TNG: Silent Weapons by David Mack Review Thread (Spoilers!)

[Christopher]

Hartzilla2007 wrote:

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Plus I don't think the Stargazer was a science vessel.

Yes, it was, at least as much as Titan is. It didn't really get spelled out on the show, but in Picard's bio in the original series bible, it was made clear that the Stargazer's mission was one of long-term deep-space exploration -- pretty much the exact same mission profile as Titan. And heck, it's right there in the name. Not to mention that TNG made it pretty clear that Picard did consider himself an explorer, and it didn't seem to be a recent change.

[Scout101]

Agree that Stargazer and Titan share a similar mission profile, but have a hard time picturing either as a science vessel. Level of science is really restricted to TOS Enterprise levels. Seems to fit more of an exploration/first contact profile, whereas the dedicated Science Vessel we're picturing would be the one to come by later and follow up on the discovery with 6 months of flora and fauna sampling, or anthropology teams, etc.

Nothing's really indicated to me that either Stargazer OR Titan really was filling that role. Closer to TOS, just further out and without the diplomatic ferry/flagship/battleship duties.

[Christopher]

Well, if you define "science vessel" that way, okay. I was taking it to mean that the mission was principally scientific/exploratory in nature rather than military/political/diplomatic/support/etc.

[Markonian]

For what it's worth:
In Star Trek: Online, the Luna-class (and its derivatives) is classified as a recoinnassance science vessel, or RSV. It is a designated science vessel and a bit less combat-oriented than the deep space science vessels (DSSV).

The Stargazer-class itself is not yet in STO but its 'design family' belongs to the heavy cruiser category and includes the following classes: Stargazer, Dakota and Cheyenne.
However, The Needs of the Many depicted the USS Stargazer-A (prototype of the Stargazer-class) at the forefront of exploration: first contact with the Lorians (possible descendants of the Xindi-Avians), re-contact with the Metron Consortium and, in-game, the first contact with the Xaraxian Congress is mentioned occuring early in the 25th century.

In short, whether you consider a ship a 'science vessel' depends how much weight you put on the initial classification vs. the actual mission profile.

BTW, people keep mentioning Spot as a 'she'. Remember: it was a 'he' in The Persistence of Memory.

[zarkon]

Markonian wrote:

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BTW, people keep mentioning Spot as a 'she'. Remember: it was a 'he' in The Persistence of Memory.

She was preggers in the terrible season seven ep Genesis

[Markonian]

zarkon wrote:

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She was preggers in the terrible season seven ep Genesis

True, but in TPoM Worf said it was a decades-old male cat.

[JoeZhang]

zarkon wrote:

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Picard was 50, and as of Silent Weapons, Riker is 49.

Is that all Riker is in the books? Because I think of Frakes, I thought the character must be pushing 60 at least.

[Deranged Nasat]

Markonian wrote:

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True, but in TPoM Worf said it was a decades-old male cat.

Spot rejects your primitive 21st-century insistance on restrictive sexual identity and, in true feline fashion, does whatever it wants on its own authority when the whim takes it. Thus if it wants to be male, he is, and if it wants to be female, she is.

[zarkon]

Markonian wrote:

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True, but in TPoM Worf said it was a decades-old male cat.

Episode trumps book though right? Especially when it's as explicit as it is in the episode

Le shrug

JoeZhang wrote:

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Is that all Riker is in the books? Because I think of Frakes, I thought the character must be pushing 60 at least.

Well Riker was born in 2335 and Silent Weapons is set in 2384, so he should be roughly there or thereabouts. I guess the books have dallied in various years for a while.

Encounter at Farpoint was set in 2364, so Riker was 29 while Frakes was 35, so he was playing a somewhat younger character to begin with

[BillJ]

Perhaps Spot is a Changeling sleep agent!

[JD]

Wasn't Spot male in all of the other episodes (s)he appeared in except Genesis?

[zarkon]

JD wrote:

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Wasn't Spot male in all of the other episodes (s)he appeared in except Genesis?

And "Force of Nature"

I guess data didn't bother looking down there until season seven

[Patrick O'Brien]

Finished the book yesterday, another outstanding job by Dave I want to take the time to thank him for making me look up the word "Encomium". I am lucky to have the Oxford dictionary on my kindle

[Eat-Da-Tribble]

Deranged Nasat wrote:

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Spot rejects your primitive 21st-century insistance on restrictive sexual identity and, in true feline fashion, does whatever it wants on its own authority when the whim takes it. Thus if it wants to be male, he is, and if it wants to be female, she is.

Spot is a free spirit, beyond humanoid prejudices and limitations.
LET S/HE BE FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Christopher]

"His name is Susan, and he wants you to respect his life choices."