XPost: alt.startrek, alt.tv.star-trek, alt.tv.star-trek.enterprise   
   From: graham@ditl.org   
      
   ToolPackinMama wrote:   
      
   > 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.   
      
   During the episode, true. But you didn't say "Kirk did   
   not order them during the episode". You said "He never   
   ordered them."   
      
   Unless you know what Kirk did after he beamed up, how   
   can you make this assertion? For that matter, how   
   can you make this assertion unless you know what Kirk   
   did every minute for the whole rest of his life?   
      
   > 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.   
      
   During the episode. But do we know what happened afterwards?   
   Kirk could have beamed up and given the order then. Hell,   
   he could have decided to give them those machine guns and   
   lasers that they talked about earlier, and fighter jets   
   as well. Maybe he sent a brand new tactical nuclear weapon   
   to Tyree each year on his birthday.   
      
   I'm speculating of course. But we don't KNOW, do we? We   
   can't say that he NEVER gave the flintlocks out, do we?   
      
   --   
   Graham Kennedy   
      
   Creator and author, Daystrom Institute Technical Library   
   http://www.ditl.org   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)