Lynch's Spoiler Review: "The Defector"
Tim Lynch , Tim the Enchanter
Distribution: rec
Keywords: TNG, Picard, Romulan, Shakespeare, war
Organization: Um...pardon?
WARNING! The following post contains spoiler information about the long-awaited
new TNG episode, "The Defector". If you want spoilers, read on. If not, avoid
this review.
Be vewwy vewwy cawefuw. I'm giving spoiwews. Hehehehehehehehe.
Okay, okay, so it's a little late. Sheesh...can't a guy even go home for New
Year's any more? :-)
I don't know if this review will be worth the wait, but the episode certainly
was. Run, DO NOT walk, to your nearest television to see it.
Those of you who know me know I tend to give more spoilers if I like the show,
so I can discuss the episode in a bit more detail. I suspect that's going to
hold true here. Be warned. Anyway, here's a summary:
The Enterprise detects a Romulan scoutship crossing over into Federation space,
with a Warbird (y'know...the Magpie of Prey) hot on its heels. As it happens,
the scout contains one Romulan requesting asylum. (Where's a Papal Nuncio
when you need one, eh?) The Warbird manages to cripple the scout just as it
crosses from the Neutral Zone to Fed space, and is about to destroy it. At
this point, the Enterprise positions itself within 5 km of the scout and extends
its shields around her. The Warbird, surprisingly, turns around and heads back
across the Zone. The plot, as they say, thickens.
The defector (I don't remember the name he gives initially) claims to be a
logistics clerk who has discovered a plot for a new Romulan offensive. If he is
to be believed, there is a planet in the Zone, Nelvana III, on which a base is
nearly completed. Furthermore, there are *21* Warbirds in orbit around her,
just waiting to make a first strike. If this is all true, going in and destroy-
ing the base might possibly prevent a war. If it's not, though...you start a
war, and the Romulans have legitimate reason to respond in heavy force.
Most of the facts seem to indicate he is lying and probably a spy. His ship
explodes before Geordi has a chance to inspect it. The defector claims he set
the Auto-Destruct before he was beamed over. Ship's sensors scan absolutely
NOTHING at Nelvana III. (Cloaking device? Of that magnitude?) The defector
himself is somewhat unwilling to give any information beyond the details of the
plot. The facts seem to say he can't be trusted, and yet...
And yet. Many of the bridge officers (and Geordi) have a gut feeling that he's
telling the truth, but there's no way to tell without going in. Starfleet is
sending communique after communique to Picard, basically saying "Well, Jean-Luc,
you found him--you decide if he's right. We'll back you up if we have to."
Picard receives a transmission from a Klingon admiral, which we don't see.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Things seem to be going against the truth argument, when the defector makes a
surprising confession. I quote (the Romulan, speaking to Data): "Arrange a
meeting between me and Capt. Picard. [pause] Tell him...that Admiral Jerroc
[sp?] wants to speak to him."
Yep. He's an Admiral, whose first child was just born. As a result, he's
realized that he has to "change the world" for her. He argued against a new
war for months. Finally, he was censured, and reassigned to a somewhat isolated
sector...where he found the plans of which he spoke. The ante, as they say, has
been upped.
Unfortunately, Jerroc is also responsible for a couple of Romulan "massacres",
and is deemed an untrustworthy source by Starfleet. Picard eventually tells
him, "You've crossed over, whether you like it or not. If the bitter taste of
that galls you, I am truly sorry. But I will not risk starting a war because
you think you can dance on the border of the Neutral Zone!!" He demands that
Jerroc give him details on the Romulan fleet, Romulan technology, etc.
This Jerroc DOES. They decide to go in. Once they reach Nelvana III, they
find...nothing. No base, no secret offensive. Jerroc can't believe it.
They quickly reach the awful truth: the Romulans were feeding Jerroc disin-
formation. This was a double plan: to test Jerroc's loyalty (a test he quite
clearly failed), and to lure the Enterprise into a trap.
The irony of the situation becomes even clearer when we discover who's leading
the 2 Warbirds who suddenly decloak and lock onto the Enterprise: our old
friend from Galornen Core, Commander Tomolok. He urges Picard to surrender,
but is quite clearly hoping to have to blow the Enterprise out of the water.
Time for the Picard Maneuver, Mark II. No, no fancy helm jockeying: just three
Klin Birds of Prey that suddenly decloak and lock on the Warbirds. "Well,
Commander, shall we die together?" Tomolok declines, but says, "Captain Picard,
I look forward to our next meeting."
On a tragic note, Jerroc is found dead within hours. He couldn't believe that
he sacrificed his whole future (and, quite probably, his family) for nothing.
He takes a poison pill he brought with him. No antidote.
