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From: okie@ihuxs.UUCP (B.K. Cobb)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: A new ST II question
Message-ID: <512@ihuxs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 19-Mar-84 14:08:10 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxs.512
Posted: Mon Mar 19 14:08:10 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Mar-84 01:53:13 EST
References: <137@cosivax.UUCP>, <422@aecom.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 29

As to the prefix code question, let me suggest
that only upper command-rank personnel have
access to the code.  This could follow from 
the fact that Kirk had Spock track it down.
I postulate a very secure computer cache that
holds those prefix codes and is only available
to those of upper command rand.  And, as the
*Enterprise* is one of the premier ships of
the fleet (or so we're always told), training
run or not, she would still be equipped with
those codes.

Also, consider that Kirk was in charge of fleet
deployment at the time of ST:TMP.  It would
make sense that he would know about such an
access system, and could have informed Spock
about it.

Now, I know that such a computer cache would
not be totally secure; but it could be made so
secure that the chances of innerrent discovery
(or should that be "inerrant"?) would be small.
As always, you run the risk that such codes can
be learned -- but they can also be learned from
the people who man the ships as well as the
ship's computer.

B.K.Cobb
ihnp4!ihuxs!okie