A new version of Ask Cryptic is up at the official site. When asked if the Captain can stay on board during a ground mission, here was the response...

No. That will not be possible. If you’re on an away team you must go, as your captain. You get to bring four other crewmembers, or players, with you. It could be players, crew members or other player’s crew members (the player must come with you as well – you can’t just kidnap their crew members without them).

- koboldkiller <2009-05-04 06:05:40>