Phew. I ran on a bit there, but the plot's somewhat involved. Now, for a bit
of New Year's Rambling:
Considering that I'm in the middle of rereading all my John le Carre novels at
present, I found this sort of intricacy very, very nice. They did a good job
here (and caught me completely flatfooted with the Klingon vessels at the end).
Commander Tomolok seems to be being put in the role of the long-running Romulan
adversary. I'm not enchanted by the idea, since his acting leaves something to
be desired, but I like the idea of a recurring Romulan commander.
They had some fairly good continuity. There were plenty of references to the
events on Galornden Core (though, sadly, we STILL don't find out what the
Romulans were doing there), including one interesting exchange with Bev. She's
busy fixing up some of Jerroc's wounds, and he says that he's lucky she knows
something of Romulan physiology. She replies that she recently had the chance
to gain a LOT of experience, and she fixes a withering gaze on Worf. Still
a little bad blood from that incident, I guess.
I forgot to mention the first half of the teaser. Data is trying to understand
more of human behavior. Apparently, somewhere before the show started, he asked
Picard for advice, and he suggested Shakespeare. We see Data playing Henry IV,
and doing a more than reasonable job. (Note: Not only do we see Stewart as
Picard, directing, but we also see Stewart under a rather bushy beard as one of
the holodeck simulations Data is working with. I knew he wouldn't be able to
resist doing a little performing. Nice job, too.) Irrelevant, you say? Read
on.
The Henry IV analogy carries through a great deal of the story. The scene we
see in the teaser is that of Henry disguising himself and going out among his
soldiers to share their fears. More to the point, there is a discussion of
leading one's men to die. Picard is placed in just that position throughout
the story. I'm not going to list references, though--watch 'em for yourself.
Well, okay, so I do have one or two MINOR gripes. Here they come.
The "What Kind of Security Officer Am I?" award goes to Worf, for not searching
Jerroc and finding the poison pill.
Data claims, when asked, that Romulan ale is not in the food synthesizer's
memory because "it would require a detailed molecular breakdown of the beverage,
and knowledge of your home planet, as you know, is quite scarce", or something
like that. Here's a double gripe:
1) Considering all the times McCoy drank ye olde blue ale way back
when, I can't imagine it hasn't been analyzed by now. However, it's been
pointed out to me that it may still be a black market product, and hence not
in the memory. Maybe.
2) Five minutes later, Data takes Jerroc to the holodeck, and presents
him with a picture perfect representation of part of ch'Rihan. Uh-uh. Wrong.
Speaking of ch'Rihan, no, they DON'T call it that. Jerroc himself refers to it
as Romulus. That's a personal disappointment, though, not a gripe. (For anyone
who doesn't know what ch'Rihan means, dig up Diane Duane's novels. Enjoy.)
Well, this is shaping up to be rather LONG, so I'm going to go away now. (Hey,
stop that cheering!) The ratings, pleeze:
Plot: 9.6. Very slightly predictable that they were giving him disinformation,
but splendidly written for Picard's decisions.
Plot Handling: 10. I can't think of how it could've been done better.
Characterization: 10 . Splendid, folks, splendid.
Technical: 9.5. A lil' off for the holodeck blunder, but some beautiful
effects, and I really really like the look of the scoutship.
TOTAL: 39.1/4=9.775---> 10. Well worth its wait in reruns. (Ooch.)
NEXT WEEK:
A cyborg assassin looks to wreak immense havoc. Looks interesting, but we'll
see.
Tim Lynch (Cornell's first Astronomy Major)
BITNET: H52Y@CRNLVAX5
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"Your knowledge of Klingon curses is very extensive, but, as your people might
say, only a VERRUC would use such language in public."
--Riker, W.T.
Daniel K. Appelquist
>They had some fairly good continuity. There were plenty of references to the
>events on Galornden Core (though, sadly, we STILL don't find out what the
>Romulans were doing there), including one interesting exchange with Bev. She's
>busy fixing up some of Jerroc's wounds, and he says that he's lucky she knows
>something of Romulan physiology. She replies that she recently had the chance
>to gain a LOT of experience, and she fixes a withering gaze on Worf. Still
>a little bad blood from that incident, I guess.
Ohhhh.. Ohh... negative 30 on the pun-o-meter, Lynch.
[ Daniel K. Appelquist ] Quanta is the electronically published magazine
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Sean Fagan
>WARNING! The following post contains spoiler information about the long-awaited
>new TNG episode, "The Defector". If you want spoilers, read on. If not, avoid
>this review.
>Be vewwy vewwy cawefuw. I'm giving spoiwews. Hehehehehehehehe.
