Daystrom Ins. & the Future of Spore Drive?

[shapeshifter]

Catching up on this seasons Supergirl I was struck by the actor Carl Lumby's resemblance to William Marshal, OWKA in the Trekverse as Richard Daystrom. He even sounds the part.

Got me thinking about how a Discovery story might be drafted about his efforts to create an AI capable of replacing Stamets in controlling the Spore Drive. It would of course have to fail but foundations for starship controlling M series computers could be laid down.

Perhaps later, after Discovery ends, they could revisit the post Nemesis timeframe, announce a breakthrough on the M series - it can now do the job making instantaneous travel to anyplace in this or any multiverse possible!

The potential for new story telling avenues are staggering, so long as they keep the quality up and avoid becoming, imo, Voyager 2.0.

Yes I know, fanwankish to the core, and comparisons to Stargate will be made but other than those, thoughts?

 

[Sophie74656]

Well since disc is prime universe we know spore drive will be shelved and never ever mentioned again.

 

[Lord Garth]

I think Discovery will continue to use the Spore Drive since it's the tool that helps them discover. I do agree that Starfleet will write the Spore Drive as a failure but I also agree that they'd continue to try to develop an artificial intelligence that would be able to navigate the Spore Drive.

In TNG, they have Data. By the time of Voyager, the ship has bio-neural gel packs. So the technology by then would be catching up to the point where using Spore Drive safely would be feasible.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Well since disc is prime universe we know spore drive will be shelved and never ever mentioned again.

 

[The Wormhole]

How's Voyager going to use a Spore Drive without a spinning saucer?

 

[Kemaiku]

How's Voyager going to use a Spore Drive without a spinning saucer?

They could flap the nacelles really fast...

 

[XCV330]

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Where's James Woods?

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[Groppler Zorn]

Got me thinking about how a Discovery story might be drafted about his efforts to create an AI capable of replacing Stamets in controlling the Spore Drive. It would of course have to fail but foundations for starship controlling M series computers could be laid down.

I love supergirl

And I’d love to see an episode featuring the M-1 (shaped like a Korg synthesiser obviously) multitronic unit and seeing its horrific failure (it’s DSC so people could be flayed inside out and whatnot) leading to the eventual M-5 we know and love. Maybe Daystrom has the thought that his AI has to be more “human”...

This is all based on the fact that the discovery actually runs on duotronic circuitry. I find it hard to believe that in the DSC continuity we’re gonna see tubes and circuit boards behind the consoles because visual reboot (so long as there’s no damn gelpacks I’ll be happy). And since there were no duotronics mentioned in ENT (DSC’s go to show for references - maybe it’s a 21st century thing) then I doubt they’ll have any references from memory alpha to explain what the heck the M-1 was or who daystrom was.

In conclusion, I love this idea. “The ultimate computer” is one of my favourite episodes of TOS. I just don’t think it’s DSC’s bag.

Sticking with the idea though, where would the conflict in the story come from? Daystrom tries to map the genome of a species on a pre-warp planet thus violating the prime directive because that species has some dna thing that makes the M-1 work?

 

[XCV330]

How's Voyager going to use a Spore Drive without a spinning saucer?

They can spin Chakoteh. He will finally have a use.

 

[Lord Garth]

I love supergirl

And I’d love to see an episode featuring the M-1 (shaped like a Korg synthesiser obviously) multitronic unit and seeing its horrific failure (it’s DSC so people could be flayed inside out and whatnot) leading to the eventual M-5 we know and love. Maybe Daystrom has the thought that his AI has to be more “human”...

This is all based on the fact that the discovery actually runs on duotronic circuitry. I find it hard to believe that in the DSC continuity we’re gonna see tubes and circuit boards behind the consoles because visual reboot (so long as there’s no damn gelpacks I’ll be happy). And since there were no duotronics mentioned in ENT (DSC’s go to show for references - maybe it’s a 21st century thing) then I doubt they’ll have any references from memory alpha to explain what the heck the M-1 was or who daystrom was.

In conclusion, I love this idea. “The ultimate computer” is one of my favourite episodes of TOS. I just don’t think it’s DSC’s bag.

