Giant Space Drill (rant, spoilerish)

[Kaych]

I do wonder where Nero was storing that hundreds of miles drill on his ship, but what really kind of bothers me is (a couple may be MINOR SPOILERS but have been thrown around so much I'm not going to mask them):

Have you seen how massive his ship is? And judging by the construction of the drill, it seems to be foldable. That's like asking, how does a human fit all it's intestines inside it's body. It's been stated that Nero's ship was designed expressly for it's mission.

-- The transporter is (in)conveniently being blocked in some way that forces them to use the shuttle and skydive. Gee. Can't use the transporter. Haven't advanced a plot with that one before in Trek. CLICHE TREK.

You do know how sophisticated transported technology is right? You are breaking someone down and sending them across space. I'm actually surprised it works as well as it does.

- Kirk apparently destroys part of the drill with a Romulan phaser. So, why couldn't the Enterprise blast the drill with phasers and photon torpedoes from space? Something shields it? For hundreds of miles? RATIONALIZATION FOR ACTION ALERT.

Who says he destroys the drill with a Romulan phaser? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

As for the Enterprise shooting it. How many people do you want to kill by making a massive structure plummet to the ground. It may even have huge environmental consequences (it would be like a giant asteroid impacting on the planet).

-- Vulcan sends out a distress call that is picked up by the Feds on Earth. And, the only ship apparently close enough to respond in time is? The Enterprise (ta da!). Gee. CLICHE TREK.

Uh no... when the Enterprise arrives, it warps right into the middle of the debris of the Starfleet taskforce that was sent and destroyed by Nero.

And, the big one --
-- No Vulcan force on could've attacked the drill site on the ground? Long before the Enterprise gets there? Not bombed it or fired missiles at it or anything? Not even stormed it with their own troops?

The drill is suspended in mid-air, its not like they could waltz on. Secondly, how do we know Vulcan even has it's own defense force? AFAIK all military matters were handed to Starfleet.

 

[RAMA]

So, the plot of the new Trek movie is that Spock has to go back in time to stop Nero from destroying Vulcan by screwing it to death with a giant space drill. Seriously, not making this up, the VFX shots are up and part of the trailer now. Seriously, this is supposed to be the big scary plan that makes it worth rebooting the franchise within the 'canon' and all that crap? A giant space drill? And Nero's the next Khan with this plan? Come on! This sounds like a plan you come up with when you're piss-drunk and hanging with your buds after a binge!

Nero: You know what I'm gonna do when I break out of Rura-Pente?
Prisoner: No, man, what?
Nero: I'm going to break out of Rura-Pente.. then you know what I'm gonna do? I'm going to ---- Vulcan! That's IT! I'll screw Vulcan with a Giant Space Drill! That'll show 'em! It's symbolic!
Prisoner: Dude, why not just photon torpedo the crap out of the planet? Seriously.
Nero: Giant Space Drill!

Now, we all know that Nero fails and likely dies, probably in a fist fight with NuKirk where Nero falls to his slightly-ironic but utterly predictable death on the drill, but, wouldn't it be more fun if he lives, gets thrown back in prison, and we see him with a hangover?

Nero: Who the hell thought of a giant drill, anyway? That was STUPID! Whose plan was that!

The he can give an embarassed look to the camera and we roll credits.

Seriously, guys, giant space drill?!

Look, Nero is just trying to get a job as foreman of the Vogon Constructor Fleet!

On a slightly more serious note, there are precedents in SF for drilling into planets. I believe the Daleks have done that in Dr Who. In this case Nero is using a platform with a beam drill...and those may be more common than you think:

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/space_drills_010911-1.html

I also think orbital platforms, skyhooks, etc make for a pretty cool visual "science" idea on a grand scale, keeping with the apparent epic tone of the movie:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

 

[Franklin]

I do wonder where Nero was storing that hundreds of miles drill on his ship, but what really kind of bothers me is (a couple may be MINOR SPOILERS but have been thrown around so much I'm not going to mask them):

Have you seen how massive his ship is? And judging by the construction of the drill, it seems to be foldable. That's like asking, how does a human fit all it's intestines inside it's body. It's been stated that Nero's ship was designed expressly for it's mission.

-- The transporter is (in)conveniently being blocked in some way that forces them to use the shuttle and skydive. Gee. Can't use the transporter. Haven't advanced a plot with that one before in Trek. CLICHE TREK.

You do know how sophisticated transported technology is right? You are breaking someone down and sending them across space. I'm actually surprised it works as well as it does.



Who says he destroys the drill with a Romulan phaser? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

As for the Enterprise shooting it. How many people do you want to kill by making a massive structure plummet to the ground. It may even have huge environmental consequences (it would be like a giant asteroid impacting on the planet).

-- Vulcan sends out a distress call that is picked up by the Feds on Earth. And, the only ship apparently close enough to respond in time is? The Enterprise (ta da!). Gee. CLICHE TREK.

Uh no... when the Enterprise arrives, it warps right into the middle of the debris of the Starfleet taskforce that was sent and destroyed by Nero.

And, the big one --
-- No Vulcan force on could've attacked the drill site on the ground? Long before the Enterprise gets there? Not bombed it or fired missiles at it or anything? Not even stormed it with their own troops?

The drill is suspended in mid-air, its not like they could waltz on. Secondly, how do we know Vulcan even has it's own defense force? AFAIK all military matters were handed to Starfleet.

1st. At the risk of spoiling things for you and others, apparently, Kirk does stop the drill with a simple hand phaser.

2nd. No matter now massive that Nero's ship is, say he's at around 200 miles above Vulcan. Thats's roughly one million linear feet of drill bit just to reach the surface of Vulcan. That's a lot to store on any starship.

3rd. My whole point on transporter technology was that the TOS cliche was it was ineffective or broke down just when it was needed most. No big deal from my point of view regarding this movie. Just that JJ et al reverted to type, here.

4th. From the rumors/spoilers I've read the Enterprise comes out of warp in the middle of a bunch of Klingon ships. I could be wrong (I most likely concede this point, but not the argument). And I hope I am. I hope the Vulcans are putting up a valiant fight by the time the Enterprise gets there.

5th. As far as the Enterprise destroying it goes and having what we would call collateral damage. I'd say, as compared to destroying the planet goes, well -- .

6th. No one has yet to explain why Vulcan home defense forces are not all over the drill site. That's the big question. WHY AREN'T VULCAN HOME DENFENSE FORCES ALL OVER THE DRILL SITE ON THE GROUND?

 

[Franklin]

Look, Nero is just trying to get a job as foreman of the Vogon Constructor Fleet!

On a slightly more serious note, there are precedents in SF for drilling into planets. I believe the Daleks have done that in Dr Who. In this case Nero is using a platform with a beam drill...and those may be more common than you think:

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/space_drills_010911-1.html

Sorry for the double post.

Or --

Maybe, "One day Nero was shootin' at some food, and up through the ground came a bubblin' crude. Oil that is. Black gold. Vulcan tea."

 

[Kaych]

1st. At the risk of spoiling things for you and others, apparently, Kirk does stop the drill this a simple hand phaser.

2nd. No matter now massive that Nero's ship is, say he's at around 200 miles above Vulcan. Thats's roughly one million linear feet of drill bit just to reach the surface of Vulcan. That's a lot to store on any starship.

3rd. My whole point on transporter technology was that the TOS cliche was it was ineffective or broke down just when it was needed most. No big deal from my point of view regarding this movie. Just that JJ et al reverted to type, here.

4th. From the rumors/spoilers I've read the Enterprise comes out of warp in the middle of a bunch of Klingon ships. I could be wrong (I most likely concede this point, but not the argument). And I hope I am. I hope the Vulcans are putting up a valiant fight by the time the Enterprise gets there.

5th. As far as the Enterprise destroying it goes and having what we would call collateral damage. I'd say, as compared to destroying the planet goes, well -- .

6th. No one has yet to explain why Vulcan home defense forces are not all over the drill site. That's the big question. WHY AREN'T VULCAN HOME DENFENSE FORCES ALL OVER THE DRILL SITE ON THE GROUND?

1. Source please? Not that I don't trust you, but seems very unlikely. If it's true, I would be pretty pissed...

2. Maybe the tentacles on the Narada are actually the drill wrapped around? It's feasible.

3. I see what you mean

4. Something like 49 Klingon ships were destroyed the day before the Kelvin. However the Enterprise warps into a debris field of Starfleet ships (maybe Vulcan?)

5. Hmmm, if Vulcan wasn't inhabitable, what woudl the point be in saving it?

6. What hope could ground forces avev against a frakkin huge laser beam boring into the ground. Maybe the drill has defences to?

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

Maybe Nero is trying to lobotomize the planet.

maybe hes a romulan dentist.

Since I'm in the holiday spirit...
Maybe Nero's real name is Herbie, and instead of being a villain all he really wants is to be a dentist.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Some is trying real hard to make the GSD sound silly, but in a franchise that includes a Giant Space Amoeba (GSA) the GSD might just have to take the consolation prize.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

WHY AREN'T VULCAN HOME DENFENSE FORCES ALL OVER THE DRILL SITE ON THE GROUND?

"Alderaan is peaceful! We have no weapons!"

 

[Vance]

Some is trying real hard to make the GSD sound silly, but in a franchise that includes a Giant Space Amoeba (GSA) the GSD might just have to take the consolation prize.

So, why the hell are you here?

I'm sorry, but really, if the defense of "this is really over-the-top silly and shouldn't be done" is that "Well, all of Trek is just stupid", then I really do have to ask the question, why the hell are you really here?

Yes, Trek has had silly moments in its past, to be sure. (Though the Space Amoeba was NOT one of them, really) Evolving to fish, going faster than infinite speed, white-on-the-left-side, etc. But, here's the thing, we KNOW those bits are silly, and there isn't anyone here that's going "Please, bring back Lokai!"

What we accept as weak points in the franchise is one thing. Saying that those weak points are the measuring stick of Abrams' supposed greatness with a giant frackin' space drill is another. It's 2008, this is supposed to relaunch the franchise and requires ticket-sales that beat Star Wars just to break even.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Some is trying real hard to make the GSD sound silly, but in a franchise that includes a Giant Space Amoeba (GSA) the GSD might just have to take the consolation prize.

So, why the hell are you here?

I'm sorry, but really, if the defense of "this is really over-the-top silly and shouldn't be done" is that "Well, all of Trek is just stupid", then I really do have to ask the question, why the hell are you really here?

Yes, Trek has had silly moments in its past, to be sure. (Though the Space Amoeba was NOT one of them, really) Evolving to fish, going faster than infinite speed, white-on-the-left-side, etc. But, here's the thing, we KNOW those bits are silly, and there isn't anyone here that's going "Please, bring back Lokai!"

What we accept as weak points in the franchise is one thing. Saying that those weak points are the measuring stick of Abrams' supposed greatness with a giant frackin' space drill is another. It's 2008, this is supposed to relaunch the franchise and requires ticket-sales that beat Star Wars just to break even.

It's a joke. Lighten up!! Really, its only an entertainment franchise. And I'm here to be entertained. I've no idea what this movie is going to be like. It may suck and have all the scientific plausibility of flies from shit. But I'm not gonna rend my hair and gnash my teeth until I actually know something.

