sds5044@ritcv.UUCP (Steven D. Smith) (02/26/86)
Stardates are figured by not only the actual date of the event, but the position of the Enterprise in the Galaxy. For further info read *The making of Star Trek* by Gene Roddenberry. Photon torpedoes are an interesting feature. In Trimbles Star Trek Concordance photon torpedoes were explained as having been developed by the Romulans and later duplicated by the Federation. The first appearance of Photon torpedoes was the weapon used by the Romulans in Balance of Terror. In *The Making of Star Trek* photon torps are described as ball of matter and antimatter held in and separated by a force field until impact with the target. In the movies the force field was replaced by a metallic shell like the one used for Spocks body. As to why the phasers looked like photon torps in Balance of Terror, this was the first appearance of any of the Enterprise's weapons.(The Menagerie doesn't count because that was in flashback) The writers and producers probably had not decided what the visual effect of phasers would be. Then when photon torps were added to the armament the phasers took on a different look. For a better explanation read the books I have sited above. Steven D. Smith ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If everything is going well, you obviously don't know what is going on.
ccrdave@ucdavis.UUCP (Lord Kahless @ Imperial Propoganda) (02/28/86)
> As to why the phasers looked like > photon torps in Balance of Terror, this was the first appearance of any of > the Enterprise's weapons.(The Menagerie doesn't count because that was in > flashback) Yet The Cage was shot years before Balance of Terror. Also, note that they used *LASERS* in The Cage. Also, how did they describe that doohickey they brought down to the planet, as a weapon or part of the ship's power plant? The power seemed to be coming from the ship in orbit... (Number 1 said "Can you give us any more" int oher communicator.)