Sticking with the idea though, where would the conflict in the story come from? Daystrom tries to map the genome of a species on a pre-warp planet thus violating the prime directive because that species has some dna thing that makes the M-1 work?

According to "The Ultimate Computer", duotronics were developed by Daystrom in the 2240s, as per everyone talking about how Dr. Daystrom was a genius who peaked in his early-20s, over 20 years earlier. So duotronics wouldn't have been around in ENT. I just assume duotronics look different in DSC because it's a visual reboot. The Enterprise won't be the same as in TOS either.

Or duotronics are like an Apple and the Enterprise uses them, and Discovery uses whatever the equivalent of a PC would be.

 

[Groppler Zorn]

Daystrom in the 2240s, as per everyone talking about how Dr. Daystrom was a genius who peaked in his early-20s,

Tbf that’s where the conflict in the story could come from - Daystrom desperately trying to surpass his earlier success.

But... they already did that in TOS. So unless they reboot that story for DSC (which doesn’t seem to be something they want to do, and I approve of that approach) they’d have to come up with a new thing for Daystrom to struggle with. Maybe he has to work with a Klingon scientist who is disguised as another alien (see precedent in ENT) and then when we realise s/he’s a Klingon then there’s the possibility of the M1 being used as a WMD and Daystrom has to make the m1 work to save Stamets life and operate the dash drive and is forced to accept help from the Klingon.

If this storyline shows up in DSC we will conclusively know that the writers read this board

 

[Vger23]

If this storyline shows up in DSC we will conclusively know that the writers read this board

I know nobody will believe there is a link with regard to my following story (and I certainly DO NOT expect them to), but I used to post pretty regularly on Trekmovie.com, which was also frequented by Robert Orci as an active participant (which was pretty interesting).

Back in the days where the script for Into Darkness was being developed, there was some discussion about where people wanted to see the next film go. My comment was something to the following effect (not exact...but close):

"I don't care what they do for a primary story because you know it will be what it will be as a summer blockbuster, but I think it would go a long way if they had an opening sequence that showed the Enterprise mid-mission on an alien planet or something to that effect...if for any reason to remind the viewers that Star Trek is still about visiting alien worlds. I could think of a fun adventure on an alien world that would evoke an "Indiana Jones" type of feel to it. Give us a sense that the Enterprise has been off on some planet-side adventures before we get into the main story."

Not only did we get that "mid-adventure" opening in Into Darkness, but it was very reminiscent of an Indiana Jones style adventure sequence (particularly, the opening of Raiders).

I've always wondered about that..........

 

[Lord Garth]

Hmmm... it's possible (I'm not saying it's not)... but James Bond movies also usually open up in the middle of an adventure before going into the real story. Star Trek didn't do that pre-reboot but, before Beyond, Into Darkness also opened up in the middle of an adventure. And the 2009 film had a self-contained adventure of its own in the very beginning. So it's possible that's just what the Kelvin Films do.

My mind, when I saw the beginning of the film, with the little aliens, went to the Lilliputians from Gulliver's Travels.

I think Simon Pegg and Doug Jung did a Page One Rewrite of the script. So I'd be surprised if anything from the Ocri version survived.

There's their alibi.

 

[Groppler Zorn]

I used to post pretty regularly on Trekmovie.com, which was also frequented by Robert Orci as an active participant

Yeh I’ve seen him post over there. I seem to remember him getting quite defensive about criticism of into darkness (some of which was unfair I grant you), but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the writers look on the internet from time to time. And I quite liked the mid adventure opening of STID (despite not liking the film much) and it seemed to be more integral to the story than the one at the start of STB (see point below).

before Beyond, Into Darkness also opened up in the middle of an adventure.

The weird thing is for me with the beyond opening is that you could have started the film at Kirk’s log entry about things getting episodic and it wouldn’t really have impacted the film. Much as I like Beyond (it’s my favourite of the 3 kelvin films and the only one I really enjoyed) that opening only served the purpose of getting them the mcguffin that Krall wanted to turn into a death ray. They could have found that thing on a planet and mentioned it in a line of dialogue. I don’t feel like we needed the scene with the lil critters (although I laughed at Kirk getting his shirt ripped!).

