BMUG PD-ROM B4/PD-ROM B4.iso/Entertainment/Space/Star Trek/Datelines/Dateline 18

Text File | 1991-12-15 | 28KB | 511 lines

9112.15                 DATELINE:  STARFLEET                      #18


                         Reporting for Duty!
                         -------------------
     A new record for variety: 4 different authors contributing to
this issue!  Enjoy them, and enjoy your holidays!


             News from Over the Hailing Frequencies....
             ------------------------------------------
     Random notes from a pretty quiet Brent Spiner convention in
Valley Forge last November:
     Some upcoming episodes will focus on Guinan, Q, and Alexander.
A Borg-related plot is also rumored.
     "Unification", as you might think, did very well in the ratings.
In several markets it beat all its network competition in its local
time slot.  (Brent Spiner reports that he contributed the idea of
Data delivering a Vulcan nerve pinch in "Unification II".  This way,
he says, he can get out of strenuous fight scenes in future
episodes.)
     Other little things of interest from Brent's very entertaining
talk:
     Brent nearly became a regular on Night Court in his recurring
role as Bob.  But he won the part of Data and that ended that.  |)
     The role Brent most wanted but didn't get: he auditioned for the
role of Arnie Becker on "L.A. Law".
     His favorite Classic Trek movie is Star Trek II.  Reason?
Ricardo Montalban's performance.
     Would he like to direct TNG episodes in the near future?  No;
the work involved in playing Data is enough for him to handle.
     His favorite blooper: when Jonathan Frakes lost his balance,
fell down the Bridge ramp, and then through one of the wall panels.
     Will there be another Holmes/Moriarty episode?  Probably not,
because the Holmes estate charges a rather high fee for use of
Moriarty (and other Holmes characters).


                      Editorial: Holiday Wishes
                      by Bill Mason (Data1701D)
                      -------------------------
     As Christmas and New Years loom on the horizon, just one small
wish.
     We've had some heated moments on the bulletin boards in the
recent past.  Some furious debates about ST issues; some intense
personality conflicts; and a few worries about who the hell opened
yet another folder on the "Next Generation" board.  Once in a while,
as I read over these messages, I thought that if the speakers were
all together live and in person, a fight would probably have started.
     And that's not why we're here.  As AOL president Steve Case
noted in his letter to the membership, we are all one "electronic
community".  (Or trying to be, anyway.)  Let's keep that in mind as
we march into 1992.  By all means, defend your position in the ST
debates with passion!  But let's stay away from the ego-blasting and
photon-torpedoing of your fellow fan, if we can.  (I think we can.)
Who wants to spend their Plus time reading this stuff, really?  And
why spend your valuable Plus time typing it in?  We have better
things we can do.  I know we do.
     So, on behalf of anyone I'm entitled to speak for (hmm, I guess
that's just me), have a happy holiday season and peace in the New
Year.
     And let me worry about those folders.
     --Data1701D, "Star Trek: The Club" forum host


                         It is Always There
                      by Chris Marsh (Chris513)
                      -------------------------
     I don't know really why I like Star Trek so much. I just do.
Maybe it's the excitement or the wonder.  It could be the characters
or the imagination.  Whatever it is that binds me to Star Trek is not
definable.  I just know that it's always there for me.
     After a long day of school, hard work, and continual problems
and decisions, I know that Star Trek will be waiting, in some form or
another.  It could be the original series or the new one.  It could
be a book or maybe just a magazine.  But whatever it is, it takes me
away for a short time.
     It's nice to wonder about the future.  What lies ahead for us as
humans.  Will we resolve our problems before it's too late?  I have
no answer for that, but I do know that Star Trek is here and it gives
us a nice vision of the future.  Sure there are the Borg, Romulans,
and other strange creatures, but we are a world at peace.  We have
resolved the problems and now have turned toward exploration.  This
is a great future.
     Is there life out there?  Don't look at me.  But you can look at
Star Trek.  Wonderful creatures lace the world of Star Trek.  They
are just actors in makeup, but to me this defines what lies ahead:
Everything.  Just think, hundreds of years ago, men believed the
world was flat and even questioned if there was intelligent life on
the other land masses of the world.  Through exploration they found
all kind of men and animals.  We are those people, but instead of
wondering about our planet, we wonder about the stars.  In a few life
times ahead, I'm sure Star Trek will come true.  But for right now,
we can be sure that it's there.


                               Reasons
                      by Bill Mason (Data1701D)
                      -------------------------
     Why should the Classic crew call it quits after ST VI?
     You won't get a better send-off movie.
     The crew just retired!
     It's time for the Next Generation.
     Paramount said they would quit.

     And why they should come back in ST VII?
     Maybe you CAN get a better send-off.
     If you think about it, none of the crew really needs to retire
from Starfleet yet.  Especially McCoy, who hasn't gotten his
promotion to Admiral yet.  (Remember "Encounter at Farpoint"?)
     If everyone does 1 extra TNG season, we have time for another
Classic cast movie before TNG is done with television.
     Jason was supposedly done about 5 Friday the 13th movies ago,
too.

     Can't wait to see what happens next....


                  Speculations on the Fate of Kirk
                     by Kasey K.S. Chang (Ksc1)
                  --------------------------------
     There are some ominous quotes in "Unification" about the fate of
Kirk and probably the NCC-1701-A.  While you may not have seen the
episodes yet, you can get your hands on the novelization.  Here are
the controversial quotes.
     Page 118, novelization:
     Spock: A personal decision, Captain.  Perhaps you are aware that
I played a small role in the first overture to peace with the
Klingons.
     Picard: History is aware of the role you played, Ambassador.
     Spock: Not entirely.  It was I who asked Kirk to lead the peace
mission.  And I who had to accept the responsibility for the
consequences to him and his crew.  Quite simply, I am unwilling to
risk anyone's life but my own on this occasion.
     Page 119, novelization:
     Spock: In your own way, you are as stubborn as another captain
of the Enterprise I once knew.
     It is my opinion that these quotes imply that Kirk is no longer
alive during the 24th century, based mostly on the second quote on
page 118.  Let me explain my reasoning:
     The second Spock quote implies that the Enterprise NCC-1701-A
was lost with Kirk and crew aboard, but not Spock and McCoy.  Spock
was distraught over asking Kirk to lead the peace mission, and from
there on he became an ambassador himself so he does not have to put
others at risk for his decisions.  I do not see any other suitable
explanations for this quote.
     The third Spock quote probably refers to Kirk.  Others have
argued that it could mean Pike, or even April.  However those
possibilities are slim, since Spock knew Kirk best and the word
"stubborn" seems to fit Kirk better than either Pike or April.
     So what probably happened?  Here's my guess.
     After the Khitomer Conference, Spock saw an opening for lasting
peace with the Klingon Empire and also established relationship with
Romulan Senator Pardek.  Spock secretly asked Kirk to lead the peace
mission to the Klingon Empire (the history books believed Kirk
initiated the peace mission), which Kirk accepted.  During the
mission, Kirk and crew (and probably the NCC-1701-A as well), was
lost.
     During the peace mission, a Romulan spy managed to assassinate
key personnel of the Klingon High Council to disrupt the meeting.
During the confusion Enterprise was destroyed either by Romulan
sabotage/setup or by hot-headed Klingons.  Klingons declared war on
the Federation, leading to several skirmishes over several years,
including the launch of T'Ong, the sleeper ship seen in "The
Emissary".  After later examining their evidence, Klingons halted
their war against the Federation and declared war on the Romulans
instead.
     Peace negotiation with the Federation started from there on, as
Klingon colonies started broadcasting maydays over Starfleet
frequencies.
     I believe this happened sometime between 2310 and 2320, due to
several reasons.  1) Riker stated in "The Emissary" that the
Federation and Klingon Empire were at war fifty years ago.  "The
Emissary" is a second season episode, therefore it happened in 2365.
Fifty years ago, accounting for approximation, is about 2315.  2) In
the Classic Trek novel "The Rift" by Peter David, it was stated at
the end that the next time the rift opened, the Federation is in the
midst of the Klingon-Romulan war.  Kirk was on the NCC-1701-A in this
novel due to the mention of transwarp and the death of his son, David
Marcus.  Since Star Trek V happened in 2286, and the rift opens every
33.34 years, the next opening is after 2319.
     While none of this is official, here is an estimate of events:
     c2315  Kirk and crew go to Klingon Home World on a peace
mission.  History believed Kirk initiated the mission, but in reality
Spock proposed it and Kirk endorsed it.  Enterprise with Kirk and
crew destroyed during the Romulan disruption of the conference.
Klingon Empire declares war on the Federation.
     c2319  Klingons realize that the Romulan Star Empire was the one
who disrupted the peace mission.  Klingon Empire declares war on the
Romulan Empire and signs an armistice treaty with the Federation,
starting the era of cooperation.
     c2324  Romulan Star Empire breaks off all contact with the
Federation.  Contact with the Klingon Empire disappears soon as well.
     2345  USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C disappears mysteriously after
sending a message about assisting the Klingon outpost Narendra III
which was under attack.  Only much later it was learned that they
were destroyed by Romulan Warbirds attacking the Klingon outpost.
Rumors say some crew survived and were taken to Romulus.
     2346  Klingon military colony of Khitomer destroyed by Romulan
raiders with help from within the colony.  Duras' father was the
traitor, but that was not learned till much later.  Only two survive
the massacre: Worf and Kahlest.
     2347  Courage of the NCC-1701-C in defense of Narendra III leads
Klingons to sign the Treaty of Alliance with the Federation.
     This, of course, is merely a conjecture, which is solely based
upon my imagination.  If you have some better ideas or have more
information, I would love to hear from you.  Send E-mail to Ksc1.


                   Romulans: Galactic Web-Weavers
                      by Bill Mason (Data1701D)
                   ------------------------------
     When the Romulans were first introduced to Star Trek, they were
a mysterious and "fascinating" race.  The Romulan Commander seen in
"Balance of Terror" was a multi-faceted man, not a faceless enemy.
He was both committed to defending his Empire, yet willing to
question its policies.  He was not an evil "black hat"; he was an
honorable, introspective professional who simply happened to be born
on the other side of a political border than Kirk and company were.
And he managed, tactically speaking, to give Kirk fits for the entire
episode.  While that Commander was killed, the Romulans promised to
be a most interesting antagonist for the Enterprise.
     But after that, the Romulans decayed.  In "The Deadly Years", we
don't even see a Romulan face-to-face.  "The Enterprise Incident"
gave us the female Romulan Commander, who (in my humble opinion)
managed to come off as somewhat of an idiot for thinking she was
successfully seducing a Vulcan.  After that, the Romulan hierarchy
becomes somewhat fixated with the Enterprise, arranging simple
ambushes for the starship in "The Survivor" and "The Practical
Joker".  And the Romulans we do meet in those Animated shows are
rather stereotypical "let's kill the Enterprise" characters; only
Xerius in "The Time Trap" shows any personality at all, and he was
devoted to peace!
     The Romulans (in the person of Ambassador Nanclus) figured into
a galactic conspiracy in Star Trek VI -- fore-shadowing what was
coming in TNG.
     The Romulans' re-debut in Next Generation was somewhat
inauspicious (though welcomed by the fans).  "The Neutral Zone" does
little but establish that the Romulans are again active in galactic
politics.  And the Romulans again show little in "Contagion" -- the
Romulan Commanders in these shows have no personality of their own.
     But then "Bingo, Data!" as Dr. Crusher once said.  "The Enemy"
again featured the Romulans.  But more importantly, the conflicts
became personal.  LaForge and Bochra try to decide whether fighting
with each other or surviving is a better idea.  Worf refuses to give
a blood transfusion to a dying Patahk, who sneeringly declines it
anyway.  And Commander Tomalak offers some promise that is fulfilled
when he returns in "The Defector".  Again, personal interaction rules
in that episode, with Picard, Admiral Jarok, and Tomalak providing
for a gripping story.
     The pattern starts to slip in "Tin Man", "Future Imperfect" and
"Data's Day" as these Romulans are again somewhat blase characters
(especially since the Romulans in "Future Imperfect" weren't actually
real).
     But in their next appearance, "The Mind's Eye", the Romulans
suddenly show a new side, one that I think will keep them fresh
antagonists in Star Trek's future.  And no, the introduction of
Denise Crosby as Sela isn't it -- not exactly.
     Whether the Romulan characters in previous shows (of both
series) were good ones or not, all of them shared one important
trait.  All their stories involved, for the most part ("The Defector"
is somewhat of an exception), direct conflict specifically with the
Enterprise for one reason or another.  The rest of the political
spectrum in the Star Trek universe rarely, if ever, was an issue in
the plotlines.  They were, more simply, stories that left you
wondering if the Romulans' latest plot against the Enterprise was
going to succeed or not, and what will happen to our heroes if it
does?
     Of course, the stories since "The Mind's Eye" still involve
danger to our heroes -- why watch the story otherwise?  But the
Romulans have suddenly decided to become behind-the-scene schemers in
the intergalactic picture.  They try to have a key Klingon official
killed in "The Mind's Eye"; next they move to split the entire
Klingon Empire in "Redemption" and "Redemption II".  And then they
target Vulcan in "Unification" and "Unification II".
     And the stories, through the introduction of Sela, keep a level
of personal conflict to the story.  The prodigal daughter of Tasha
Yar haunts the Enterprise.  While her creation smacked somewhat of
soap opera, she is proving an integral part of Romulan plotlines.
She serves as the representative Romulan scheme-weaver, and keeps the
Enterprise involved in foiling her plans.
     Thus Star Trek has really, for the first time, picked up a set
of villains looking at the "big picture".  In the tradition of your
favorite world-conquering James Bond bad guy, or Dr. Doom from Marvel
Comics, we have Romulans who are really after the whole kit and
kaboodle.  While the Romulans and the Klingons (until they made peace
with the Federation) have always been trying to defeat the
Federation, this is the first we've seen anyone really go for it.
     The Romulan Empire vs. the Galaxy.  Let the games begin!


