That is what I would call a debatable point. And it is a very good one. Though we do see a rather large dish sitting next to the base when Kirk and Spock Prime approach.
Why didn't they...
- Thread starter BillJ
- Start date
That is what I would call a debatable point. And it is a very good one. Though we do see a rather large dish sitting next to the base when Kirk and Spock Prime approach.
You said I win; I made a good argument.
It's already established that if they did send a message, nothing significant would change.
It's a conclusion of a personal nature that is off topic and weakens your argument.
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1. How long would have taken to get a message through on subspace? 2. How quickly could Star Fleet have reacted? 3. If they had recieved a message, got something together for battle, would they have actually won?
Three things come to mind:
First is that the fleet is described as "engaged" in the Laurentian system, suggesting it's more important than a mere exercise or maneuvers.
Second, the Laurentian system would seem to be quite remote, possibly clear on the other side of Federation space, and perhaps direct communication from Delta Vega would be difficult or impossible, due to (insert name of spatial phenomenon of your choice).
Third, wouldn't Starfleet HQ have put the word out to the Laurentian system immediately, at least putting the fleet on alert? (This, assuming in the first place that the fleet would be in a position to readily disengage from whatever matters they were engaging in, which is not certain.)
In conclusion, I'd say the main storytelling reason for having the fleet in the Laurentian system was so that they would be functionally out of reach, leaving our crew the only Starfleet vessel in the Sector, just like it always used to be. There would be no cavalry riding over the hill to the rescue for our guys -- they had to be the cavalry (and there's that moment when the Enterprise does that very cavalry-ride thing with all guns blazing. Or maybe the Riders of Rohan, whatever.)
Except that another plot point was that Nero had access to Pike's 'command codes'. If Earth were forewarned, surely this advantage would have done Nero no good, as they would've been able to disable those command codes, whatever they are. Unless computers of the future are really, really dumb. "We can't arm our defense systems! He has the cheat codes!"
I'd have to see the movie again to be sure, but I thought it was simply covered that the Enterprise AND the station could not have contacted Earth because of interference from Nero's ship/drill.
As for the Enterprise being "the only ship" - that is one old, tired Trek standard. Yup, they had to have that Laurentian system thing to explain why at Earth there would be no other ships. Of course, the story is about the adventures of our heroes on the Enterprise, and not all of Starfleet. But I have to say I do appreciate when the Enterprise is NOT the only ship around, like I most recently saw watching some of the Enterprise TV show.
As for the Enterprise being "the only ship" - that is one old, tired Trek standard. Yup, they had to have that Laurentian system thing to explain why at Earth there would be no other ships. Of course, the story is about the adventures of our heroes on the Enterprise, and not all of Starfleet. But I have to say I do appreciate when the Enterprise is NOT the only ship around, like I most recently saw watching some of the Enterprise TV show.
Jeri, the tenacious one! 
Yep, Starfleet Vulcan was probably the only place in range. And they probably tuned Scotty out after the first week.
If Enterprise was able to warn Earth, then they'd surely mention that Pike was captured, and therefore Earth would know its security had been compromised.
I'm just sayin', it looks like Earth wasn't forewarned, for whatever reason.
... and yet they could transport all the way to the Enterprise.
The OP has a valid point to debate: It was established earlier that both communications AND transporters were affected by Nero's drill.
1- by the time Vulcan was destroyed Nero's drill was no longer affecting both
2- Scotty (with Spock Prime's help) was able to use the transporter
3- therefore, they should have been able to use communications also
I can understand that they wanted the fleet occupied in the Laurentian system for plot purposes, but the OP's original point seems valid. It would have been a nice touch to attempt to contact the Laurentian-occupied fleet or at least a general alert to all StarFleet personnel AND Earth, whether it worked or not.
It is no secret that I love the new movie, but even I can see some parts which could have been improved or issues which we can address and debate.
BillJ, I appreciated that your topic was a debating issue rather than a bashing issue. It makes for interesting discussion. Thank you.
Just some tidbits to throw in:
-- No one on the Enterprise knows that Pike gave Nero defense command codes. It could be they would think Earth would simply detect Nero coming and that would be sufficient to engage Earth's defenses to hold off Nero until the Enterprise gets there.
