Star Trek/Headscratchers: Difference between revisions
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*** Which is interesting, considering the starring vessels of the show are armed to the teeth. For example, when the meeting with Chancellor Gorkon goes wrong, "We will have to count each torpedo, visually." "That could take HOURS!" Good lord, Scotty, how many antiship antimatter bombs do you HAVE onboard? |
*** Which is interesting, considering the starring vessels of the show are armed to the teeth. For example, when the meeting with Chancellor Gorkon goes wrong, "We will have to count each torpedo, visually." "That could take HOURS!" Good lord, Scotty, how many antiship antimatter bombs do you HAVE onboard? |
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**** They're armed to the teeth because they know the galaxy is filled with ''actually'' militaristic and antagonistic species like the Klingons. With such knowledge only an idiot would go into space ''without'' being armed as heavily as one could manage. |
**** They're armed to the teeth because they know the galaxy is filled with ''actually'' militaristic and antagonistic species like the Klingons. With such knowledge only an idiot would go into space ''without'' being armed as heavily as one could manage. |
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**** Interstellar travel in the Trek setting is analogous to ocean travel on Earth during the Age of Sail. Unless you are directly adjacent to a civilized planet/coastline, space/the ocean is very wide, and your ship is very small. If you run into something hostile you are ''on your own'' - it will be days or weeks before anyone can make it to you, and that's assuming you're even able to signal distress in the first place. Under those circumstances every ship, both warships and merchantmen, travelled with as many guns strapped on as they could afford and didn't hesitate to use them on anything that looked at them funny. Any unarmed vessel was either operating solely in patrolled waters (i.e., doing the coastal/river run only near civilized nations with strong naval power, the Trek equivalent being 'only staying near Federation core worlds') or else was pirate bait. |
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*** They are arguably in denial, but Starfleet's self-image is that they aren't a military organization. There are several instances of characters saying as much, particularly in TNG. Notably there were objections to the Enterprise engaging in war games that basically came down to "that's not what we do." The explanation for their firepower is that it's not wise to plunge into the unknown unarmed. The Defiant is considered Starfleet's first actual warship, and it was built in response to the Borg almost assimilating Earth. |
*** They are arguably in denial, but Starfleet's self-image is that they aren't a military organization. There are several instances of characters saying as much, particularly in TNG. Notably there were objections to the Enterprise engaging in war games that basically came down to "that's not what we do." The explanation for their firepower is that it's not wise to plunge into the unknown unarmed. The Defiant is considered Starfleet's first actual warship, and it was built in response to the Borg almost assimilating Earth. |
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**** Even in Kirk's era, the Enterprise was designated a "Heavy Cruiser" - yes a somewhat military name but the Klingon D7 (essentially the Constitution class Enterprise's opposite number) was designated a "Battle Cruiser" and the Romulans flew "Warbirds" - much more military and aggressive names. |
**** Even in Kirk's era, the Enterprise was designated a "Heavy Cruiser" - yes a somewhat military name but the Klingon D7 (essentially the Constitution class Enterprise's opposite number) was designated a "Battle Cruiser" and the Romulans flew "Warbirds" - much more military and aggressive names. |
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