                         Trek Games of Youth
                       by Ni Var1 (Mike Csiki)
                       -----------------------
     Although I have been a fan of Star Trek for many years, I only
have very vague memories of the program when it first appeared on
network television.  I do remember, however, it was the talk of the
family at various dinner and birthday parties by at least three
members of my family: my mom, my brother, and my cousin Ted.  After
dinner or cake or whatever, at many of these gatherings, we'd lug
Uncle Joe's Laz-y-boy to the center of the living room, just in front
of the TV, and push the cocktail table out of the way.  Wah-la!!  The
family room at Uncle Joe's became an instant bridge complete with
viewing screen, (the TV) and places for the bridge crew to sit.
Usually behind the captain's chair on the couch facing Uncle Joe's
TV.  Then myself, my brother and sister, and our cousins would argue
as to whom would portray which character from the show.
     I was quite young at the time, but it is these exact play-acting
games that I remember MORE than actually watching first run episodes
with the exception of maybe a few reruns or later third season
episodes.  Heck, I was four to six years of age when Star Trek first
aired, and quite the little trouble-maker.  One time in particular,
while playing Star Trek at Uncle Joe's, we wanted to simulate in our
own way power failure on the bridge due to electrical storms in
space.  Someone said to me, "Go hit the light switch on and off a
couple of times."  (...for effect.  This was also the very same SFX
we did around Halloween every year, when we played haunted house. :)
...Ah, the joys of youth.)  Then everyone would lean to their left or
right; we'd laugh and have fun.  Then, I'll never forget Aunt
Margaret coming into the family room from where the parents and
adults usually congregated, the dining room, and saying, "Michael,
did you know it costs us a dime that we must pay the power company
every time you turn on the lights?"
     At the time I was embarrassed, humiliated, but interestingly
enough shocked as well.  As much as a four, five, or six year old
could be.  (grin)  Not so much from getting bawled out by my aunt for
something everyone else told me to do, but at the price of using
electricity.  "Unbelievable," I thought.  It made me glad that I
didn't have to pay Aunt Margaret's electric bill.  Anyway, when I sat
down and chose a character to play on the bridge after that, my
cousin took my place at the light switch and continued flicking the
lights (while winking to us all) until his mother, my aunt, yelled
back out for me to stop.  That's when everyone came to my rescue.
Whew!!!  Thank God.  "It's Joe," they yelled (one of my other
cousins),  "Not Michael."  Joe's sisters' voices were louder than my
brother's and sister's as I recall.  My cousin Joe was mad.  I think
we changed games that night after that.  We did play Star Trek after
that but with no more electrical storms.  It was too costly.
     Were it not for these experiences and remembrances, I doubt that
I would be a fan of the program today.  I know my cousin Ted still is
even though he and his family have moved away from Chicago. My Mom
still is and so is my brother Steve.  We all discuss Next Generation
episodes at length, when we can, and prompt each other to watch those
episodes which resolve complications from prior episodes.  We marvel
at the improvements in SFX used in the Next Generation, and watch
together when we can.
     I will be making every effort to attend at least two of the
three cons coming to Chicago between now and Christmas, and look
forward to the sixth installment of Trek films.  I'll never forget my
Trek games of youth, the arguments over who'll be Spock, Scotty, the
captain, etc.  Games like these keep children off the streets, keep
them from more violent role-playing games such as war, commando, and
cops and robbers.  It also keeps them away from Nintendo, helps to
cultivate their imaginations, helps to create interest in science and
the space program and space exploration.  They did in me.  The kids
of tomorrow may be living the science fiction of today.  It isn't any
wonder that someday when I have a family and kids of my own, I hope
they'll play games like these at birthday and dinner parties.  I hope
they'll become fans of science fiction and Star Trek and all of its
Next Generations too.
     Peace and Long Life, Ni Var1.


