Is there any evidence that "Colonel" was a nickname, other than the lack of any other explanation for the non-Starfleet rank? --70.94.229.133 00:50, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

I agree -- there's not enough to favor one over another. Better he be listed as "Colonel" Patrick West, noting the discrepency in rank and listing the possible explanations (and adding that the listed possibilities are not necessarily the only ones).--Emperorkalan 01:36, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

I believe I made it clear in the italics that the bit about "colonel" being a nickname is conjecture. If we're not going to allow a relatively minor bit of conjecture like that, I'd say the best option would be to avoid noting the use of "colonel" in the article's main body and only note it in the italics section (which is exactly what I did except for the heading). -- Sci 03:36 28 May 2006 UTC

For that matter, are we sure that the "Seeds of Rage" character and the ST6 character are one and the same? I seem to remember Kevin Ryan being a little vague on the subject.--Turtletrekker 01:26, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

I believe that's correct about Ryan being a little coy about Lt./Col. West, though I think the intention was pretty clear that they would be the same character. That being said, perhaps it may be best just to address the character's novel appearance(s) in this wiki, with an italicized note linking him to the STVI character, and set the Colonel question aside. (Until maybe Ryan shows West getting promoted in books 2 or 3?) --70.94.229.133 01:50, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

Kevin Ryan's been coy, but it's pretty obvious from reading the novel that it's the same character. He's got the same name, he's got the same hawkish personality, and he thinks in that a Federation President who tries to make peace with the Klingons is going to get the UFP conquored. You might as well argue that the Palais de la Concorde mentioned in A Time to Kill is a different building from the Palais depicted in Articles of the Federation just because Kill refers to the Presidential Office's doors as being traditional and Articles refers to them as being automatic. -- Sci 03:40 28 May 2006 UTC