Weird thing is, I don't recall what prerequisites there are for being an Admiral- don't think they were ever stated. If they were, please feel free to correct the statements I'm making below.
Going by the Admiralty Board as of ME2, I don't think they're Captains. The Admirals never stated they were, or necessarily implied it. And Zaal'koris vas Qwib Qwib talks about the possibility transferring to another vessel. Given how valued and hard to come by ships are in the Fleet, somehow I doubt another Captain would just give up their ship, even for an Admiral. A given ship belongs to a Captain, and they work hard to maintain and improve the position of that ship within the Fleet.
The Admiralty Board, as the name implies and Tali states, is military, overseeing matters pertaining to the defense and survival of the Fleet, while the Conclave decides day-to-day matters. Also plainly stated. So to get on the Admiralty Board, it must be important that a candidate be knowledgeable about military matters, defense of the fleet, and so on- their very survival. Which Tali is, when the Fleet returns to Rannoch, given they expect to fight the geth.
Out of all living quarians (with the possible exception of Xen, though in different areas), Tali is almost certainly the most knowledgeable about the geth- fought *many* of them, as well as studied them hands-on (not to mention potentially interacted at length with Legion, a unique experience offering special insight). Additionally, Tali received exceptional training in military, cultural, combat, and scientific skills on her father's orders, recognized in the Fleet as truly remarkable. Yet as we've seen, she's really not squad leader material, miscalculating how well ground troops would do when conversing with Kal on the Rayya, and being unable to keep her squad in line on Freedom's Progress.
So Tali as an Admiral... she doesn't need to be a Captain to be an Admiral (the fact they were even thinking of making her one in the second game implies this too). Nor necessarily even have a huge force of personality, be used to commanding large groups, given that she wouldn't need to be a Captain. Which is probably to the liking of the other Admirals: she can greatly add to the discussion on the geth and other scientific matters, help them make informed decisions in the war above and on Rannoch, yet is not likely to have the force of personality necessary to turn the tide on their decision-making, try to throw around orders and the like.
It would also help unite the quarians, after the debacle of her trial. It's an olive branch thrown out, one the general quarian public can get behind, given they know Tali by reputation ("the pride of the fleet") and her father's name, rather than personally, her actual skills and shortcomings. A Fleet undivided by political squabbling will have a much higher chance of success in however they decide to handle... whatever happens in ME3.
Plenty of political and practical reasons for why Tali would be made an Admiral... in the short term at least. An emergency posting, basically. Weirdly, this parallels her usefulness in Shepard's squad for away missions too. Put her up against the geth, and she shines. Otherwise, her effectiveness is reduced. That's basically what the quarians look to be doing in ME3, just on a different playing field.
And again I've typed way too much, but perhaps not enough.
(please pardon any typos or unusual phrases- I'm in a bit of a hurry at the moment, no time for a full proofreading)
Modifié par Ruthac_Arus, 09 janvier 2012 - 06:01 .
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