No idea how "great" Abrams is or isn't. I watch Lost and thats about it. I don't know his work as a film director because I've never seen any of his films. I'm here because its Star Trek, not because its a J.J. Abrams film

I happen to like Star Trek, even the silly moments. ( I happen to think a GSA is silly. YMMV). Thats also why I'm here. I dont watch Star Trek for the science. I watch it for the characters and the stories. A GSA or GSD doesn't really matter if the characters work and the story is strong.

And you know, I'd like to know what happened to Lokai.

 

[Psion]

I happen to like Star Trek, even the silly moments. ( I happen to think a GSA is silly. YMMV). Thats also why I'm here. I dont watch Star Trek for the science. I watch it for the characters and the stories. A GSA or GSD doesn't really matter if the characters work and the story is strong.

And you know, I'd like to know what happened to Lokai.

That's just it. "Immunity Syndrome" had a good story tacked on to some really weird science, and although the giant amoeba is a bit on the wonky side, I accept the episode because of the great interplay between characters. ("Shut up, Spock, we're rescuing you!")

Until May 8th, we won't have much info on how good the story is. But we do know that the set design is questionable. And that for some reason, the Enterprise doesn't look right (part of the story?). And that the place the ship was built doesn't match up with 'canon' (at least the closest thing we have to it). And that it looks like Chekov might be serving under Pike as navigator several years before he shows up in TOS. And that major parts of Kirk's history seem to be overlooked (Tarsus IV, Garrovick and the Farragut, Gary Mitchell). There might be good reasons to overlook these or drop them in context of the story or otherwise, but at this point all we have is a lot of gee-whiz-bing-bang-boom action sequences and muddled continuity to go by, and that's troubling.

Then we add the notion of the Giant Space Drill, and it looks a bit worse. This could still be the best Trek movie we've ever seen, but the odds are slowly tipping away from that. In my own "petty" view of course.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I tend to agree, Psion. I'm not a fan of the ship or bridge design, but I can over look that if the story is good and the characters are the ones I know. I know my canon and continuity, though I'm no Timo. Minor canon or continuity tweaks wont bother me much. The nerd alert will go off, but I'll ignore it if the story is compelling.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

The "Genesis Device" was unadulterated bullshit, but TWOK seemed to be popular with trek fans nonetheless.

 

[Psion]

The "Genesis Device" was unadulterated bullshit, but TWOK seemed to be popular with trek fans nonetheless.

Now hold on there, Hirsute Polaris!! I'm not very fond of it.

Weeeellllll ... I don't like it as much as some other Trek films.

But the Genesis Device is one of those things I roll my eyes at a lot. That and those goofy but enduring uniforms. And the fact no one seemed to know where Ceti Alpha V was. And the lack of a navigational deflector on the Reliant. And the idea that a nebula is so thick that starships can disappear into them like wet-navy ships into a fog bank. And the excessive blinking lights on the bridge. And Khan recognizing Chekov. (Alright, those last two are lame ... )

I greatly regret Wrath of Kahn because it set us into the rut that Star Trek movies should be all about phasers and big explosions, even though it didn't earn as much in the box office as its predecessors. It probably even grew the franchise a little, dragging in folks who thought space movies should look like Star Wars.

And where's that technology at by the time of TNG? The whole freaking galaxy knew about Genesis in the 23rd Century, do you mean to tell me no one could duplicate the work in another 75 years? Balder dash!

And in fact, I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. "Oh GOD THING!? Can I have a second opinion here? Cary ... are YOU around?"

 

[Unicron]

The novelization of TWOK mentioned that the Ceti Alpha system was barely charted at the time of "Space Seed," and hardly more explored by the time of TWOK. The Reliant did realize that something was wrong when they entered the system because the readings were off, but they weren't clear on what until they found Khan. CA6 was also supposed to be the moon of CA5 rather than a large planet, which seems more plausible to me in terms of its explosion even though this naming scheme doesn't make as much sense.

