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Posted by Montgomery (Member # 23) on :

I dunno what the DS9 people have done in this ep, but before it airs, let me sneak in my ideas.

After the Borg attacks, I'd expect Starfleet to have beefed up deences for key planets. Let's take Earth for now:

If I were the Starfleet CinC, (please no Monty Python songs), I'd establish the following:

Oort monitoring Web:
Set of sensor stations, spread through the Oort cloud at several thousand AU. They needn't be big, just glorified probes. they'd scan for warp signatures appraoching.

Neptune Commerce Line:
A space station with relay buoys. By interstellar law, all ships entering the Sol System must declare their presence to the neptune station. Just a passing, "Hello, we're urk freighter Urskva, condemning supplies", "Ok then", ad that'd be it. For system entry you must drop to low warp or even impulse depending on your trading certificate.

Mars Defence Perimeter:
More sensor stations, with several small patrol craft out of Mars or its moons. In additon, there are a few missile-launching stations (c.f. BoBW).

Spacedock:
Near earth orbit. Heavily armed and has very strong shields. Also houses several of the Earth defence group. A squadronof strships assigned to the area. The others are always in the sector. (I postulate the Sector 001 battle involved an interception of the Cube by the E.D.G.)

Earth orbit:
As in B5, there are many orbital defence stations, supplemented by ground-based heavy-phaserbanks (Type X+). They serve a similar function to the cardassian versions in the Chintoka system, although are less lethal and there are fewer.

On the ground:
All key computer centres and high ranking buildings have force-field generators that can act as shields. (Of course, these are like the Anti-aircraft guns on the white House roof. Fine so long as someone gets to the thing and uses it i time). The President himself, being the big cheese, is accompanied by a security officer at all public appearences. The idea is that if any trouble starts, the guard grabs the Pres, taps his badge, and they're instantly beamed away to safety. (A similar beam-out sytem could be used for the Council Chambers, although that may not have been deemed necessary).

Of course, I fully expect DS9 will show the Earth is only defended by some Sabres and a Galaxy-class!

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"I AM THE SPIDER!!!!"
- Vic Reeves

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

That Breen weapon has to be strong enough not only to defeat a fed fleet, destroy Earth's Defence perimeter, and lay waste to the Earth.

It seems that the Breen come in undetected. I suppose that the Dominion and Breen have perfected cloaking technology that can't be detected by any security web.

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I can resist anything.......
Except Temptation

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

Very scary thoughts.

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"Audaces fortuna juvat."
"Fortune favours the bold."

Posted by Trinculo on :

I have never been impressed with the defences of the UFP. This is the sixth recorded instance of an enemy probe or starship being within striking distance of earth.
1. V'Ger (Voyager Six)
2. Space Probe
3. Klingon scout commanded by Capt. Klaa (within four light years of earth, he was taking target practive with the Pioneer 10 probe)
4. Borg
5. Borg
6. Breen attack
Six instances in 96 years-average rate is 16 years.
Now that we know that Starfleet has thousands of starships, this becomes very embarrasing. What are those ships doing while earth is being attacked? Are they doing maneuvers (Fleet 10 near Betazoid), are they asleep, are they led by idiots, or are they not caring to defend earth? I am afraid that Starfleet is being led by idiots.
A Borg ship enters Fed space, you place your available ships at one location where they can be destroyed, the Borg enters earth space, there is no back-up fleet to protect earth. To be honest, I would not want to be on Earth if starfleet is to protect earth. And its pretty amazing that the starfleet and the federation is thriving. I suppose as the federation is getting its ass whupped, the enemies are getting dumber. The dumber the enemies become, the more lucky Starfleet and the federation gets. Speaking in the real world, this is one of the greatest problems of Star Trek and in my opinion weakens the credibility of the stories.

Posted by Montgomery (Member # 23) on :

The problem is that it is dramatically important to instill a sense of jeapordy to maintain interest in the plot. Sadly the writers are prepared to sacrifice credibility to achieve this all too often.

I have this theory that the CinC in 2375 is actually the character out of HotShots! played by the late Lloyd Bridges. Somehow explains quite a lot....

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"I AM THE SPIDER!!!!"
- Vic Reeves

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

I reiterate again, the Dominion may have developed cloaking technology that cannot be detected by Federation security grids. The Dominion has been on the cutting edge of weapons technology. It doesn't surprise me that they could develop an undetectable cloak.

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I can resist anything.......
Except Temptation

Posted by jh on :

The Dominion may not have developed any cloaking technology but we know the Breen have cloaks. See TNG "Hero Worship"

Add to that the fact that the UFP may not know about the alliance yet and you have all the ingredients for a true surprise attack.

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"A screaming comes across the sky..."

Posted by The Excalibur (Member # 34) on :

I don't know who has seen what. But the UFP should know about the alliance before the attack.

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BRAVES FAN

Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :

Excalibur: How so?

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"......"
��-The Breen at Internment Camp 371

Posted by Simon on :

If you look at the battle in that episode the Breen destroyed a Federation fleet without many losses. Even if there was a fleet around Earth the Breen could have punched through it destroyed a few key Earth facilities and then retreated.

Posted by bryce (Member # 42) on :

I think there could be a subtle message here. The writers might be Republicans!

Earth was seen by the Federation as a secure place. A place no one would dare attack. (rem. Gen. Martok?) Pres. Clinton and his staff see the US as invincible. We have no missile (or ground) defense system in place yet we are not worried about China or Russia having Y2K problems.

See?

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All Sisko needs is ANOTHER tall ship and a star to guide her by.

[This message was edited by bryce on May 02, 1999.]

Posted by Curry Monster (Member # 12) on :

Not really, no.

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'Sir, you've been ordered not to take Polermo'

'Ring General HQ, ask them if they want me to give it back'.

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

To be fair, this is the first and only instance we know of where Earth has been attacked directly by an enemy force.

V'Ger never got the chance. (Though it was in position.) Same with the Borg.

The only other similar instance was the Whale Probe. And that left old San Fran looking OK after the clouds lifted.

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"Fishing promotes a clean mind, healthy body and leaves no time for succumbing to Communistic or Socialistic propaganda."
--
Ivar Hemmings, chairman, South Bend Bait Company

Posted by Federation Shipmaster (Member # 15) on :

Once again, they might have lured the fleet away.

Yeah, but that was just a lot of rain.

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What bloke invented signatures?

Posted by Black Knight (Member # 134) on :

If you will remember correctly, only a few Breen ships escaped the attack

Posted by The Excalibur (Member # 34) on :

Ezri and Worf should have gotten back before the attack.

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INSURRECTION