AboutDeran McKean Expertise I am a 38 year fan of all the incarnations of Star Trek from the original show to the newer incarnations, to the books, comics and toys. I can answer most questions regarding the storylines and characters including their non-screen histories.
Experience Thirty-Eight years of collecting Star Trek merchandise, pouring over the books, comics and attending a number of conventions
Education/Credentials I have a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and an MBA
Question QUESTION: After watching the episode recently I realize that Kivas would have no chance against the Entity (as you said). The portable forcefield he wore only repelled positrons--therefore it was an effective defense against Data. It wouldn't provide any defense whatsoever against the Entity.
You stated that that the Edo god made the strange laws on the Edo planet. I was always under the impression that the Edos themselves made the laws. Could you elaborate?
You stated that if the Romulan Warbird did appear suddenly in Earth's orbit, that the Enterprise would not fire. Would Captain Picard be close to firing? In "The Enemy," Tomalak wants to cross past the neutral zone into Federation space in order to retrieve a lost comrade. Picard implies that if he does so, there will be trouble. I realize that if Picard fired on a Romulan vessel that had its shields down, it would likely explode, and thus a war would probably be started. However, I do wonder, based on the threat he made to Tomalak in "The Enemy."
Yeah, you're right about Odo and the Varon-T. When Kivas showed Data the weapon, Data said it was unlikely that Kivas would destroy him, since he was so highly prized. So if it can destroy Data, I think it'd definitely destroy Odo.
Near the end of the episode, Kivas kills his woman assistant with the Varon-T. He then sees Data, and walks away, allowing Data to pick up and point another Varon-T at him.
I'm not sure why he did this. If he felt threatened, why not destroy Data right there? Why walk away?
ANSWER: Hi John -
Good catch, I'd forgotten that it only worked against positrons.
I had thought the God itself created the laws and forced the Edo to obey them, I'll check Memory Alpha and see if anything in the episode dialogue makes that clear.
I'm sure Picard would be concerned, but, in the 24th Century Earth has orbital defenses, bases on the Moon, starships docked at Utopia Planitia that could reach Earth from Mars orbit in a very short time, so, I doubt he'd start firing right away.
Look at all the ships that were there to greet Voyager when it returned home.
With all that I doubt he'd be inclined to shoot first and ask questions later. Plus, as you indicated, shooting a defenseless Warbird that may or may not be in need of assistance would no doubt escalate tensions between the Federation and the Empire.
I think Picard would be hesitant to fire also because the Warbird approached without its cloak and with its shields and weapons down. Though one always has to be suspicious of Romulans, those factors would indicate that a less violent initial approach might be in order.
Good point about Odo/Data. If the weapon is really that dangerous (as Data seemed to indicate it was) I doubt Odo's cells would have the means to fight off its effects.
Yep, I think the woman's name was Varia (or something like that) and it looked like the weapon sure took its time 'eating her up.'
I think Kivas was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Data would not, or could not, kill him.
From what little we know of Kivas he was willing to take considerable risks (attacking a Federation shuttle, lying to the crew of the Enterprise) in order to get and keep the items in his collection. I think he was a bit of a gambler, willing to engage in risky activities so long as he felt the pay off was worth the risk.
I don't think he's willing to take insane chances however (like Han Solo or Tom Paris) but I think Kivas enjoys a little gambling now and then.
So, I believe he was utterly convinced that Data would not fire the weapon at him and, that by staging his little gamble he would 'de-moralize' Data (so to speak) and convince the android that he didn't have the guts/skill/etc. that would be necessary to escape.
I think Kivas wanted to show Data the lengths he was willing to go to (i.e. killing Varia) to keep him a prisoner, and he was arrogant enough to believe that the Starfleet officer wouldn't stoop to killing him in order to be free.
Anyway, just a thought.
Thanks!
Deran
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: So, would the Varon-T work on Species 8472 or Nomad (shields down)?
Who would accept the power of Q first?
A) Data
B) Spock
Could the D's brig be modified to be strong enough to contain the following?
A) Odo
B) Calamarain
C) Holo Doc
D) Organian
E) Metron
F) Douwd
G) Traveler
H) Species 8472
I) Gary Mitchell
J) Armus
K) Apollo
If Borg drones can easily walk through Borg forcefields, then why can't they walk through the forcefield in the Enterprise brig?