I mean, the Starfleet Command is orbiting Earth. That space station has to be miles across itself, and contain Starfleet's state of the art technology, including defenses. They had to think Earth is one of the most secure places in the galaxy.
-- For all we know, Nero's ship had a cloaking device, or at least something that allowed it to procede faster and with more stealth than 23rd century technology could detect. He may have appeared out of nowhere in orbit right above San Francisco. So, even if Earth was warned, they were unprepared for how he appeared.
-- Travel times. There's been debate on these boards about how long takes to get to from Earth to Vulcan (or from Vulcan to Earth). If it was a very short period of time, it's possible Nero was too close for a warning to be useful, and the Enterprise could get there quickly enough on its own to intervene and sound a warning.
-- Very early in production, while the plot was still unknown, a blue-screen picture of cadets starring at what turned out to be Nero's drill by the Golden Gate Bridge was released. Abrams said the scene being shot was like a Pearl Harbor attack. If Pearl Harbor could happen, then why not an attack on Earth like it? Especially when the foe has advanced techology.
-- Maybe the Enterprise notified Earth of Vulcan's destruction and that Nero was heading that way. They simply were shocked and dismayed by the information (a planet of six billion, a founding planet of the Federation, destroyed in seconds). It would be hard to believe. That caused them to delay initiating defenses while they digested the horror, perhaps wanted to deny it, and maybe sought confirmation of it. I mean, who could just matter-of-factly believe what just happened and procede routinely?
But the main thing for me is:
-- It seems the cadets at Starfleet were genuinely shocked to see Nero appear over San Francisco. They come running out of buildings in droves to gape and point at the drill. That is not the reaction of people who were warned (or prepared to defend themselves, or in the act of defending themselves). They were caught completely flat-footed. Based on that alone, I doubt Earth was warned.
-- No one on the Enterprise knows that Pike gave Nero defense command codes. It could be they would think Earth would simply detect Nero coming and that would be sufficient to engage Earth's defenses to hold off Nero until the Enterprise gets there.
I mean, the Starfleet Command is orbiting Earth. That space station has to be miles across itself, and contain Starfleet's state of the art technology, including defenses. They had to think Earth is one of the most secure places in the galaxy.
-- For all we know, Nero's ship had a cloaking device, or at least something that allowed it to procede faster and with more stealth than 23rd century technology could detect. He may have appeared out of nowhere in orbit right above San Francisco. So, even if Earth was warned, they were unprepared for how he appeared.
-- Travel times. There's been debate on these boards about how long takes to get to from Earth to Vulcan (or from Vulcan to Earth). If it was a very short period of time, it's possible Nero was too close for a warning to be useful, and the Enterprise could get there quickly enough on its own to intervene and sound a warning.
-- Very early in production, while the plot was still unknown, a blue-screen picture of cadets starring at what turned out to be Nero's drill by the Golden Gate Bridge was released. Abrams said the scene being shot was like a Pearl Harbor attack. If Pearl Harbor could happen, then why not an attack on Earth like it? Especially when the foe has advanced techology.
-- Maybe the Enterprise notified Earth of Vulcan's destruction and that Nero was heading that way. They simply were shocked and dismayed by the information (a planet of six billion, a founding planet of the Federation, destroyed in seconds). It would be hard to believe. That caused them to delay initiating defenses while they digested the horror, perhaps wanted to deny it, and maybe sought confirmation of it. I mean, who could just matter-of-factly believe what just happened and procede routinely?
But the main thing for me is:
-- It seems the cadets at Starfleet were genuinely shocked to see Nero appear over San Francisco. They come running out of buildings in droves to gape and point at the drill. That is not the reaction of people who were warned (or prepared to defend themselves, or in the act of defending themselves). They were caught completely flat-footed. Based on that alone, I doubt Earth was warned.
DontFeedPhil
Fleet Captain
I have to agree with BillJ. I remember thinking why didnt spock radio/subspace ahead to warn starfleet. Maybe it was because Spock was emotionally compromised?
Which would probably explain why nuSpock didn't do it. But you had both Kirk and Spock Prime who didn't think of it either.
