First Contact: epic starship destruction question!

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Before the Enterprise-E shows up, we get an awesome scene with the Defiant duking it out with the Cube with Worf onboard and the bridge trashed and on fire. Things got so desperate, weapons and shields gone, Worf was ready to ram the cube to kaboom, but then the Enterprise came cruising in to the rescue. I know that at one point, the plan was to blast the Defiant to bits. However, wasn't there another story that we'd see a new ship made up for the movie that would slowly be torn apart and destroyed by the cube? Was there ever plans to beyond the Defiant-Cube confrontation?

 

[David cgc]

All I know about is the earlier cut of the script where there was a massive battle with dozens of Borg ships being absolutely wrecked by the new quantum torpedos. There's a version that's still on-line where Worf is just on the Enterprise at the start of the movie with no explanation, but I remember reading a leaked version before the movie came out that was similar but apparently a later edit, which included the Defiant and had a bit of business where the Borg could see through the cloaking device and, IIRC, weren't going down quite so easily, though still not to the level of the final movie where it was just one cube again and Starfleet had gone from "utterly failing" in BoBW to "barely in a draw."

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

All I know about is the earlier cut of the script where there was a massive battle with dozens of Borg ships being absolutely wrecked by the new quantum torpedos. There's a version that's still on-line where Worf is just on the Enterprise at the start of the movie with no explanation, but I remember reading a leaked version before the movie came out that was similar but apparently a later edit, which included the Defiant and had a bit of business where the Borg could see through the cloaking device and, IIRC, weren't going down quite so easily, though still not to the level of the final movie where it was just one cube again and Starfleet had gone from "utterly failing" in BoBW to "barely in a draw."

Does my OP have any familiarity at all?

 

[Dukhat]

Before the Enterprise-E shows up, we get an awesome scene with the Defiant duking it out with the Cube with Worf onboard and the bridge trashed and on fire. Things got so desperate, weapons and shields gone, Worf was ready to ram the cube to kaboom, but then the Enterprise came cruising in to the rescue. I know that at one point, the plan was to blast the Defiant to bits. However, wasn't there another story that we'd see a new ship made up for the movie that would slowly be torn apart and destroyed by the cube? Was there ever plans to beyond the Defiant-Cube confrontation?

Not quite. In the original draft it was supposed to be a ship named the Endeavor that the Borg was supposed to blast to bits. But then that idea was dropped in favor of having the Defiant damaged and Worf transferred to the Enterprise.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Not quite. In the original draft it was supposed to be a ship named the Endeavor that the Borg was supposed to blast to bits. But then that idea was dropped in favor of having the Defiant damaged and Worf transferred to the Enterprise.

The Endeavor, that's it, that's what I am talking about! What was going to happen with that?

 

[Dukhat]

The Endeavor, that's it, that's what I am talking about! What was going to happen with that?

The Endeavor was supposed to be a new large ship similar to the Enterprise-E, which the Borg would have destroyed its saucer section. But because they already had the new Enterprise, and they needed to find a way to get Worf on the ship, the script was changed and the Endeavor became the Defiant.

 

[Tuskin38]

I know that at one point, the plan was to blast the Defiant to bits.

According to Ron Moore they were never going to destroy the Defiant.

One of the versions of the script didn't make it clear if the Defiant survived or not so changes were made to make it clear that it survived, but it was never intended to be destroyed.

 

[Doug Otte]

Before the Enterprise-E shows up, we get an awesome scene with the Defiant duking it out with the Cube with Worf onboard and the bridge trashed and on fire. Things got so desperate, weapons and shields gone, Worf was ready to ram the cube to kaboom, but then the Enterprise came cruising in to the rescue. I know that at one point, the plan was to blast the Defiant to bits. However, wasn't there another story that we'd see a new ship made up for the movie that would slowly be torn apart and destroyed by the cube? Was there ever plans to beyond the Defiant-Cube confrontation?

I referred to both the Compendium and The Continuing Mission, and there's no mention of it. Maybe it was in the novelization, but I no longer have it.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

The Endeavor was supposed to be a new large ship similar to the Enterprise-E, which the Borg would have destroyed its saucer section. But because they already had the new Enterprise, and they needed to find a way to get Worf on the ship, the script was changed and the Endeavor became the Defiant.

This is what I've been looking for, thank you for this.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

According to Ron Moore they were never going to destroy the Defiant.

One of the versions of the script didn't make it clear if the Defiant survived or not so changes were made to make it clear that it survived, but it was never intended to be destroyed.

I'm asking about original ideas prior to the film's finished product. I am aware that Rob Moore didn't want the Defiant blown up in a TNG movie, but that doesn't negate that it almost happened. It was intended to be destroyed at one point, because it's why Ron Moore got upset to the point of, "Whatever, we'll just ignore your movie."

 

[Tuskin38]

It was intended to be destroyed at one point, because it's why Ron Moore got upset to the point of, "Whatever, we'll just ignore your movie."

Ronald D. Moore was a co-writer on First Contact. He was there from the beginning lmao.

You're thinking of Ira Steven Behr

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Moore was a co-writer of First Contact. He was there from the beginning lmao.

You're thinking of Ira Steven Behr

I'm thinking of the DS9 showrunner then.

 

[Tuskin38]

I'm thinking of the DS9 showrunner then.

You're still mistaken though. There was never a point in the writing of First Contact where they wanted to the destroy the Defiant according to Ron Moore.

It was, as I said above, just unclear in the draft that Ira read if the Defiant survived or not. Ira mistakenly thought the Defiant was destroyed because of the unclear writing.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

You're still mistaken though. There was never a point in the writing of First Contact where they wanted to the destroy the Defiant according to Ron Moore.

It was, as I said above, just unclear in the draft that Ira read if the Defiant survived or not. Ira mistakenly thought the Defiant was destroyed because of the unclear writing.

I'm trying to remember stuff I read over 20 years ago. This webpage expands on what you're saying. Short version, they didn't intend to blast the Defiant to bits, but it read that way, and Ira Steven Behr got upset, because that was the starship for his show. The script got edited to make it clear the Defiant survived. Does that about sum it up?

 

[Dukhat]

I'm trying to remember stuff I read over 20 years ago. This webpage expands on what you're saying. Short version, they didn't intend to blast the Defiant to bits, but it read that way, and Ira Steven Behr got upset, because that was the starship for his show. The script got edited to make it clear the Defiant survived. Does that about sum it up?

Would you mind if I asked you a question, since I’ve responded to many of your posts now? You were last active here back in 2020, and then in just the last few days you’ve been posting here all over the boards like a madman, creating threads and then constantly asking more questions whenever someone replies to your threads, as if you couldn’t find the answers elsewhere. Except this time you post a link to Memory Alpha, a Star Trek informational website where all the answers to your questions could be found. So why the constant barrage of question-asking here? For example, the question you posted in the OP of this exact thread could easily have been answered if you just went to MA. Just curious.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Would you mind if I asked you a question, since I’ve responded to many of your posts now? You were last active here back in 2020, and then in just the last few days you’ve been posting here all over the boards like a madman, creating threads and then constantly asking more questions whenever someone replies to your threads, as if you couldn’t find the answers elsewhere. Except this time you post a link to Memory Alpha, a Star Trek informational website where all the answers to your questions could be found. So why the constant barrage of question-asking here? For example, the question you posted in the OP of this exact thread could easily have been answered if you just went to MA. Just curious.

Short version: my car is down, and I am going out of my mind with boredom and isolation (nothing is walking distance). I remember this being a fun place for discussion, so I came back here. I've also been watching TOS on Blu-ray, and it just made me want to be around Trekkies. None of my friends are into Star Trek. I'm just trying to interact with people. Not much interaction just reading and scrolling, ya know?

 

[Dukhat]

Short version: my car is down, and I am going out of my mind with boredom and isolation (nothing is walking distance). I remember this being a fun place for discussion, so I came back here. I've also been watching TOS on Blu-ray, and it just made me want to be around Trekkies. None of my friends are into Star Trek. I'm just trying to interact with people. Not much interaction just reading and scrolling, ya know?

So, you’re posting here like a chicken with its head cut off because you’re bored and lonely? And once your car is fixed, you’ll most likely disappear again? Well, ok, I suppose. But from someone who has taken the time to respond to many of your posts, I would highly recommend that you find an alternate form of interaction besides just barraging people with easily answerable questions here. Is there some kind of online support group available for lonely people? Because the TrekBBS isn’t therapy. I’m not saying you shouldn’t post here, but honestly your posting style is getting a bit monotonous. Just my judgment, of course. You do you.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

So, you’re posting here like a chicken with its head cut off because you’re bored and lonely? And once your car is fixed, you’ll most likely disappear again? Well, ok, I suppose. But from someone who has taken the time to respond to many of your posts, I would highly recommend that you find an alternate form of interaction besides just barraging people with easily answerable questions here. Is there some kind of online support group available for lonely people? Because the TrekBBS isn’t therapy. I’m not saying you shouldn’t post here, but honestly your posting style is getting a bit monotonous. Just my judgment, of course. You do you.

#1 Did I say I was lonely? No. I said isolated, meaning I cannot just walk down a sidewalk and go into town.

#2 Did I say I would leave when my car is fixed? No. When you assume, you make an *** out of you and me. My mom taught me that one.

#3 Did I say I am here for therapy? No. That's three false assumptions.

#4 If you don't like what I have to say, that sucks. You do not have to respond.

 

[Dukhat]

#1 Did I say I was lonely? No. I said isolated, meaning I cannot just walk down a sidewalk and go into town.

#2 Did I say I would leave when my car is fixed? No. When you assume, you make an *** out of you and me. My mom taught me that one.

#3 Did I say I am here for therapy? No. That's three false assumptions.

#4 If you don't like what I have to say, that sucks. You do not have to respond.

Well, so much for giving you the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately I will no longer be responding to you. Shame, because until now I was happy to answer your constant questions. Now that you’ve shown your true colors there’s no further need for me to cater to your personal issues. Good luck in the future.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Well, so much for giving you the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately I will no longer be responding to you. Shame, because until now I was happy to answer your constant questions. Now that you’ve shown your true colors there’s no further need for me to cater to your personal issues. Good luck in the future.

I don't have personal issues. You're projecting your own onto me. You need help.