Probing beyond Robert Sabaroff's 'The Immunity Syndrome'

[Captain Tracy]

'The Immunity Syndrome' offers us a good look at the S.O.P. of employing - although the 1st failed; however, the 2nd succeeded - a telemetry probe.

Obviously excluding other probes such as the Nomad/Tan Ru/Changling probe, which of the other TOS episodes either make use of and/or make mention of a starship's telemetry probes?

 

[Metryq]

I think the handwavium of immaterial "sensors" that can gather information at a distance was the norm, just as the transporter obviated the need for landfall by shuttlecraft. I suspect the telemetry probes of "Immunity" were introduced to give a reason for Spock's venture in the shuttlecraft later in the story.

The only other physical probes were the UV satellites in "Operation: Annihilate!" and the photon torpedoes—although the physical nature of the torpedoes was not established until the movies. (In the series the photon torpedoes, both in name and appearance, seemed to be projected energy weapons.)

 

[ZapBrannigan]

With what we now know about remote operated robots and drones, Kirk could have used them all over the place. The Exeter, the Defiant, and Murasaki 312 were crying out for an arms-length investigation.

Don't stick your face in there. Poke it with a stick first. You could review the Exeter's logs, notice that the Defiant was dissolving, and write off a lost "quasar' probe at very low cost. "Eh, we gave it a shot. Now let's deliver those medicines so this guy can do Lost in Space."

The Botany Bay might not have triggered Khan's revival mechanism if a little robot had tooled around in there with a headlight, instead of Scotty turning on the overheads. Everything goes better with robots.

 

[Metryq]

write off a lost "quasar' probe at very low cost.
Everything goes better with robots.

And thus began the revolt of the red-shirted, tunnel rat robots.

"Here, try this experimental candy!"
—Willy Wonka

 

[Captain Tracy]

I think the handwavium of immaterial "sensors" that can gather information at a distance was the norm, just as the transporter obviated the need for landfall by shuttlecraft. I suspect the telemetry probes of "Immunity" were introduced to give a reason for Spock's venture in the shuttlecraft later in the story.

The only other physical probes were the UV satellites in "Operation: Annihilate!" and the photon torpedoes—although the physical nature of the torpedoes was not established until the movies. (In the series the photon torpedoes, both in name and appearance, seemed to be projected energy weapons.)

Thank you; however, my request was seeking assistance in identifying the TOS episodes which make use of, or mention, telemetry probes; specifically being: the technology of the automatic recording and transmission of data from a remote source to a receiving station for analysis; as set-forth and defined by the cited examples of the first two telemetry probes as used in the episode: 'The Immunity Syndrome'; while purposefully excluding the third probe launched - being armed with a warhead - hence, not a telemetry probe.

As to your suspicion of the writer's use of introducing the use of telemetry probes as a stratagem with which to justify placing the Mr. Spock character aboard the shuttlecraft in this story, I concur; moreover, the writer's detailed ploy of demonstrating for the viewer, that the 2nd telemetry probe - while successful in fulfillment of its basic task - returned: data which was not detailed nor complete enough to answer all the questions which require answering; thus, necessitating - and, justifying for the viewer - the need for the dangerous manned-shuttlecraft mission - and most importantly, stops the viewer from asking the belief-busting question of: "Why are they sending out a manned shuttlecraft... why not just launch a telemetry probe?!?"

With what we now know about remote operated robots and drones, Kirk could have used them all over the place. The Exeter, the Defiant, and Murasaki 312 were crying out for an arms-length investigation.

Agreed; and, unless the writer provides honest justification for not doing so - or, as in the case of 'The Immunity Syndrome', shows why using a probe is ineffectual or insufficient - then, we - the viewers - are left with that nagging belief-busting question - as stated above.

The Botany Bay might not have triggered Khan's revival mechanism if a little robot had tooled around in there with a headlight, instead of Scotty turning on the overheads. Everything goes better with robots.

LOL! True; however, then the format of the show would change into Star Probes; and, a show about little gold, blue, and red painted robotic-probes scurrying around investigating and exploring... Meh!

You are sounding a bit like Dr. Richard "One machine can do all those things they send men out to do now. Men no longer need die in space or on some alien world. Men can live and go on to achieve greater things than fact-finding and dying for galactic space, which is neither ours to give or to take!" Daystrum.

Anyway, I'm still looking for the names of other TOS episodes which feature the use of, or mention: Telemetry Probes.

 

[Metryq]

Thank you; however, my request was seeking assistance in identifying the TOS episodes which make use of, or mention, telemetry probes;

I get that, and I will keep my ears open as I re-run episodes. But that is also why I mentioned the sensors as a negative report—off the top of my head I can't recall any other episodes requiring remote probes. Even Scotty's power stunt in "Bread and Circuses" used "beams."

In "Assignment: Earth" Scotty made some sort of use of existing satellites to monitor the launch pad. The word he used was "bounce," suggesting that the satellite somehow bounced or relayed a beam from the Enterprise, rather than using the satellite's own sensing/imaging devices. TOS just didn't go in for contact or proximity sensing, even with the landing parties—tricorders, the mini scanner McCoy used, etc. (The fourth movie, The Voyage Home, had remote views of the whales being hunted, and Gillian had to ask, "How can you do that?")

Like the Captain's log, that made "sensors" a miraculous sleight-of-hand way to give the audience needed information and move the story along without resorting to, say, a narrator.

 

[LAFR]

Probing?


Ouch.

 

[Captain Tracy]

I get that, and I will keep my ears open as I re-run episodes..

Thank you, I'd appreciate it; as I do not relish the idea of scanning through all 79 episodes, plus The Cage, to locate each instance and every example of where and how the writer's used or mentioned telemetry probes in their stories - especially, when we have a vast and active brain-trust on here.