Edit: in fact, said dialogue could have gone as follows:

SPOCK IS IN ENTERPRISE LAB STATING INTENTLY AT A DEVICE

KIRK ENTERS

Kirk: what is it Spock?

Spock: (looking up) ah, captain. The landing party recovered this artefact during their survey of Vega 7.

Kirk: what have you learned about it?

Spock: very little at this time. Although it appears to be emitting low levels of radiation.

Kirk: (eying the device) is it dangerous?

Spock: Doctor McCoy does not believe so.

Kirk: very good. Keep me informed. When you’ve completed your analysis, put the device into storage on deck 6.

Spock: yes, captain.

Kirk: I’ll be on the bridge. (Exits).

That’s right, I think I’m as competent a screenwriter as Simon Pegg. JK this is fanfiction pure and simple!

 

[Mudd]

It's just another Go-Fast Drive. Meh.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

The weird thing is for me with the beyond opening is that you could have started the film at Kirk’s log entry about things getting episodic and it wouldn’t really have impacted the film. Much as I like Beyond (it’s my favourite of the 3 kelvin films and the only one I really enjoyed) that opening only served the purpose of getting them the mcguffin that Krall wanted to turn into a death ray. They could have found that thing on a planet and mentioned it in a line of dialogue. I don’t feel like we needed the scene with the lil critters (although I laughed at Kirk getting his shirt ripped!).

It served to exhibit Kirk's growing frustration with being a captain, by having a funny "all in a day's work, straw that broke the captain's back" scene. Having Kirk pushing papers, or reading casualty lists, or mediating petty crew squabbles, blowing up at a senior staff meeting? I could see TOS/movie Kirk doing that in an episode or film.

 

[Groppler Zorn]

It served to exhibit Kirk's growing frustration with being a captain, by having a funny "all in a day's work, straw that broke the captain's back" scene. Having Kirk pushing papers, or reading casualty lists, or mediating petty crew squabbles, blowing up at a senior staff meeting? I could see TOS/movie Kirk doing that in an episode or film.

You’re right of course - I’m just nitpicking. Tbf that opening scene is my only problem with “beyond” (if you can call it a problem). I think the film is great overall.

Personally I think the log report scene does the job without needing the scene with the critters (and then iirc it’s followed up with the scene with Kirk and McCoy toasting to Jim’s birthday, which packs an emotional punch as well and is very reminiscent of TOS). But... this is why I’m not a screenwriter haha!

 

[Mudd]

The scene with the critters is a scene, and an inventive one, whereas the log is just an expository voice over. The former is to be preferred.

 

[Groppler Zorn]

The scene with the critters is a scene, and an inventive one, whereas the log is just an expository voice over. The former is to be preferred.

Each to their own I suppose

Back to the spore drive and Daystrom (since I seem to have gone way off topic with my critter obsession! A bit like Captain Kirk in the episode obsession...), I think it would be interesting if the cybernetic side of Stamets’ implants was explored. Daystrom is called in to help with Stamets (whose spore drive implants are killing him) and he unearths a scan of some nanoprobes taken a century earlier by Dr Phlox (who would still be alive - I’ll return to this). Daystrom thinks these nanoprobes will help make Stamets better so he replicates some. Once they’re made he contacts Dr Phlox to ask him about administering the nanoprobes (daystrom isn’t a medical doctor after all) and we get a John Billingsley cameo as Phlox telling him “nooooo don’t do it” but Daystrom returns his Petri dish to find the nanoprobes have gone... they’ve infected Stamets’ bloodstream and they’re starting to change him... (the makeup team want to do makeup for the Borg remember)

Turns out the only way to get the nanoprobes out of Stamets body is to go into the mycelial network where the nanoprobes are sent back in time (the writers will figure that out - maybe this is where Burnham comes in as she figures out how to [TECH] which means the nanonprobes all fly away) to a planet in the delta quadrant where they start to assimilate the humanoid population - and discovery unwittingly creates the Borg collective.