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From: rjnoe@ihlts.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Phaser that idiot! - (nf)
Message-ID: <199@ihlts.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Sep-83 14:27:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlts.199
Posted: Fri Sep 16 14:27:10 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Sep-83 20:40:00 EDT
References: <2828@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: BTL Naperville, Il.
Lines: 37

I totally disagree that "Someone should get reprimanded or booted from
Starfleet" because of the events at the end of Star Trek II.  Sure, it's
the responsibility of Engineering to keep the ship's engines in operating
condition, if possible.  But no one is expected to commit suicide, not
even to save a starship and all others aboard.  This is extraordinary valor,
which can never be expected of all people, if anyone at all.

Certainly Spock was the only one who could have done it.  McCoy warned Spock
that humans cannot survive in the chamber.  Spock, of course, reminded McCoy
that he is not human.  No, I don't believe any other ship ever before would
have needed ultra-emergency (i.e. in minutes) repair in that part of the main
reactor.  That would imply severe damage to the ship (e.g. from phaser fire,
like Enterprise's damages) from which starships would not ordinarily survive.
You can't create a robot for every contingency since some are so improbable
that they are not worthy of consideration.  No one in Engineering goofed.

I also don't think one can accuse McCoy and Scott of cowardice because they
tried to keep Spock from dying.  In the first place, I doubt that they knew
the ship's tactical situation, not being bridge personnel.  (By the way,
Scott passed out earlier because of radiation exposure.)  If it's hard to
believe that they were in a military organization, it's because they
weren't.  Starfleet is not really a military organization.  The Klingons are
military.  [Perhaps Star Trek IV will be about the Klingons firing photon
torpedoes at civilian passenger space ships passing through the neutral
zone which the Klingons themselves repeatedly violate intentionally.]  >-| 
Kirk has stated MANY times (and we've seen adequate evidence of this) that
Starfleet has peaceful intentions (military == war == !peace) and that their
weapons are used for defensive purposes.  The majority of times ship's weapons
are used is to protect the Enterprise against NATURAL hazards (as opposed to
living ones, sentient or not).  

I hereby grant a full and unconditional pardon for Mr. McDaniel for any and
all flaming he may have committed in his previous article (as per your
request).

-- 
	Roger Noe		...ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe