That's also why Eris was the only Vorta who had that telekinetic ability. It was necessary for her undercover mission.
Genetic engineering: Why aren't ALL Vorta as smart as Bashir?
- Thread starter JirinPanthosa
- Start date
That's also why Eris was the only Vorta who had that telekinetic ability. It was necessary for her undercover mission.
but they all had that ability, it's just weyoun never had a reason to use it. Many aren't very good at it or haven't practised.
^ Incorrect. As far as we know, Eris is the only Vorta who has ever had the telekinetic ability that we saw her use in "The Jem'Hadar".
I'm not sure what use telekinesis would be to a race of administrators and diplomats. Weyoun probably would have benefitted from Deanna Troi's empathic abilities, but there's no evidence he had any. He was a pretty perceptive judge of character, except for totally screwing up with Damar and ultimately causing the defeat of the Dominion.
One of the novels suggested the reason the Dominion invaded Betazed was to work on grafting their telepathic abilities onto the Jem'Hadar.
One of the novels suggested the reason the Dominion invaded Betazed was to work on grafting their telepathic abilities onto the Jem'Hadar.
That is because they insisted on inbreeding.
Which is why one should never trust the state when it makes cuts in education....
Never read the novel, is it good?
I don't really remember. I think it was pretty good, it was years since I read it.
It was a TNG/DS9 crossover - Deanna Troi goes back home to kick ass.
Precisely my point....
At the time, that was state-of-the-art in genetic engineering...the belief in "purity of blood" which had worked fine for the cows, sheep, and dogs. Didn't pan out as expected.
...this stuff is trickier than you think.
Indeed! Trouble is, the states without education keep beating us up for our lunch money...
You mean there are instances when you should trust the state or more accurately politicians?
There are some well principled politicians out there (come out, come out wherever you are!)
Why didn't the Dominion create more female Vorta like the one seen in "Jem'Hadar", she had superpowers? No one would be as interesting nor develop the fantastic facets of Weyoun 4-8 done by Jeffrey Combs, but just imagine what the producers could have done in the carnage filled series if Weyoun could strike force bolts at a Starfleet victim like what Eris did?
Remember what I just said...Eris needed that ability for her undercover work as a spy.
For all that Sisko, Quark and the rest of them knew, Eris was a helpless prisoner whose natural telekenetic ability was being suppressed by the "collar" (which of course was actually fake). The collar - and the telekenesis - was just an excuse, to give Quark something to do to save her, so she could help them escape and take her back to DS9.
Most Vorta don't need telekenesis, because they are always accompanied by Jem'Hadar troops in the field.
All of these seem to me to make sense. The Founders' approach to other species is to view them as threats which they tame and make use of. Their entire history has taught them this lesson, it informs and defines their entire philosophy. Their genetic engineering appears to be in line with that policy, geared towards specialising their tools so to speak, improving key attributes that are needed for particular roles and doing no more. In many cases the engineering might well reduce capabilities deemed to be superfluous or even outright threatening.
Doubtless they could create a Khan, but in doing so they would also be creating a rival. The Jem'Hadar are strong and have a specific set of cognitive skills, but they servile and unimaginative, the Vorta are capable at key political or administrative skills, but would be useless as warriors or a labour force. Doubtless there are many such species to be found in Dominion space, each reduced to serving a purpose rather than functioning on it's own terms.
They don't want superhuman geniuses, they don't even want highly capable versions of their vassal species. They want those species neutered and shaped to suit their will in ways which render them useful in the roles assigned to them but effectively helpless as free and rational agents with agendas of their own.
One might engineer a cow to produce more meat, breed a dog to be more loyal, a vegetable to be tastier or more nutritious, not to become a capable and independent thinker which might decide it no longer needs you after all.
If I remember correctly, they also had Vorta doctors trying to sure the section 31 disease. So either the Vorta must also be bred to have (some) research skills -or perhaps a certain subset of all Vorta-, which would probably require independent thinking to a certain degree, but in a different way than a political administrator would need, or the Dominion tried just to make do with what they got.
I like the idea there are various "models" of Vorta tailored for specific roles and skills, although not sure there's enough evidence really to support that hypothesis
