Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!decwrl!rhea!elmer!goun From: goun@elmer.DEC (Roger H. Goun) Newsgroups: net.startrek Subject: Re: A new ST II question Message-ID: <6330@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Tue, 20-Mar-84 10:31:05 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.6330 Posted: Tue Mar 20 10:31:05 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 21-Mar-84 02:37:26 EST Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 44I have another explanation for the existence of the prefix code. Assume that the way Kirk used it in STII (to order Reliant to lower her shields) was not the purpose for which it was designed. I can wave my hands and imagine any number of silly reasons to be able to send commands to another ship's computer: shuttlecraft takeoffs and landings, handshaking with unmanned data probes, automatic beamups using the communicator emergency signal, etc. I don't think anyone anticipated that it could be used to lower another ship's shields in battle until Kirk thought of it to save his skin. Evidence: - It's a silly thing for Star Fleet Command to leave lying around once they knew it was possible. Therefore, no one had thought of it previously. - Saavik didn't know about it, as shown by the exchange (from memory; not the exact words): Kirk: "Spock, punch up the data for Reliant's command console." Saavik: "Reliant's command...?" Kirk: "You have to learn why things work on a starship..." ... Saavik (confused): "I don't understand." Saavik, though she lacks the experience to make creative decisions in tight situations, is strong in her knowledge of "proper" procedures. Since she always goes "by the book," she would have known that a starship can be taken in this way if it was documented anywhere. -- Roger Goun UUCP: {allegra, decvax, ucbvax}!decwrl!rhea!elmer!goun ARPA: decwrl!rhea!elmer!goun@{Berkeley, SU-Shasta} USPS: Digital Equipment Corp., HLO2-2/H13 77 Reed Road; Hudson, MA 01749 MCIMail: RGoun Tel: (617) 568-6311