>surprising confession. I quote (the Romulan, speaking to Data): "Arrange a
>meeting between me and Capt. Picard. [pause] Tell him...that Admiral Jerroc
>[sp?] wants to speak to him."
I was *not* surprised by this; given the Henry IV allusions, both
during the teaser and later with Picard, I expected something like this.
Actually, though, what I though was that he (the Romulan) was rather high
up, but it was a setup, as everyone thought it would be.
>Time for the Picard Maneuver, Mark II. No, no fancy helm jockeying:
>just three Klin Birds of Prey that suddenly decloak and lock on the Warbirds.
> "Well, >Commander, shall we die together?" Tomolok declines, but says,
>"Captain Picard, I look forward to our next meeting."
Yeah, I liked it. Reminded me of something *Kirk* would do. (Again, going
through my head, when the Big E was surrounded by the Romulan ships, I
thought: Boy, I bet they would *kill* to have Kirk there!) However, that
brings up some quibbles I have with the show, but I'll save them for below.
>She replies that she recently had the chance
>to gain a LOT of experience, and she fixes a withering gaze on Worf. Still
>a little bad blood from that incident, I guess.
She was saying it with humour (facetious? forget the right word). If she'd
been on UseNET, she would have had a smiley or three. Added a nice touch, I
thought.
>(Note: Not only do we see Stewart as
>Picard, directing, but we also see Stewart under a rather bushy beard as one of
>the holodeck simulations Data is working with. I knew he wouldn't be able to
>resist doing a little performing. Nice job, too.) Irrelevant, you say? Read
>on.
I *thought* that was him (from the voice, of course). He would make a good
Shakespearean actor, wouldn't he? 8-) Who was the other guy, though? My
first thought was that it was Riker, but I don't think it was...
>The "What Kind of Security Officer Am I?" award goes to Worf, for not
>searching Jerroc and finding the poison pill.
Well, first of all, the "pill" was about the size of the little tab you get
when you use a three-hole punch. *Very* small and thin. Second of all, I'm
*sure* Worf (or another officer) did search him, but they probably only were
looking for weapons. Then again, maybe the transporter itself did that, and
they wouldn't have let him out without weapons.
> 2) Five minutes later, Data takes Jerroc to the holodeck, and presents
>him with a picture perfect representation of part of ch'Rihan. Uh-uh. Wrong.
Sorry, I found *no* problem with that. I'm sure there have been Federation
visitors to ch'Rihan (most likely Vulcans, for various reasons), and they
probably *did* take pictures. If Data had been able to, I'm sure that he
would have shown one of the spots that Jerroc mentioned; however, he
probably showed the only scene they had.
As for the "Romulan" et al debate, I think that they (the romulans), for
whatever reason, tend to call themselves (and their planets) by whatever
name the race they're "talking" with does. Basicly, they don't consider us
important enough to correct us, and some good may come of placating us.
Now for *my* gripe: the Klingon cloaking devices. Geordi says, at one
point, something that makes me believe that the Federation has no knowledge
of how the cloaking fields work; yet, they seem to be allies with the
Klingons, who *do* have cloaking devices. Even if they are different,
couldn't the Federation at least make some guesses about how the Romulan
ones work? *sigh* I expect too much, I fear 8-).
--
Sean Eric Fagan | "Time has little to do with infinity and jelly donuts."
se...@sco.COM | -- Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck), _Magnum, P.I._
(408) 458-1422 | Any opinions expressed are my own, not my employers'.
Greg Goebel
> find...nothing. No base, no secret offensive. Jerroc can't believe it.
> They quickly reach the awful truth: the Romulans were feeding Jerroc disin-
> formation. This was a double plan: to test Jerroc's loyalty (a test he quite
> clearly failed), and to lure the Enterprise into a trap.
This was a nice subtle touch -- is the Admiral sincere or setting up a trap
for the Big E? Both!
> Time for the Picard Maneuver, Mark II. No, no fancy helm jockeying: just
> three Klin Birds of Prey that suddenly decloak and lock on the Warbirds.
This was well handled, though it bordered on "false suspense" (i.e., building
suspense by withholding legitimate information from the viewer). However,
they did drop a few hints ahead of time that the Klingons were going to be
involved.
> Commander Tomolok seems to be being put in the role of the long-running
> Romulan adversary. I'm not enchanted by the idea, since his acting leaves
> something to be desired, but I like the idea of a recurring Romulan commander.
I think he does fine. He's pompous and smug and thoroughly irritating.
> 2) Five minutes later, Data takes Jerroc to the holodeck, and presents
> him with a picture perfect representation of part of ch'Rihan. Uh-uh. Wrong.
I kinda wondered about that myself in passing ...
--
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Evan Leibovitch
>Be vewwy vewwy cawefuw. I'm giving spoiwews. Hehehehehehehehe.
