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From: kek@hoxna.UUCP ( K. E. Kepple)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Inconsistencies
Message-ID: <502@hoxna.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-May-85 16:10:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: hoxna.502
Posted: Thu May  9 16:10:21 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 10-May-85 02:30:03 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 69

[]

Since we're nit-picking, I, too, have noted some consistent inconsistencies.
They're consistent since they occur in many episodes; inconsistent with
our understanding of the physical world (although our knowledge may not
apply here).

First of all, I don't recall an explanation of the artificial gravity
that the Enterprise apparently generates. I guess this also applies to
the shuttle craft as well. You never see equipment or crew floating
around.

Along with the workings of the transporter (which has been discussed
in numerous other submissions to this group), the matter-antimatter
drives, etc., I am quite impressed with the sub-space communications.
As I recall from A Piece of the Action, the Enterprise responds to a
distress signal from the USS Horizon. They apparently think the signal
is recent. However, when they arrive in the vicinity of the "old Chicago"
style planet, they find in discussions with mob boss Oxmith that the
Horizon had been destroyed 100 years earlier. The distress signal was
delayed because it was sent conventional rather than sub-space. So,
the Federation has discovered how to propagate electromagnetic radiation
at many times the speed of light. Of course, if they can travel faster
than SOL, why not communicate likewise?

Then there are the missing Laws of Inertia! How many episodes have I seen
in which the Enterprise has accelerated from zero to warp 10 (whatever
that is) in a few seconds or slow down rapidly with people nonchalantly
sitting around their consoles? These folks should be plastered to one
of the walls like a thin coat of paint! Ever notice that they don't even
require seatbelts? Here in Jersey we're supposed to be belted in to go
55 mph!

I also note how there are always crew-persons casually walking around the
corridors during red alerts (like during battle conditions or
emergency maneuvers). Don't they know what a RED ALERT means?

Speaking of maneuvers, I also like the external views (wherever they get
them from) showing the Enterprise banking to make turns.

Then there are the phasers. They (two beams) seem to emerge from nearly
the same location under the Enterprise and rapidly diverge. However,
they are frequently shown as close, parallel beams when hitting a
target such as Apollo's temple (in Adonais) or Val (the Apple).

And, of course, the bridge viewer lost its UL rating since it puts out
tremendous amounts of light. Is there no signal filtering or control
on that thing? The control panels that burst into a shower of flame
and sparks also are not UL approved. Why doesn't this trigger the
(well concealed) CO2 or Halon extinguishers?

Don't think I don't like these shows. I do. I have watched them many
times over. And although they seem to have flaws, they never fail
to stimulate the imagination. To dream of REAL space travel. Things
like warp drives, transporters, and the like are needed to make these
dreams come true. Our Apollo crews took three days to get to the moon,
a distance of less than 2 light-seconds. Pioneer and Voyager required
a decade to approach the edge of our solar system. How could we ever
roam the galaxy to survey her magnificence and study her mysteries
with this technology? Until it becomes feasible, we have to do it in
our imaginations and STARTREK helps us do that!

Prepare to leave orbit, Sulu.....full power Scotty!


Ken Kepple
hoxna!kek   datakit: ho/bedrock/fred!kek
AT&T-Bell Labs - Holmdel NJ 07733  201-949-6525  Cornet 8-233-6525
...!{hocda, ihnp4, floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc}!houxm!houxf!hoxna!kek