Problems with Klingon sleeper ship in "The Emissary"

[Xerxes1979]

This never made any sense to me. The T'Ong was in stasis for what reason?

(A) the 23rd century Klingon Empire was 70 years distant from certain Federation targets.

If so how do you identify such targets over the vast distances involved? Where would such a vast void of space exist? Should we not assume from the Wrath of Khan that Federation/Klingon space was buffered by an all inclusive Neutral Zone? I suppose the T'Ong was circum navigating Federation space, but if so what exactly was the high value target?


(B) The T'Ong was a revenge weapon to be activated assuming a defeat to the Federation

If it was originally going after military targets was there any honor to be had taking on Federation technology that had advanced the better part of a century?


Even prior to the release of Star Trek VI, it is evident that some form of good relations existed between the Federation and the Empire for at least 10-20 years. Why was the Empire dealing with this situation at the very last moment?

 

[CaptainStoner]

I think the questions are more easily imagined by the T'ong being a "pet project" of a few wealthy Klingon leaders.

There would be high honor in taking on targets with superior technology, if I understand TNG-era Klingon honor.

 

[Christopher]

We were never told what the T'Ong's mission actually was. We know that it was sent on a long mission with the crew in stasis, and we know that it had standing orders to fire on Federation ships, but we have no evidence that there's any direct connection between those two facts. It could've been on a mission that had nothing to do with the Federation, that was about searching for something in very distant space, but that was deemed important enough that the standing orders to fire were issued to prevent Federation meddling in the mission. There's no reason to conclude that the actual purpose of the mission was to attack the Federation. After all, it's a big galaxy; even the Federation's enemies must have some priorities that have nothing whatsoever to do with the Federation.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Have any of the novels featured the T'Ong and what eventually happened to it?

 

[Xerxes1979]

We were never told what the T'Ong's mission actually was. We know that it was sent on a long mission with the crew in stasis, and we know that it had standing orders to fire on Federation ships, but we have no evidence that there's any direct connection between those two facts. It could've been on a mission that had nothing to do with the Federation, that was about searching for something in very distant space, but that was deemed important enough that the standing orders to fire were issued to prevent Federation meddling in the mission. There's no reason to conclude that the actual purpose of the mission was to attack the Federation. After all, it's a big galaxy; even the Federation's enemies must have some priorities that have nothing whatsoever to do with the Federation.

That seems a likely explaination. I watched the episode again and it said the T'Ong was returning to Klingon space. This solves the why didn't the Klingons do anything problem and makes the distances more reasonable.

 

[Timo]

Also, to be sure, the threat of the Klingons really attacking those UFP colonies was probably largely theoretical. I mean, sure, the sleepers would think they were at war, and would have the orders to strike at targets of opportunity. But if the targets looked too good to be true (completely unprotected colonies at a supposed time of war?), the Klingons would probably think twice. If they really were on a mission of importance, they'd not jeopardize their lives in attacking what might be a trap, since that would jeopardize the mission as well.

The Klingons do fire at the E-D when the Starfleet ship pounces on them - but that's a desperation measure, an attempt to escape a superior enemy. Even Klingons do that every now and then... They even try to play 'possum to improve their odds.

Which brings me to a question: our heroes find the ship with its propulsion systems inactive, and decide that this means the crew is still asleep. How come? Wouldn't the crew be asleep specifically during the long and boring propulsive period when the ship is going from home port to the important distant destination or back? If the ship can sail on automation, why would she stop to wake up the crew? Wouldn't that be a major tactical weakness?

Are our heroes simply making unjustifiable assumptions, like K'Ehleyr probably was?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[The Castellan]

Who knows, maybe they were separatists.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

But if the targets looked too good to be true (completely unprotected colonies at a supposed time of war?), the Klingons would probably think twice.

Somehow I doubt that. When have Klingons ever run from a fight? They'll look for any excuse to start shooting.

 

[Red Ranger]

Maybe they were looking for the Sword of Kahless, or some other important Klingon artifact. -- RR