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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!cvl!umd5!don
From: don@umd5.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Prefix numbers, or how to destroy a federation starship
Message-ID: <556@umd5.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Jun-85 22:35:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: umd5.556
Posted: Tue Jun  4 22:35:35 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 21:13:09 EDT
References: <297@tilt.FUN> <342@moncol.UUCP> <299@tilt.FUN> <300@tilt.FUN> <3207@dartvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: don@umd5.UUCP (Don Preuss)
Organization: U of Md, CSC, College Park, Md
Lines: 29

In article <3207@dartvax.UUCP> merchant@dartvax.UUCP (Peter Merchant) writes:
>Possibly the prefix code can be turned on and off.  If the ship is listening
>for the prefix code and hears it, you have it.
>
>Of course, how did Jim know that Khan's ship would accept the prefix codes?

The prefix code was intended to facilitate rescue of a ship disabled by 
'natural' means. If a ship was designated for combat(or whatever), the captain
would simply change the code. I believe that any operational ships computer
has a special channel for this sort of thing that is always open. Therefore,
one could not 'turn off' the channel. (Khan's ship would accept the prefix 
code unless it had been changed ...)


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What ?!!?     ^  No more ?!?
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