(munch munch munch) Nyahh, what's up, Spoc?
In article <43...@scolex.sco.COM> se...@sco.COM (Sean Fagan) writes:
>Now for *my* gripe: the Klingon cloaking devices. Geordi says, at one
>point, something that makes me believe that the Federation has no knowledge
>of how the cloaking fields work; yet, they seem to be allies with the
>Klingons, who *do* have cloaking devices. Even if they are different,
>couldn't the Federation at least make some guesses about how the Romulan
>ones work?
I could live with this, since the cloaking devices must be SO different
that Romulan sensors could not detect even a trace of the Klingon ships.
Also, the Feds were able to dissect an early Romulan cloaker, thanks to
Kirk himself, even before the Klingons became allies. That informantion
obviously wasn't any help here, either.
*My* only beef was that, considering the potential danger, that they
should have disconnected the saucer section and sent it to a nearby
outpost, while using the "battle bridge" into the Neutral Zone. I can't
see what benefit was possible keeping the families, anthropologists, etc.
around when heading into a military confrontation.
--
The three stages of man: | Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software
1 - Believes in Santa Claus | Located in beautiful Brampton, Ontario
2 - Doesn't believe in Santa | ev...@telly.on.ca / uunet!attcan!telly!evan
3 - Is Santa Claus | (416) 452-0504
James K. Huggins
>
>*My* only beef was that, considering the potential danger, that they
>should have disconnected the saucer section and sent it to a nearby
>outpost, while using the "battle bridge" into the Neutral Zone. I can't
>see what benefit was possible keeping the families, anthropologists, etc.
>around when heading into a military confrontation.
Well, I guess I can see it both ways. I sort of agree with you: there doesn't
seem to be much of a need to endanger the civilians on this one.
On the other hand, the Romulans were looking for any justifiable excuse
to claim that the Enterprise had recklessly violated the treaty establishing
the Neutral Zone and that they acted in "self-defense" (ha, ha, ha).
To send only the battle bridge into the Neutral Zone would have more easily
been construed as an act of agression. After all -- why separate unless
you're sure that you're gonna fight?
Some other comments: It seems like a lot of things that people have been
wishing for on the net came to pass in this episode. To the arc lovers,
we had a direct relationship to "The Enemy", the last first-run episode
before the holidays. To those who love Stewart's acting, we have the
chance to see him in his natural habitat: Shakespeare. To those who hate
having the Wunderkind solve the crisis of the week, we had not a single
mention (or even a picture) of Wesley. To those who wanted more conflict --
well, perhaps it wasn't all out war, but the suspense created so subtly
throughout the show had me wondering if World War (insert number here)
was about to start. Perhaps the only sad thing: no Chief O'Brien. <sigh>
Hope the rest of the season is this good. Could be an interesting season.
Jim Huggins, UMIchigan
Richard Crash Willis
Hum? Excuse me, but hasn't Stuart preformed in several Shakespeare plays?
I am not 100% sure, but I think that he has mentioned this. If so, this
make this episode especialy appropriate for him. I LOVED the scene at th
begining, its just icing on the cake to find out that Stuart was playing
in it too! :)
Jeff Hallett x5163
>before the holidays. To those who love Stewart's acting, we have the
>chance to see him in his natural habitat: Shakespeare. To those who hate
Yeah, Stewart was the standing man with the halberd. However, people
seem to be overlooking the fact that Frakes was the seated man during
the "Henry IV" scene.
When enquirement minds want to know...
--
Jeffrey A. Hallett, PET Software Engineering
GE Medical Systems, W641, PO Box 414, Milwaukee, WI 53201
(414) 548-5163 : EMAIL - hal...@gemed.ge.com
"Non Sequitor - Your facts are uncoordinated"; "I am Nomad: I am perfect."
Brad Pennock
Yeah, he's a trained Shakespearian actor so that smile on his face watching
Data and "himself" doing a scene together was for real. Kinda makes you
wonder though if it's worth it for Picard to keep up the "illusion" of being
French when he's so enthralled with Elizabethan theatre and Earl Grey tea :)
I do like his character though, whatever nationality he is supposed to be.
Very nice space scenes in this one too. I love special effects and I think
they did a good job with this one. Klingon Birds of Prey at the end were a
nice touch too, surpised the heck out of me! hehe
| _
---*(_) Brad A. Pennock
| SDSU Aerospace Engineering Undergrad & Future Astronaut
Amiga computer junkie too! "Wanna fly Falcon? I dare ya!"
