The Enterprise Incident-Who did Kirk piss off to get that job??

Discussion in 'Star Trek - The Original & Animated Series' started by Dale Sams, Jul 23, 2014.

  1. Marsden

    Marsden Commodore Commodore

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    Marsden is very sad.
    I thought you were spelling out an acronym, unless mudspp means something, but I washed out of the academy.
     
  2. Nebusj

    Nebusj Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Well, clearly you did, if you're willing to casually toss off an insult to the whole Mudspp Sodality of Free Worlds like that. Gads, somebody get the Diplomatic Corps over there fast before they get really cranky over this.
     
  3. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    You'll have a bright future in the merchant service. Ask for Merrick.
     
  4. Dale Sams

    Dale Sams Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    So at the mission briefing when they got to the part about, "Spock, you'll seduce the Romulan commander and give Kirk about an hour to find the cloaking device."

    1. Did Kirk go, "Ha! Shoe's on the other foot now!"

    2. Is Spock the kind of guy that would make uncomfortable, or would he just raise an eyebrow, look at Kirk and say "Captain, are you familiar with IDIC?"
     
  5. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    I assume Spock was just supposed to "buddy up" with who ever was commanding the Romulans. That it was a woman, slightly changed the game plan.
     
  6. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Prior to the mission, Scotty might have wondered why that piece of equipment with the circular socket was installed in engineering and tied into the defector system.

    :)
     
  7. Ithekro

    Ithekro Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Or they had done some training on cloaking devices, but not had a practical element.
     
  8. Commishsleer

    Commishsleer Commodore Commodore

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    Yes maybe intelligence reports and counter intelligence reports got Kirk/Spock the information they needed to carry off the mission.

    I wonder on the practicality of the Neutral Zone though. How come 3 ships were at the exact location that the Enterprise crossed the Neutral Zone? How big is the Neutral Zone anyway? I imagine it would be at least 10s of light years long. Do they have ships stationed along every bit of the zone waiting for crossings or did the Romulans also get some (bad) intelligence?
     
  9. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    Just watched this again. I still don't understand why Spock's communicator wasn't confiscated the moment he arrived on the Romulan ship, which conveniently allowed him to later contact Kirk, who for all he knew, was still on the Enterprise.
     
  10. Ithekro

    Ithekro Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Perhaps Romulan intelligence has failed them one too many time about Starfleet technology. Though it is similar to 22nd century tech in shape and size.

    One would assume that Starfleet Intelligence aimed Kirk for the proper Klingon designed ships to get the confirmation they needed, plus the new cloaking device.
     
  11. Mr_Homn

    Mr_Homn Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    It's a gunslinger era.

    They send the Enterprise for the same reason Kirk goes on away missions: You send your best man for the toughest jobs. You don't send your first officer on away missions just like you don't start your football team with your backup QB in the superbowl. This is the show, baby. Send in the big guns.
     
  12. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    It's to remind every one that Shatner, not Nimoy, is the star.
     
  13. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    +1
     
  14. Nightowl1701

    Nightowl1701 Commodore Commodore

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    As Kirk himself noted, they wanted to take the Enterprise intact. After besting them twice at that point, having that particular ship as a war trophy would be an invaluable salve on wounded Romulan pride. Plus, as Scott said, they would then know everything there was to know about Federation starships.

    From the James Blish novelization:
    "Kirk had worked out no way of making so suicidal a move on his part (going into the Neutral Zone) explicable except that of becoming irritable and snappish, as though his judgment had been worn down by fatigue. It was a bad solution. His officers were the best in Starfleet; sooner or later they would penetrate the deception, and conclude that whenever Kirk appeared to be worn down to the point of irrationality, he was operating under sealed orders.
    And when the day came when he actually was too tired to know what he was doing, they would obey him blindly anyhow--and scratch one starship."

    No doubt Scott had figured it out by the time Kirk gave this order: "If we do not return, the Enterprise must not be taken. If the Romulans attempt it, you're to fight, and if necessary, destroy yourselves. Is that clear?" Any rescue attempt would have ended in that fatal fight, and Scott knew it.

    Romulan overconfidence. Communicators aren't weapons. Any attempt to escape would, again, lead to a three-on-one fight the Enterprise was unlikely to win.

    Yet who gets the whole Sean Connery From Russia with Love plotline while Shatner skulks about corridors? :vulcan:
     
  15. Timo

    Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    As for the Romulans being there to give the Federation starship a warm welcome without delay, the same thing happens in "The Deadly Years". Obviously, Worf is speaking the literal truth when accusing Romulans of being honorless bastards through and through - they blatantly ignore the Neutral Zone rules and keep ships positioned in there, shadowing any UFP assets close to the Zone. Sometimes they wait until the prey enters the Zone (because some Feds are honorless bastards, too), but sometimes they don't - see "The Practical Joker".

    Timo Saloniemi
     
  16. Dale Sams

    Dale Sams Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    And The Way to Eden.

    Also FWIW, The Enterprise Incident takes place in Romulan space.
     
  17. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Because the intent was for the Enterprise to get caught.

    :)
     
  18. Armored Saint

    Armored Saint Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Yup, the OP is looking at the wrong direction. Starfleet command especially chose Kirk and Spock to avoid it turns into a suicide mission. Otherwise, the mission could have cost 800 lifes and caused a lot of political problems.
     
  19. Dale Sams

    Dale Sams Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I used to be really down on the episode because basically, our 'heroes' violated treaty, committed espionage, some serious theft, got a Romulan commander probably executed...and also probably set back women's rights in the Romulan Empire centuries.

    But it is very well done. The 'love scenes' drag a bit, but overall quite enjoyable. The HD version even more so with the new FX.
     
  20. Nightowl1701

    Nightowl1701 Commodore Commodore

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    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Sure they did...