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From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: The Kobiyashi Maru was a Klingon plot
Message-ID: <626@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Apr-85 17:28:41 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.626
Posted: Mon Apr 15 17:28:41 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Apr-85 01:21:09 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 44

First off, as a starting point, one must assume that there was no legitimate
solution to the "No-Win Scenario."  Such a title would indicate that all
eventualities would result in ambush and destruction, and remember that
Kirk took the test several times and couldn't beat it without altering the
conditions.  So, the main questions is:

How to get a maximum grade!

Saavik's initial assumption was that the distress call was legitimate.  The
only verification received was that the KM was a genuine ship... not, if I
remember correctly, that it was flight planned for that area, or even in
transit at that time.  I don't know if that info would have been in the big
E's computer, but an attempt should have been made to verify with Star
Fleet.  This could have been initiated at the same time as the change in
course to intercept, so no time would have been lost.

I can't believe that three Klingon cruisers would have been able to ambush
and trap the ship... after all, we are talking about three-dimentional
space, here.  A "High speed flyby" trajectory course could have been
implemented, that would have brought the KM within sensor range yet allowed
Enterprise to veer off back to friendly space when the Klingons were
detected, or allowed a course change to meet the KM had space been clear.

I wonder what Star Fleet's Rules of Engagement (ROE) are?  Does Star Fleet
consider 400 lives aboard the KM were an even trade for starting a
Klingon/Federation war?  An excellent novel emphasising ROE is "The Hunt 
for Red October."  A realistic depiction of a defection attempt by a Soviet
Missile sub, at one point the Soviet "Boomer", with US personnel aboard, is
under attack by a Soviet attack sub, yet nearby US attack subs cannot fight
due to the US Navy ROE.  Knowing military organizations, there is probably
a whole manual on conduct near neutral zones, and entry is probably
strictly prohibited.  Saavik may have blown her chance for command.

Anyway, all someone had to do was say, "Golly, Enterprise, we're in
trouble", and Saavik took the Big E into the neutral zone, with minimal
tactical preparation.  I haven't done that since the first time I played
"TREK-80."  :-)

Well, *I* would have given her a low grade...
				     
				     Ron Wanttaja
				     (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

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