XPost: alt.startrek, alt.tv.star-trek, alt.tv.star-trek.enterprise   
   From: laura@lauragoodwin.org   
      
   Graham Kennedy wrote:   
      
   > But how do you know he changed his mind? The link you provided   
   > asserts that he did, but it never says how you know this.   
      
   Well, to be specific, there is never an order issued for the production   
   of flintlocks.  Kirk asks how long it would take Scotty to make them,   
   and he never gets an answer to his question.  He is asked by an   
   incredulous Mr. Scott to repeat his question, but he doesn't in fact   
   repeat his question.  He changes his question to something that was   
   obviously not a literal order, but instead was a question that in fact   
   was a sad commentary.  Then he never waits for an answer to that   
   question, which is good, because no answer was forthcoming.  Then he   
   heaved a heavy-hearted sigh, and gave an order:  he asked to be beamed   
   back up to the ship.   
      
   And that was it.  The episode was over.  No flintlocks were ever   
   actually ordered, so obviously no flintlocks were distributed by Kirk.   
   No order was heard. No order was obeyed.  No flintlocks were produced.   
   No flintlocks were distributed.   
      
   We are shown several times in the ep that Kirk was troubled by the   
   desire to help Tyree, which is natural, but it was also made pretty   
   clear that he was hamstrung by PD constraints.  It also was shown that   
   he was aware of, and respected the PD constraints. He also is surrounded   
   by comrades who also know about and respect the PD, and when Kirk   
   faltered, they held firm.  Therefore, even though Kirk was obviously   
   tempted, he also was not given a chance to give in to temptation:  his   
   shipmates would NOT let him.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)