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HOME: 4660 Oregon St.#5, San Diego, CA 92116, Earth
...rochester!ur-valhalla!micropen!steve
>
> In article <43...@scolex.sco.COM> se...@sco.COM (Sean Fagan) writes:
>
> >Now for *my* gripe: the Klingon cloaking devices. Geordi says, at one
> >point, something that makes me believe that the Federation has no knowledge
> >of how the cloaking fields work; yet, they seem to be allies with the
> >Klingons, who *do* have cloaking devices. Even if they are different,
> >couldn't the Federation at least make some guesses about how the Romulan
> >ones work?
>
> I could live with this, since the cloaking devices must be SO different
> that Romulan sensors could not detect even a trace of the Klingon ships.
This brings up a point I noticed in the episode( which, unfortunately,
aired a week late here, ) After the first encounter with the Romulan
Warbird, it turned and cloaked itself. Worf proceeded to give reports on the
Warbird's position as it crossed the Neutral Zone *while it was cloaked.*
I didn't think this was possible.
Did anyone else catch this?
> The three stages of man: | Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software
SJO
================================================================================
--
" Chew dad's socks! " Steve Owens @ Micropen, Inc.
" Eat mom's food! " Pittsford, N.Y. 14534
Kelly & Bud Bundy micropen!st...@ee.rochester.edu
Mark Runyan
> This brings up a point I noticed in the episode( which, unfortunately,
>aired a week late here, ) After the first encounter with the Romulan
>Warbird, it turned and cloaked itself. Worf proceeded to give reports on the
>Warbird's position as it crossed the Neutral Zone *while it was cloaked.*
>I didn't think this was possible.
Good. Perhaps this should be added to the list of reasons why the
Federation does not use cloaking. Once we know where the alien ship
is we can follow it because of ion trails, visual distortion, and
motion sensing. Now, for the triva question of the day, does anyone else
remember when Worf reported on the position of a cloaked Romulan ship?
Oh, and for those who thought this was an error, it isn't really.
From previous episodes we know that the Enterprise can sense a moving
Romulan starship it it is close enough.
Mark Runyan
James K. Huggins
|In article <11...@zipeecs.umich.edu> hug...@dip.eecs.umich.edu.UUCP (James K. Huggins) writes:
|>before the holidays. To those who love Stewart's acting, we have the
|>chance to see him in his natural habitat: Shakespeare. To those who hate
|
|Yeah, Stewart was the standing man with the halberd. However, people
|seem to be overlooking the fact that Frakes was the seated man during
|the "Henry IV" scene.
Was that really Frakes? That was my initial impression, but after looking
at him for a while, I had decided it wasn't him. Sure fooled me -- good
job by the makeup department :-)
Jim Huggins, UMichigan
Jeff Hallett x5163
>Yeah, he's a trained Shakespearian actor so that smile on his face watching
>Data and "himself" doing a scene together was for real. Kinda makes you
>wonder though if it's worth it for Picard to keep up the "illusion" of being
>French when he's so enthralled with Elizabethan theatre and Earl Grey tea :)
>I do like his character though, whatever nationality he is supposed to be.
>Very nice space scenes in this one too. I love special effects and I think
>they did a good job with this one. Klingon Birds of Prey at the end were a
>nice touch too, surpised the heck out of me! hehe
Boy am I getting sick of this. I suppose I should tell the Indian guy
I work with that just because he studied for 12 years in England and
has an English accent (an no trace of an Indian one) that he should
give up the pretense of being Indian even though he lived for 18 years
in Calcutta (he also had an English "nanny", as he puts it so he got
some of his Englishisms from her).
Accent != nationality, especially in a supposedly United Earth, as
depicted in ST. What do you want him to do, run around saying
"Garcon, bring Monsieur a bucket!" ?
There are lots of perfectly good reasons for him to have an English
accent even though he is French (or of French descent).
jco...@ccu.umanitoba.ca
> This brings up a point I noticed in the episode( which, unfortunately,
>aired a week late here, ) After the first encounter with the Romulan
>Warbird, it turned and cloaked itself. Worf proceeded to give reports on the
>Warbird's position as it crossed the Neutral Zone *while it was cloaked.*
>I didn't think this was possible.
>
> Did anyone else catch this?
for its impulse trail (This can be seen in the original series episode where
Kirk and company first encounter the Romulans. Forgive my memory, but I can't
seem to place the title - but it co-starred Mark Leonard (Sarek) as the Romulan
commander). In this episode, the vessel was invisible as long as it remained
motionless. Similar to submarine tactics. Once it moved, however, it created
a trail of ions which were easily traced. The same must be true for the
newer cloaking devices (notice that in "The Defector", the Enterprise came
into orbit, scanning along the way no doubt, and did NOT register the two
warbirds that were waiting for them when they tried to leave.)
Hailing Frequencies Closed.