 

[Psion]

And the novelizations are great for making sense of stuff that was either poorly conceived or lost most of its content to the cutting room. I think there was also a theory advanced that Reliant was counting in from the outside of the solar system, and thus when they got to planet n-x, they thought they were dealing with Ceti Alpha VI when, in fact, that planet was no more and they were now looking at Ceti Alpha V.

But that does imply that their records suggested that Ceti Alpha VI was a conveniently barren world and it overlooks the point that for that explanation to work, the Reliant would have to be able to scan across the entire system, thus revealing the discrepancy in planets in relatively short order.

Meh, it's Star Trek, and Trek has rarely had an installment with a good grasp on science. But I still wish it'd happen more often.

Back on the direct topic of the giant space drill ... I'd like to point out that Romulan ships of the 24th Century are powered by singularities. What if the squid ship isn't a warship at all, but a lightly armed mining facility of the early 25th Century? With two centuries of weapons development, it'd still be likely to make short work of the most heavily armed Federation ships from 150 years earlier and it's probably big enough to be able to take a little damage without compromising its ability to function.

 

[GodThingFormerly]

That's just it. "Immunity Syndrome" had a good story tacked on to some really weird science, and although the giant amoeba is a bit on the wonky side, I accept the episode because of the great interplay between characters. ("Shut up, Spock, we're rescuing you!")

Aside from the Giant Space Amoeba's (dramatically necessary) energy dampening field of darkness, I thought it was an absolutely brilliant shorthand representation of a Tsiolkovskian lifeform, particularly as mitotic reproduction would be the only conceivable way for the organism to propagate across intergalactic distances and timescales. Beyond that, McCoy's speculation that humans - and presumably other technological humanoid civilizations - may have been biologically ordained to function as nothing more than the Living Milky Way's immune system to protect it against extragalactic parasitization was one of the agonizingly rare moments when MediaSF managed to approach a conceptual grandeur of Stapledonian proportions.

And in fact, I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. "Oh GOD THING!? Can I have a second opinion here?

ST:TWOK sucked harder than a billion solar mass quasar (or Kirstie Alley deep throating a Philly cheesesteak). My work here is done.

TGT

 

[MANT!]

Perhaps it's all political allegory, you know Republicans "Drill Baby Drill" hmm Republicans=Romulans..Vulcan=ANWR...or perhaps it's gonna be an ENTERTAINING movie..not up on all the science stuff...yet not boring to the point of sleepiness like Nemesis..or parts of TMP (sorry TGT)... I'm looking for entertainment for my $8.50, not scientific accuracy, if I want that, I'd go to the NatGeo channel...

 

[Neopeius]

I greatly regret Wrath of Kahn because it set us into the rut that Star Trek movies should be all about phasers and big explosions, even though it didn't earn as much in the box office as its predecessors. It probably even grew the franchise a little, dragging in folks who thought space movies should look like Star Wars.

Author, author.

 

[Timo]

The space drill is one of those bits of the movie that we can't say anything definitive about until we see the entire movie, or at least those parts of the movie where the space drill is introduced and its sinister purpose described.

Since the movie shows that starships can take off from planetary surfaces (as they rightly should), one wonders why Nero wants to drill into Vulcan from a high perch. Why doesn't he land, and start drilling from the surface? One would assume his ship could form an impenetrable fortress around the drill in that case.

But it may be that by staying up there, Nero is in fact providing top cover for his operation: his ship might be even more powerful a protector when retaining at least some freedom of movement, and a higher vantage point.

It may also be that Nero originally protected his drill, but that this protection has been eliminated by the time Kirk, Sulu and Olsen skydive. And perhaps the elimination has consumed the resources of our heroes, leaving only a shuttleful of swashbucklers to go by.

Seeing more of the movie may reveal an underlying logic to what is happening. Or it may uncover a hopeless mess of half-baked and mutually cancelling rationales. What we see here reveals nothing, except that the mandatory fight scene enjoys a spectacular setting.

Timo Saloniemi