While not relevant to answering the specific question at-hand, I have copied and pasted the all the other detailed information contained in your replies into my notebook for future reference; as it will help to answer other such equipment/story-specific citations, when I get to those - so, I thank you again for that.

Probing?

Ouch.

"...doth protest too much, me thinks!" - Wm. Shakespeare

 

[Metryq]

I just thought of one other "something left the ship" instance: the recorder-marker in "The Corbomite Maneuver." Finney was allegedly jettisoned, too, but I know that's not what we're looking for.

And you're right—there is quite a brain trust of TOS trivia here. That's exactly the sci-fi nerd thing they were showcasing in Galaxy Quest. "There is no ship!" And then they find out there is. With chompers.

 

[Captain Tracy]

I just thought of one other "something left the ship" instance: the recorder-marker in "The Corbomite Maneuver."

Yes; and, as you no doubt already know, another one of these recorder-markers makes an appearance in 'Where No Man Has Gone Before'; being, the recorder-marker from the Valiant, which is taken aboard the Enterprise.

Finney was allegedly jettisoned, too, but I know that's not what we're looking for.

The so-called: Ion Pod, from Court Martial; which is never fully described to us, nor referenced again in any of the other episodes - which leaves behind as a residual effect, such an odd and obvious indicator that the writer manufactured this purely as a 'device' in constructing that story.

 

[Metryq]

Banjo! I completely forgot about the recorder in WNMHGB!
Flash the bridge!

 

[Captain Tracy]

Banjo! I completely forgot about the recorder in WNMHGB!
Flash the bridge!

LOL! While the Star Trek Writer's Guide stresses ending the teaser on a red-alert to retain viewer interest through the commercial break, you've just cited - imho - the single-most unsupported justification for calling a red-alert - relaying the transmitting data from the recorder-marker to Mr. Spocks' station on the Bridge - and, it was written by Samuel A. Peeples; one of the giants of 1960s television screenwriting! - or, written-in by Roddenberry's red pen; perhaps.

Coming back from the commercial-break to open Act I, even before we return to the Bridge, there is good-natured ribbing in the turbo-lift, and on the Bridge itself everyone is just a calm and loose as can be; which testifies to the fact that no real emergency existed before the commercial-break and there is no real emergency when we return from the commercial-break.

"Flash the Bridge! All decks, Alert!"; indeed. LOL!

 

[cooleddie74]

 

[Maurice]

PROBE

 

[Captain Tracy]

No need.

Positive Identification, assessment and classification, have already been conducted based on the highly informative and very telling data collected through direct interaction last week.

Seriously, thanks for the link. Being able to scan the scripts for specifc keywords, will no doubt expedite the detailed research.

I appreciate it.

 

[Ssosmcin]

LOL! While the Star Trek Writer's Guide stresses ending the teaser on a red-alert to retain viewer interest through the commercial break, you've just cited - imho - the single-most unsupported justification for calling a red-alert - relaying the transmitting data from the recorder-marker to Mr. Spocks' station on the Bridge - and, it was written by Samuel A. Peeples; one of the giants of 1960s television screenwriting! - or, written-in by Roddenberry's red pen; perhaps.

Coming back from the commercial-break to open Act I, even before we return to the Bridge, there is good-natured ribbing in the turbo-lift, and on the Bridge itself everyone is just a calm and loose as can be; which testifies to the fact that no real emergency existed before the commercial-break and there is no real emergency when we return from the commercial-break.

"Flash the Bridge! All decks, Alert!"; indeed. LOL!

To be fair, the word "red" was not uttered. "Put all decks on the alert," was Kirk's order. The unaired pilot had Kelso announcing "condition: alert." It could have been just a general alert. They got an unexpected recorder from a ship that they had no record of being out that far. This was more like a call to stations on high alert.

Sulu called the same alert in "The Corbomite Maneuver."

 

[Captain Tracy]

To be fair, the word "red" was not uttered. "Put all decks on the alert," was Kirk's order.

True enough, that is the specific dialog delivered;

And,

If you go back and watch the episode, immediately after Kirk calls: "Put all decks on alert!", we hear the loud alarm klaxon, and see:

1. a held close-up on a Big Red Light flashing incessantly in the hallway outside of the Transporter Room; as we Fade Out to Commercial.

Judge for yourself if all the visual and audio information indicates ending the teaser on a Red Alert; or not;
and, if not you're positive of what the alert status is, continue watching, as we:

returning from Commercial, to see:

2. a Big Red Light flashing incessantly in the hallway;

and then, exiting the Turbo-Lift, we see:

3. a Big Red Notice, showing on the overhead display panel of the Bridge Station closest to the Main View Screen, informing: Condition Alert, on a completely Red background;

and then, in another shot, we see:

4. a Big Red Light flashing incessantly on the Bridge, next to the Turbo-Lift doors;

and, after Kirk orders: "Screen on.", we see:

5. a Big Red Light flashing incessantly on the Helmsman's side of Main View Screen.

Now, I don't want to "color" your impression in drawing a conclusion, with regard to exactly what alert-status the ship is under when they end the teaser, break for Commercial, and return to open Act I, based on all the viewer-information... but...they sure aren't yellow. [/QUOTE]

 

[Ssosmcin]

Well they don't have yellow lights on this Enterprise. It was just an alert light with the red plastic in front of it.The light and the klaxon got everyone's attention. Early series weirdness.

When were the specific alerts introduced? Balance of Terror, right? Condition red got its first mention.

 

[Captain Tracy]

and, your point would be, specifically... what?

 

[1001001]

Reed Alert was better. And came first.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies