lang@csu-cs.UUCP (06/22/84)
<bug eater>
I have been reading the STIII messages for some time, and have a
comment to make about the destruction of the Enterprise. There has
been alot of complaints that is was not necessary, and some
explanations of why it was. All these comments have ignored one of
the most obvious reasons why Kirk pushed the button. Even if they
were able to defeat the Klingons entering the ship, Kruge still had
Saavik, and Spock prisoner on the planet. Since Kruge had assumed
that Kirk had the necessary information to build Genesis, there was
nothing stopping him from killing another hostage. When the Enterprise
did it's imitation of a comet, Saavik and Spock were his only link to
Genesis (at that time he didn't know that Kirk was still alive, or
that the only person there who knew about Genesis was already dead
(David)).
Lets assume that our heros did capture the Klingon Boarding
Party. Kruge then tells the two stiffs on the planet to kill another
one (just for kicks and grins). If I was the guy doing the work, I
would pick Spock. Saavik was obviously an important person, someone
had already given his life to save her, and would probably have the
information that our lord would want. So off the kid (who wouldn't
know anything anyway). Now look at what Kirk has left, 6 (or less)
Klingon prisoners (with no one to guard them), a crippled ship, and
Spock dead again. Kruge can still distroy the ship, and was still in
a position to bargain with Saavik's (as well as everyone else's) life.
Kirk would not have improved his position, but he would have lost
the only reason they went through all this trouble in the first place.
On the Enterprise the only things working seemed to be the
Transporter, Turbolifts, and Destruct Sequence (which would be the 3
things that you would want to go last) (did anyone notice that the
Turbolift only had to go down one level?). Kirk could not rely on it
being able to defend it's self (via anti-hijacker (sp?) stuff), and
did not have enough people to send some down to the planet to rescue
Spock et. al.
Looking at the actions from this point of view, destroying the
Enterprise was his only choice.
As far as Kirk et. al. not looking shocked, or upset at the sight
of the Enterprise making it's grand exit, they may have still been
worried about Spock and Saavik, or realized that it was the only thing
they could do, or just didn't shoot the scene well. When I saw the
movie the second time, I thought that Scotty had a sad, but accepting
look on his face. He was sorry to see her go, but understood the
necessity, and was proud to see how well she held together (of course
I could be reading more into it then was there :-) ).
I agree that the Excelsior is not a pretty as the Enterprise,
but it does have a look of strength (a little mussel bound though). I
think that in the next movie they will return to the old design,
updated with new technology. I can't believe that the Federation
would chuck the design of the Heavy Cruiser when it has served so well
in the past. I may be wrong, if you noticed that the secondary hull
of the Excelsior had the same design as that on the Grissom (sp?).
Thats all for now. I hope that this article will clear Krik in
some of your eyes.
John J. Lang
Colorado State University
{hao | denelcor | hplabs }!csu-cs!lang
2537 W. Laurel, Ft. Collins CO 80521lang@csu-cs.UUCP (John J. Lang) (06/22/84)
<bug eater>
I have been reading the STIII messages for some time, and have a
comment to make about the destruction of the Enterprise. There has
been alot of complaints that is was not necessary, and some
explanations of why it was. All these comments have ignored one of
the most obvious reasons why Kirk pushed the button. Even if they
were able to defeat the Klingons entering the ship, Kruge still had
Saavik, and Spock prisoner on the planet. Since Kruge had assumed
that Kirk had the necessary information to build Genesis, there was
nothing stopping him from killing another hostage. When the Enterprise
did it's imitation of a comet, Saavik and Spock were his only link to
Genesis (at that time he didn't know that Kirk was still alive, or
that the only person there who knew about Genesis was already dead
(David)).
Lets assume that our heros did capture the Klingon Boarding
Party. Kruge then tells the two stiffs on the planet to kill another
one (just for kicks and grins). If I was the guy doing the work, I
would pick Spock. Saavik was obviously an important person, someone
had already given his life to save her, and would probably have the
information that our lord would want. So off the kid (who wouldn't
know anything anyway). Now look at what Kirk has left, 6 (or less)
Klingon prisoners (with no one to guard them), a crippled ship, and
Spock dead again. Kruge can still distroy the ship, and was still in
a position to bargain with Saavik's (as well as everyone else's) life.
Kirk would not have improved his position, but he would have lost
the only reason they went through all this trouble in the first place.
On the Enterprise the only things working seemed to be the
Transporter, Turbolifts, and Destruct Sequence (which would be the 3
things that you would want to go last) (did anyone notice that the
Turbolift only had to go down one level?). Kirk could not rely on it
being able to defend it's self (via anti-hijacker (sp?) stuff), and
did not have enough people to send some down to the planet to rescue
Spock et. al.
Looking at the actions from this point of view, destroying the
Enterprise was his only choice.
As far as Kirk et. al. not looking shocked, or upset at the sight
of the Enterprise making it's grand exit, they may have still been
worried about Spock and Saavik, or realized that it was the only thing
they could do, or just didn't shoot the scene well. When I saw the
movie the second time, I thought that Scotty had a sad, but accepting
look on his face. He was sorry to see her go, but understood the
necessity, and was proud to see how well she held together (of course
I could be reading more into it then was there :-) ).
I agree that the Excelsior is not a pretty as the Enterprise,
but it does have a look of strength (a little mussel bound though). I
think that in the next movie they will return to the old design,
updated with new technology. I can't believe that the Federation
would chuck the design of the Heavy Cruiser when it has served so well
in the past. I may be wrong, if you noticed that the secondary hull
of the Excelsior had the same design as that on the Grissom (sp?).
Thats all for now. I hope that this article will clear Kirk in
some of your eyes.
John J. Lang
Colorado State University
{hao | denelcor | hplabs }!csu-cs!lang
2537 W. Laurel, Ft. Collins CO 80521