From: tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch)
Subject: Re: Locarno = Kirk (Spoilers "First Duty"))
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 15:17:42 GMT

clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) writes:
>In article <1992Apr15.004151.1600@cco.caltech.edu>, tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>>maj1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Mark "Beren" Jamison) writes:

>>>Come again?? His moves with the reliant may belie a sense of trust in all
>>>Federation people, not an "I can't lose" mentality.. 
>>
>>I think there was some of each in there.  There's certainly an element of 
>>misplaced trust, but his dismissal of Saavik's warnings with an "I know 
>>regulations and I find it obvious that they're wrong and don't apply to me
>>here" attitude demonstrates some of the "I'm invulnerable" attitude as
>>well, IMO.
>>
>   I don't seem to recall the movie this way though it has been a while
>since I've seen it.   As I recall, Carol Marcus makes a call to Kirk
>asking why he is taking away Genesis.  There is interference so that
>Carol can not hear the responses that Kirk makes.  The Enterprise is
>sent to investigate when communication appears to be lost.

Fine so far...

>   When they encounter the Reliant, Saavik quotes regulation that says
>something like "anytime two Federation ships meet, they are supposed
>to communicate with one another", 

Not to the best of my memory.  I don't remember the exact quote, but the
line was something along the lines of "if *communications have not been
established*, defensive measures should be taken".  The implication to me
was definitely not a "you should talk to them", but rather "they're not 
talking to us, so let's prepare for the worst".

The rest of it's pretty good, but the signs were all pointing to something
being *wrong*.  If they'd raised shields and the Reliant turned out to be
for real, they're a little embarrassed, but that's all.  If they raised
shields and the Reliant proved to be against them, they're on an even footing
instead of down several major shots at the outset.

>   Kirk had no idea that Khan, of all people, would have taken over a
>ship.  After all, this isn't considered an everyday occurrence.  

True; never said he did.  :-)

>It
>is true that he isn't following regulations but then it appears that
>not everyone goes by the book, certainly not Kirk, and this situation
>is only some problem in protocol and it isn't obvious that one should
>go to red alert at such a situation.   Reliant was supposedly in the
>area.

I never said anything about red alert either.  Shields should have gone up;
regs were very clear, Saavik knew it, and Kirk chose to ignore it at his
peril.  He even admits that mistake later.  ("I did NOTHING!  Except get caught
with my britches down...")

>   I think Kirk does go to yellow alert.  

I don't believe so, but this is something that we'll have to check.  Regard-
less of the alert status, shields certainly didn't go up.

>The Reliant, while not completely
>following protocol, had an excuse for the problem, 

Which was discovered within seconds to be *false*.  That should have set off
warning bells a mile long.

>>>Both Picard and Locarno have pulled "stunts".. 
>>
>>We don't know that.  We have no idea what Picard actually *did* in the 
>>academy.  What stunts are you thinking of?

>  Wasn't really a stunt, but Picard did mention getting into some fight
>with some alien (explains why he has an artificial heart).

Agreed, but (a) I wouldn't call it a stunt either, and (b) that wasn't in
the academy, but after he was an ensign.

Tim Lynch (Cornell's first Astronomy B.A.; one of many Caltech grad students)
BITNET:  tlynch@citjuliet
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R.I.P. Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992.  You will be missed.
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