Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site moncol.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!petsd!moncol!john From: john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer) Newsgroups: net.startrek Subject: Re: Prefix numbers, or how to destroy a federation starship Message-ID: <345@moncol.UUCP> Date: Fri, 31-May-85 10:52:18 EDT Article-I.D.: moncol.345 Posted: Fri May 31 10:52:18 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 1-Jun-85 03:14:53 EDT References: <297@tilt.FUN> <342@moncol.UUCP>, <299@tilt.FUN> Organization: Monmouth College, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 Lines: 73 >From: kyrimis@tilt.FUN (Kriton Kyrimis) >Organization: Princeton University EECS Dept >Message-ID: <299@tilt.FUN> > >> ....... If we accept this, then we can ask a >> whole series of questions, such as: "Why didn't Wesley use the codes to >> drop the Enterprise's shields in 'The Ultimate Computer'?" or "Why didn't >> M5 use the prefix codes to blast everyone in that episode?" or even "Why >> didn't Styles use the Excelsior's computer to send the prefix codes to stop >> Kirk and company from stealing the Enterprise?" (God, this could go on all >> day!) > >Not necessarily. When I said that the federation was in for a surprise, I was >hinting that prefix numbers are a new invention, something that did not exist >at the time of the tv episodes. This would take care of all but the last of >the above inconsistencies. I can accept that with some reluctance. Since Kirk and Spock suspect that Kahn might know about the prefix codes, then they must have also assumed that Kahn spent his first hours on Reliant catching up on 15 years worth of changes. Okay, I can live with that. > This can be dealt with by assuming that since prefix >numbers are such a security risk, only high-ranking members of starfleet >command know of their existence (remember Saavik's surprise?), and only they >are allowed to use them. Now the Exelcior wouldn't happen to have a spare >admiral on the bridge, would she? And by the time the starbase was alerted, >the Enterprise had warped away... I definately agree that they would/should not be known by anyone below command rank, presumably nobody below the rank of Captain. Why only Admirals, though? Kirk is really the only admiral that Starfleet has sent into combat (that we have seen). No where else have we seen a Federation ship commanded by anyone over the rank of Commodore. It seems to me that we would be giving the information to the people who'd need it least. >Now, if the above is true, how did SPOCK know about prefix numbers? >Maybe he found out about them by being "understandably curious". That's a little like you being "understandably curious" about the root passwords of *all* the machines on the Princeton campus. (I don't know your psoition there, so maybe you do know them all. If so, I apologize.) If they are so secret, however, then someone has committed a horrible security breach. Since they are in the computer, I suppose Spock could have found them (given his intimacy with the Enterprise computer). This explanation is a bit strained, however, given the number of files/records the computer must contain. Even a Vulcan has limits! Actually, there is one way that Spock could have found out about the prefix codes- the same way Saavik does. This would mean that at some earlier time (but since the creation of the prefix codes) Spock and some admiral found themselves in the psotion where it was necessary to take control remotely of another Federation starship. He, therefore, would be introduced to them the same way that Saavik is. (Note: this is either a horrible kludge introduced to explain away an inconsistancy or the makings of a novel. ) Finally, it could just be that knowledge about the prefix codes is like knowledge about UNIX. Much of it is unwritten legend and lore passed down from guru to guru as need be. -- Name: John Ruschmeyer US Mail: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764 Phone: (201) 222-6600 x366 UUCP: ...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john ...!princeton!moncol!john ...!pesnta!moncol!john Silly Quote: I never wanted to be a barber. I wanted to be... a LUMBERJACK!