Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!trudel From: trudel@topaz.ARPA (Jonathan) Newsgroups: net.startrek Subject: Re: Prefix numbers, or how to destroy a federation starship Message-ID: <2216@topaz.ARPA> Date: Wed, 5-Jun-85 23:50:08 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.2216 Posted: Wed Jun 5 23:50:08 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 7-Jun-85 02:26:30 EDT References: <297@tilt.FUN> <342@moncol.UUCP> Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 49 > The concept of the prefix code is something that never should have been > introduced into the Star Trek universe. > ... > As the quoted article points out, they are a horrible security flaw. *IF* a > Romulan or Klingon attack fleet could get the master list of prefix codes, > all they would need to do would be mount a massive invasion, wait for the > massive Federation defending fleet, and blow the Feds to dust. > ... I haven't seen anything posted yet as to a valid explanation as to why this wouldn't work, so I thought I'd try to explain it the way I see it. I think those of you who have posted replies have not done much file transferring in your work, because the whole scene revolves around the basic idea of it. In the scene, KHan is waiting for all materials (read files) regarding the project Genesis. Obviously, these files have to be sent with some sort of transfer protocol. In order to do this, Khan has to start up some transfer program (think of Kermit, Xmodem, etc.) to get the information. The prefix code must be a flag to the transfer program to accept the incoming information directly into the ship's command buffer, and to execute it immediately. Aha!, you say as you declare, "but what's to stop all the Romulans/Klingons/Gorn/Vogons/etc. from doing the same?" My response is that the ship on the recieving end has to have the transfer program running in recieve mode, hailing frequencies open, and a crew that is too slow to find the override switch in time. This is not that implausible! > The prefix code was an interesting plot device which got Kirk out of a sure > no-win scenario. If you recall the animated episodes (and if you don't, check the ST role-playing game rules), the prefix code has its uses. During the animated series, the big E was controlling two or three cargo ships that were carrying grain (quadrotriticale, what else?). The big E Used these ships as offensive weapons against a Klingon battle cruiser that had paralyzed it via some stasis ray. In the rpg version, the prefix codes are used in a similar fashion to control starships that are too damaged!unstable to be directly controlled by people. Need I explain further? -- Jonathan D. Trudel arpa:trudel@ru-blue.arpa uucp:{seismo,allegra,ihnp4}!topaz!trudel