      Book Review: "New Voyages: The Next Generation Guidebook"
                      by Bill Mason (Data1701D)
      ---------------------------------------------------------
     "New Voyages" is the 3rd volume in an ongoing "History of Trek"
book series.  But with this volume, the quality of the series takes a
sharp downturn.
     To be fair, if you want from the book what the subtitle promises
-- a Next Generation guidebook -- then this book is good for you.
Aside from a few interviews and notes on the creation of several
episodes, the book is composed entirely of episode listings (seasons
1-4), cast credits, synopses, and comments from the
cast/crew/writers.  Each episode also gets reviewed and rated by the
book's co-authors, Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman.
     The space devoted to the authors' episode reviews could have
been better used.  For as a part of a "history of Star Trek" series,
the book fails utterly.  Other than the individual notes and/or
history of each episode, there is virtually no background data on the
history of the series and its creation to be found.
     The last line of the back cover blurb reads: "This is the
complete saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation, culminating in an
exclusive preview of its all-new fifth season."  Alas, the book is as
incomplete as it gets.  And in a most blatant bit of false
advertising, there is no fifth season preview to be found in the
text.
     So, if you need data on the first 4 seasons, go out and get "New
Voyages".  Otherwise, save your money.


                           Happy Birthday!
                           ---------------
     December 25: Rick Berman (TNG Executive Producer)
     December 28: Nichelle Nichols


                           Club Happenings
                           ---------------
     Schedule revisions for December: there will be no Ten-Forward
Lounge on December 23, 24, 27, and 31, and no Trivia on "The Bridge"
on December 28th.

     On Saturday January 11th at 10pm ET, Rodok will host a Forum
meeting in "The Bridge" conference room.  His subject will be Star
Trek fandom, fan clubs, etc.  Rodok is a member of the international
Trek associations Starfleet and The Federation, and a member of the
Virginian Independent Society for Trek Appreciation and Starfleet
Atlantic.  He has also worked with several conventions in his area.
Why not stop by and chat?
     And as always, a healthy round of Trek trivia will be in session
on "The Bridge" at 11pm ET after this meeting.


