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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!dartvax!merchant
From: merchant@dartvax.UUCP (Peter Merchant)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: ST III (what else) -- UFP vs. Klingon
Message-ID: <1920@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Jun-84 10:49:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: dartvax.1920
Posted: Mon Jun 25 10:49:55 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Jun-84 03:13:31 EDT
References: <704@abnjh.UUCP> <476@whuxle.UUCP>
Organization: Dartmouth College
Lines: 38

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I hope Star Trek IV does NOT feature a Federation/Klingon war.
Star Trek has always been about people.  We've seen the war
story with Kahn.  Now let's see some other stories.

In fact, one thing I rather credited Star Trek II with was the
reasonable space battle.  They talked about corrosive fluids,
damaged this, wounded that, they dared actually show a little
gore (who can forget Scotty showing up with his nephew all 
messy and dieing in his arms.) and I applaud them for that.

Star Wars and films like it were a little to neat and clean for
me.  War is a messy business, gang, and something that should
be avoided.

Yes, the effects of a battle between hundreds of battle cruisers
and Klingon ships might be really neat to watch.  However, when a
ship goes kaboom, you have to remember that you have just seen 
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE KILLED.  If they decide to a battle between
the Federation and the Klingons, I hope they do it justice.  Let's
see the dead burnt bodies.  Let's hear the cries of agony from
people who are having corrosive acid pouring from damaged piping.
Bag the special effects entirely!  Just show the insides of both
ships.

I was always happy with the fact that Star Trek rarely stooped
so low as to do stories about the Enterprise going off into
battle to save the day.  When these stories were done, a peaceful
solution was usually arrived at (either by Kirk or by a batch of
aliens stepping in).  The only war story that comes immediately
to mind was the one with the Romulans, and that was very well
done because of all the subplots running around in there.

Come come!  Let's not turn Star Trek into another Star Wars with
bigger ships.  Let's see some real stories.
--
"War is heck."                                  Peter Merchant