"Captain" D. Joseph Creighton
*******************************************************************************
John Sparks
>Yeah, Stewart was the standing man with the halberd. However, people
>seem to be overlooking the fact that Frakes was the seated man during
I thought that was Frakes! But then I said, "couldn't be. The guy doesn't
have any beard on his chin."
So how did they do that? Did Frakes shave his chin and is hoping to grow
it back by next week? Is/will he be wearing a false beard?
Great disguises!
I looked through the credits but couldn't find any confirmation on it.
--
John Sparks | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 1200bps. Accessable via Starlink (Louisville KY)
spa...@corpane.UUCP <><><><><><><><><><><> D.I.S.K. ph:502/968-5401 thru -5406
I'd like to help you out. Which way did you come in?
Robert J. Granvin
>> him with a picture perfect representation of part of ch'Rihan. Uh-uh. Wrong.
>
>I kinda wondered about that myself in passing ...
A single engine Cessna can fly right through Soviet airspace and land
in Red Square.
We can all get extremely detailed photographs of the moons of Neptune,
detailed enough to generate accurate computer simulated representations
of many or most areas of the surface.
Federation Scout Ships (at least one) can get into Federation space
undetected and crash on a Federation planet.
The Federation and the Romulans don't have a very close relationship,
and information about the Romulans has always been "limited". (By TOS
times, we had not yet seen a Romulan, though that doesn't preclude
minimal information about the home planet, or a portion of it.
There has been contact (alluded to) between the Federation and the
Romulans again since TOS. They even met face to face, and through
diplomatic channels in Star Trek V (take that for what you will :-).
The Romulans seem to know Picard by name now, they even know about
Data. ("You're the android...").
The Klingons and Romulans have had, in the TOS days, a technology
transfer treaty at least. At least according to intelligence, the
Romulans are using Klingon design. They've had confrontations and
conflicts as well (as noted in various TNG episodes).
The Klingons and the Federation are now allies... Wary perhaps, but
allies. There's clearly a strong cooperation here when faced with a
strong adversary (see this episode in particular). The Federation
isn't even concerned about Klingon ships floating around in Federation
space. Kindof a quiet wariness, as far as wary goes.
Why is it hard to believe that the Federation might just have some
physical evidence of the surface details of all or a portion of
Romulus (or whatever you want to call it :-)? It would seem
surprising if they _didn't_.
--
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the witch
| However, there was also another MAJOR loopy in this episode.
| In the very begining, when the Warbird was pursueing the scout
|ship, IT MISSED ALL ITS SHOTS.
| Do you think that the Enterprise wouldn't blow the h*ll out of
|a federation scout ship. Yes it would!
| It could ALSO *CONVENIENTLY* MISS!
|
| Somebody should have noticed that someting was afoot.
It did NOT miss all of its shots. It got it with the last volley.
Never underestimate how hard a small target can be to hit.
Anyway, you must have missed the part where they analysed the
pursuit. Not only did they mention that the velocity vectors
matched too well, but Data commented that there were some instances
where they could have scored a hit but didn't.
--the witch
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Jeff Meyer
>Data and "himself" doing a scene together was for real. Kinda makes you
>wonder though if it's worth it for Picard to keep up the "illusion" of being
>French when he's so enthralled with Elizabethan theatre and Earl Grey tea :)
I thought it particularly amusing, due to all the hullabaloo about the new
Branaugh version of HENRY V, and Data's intention of studying both Olivier
and Branaugh.
What I'm curious about is this "Shapiro" (presumably an actor) that Data
mentions. I seem to remember other references to a "Shapiro" in the Trek
future history who left a mark in the acting field. Is this my usual faulty
memory, or does anyone else remember it?
DAVE BARRY'S 1989 IN REVIEW -- May 1st
"Amid a massive wave of publicity disguised
as news, the Disney Corporation opens its
latest theme park, 'A World Of Cranky People
Waiting In Lines.'"
---
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
INTERNET: mori...@tc.fluke.COM
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Bryan George Lord
> In article <25A780...@telly.on.ca>, ev...@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch) writes:
> >
> > In article <43...@scolex.sco.COM> se...@sco.COM (Sean Fagan) writes:
> >
> > >Now for *my* gripe:
the Neutral Zone *while it was cloaked.* I didn't think this was possible.
I caught that one!
mark l dyson
>...I suppose I should tell the Indian guy
>I work with that just because he studied for 12 years in England and
>has an English accent (an no trace of an Indian one)
[rest deleted]
I have to agree with Jeff here. My grandmother is Austrian, but speaks
English with a dignified Oxford accent, and no trace of a traditional
'German' one. Many Europeans study English rather than American, and it shows
when they become adept enough at it to be really fluent (as the Picard char-
acter would be). British brands of tea are also very popular in Europe (at
least in Germany), so can't really serve as an indicator of cultural
preference, either. In addition, one assumes that many former nationalistic
barriers no longer exist on Federation Earth, further muddying the expected
cultural stereotypes.
Peace
-Mark-
Tim S. Boshart
}>>> [Previous articles deleted]
}> This brings up a point I noticed in the episode( which, unfortunately,
}>aired a week late here, ) After the first encounter with the Romulan
}>Warbird, it turned and cloaked itself. Worf proceeded to give reports on the
}>Warbird's position as it crossed the Neutral Zone *while it was cloaked.*
}>I didn't think this was possible.
}>
}> Did anyone else catch this?
}
}Yupper. It seems that you CAN track any vessel while it is cloaked by looking
}for its impulse trail (This can be seen in the original series episode where
}Kirk and company first encounter the Romulans. Forgive my memory, but I can't
}seem to place the title - but it co-starred Mark Leonard (Sarek) as the Romulan
}commander). In this episode, the vessel was invisible as long as it remained
}motionless. Similar to submarine tactics. Once it moved, however, it created
}a trail of ions which were easily traced. The same must be true for the
}newer cloaking devices (notice that in "The Defector", the Enterprise came
}into orbit, scanning along the way no doubt, and did NOT register the two
}warbirds that were waiting for them when they tried to leave.)
}
Gee, I just figured that the Romulans had been there for some time
waiting for the Enterprise or some other Federation vessel. Buy the
time the big E came along, the ionization trail had disbursed enough so
it wasn't detectable.
Is that this a good enough explanation or should I add that the Romulans
could have shut down their engines before entering the system and made
the error of following the laws of physics and coasted in? :-)
--
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Warren E. Taylor
Why didn't the Romulans notice the cloaked Klingons sneaking up on them?
They were obviously moving in order to follow the Enterprise.
Bryan George Lord
> | In the very begining, when the Warbird was pursueing the scout
> |ship, IT MISSED ALL ITS SHOTS.
>
> Never underestimate how hard a small target can be to hit.
>
> matched too well, but Data commented that there were some instances
> where they could have scored a hit but didn't.
>
> --the witch
You have a very good point. However, I was mearly saying that
someone, on the bridge, should have noticed it, in the begining. While
the actual chase was happening.
Also, I think that one *real* hit, would have destroyed the
scout ship.
I just think it would have been more realistic if Data or
someone else had said, "Yo captian. That ship should be space dust by
now!"
IMHO
Glen Kilpatrick
>In article <1990Jan9.0...@ccu.umanitoba.ca> jco...@ccu.UManitoba.CA (D. Joseph Creighton) writes:
>}>>> [Previous articles deleted]
>
>could have shut down their engines before entering the system and made
>the error of following the laws of physics and coasted in? :-)
>--
You'll need some _new_ physics to explain how they eliminated all
that delta-V and _coasted_ into a planetary orbit (perhaps it was
hyperbolic, and they merely _seemed_ to be stationary relative to
the Big E & the planet)....
Glen Kilpatrick
[stuff deleted...]
> I just think it would have been more realistic if Data or
>someone else had said, "Yo captian. That ship should be space dust by
>now!"
Data cry "Yo captian."? Surely you jest. He's studying Shakespeare,
not Cheech n' Chong (or was it the pot-head from Carpenter's
_The_Thing_?).
Mark Runyan
>Why didn't the Romulans notice the cloaked Klingons sneaking up on them?
>They were obviously moving in order to follow the Enterprise.
This is a question, but let's look at some possible rationalizations.
1) motion sensing may take an "active" sensor beam. Something that would
give away the fact that a Romulan ship was there.
2) motion sensing may be a general sensing. In other words, I can detect
somthing besides me moving, but not how many things.
3) Or, the one I like, the Romulans may have been sooooo sure of themselves
that they didn't even consider that the Enterprise might bring along
some Klingons to enjoy the show. So, the Romulans weren't even looking
once they saw the Enterprise!
Mark Runyan {r.a.s. random rationalizer}
John Pimentel
>Now, the BIG question here is :
>
>Why didn't the Romulans notice the cloaked Klingons sneaking up on them?
>They were obviously moving in order to follow the Enterprise.
Since the movement of a cloaked vessel causes a "wake", it is still not
the easiest thing to detect *even* if you're looking for it. The Romulans,
in this case weren't, thus their surprise. And even if they were, the
Klingons could have been flying in tight formation with the Enterprise,
considering the Captain knew the Klingons had offered their help.
---
Take care and have a good day. John.
