesarily right.

In 2263 he was, once again, promoted to commander (We have seen that Commanders can be given commands basedon the fact that sinclaire was given command of B5) and given his own command based on his exceptional leadership capabilities. His ship most likely being something along the lines of a Olympus Class Corvette (though considering the age of them It could be a Hyperion by that point.)

A year or so after this he was involved some sort of conflict whereby while on a patrol taskforce, led by a omega class destroyer he was put at odds with her captain. (i suspect the killing of innocent civilians may have something to do with it. It's really the only thing I can come up with at this point.) at this point he took command of the situation himself and completed whatever mission he was given.

After this Earth Force recognised that he had the capabilities to be an excellent captain, but at the same time realised that he was at times a mavericak and quite un-predictable. Based on this and on Gideons own admission that he had grown tired of war he was given command of the Explorer class ship we see in the series.

While in command of the explorer i beleive that the ship may have been attacked my unknown ships (later discovered to be drakh) including a cruiser and fighter escorts. Despite fighting against over whelming odds, Gideons quick thinking and tactical mind won out and saved his crew.

Several months later the Drakh attacked Earth and Sheridan had to choose a commander for the Excalibur. Having looked at Gideons he noted that he he had all the neccesar skills needed for the mission. Cool under pressure, Loyalty, determination, and excellent leadership skills. He also no doubt noted his previous experience dealing with Galen (I'm not sure Glaen may have had anything to do with the choice himself. though he may have done, or at least known that is who sheridan would choose.) as well as his previous experience with the drakh. Something that few other earth force captains had previously had.

I should also note that perhaps the reason for Gideons quick rise through the ranks may have something to do with the apocalypse box guiding him, however I have no idea when he may have got it so i don't really know.

Anyway that's what's in my own head. What do you think?

[peragrin]

sounds good. We can only speculate as Crusade died an early death.

I really wish TV networks would be forced to air a full season of a show before they discontinue it. Firefly, Crusade, how many others fell long before their time.

Crusade also fell to bad marketing. Renegade Rangers?

[nx01a]

That's the direction JMS was going to take the show in, having them realize Earthforce was using the plague to their own advantage and the crew goes rogue in an attempt to expose the real traitors and find a cure.

[P-90_177]

That's the direction JMS was going to take the show in, having them realize Earthforce was using the plague to their own advantage and the crew goes rogue in an attempt to expose the real traitors and find a cure.

what i want to know is whether it would ave just been earth force that considered them traitors or the ISA as well. It would have been interesting seein a group of whitestars taking on the excal.

[nx01a]

I think it was a 'traitor to everyone' type of thing. I mean, if the crew were still in the good graces of the Minbari it would be B5 all over again. Alas, we shall never know for certain...

Whitestars are my ships till the end, but the Excalibur would punk at least 3 before any major damage.

[P-90_177]

I think it was a 'traitor to everyone' type of thing. I mean, if the crew were still in the good graces of the Minbari it would be B5 all over again. Alas, we shall never know for certain...

Whitestars are my ships till the end, but the Excalibur would punk at least 3 before any major damage.

most likely. the whitestars main beam cannon was one of the most powerful weapons available.......Excaibur has about 6 of them............plus the main cannon which pwns all!

[nx01a]

That's what they call Vorlon ingenuity, kid.

[maneth]

Except that they'd never dare use the Excalibur cannon against a fleet of fast White Stars, as it'd be a sitting duck for far too long.

I'd love to read the story once you get it written!

[P-90_177]

Except that they'd never dare use the Excalibur cannon against a fleet of fast White Stars, as it'd be a sitting duck for far too long.

I'd love to read the story once you get it written!

I need to expand on my thoughts a bit more. that was just after a few minutes of thought. I plan to make the actual story as start of with Sheridan coming aboard the excalibur for a visit and Gideon finally getting to meet his idle.