Answer Hi John -
Since the Varon T is classified as a disruptor I would assume it has some characteristics in common with Klingon and Romulan disruptor weaponry.
According to what Fajo said the weapon rips apart a victim (probably at a cellular level) but does it's work slowly.
Since Fajo didn't seem to have any trouble believing the device would work on Data (a bio-mechanoid), and we know it worked on Varia (whatever species she is) my guess is that it would probably work pretty effectively against the biological tissues of Species 8472 and/or Nomad with his shields down.
In all likelihood 8472's unique physiology would fight the effects, but I doubt a super immune system would do too much good against prolonged exposure to directed energy.
The Q question is a tough one. As a wild guess I would say Data because he would believe that he could control the abilities without succumbing to the inherent weakness of emotions and desire. Spock, as logical as he is, is still capable of emotion and of having his desires control him and, a being with the power of the Q with that type of weakness would be very dangerous.
A) Odo - if the containment field surrounding the 'front door' of the brig were modified to encompass the entire brig it's possible that it could hold Odo. That has a lot to do with his specific shapeshifting limitations.
We know that sound, atmosphere, light and possibly temperature are able to penetrate the force field at the front of a brig holding cell, meaning that, whatever the field is made of, it can be easily penetrated by those things. An accomplished Changeling that could transform itself into a noble gas of less density than the Class M atmosphere of the ship should therefore easily be able to pass through the force field in the same way.
B) Calamarain - Given the amount of power they apparently possess I'd imagine it would be very difficult to construct a 'cage' that could easily contain one of them. If such a thing was designed the power requirements necessary to operate it would probably drain the systems of the rest of the ship!
C) Holo Doc - Hmmm, since light can penetrate the force field it would be necessary to construct a field that was opaque to the passage of photons (which is possible I suppose) but would require major recalibration of the design of the brig's holding cell.
D) Organian - I doubt the Enterprise brig could be upgraded enough by Federation science to contain one of them.
E) Metron - Again, I doubt it.
F) Douwd - Probably not, any being that powerful should be well beyond the ability of Federation science to contain.
G) Traveler - I don't think so, his ability to transmute energy should make it fairly difficult to contain him.
H) 8472 - For a short time I think it would be possible, but with the intelligence and physical skills of the Species I doubt they would remain contained for a long period of time.
I) Mitchell - Like with 8472, I suppose its possible that the brig could be modified to hold Mitchell for a short time, but with the exponential growth of his abilities I doubt he'd be contained for long if he decided to break lose.
J) Armus - It would take a tremendous amount of energy that didn't allow whatever means Armus uses to assert control over Electromagnetic energy to penetrate the shielding. I think it would take years to develop something like that and require intense study of the means by which Armus controls the EM field. Also, given his ability to manipulate his physical form, the chamber holding him would probably have to be air tight.
K) Apollo - If a means to circumvent his energy manipulation capabilities was found then the brig could probably hold him. Again, something like that would require intense analysis of Apollo's abilities and effective countermeasures against them.
Any energy of any kind operates at a certain wavelength and power level. Most likely the Borg use a resonating or oscillating frequency that recognizes something within their cybernetic components and sets up a specific pattern or power level that allows them to pass harmlessly through it.
Or, there could be some kind of specific conditioning the drones have that allows them to bypass the energy entirely.
If the force field in the brig is constructed of a different type of energy at a differing frequency or power level, then they wouldn't be able to penetrate it.
The easiest example I can come up with is humans and fish. Humans are conditioned to easily walk around in an atmosphere filled with oxygen, nitrogen, etc. Every day you and I exist in an environment filled with all kinds of specific gasses which, we have not only adapted to easily move through, we can also metabolize them.
Put one of us in an aquatic environment and our physiology works against us. Taking out the fact that we can't extract oxygen from water, the entire design of our bodies and musculature makes it hard for us to move through the water as easily as we do the air.
Fish can easily move through water and have adaptations everywhere that allow them to thrive in an aquatic environment.
Take a fish out of the water and forget their obvious need to have water from which to extract oxygen, and they have a very hard time moving through the air. Their forms are in no way adapted to such an environment, their eyes aren't built for seeing underwater, the intense light blinds them, and the conditions of the atmosphere almost instantly dry out their outer coverings (scales, fins, etc.)
The Borg must have some adaptation that allows them to easily pass through force fields of a specific strength and wavelength, but are like fish out of water when exposed to fields constructed of different wavelengths of energy and/or varying power levels.