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the witch
|>> I just think it would have been more realistic if Data or
|>>someone else had said, "Yo captian. That ship should be space dust by
|>>now!"
|>
|>Data cry "Yo captian."? Surely you jest. He's studying Shakespeare,
|>not Cheech n' Chong (or was it the pot-head from Carpenter's
|>_The_Thing_?).
|
|No, "Yea, My Captian, Me thinks thee shouldst be wary of thy foe,
|he seems to be hiding ability from thee."
Urk. That should be "thou shouldst be wary". Sheesh, wassamatta,
this generation can't conjugate English anymore?!
--the witch
(liberal smileys)
--
Solo asi' he de irme? | Nada de mi fama aqui' en la tierra?
Como las flores que perecieron? | Al menos flores, al menos cantos!
Nada quedara' en mi nombre? | -- cantos de Heuxotzingo
________________...@ics.uci.edu____________________________
KeithPetto Alexander
says:
No, "Yea, My Captian, Me thinks thee shouldst be wary of thy foe,
Richard Ottolini
>>Now, the BIG question here is :
>>
>>Why didn't the Romulans notice the cloaked Klingons sneaking up on them?
>>They were obviously moving in order to follow the Enterprise.
In the STTOS episode where Romulans are first seen the cloaked Romulan ship
distrusts their sensors while cloaked. Kirk uses this to "hide" from the
Romulans. Perhaps sensors still work less effectively during cloaking.
John Hyde
>They were obviously moving in order to follow the Enterprise.
The shunting effect of the cloaking device has a negative effect upon
the sensors of the cloaked ship, i.e., severely reduces their
effectiveness.
This may be an additional reason why the UFP does not use cloaking
devices, also.
-John C. Hyde |"Only a brave person is willing honestly to admit,
|and fearlessly to face, what a sincere and logical
|mind discovers." -Rodan of Alexandria
Sean P. Engelson
tit...@alexandre-dumas.ics.uci.edu (the witch) writes:
> [Another irrelevant digression]
>
> |>> I just think it would have been more realistic if Data or
> |>>someone else had said, "Yo captian. That ship should be space dust by
> |>>now!"
> |>
> |>Data cry "Yo captian."? Surely you jest. He's studying Shakespeare,
> |>not Cheech n' Chong (or was it the pot-head from Carpenter's
> |>_The_Thing_?).
> |
> |No, "Yea, My Captian, Me thinks thee shouldst be wary of thy foe,
> |he seems to be hiding ability from thee."
>
> this generation can't conjugate English anymore?!
More irrelevancy on this; stylistically, it should go more like:
Captain, attend! Mayhaps shouldst ware thy foe, for meseems he hath
skill that he hides from thee.
"Shall we their fond pageant see?
Lord, what fools these Trekkers be!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Yale Department of Computer Science Say little and do much;
Box 2158 Yale Station And receive everyone with
New Haven, CT 06520 a friendly attitude.
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Theoretical physicist---a physicist whose existence is postulated, to
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laboratory.
--Joseph Voros
Edward C. Bennett
>seem to be overlooking the fact that Frakes was the seated man during
If that was Frakes, where did his beard go?
--
Edward C. Bennett - The other MMDF guy edw...@twg.com
The Wollongong Group (415) 962-7252
1129 San Antonio Road, Mt. View, CA 94303 "Goodnight M.A."
"He's become a growling, snarling mass of white-hot canine terror"
Bryan George Lord
Actaully I do jest. How about this.....
"Captian, (tilt of the head and raise of the eyebrows) the Romulan
Bird of War is not useing its full millitary capibilities. If it was, the
scout ship would not be able to evade it for more than a few seconds."
(slight nod of the head followed by the lowering of the eyebrows and
three part turn of the head back to a forward position)
Yes. I jest again.
John Pimentel
>In article <18...@mrsvr.UUCP> hal...@gemed.ge.com (Jeffrey A. Hallett (414) 548-5163) writes:
>>Yeah, Stewart was the standing man with the halberd. However, people
>>seem to be overlooking the fact that Frakes was the seated man during
>>the "Henry IV" scene.
>
>If that was Frakes, where did his beard go?
>
with the show... Or was they filmed this scene way back in the first season
and held onto it until the third season, because they didn't know what to
do with it... Or he shaved it off, and the Makeup Dept. gave a frake one
until the real one grew back... Or maybe just maybe, it was a totally
different person (no it can't be that it makes too much sense).
>--
>Edward C. Bennett - The other MMDF guy edw...@twg.com
>The Wollongong Group (415) 962-7252
>1129 San Antonio Road, Mt. View, CA 94303 "Goodnight M.A."
> "He's become a growling, snarling mass of white-hot canine terror"
---
Take care and have a good day. John.
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