From: clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin)
Subject: Re: Locarno = Kirk (Spoilers "First Duty"))
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 02:53:22 GMT
Organization: College of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
Originator: clin@coke.eng.umd.edu


In article <1992Apr15.004151.1600@cco.caltech.edu>, tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>maj1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Mark "Beren" Jamison) writes:
>>tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>>>maj1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Mark "Beren" Jamison) writes:
>>>>tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch) writes:
>
>>>>>Letting Khan get in close enough to cripple the Enterprise in ST2?
>
>>>>Where do these signify the "I will not fail" mentality?? 
>
>>>You mean saying "there can't be anything wrong with the Reliant because I'm
>>>James Kirk and invulnerable"?
>
>>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.

   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", they send a message to the Reliant
(recall that some of the crew of the Reliant -- like Chekhov -- was
still on board) who replied something being wrong with some of their
systems.  The Enterprise finds nothing wrong with their systems.
Kirk says "That's damn peculiar" wondering why the Reliant isn't following
regulations.   Joachim asks Khan why the Enterprise isn't raising shields.
Khan replies "Of course not, we're one big happy family".  Kirk goes
to yellow alert.  Khan is told that the Enterprise is requesting information.
He replies "let them eat static".

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

>>>>As far as Kahn was concerned?? Where is he ignoring all warnings??
>
>>>Ohh, I don't know...completely ignoring standard (and *sensible*) regulations
>>>involving ships that are coming towards you and silent running, not doing 
>>>anything to safeguard the ship until the Reliant's shields were up *and* 
>>>weapons were locked, and thus pummeling the ship.  You know, the error that 
>>>caused the damage that in the end, drove Spock to sacrifice himself.  That 
>>>error.
>
>>Well, I'll argue with you on that one.. 
>
>Hey, join the crowd.
>

   I think Kirk does go to yellow alert.  The Reliant, while not completely
following protocol, had an excuse for the problem, which was used to let them
close in.  Khan, who had presumably read regulations, and who was being advised
by Chekhov would probably follow regulations as close as needed and use the
indecision that followed to close in.

>
>>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).

>
>Um...no.  I think I'd call it Picard learning from his mistakes, and a 
>form of major dramatic irony.  Picard never came down on Wes for *trying*
>the maneuver in the first place; it was the coverup and avoiding of 
>responsibility that he condemned.
>

   I'll agree with this.

--
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