                  Trek-related Products/Happenings
                  --------------------------------
     Comics: Lots from DC Comics this month.  In "Star Trek" #28, a
4-part story concludes as it's Kirk vs. the Romulans and a betrayer
in his midst.  In "Next Generation" #28 Worf has a chance to return
K'Ehleyr to life -- but the cost will be the Enterprise and all her
crew.  Also out this month is the comic adaptation of Star Trek VI
(two editions -- a regular one and a prestige one with no ads and a
photo gallery of movie stills).  And lastly from DC is the "Debt of
Honor" Classic Trek graphic novel hardcover -- a story of a deadly
menace that has dogged Kirk since his days as a Lieutenant on the
Farragut.  Now Kirk must join forces with the Klingons and Romulans
to battle it once more.  (Written by Chris Claremont, formerly the
writer of Marvel Comics acclaimed "X-Men" series.)
     Swinging over to Personality Comics, their unauthorized black &
white biography series is scheduled to continue with "Original Crew"
#4: James Doohan.  (As I write this particular paragraph around
Thanksgiving time, Personality had slipped a bit in their schedule,
with "Original Crew" #3 running late in being published.)

     Starlog #175 is scheduled to have interviews with William
Shatner and Kim Cattrall on Star Trek VI, and Elizabeth Dennehy
(Commander Shelby) of TNG.

     New on video this month are the movies "Soapdish" (co-starring
Whoopi Goldberg), "Toy Soldiers" (with Wil Wheaton) and "Doc
Hollywood" (which co-starred Julie Warner -- Kristi Henshaw of
several TNG episodes).

     LeVar Burton was the host for a benefit concert performance by
Stevie Wonder on November 15th in Chicago.  The concert was for a
former employee of Wonder; her child is expected to be born with a
improperly developed heart.

     Gates McFadden received the key to her hometown city, Cuyahoga
Falls in Ohio, in a ceremony in November.

     While serving the first Sunday of his NFL suspension,
Indianapolis Colt Eric Dickerson reportedly spend part of the day
(according to the "Philadelphia Inquirer" of 17 November 1991)
watching a Star Trek rerun.  No word on whether he was watching
Classic or NextGen.  |)


                    Personal Logs, Stardate Today
                    -----------------------------
     George Takei, Mr. Sulu of the original "Star Trek" TV series,
told a gathering this week in Kearney, Neb., that U.S. government
reparations to Japanese-Americans put into American concentration
camps after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack came too late for some.  The
L.A.-born actor, himself held in Arkansas as a young boy, said the
$20,000 his family got never made up for the possessions they lost.
"My father passed on in 1979 and the apology and reparations happened
in 1988 -- almost 10 years too late for my father," Takei said.
     ["Philadelphia Inquirer", 15 November 1991]

     "Last night I danced in a bar and I won five bucks."
     [Gates McFadden as a second grader, describing her first
entertainment performance for show-and-tell -- winning a dance
contest in an American Legion hall.]

     "I love doing laundry.  I even make it up; I mean, I throw
things on the floor to make laundry.  That's how much I love it."
     [Whoopi Goldberg; "Inquirer" magazine, 1 December 1991]

     ...William Shatner reveals that he had an encounter of some kind
in non-reel life.  Happened in the late '60s while motorcycling
through the Mojave Desert.  Got lost when separated from his wheeled
mates.  When suddenly appeared a UFO which guided him back to the
others.  Said Shatner: "If I was a little green man in a flying
saucer and wanted to get publicity, who would I contact faster than
Capt. Kirk...?"
     ["Philadelphia Inquirer", 6 December 1991]


                        And In Conclusion...
                        --------------------
     "Dateline" beams back to you again on January 15th.


                    Credits where Credits are Due
                    -----------------------------
     "Dateline: Starfleet"--edited by Bill Mason (Data1701D), ID#
WPHM91A on Prodigy.
     The Away Team of Contributors--Chris513, Ksc1, and Ni Var1.
Thanks!
     Copyright and Trademark Notice: In no case is use of any
copyrighted material and/or trademarks without identifying symbols
intended as a claim of ownership to those copyrights and/or
trademarks.  "Dateline: Starfleet" is a non-profit production
reporting and commenting on the universe of Star Trek.
     STAR TREK is a Registered Trademark of Paramount Pictures.  All
other copyrighted material, trademarks, and/or service marks cited
herein are registered to their respective owners.
     Readers are granted permission to reproduce this file wherever
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     If you read all this, are you done Christmas shopping yet?