T O P I C ��� R E V I E W
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Jim Phelps
Member # 102
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posted
Ok, today I ran across a comic shop in the middle of nowhere with crates full of old Star Trek memorabilia. I found a weird black-hard-cover $100 Star Fleet Technical Manual, two $75 Concordances (originals), a bunch of novels, Best of Trek 3, magazines...and most interesting of all, the Star Trek III story treatment, "Return to Genesis", dated September 1982.Yes, the Bird of Prey was originally a Romulan ship full of Romulans. The Excelsior is described as having hyper-warp drive, which allows speeds in excess of Warp 10. When leaving spacedock, the Enterprise goes to Warp 8 while the Excelsior captain orders Warp 15 (and doesn't succeed, of course...). I haven't gotten much else out of it, maybe I'll buy it the next time. BTW, according to the Star Trek Phase II series bible in the "Lost Series" book, Warp 8 is the maximum safe speed of the Enterprise that never made it onscreen. This is consistent with various fan books which give speeds as Warp 8 and 12 (emergency). Boris ------------------ "Wrong again. Although we want to be scientifically accurate, we've found that selection of [Photon Energy Plasma Scientifically Inaccurate as a major Star Trek format error] usually indicates a preoccupation with science and gadgetry over people and story." ---a Writers' Test from the Original Series Writer's Guide [This message has been edited by Boris (edited October 02, 1999).]
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Elim Garak
Member # 14
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posted
Wasn't Kruge supposed to originally steal a Romulan Bird of Prey?------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
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Sol System
Member # 30
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posted
It's also the source of the speculation that the Bird of Prey, while not of Romulan construction, might have been a product of their short-lived alliance.At least, I think that's speculated. By more people then me, I mean. ------------------ I do indeed and shall continue Dispatch the shiftless man to points beyond -- Soul Coughing
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Jim Phelps
Member # 102
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posted
Well, that's what the Encyclopedia says, but unless I've missed something in the treatment, it's not the case (or maybe a later draft of the script incorporated the stealing to explain the BoP name). An associate of mine has speculated that the entire Klingon honor thing may be a side effect of this switch - in TOS, it was the Romulans who cared about honor, while to Klingons, "honor is a despicable trait".Boris ------------------ "Wrong again. Although we want to be scientifically accurate, we've found that selection of [Photon Energy Plasma Scientifically Inaccurate as a major Star Trek format error] usually indicates a preoccupation with science and gadgetry over people and story." ---a Writers' Test from the Original Series Writer's Guide [This message has been edited by Boris (edited October 03, 1999).]
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Sol System
Member # 30
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posted
The Klingons were certainly more pragmatic about it during TOS. Then again, Klingons as a group are always somewhat pragmatic about honor. It's their cultural ideal, but much like humans, they can make a lot of exceptions to it.At any rate, the Klingons were much more of a cipher in TOS, standing in for the Russians, among others. It wasn't until TNG that they began to be developed as their own species. ------------------ I do indeed and shall continue Dispatch the shiftless man to points beyond -- Soul Coughing
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Jim Phelps
Member # 102
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posted
Being a Slav myself, I can tell you that the new Klingons and Russians have a *lot* in common, right down to their music. But now we're completely off topic ------------------ "Wrong again. Although we want to be scientifically accurate, we've found that selection of [Photon Energy Plasma Scientifically Inaccurate as a major Star Trek format error] usually indicates a preoccupation with science and gadgetry over people and story." ---a Writers' Test from the Original Series Writer's Guide
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Bernd
Member # 6
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posted
*LOL* on this Klingon-Russian comparisonThe BoP name is Romulan, of course. I guess that the Romulan reference was dropped at a stage when the BoP model was not yet completed. This explains why it nevertheless looks rather Klingon (thin wings, raised stern and front torpedo launcher like the K't'inga). ------------------ Get your free signature at Ex Astris Scientia
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Kosh
Member # 167
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posted
Sounds like you have a box full of collecter stuff there.------------------ Outside of a dog, a book is a mans best friend. Inside of a dog, it's to dark to read. Groucho Marx
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Elim Garak
Member # 14
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posted
Well, the Klingons were always pretty much used to represent the Russians until TNG (after which all instances are probably accidental).------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
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PsyLiam
Member # 73
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posted
Of course, it also look srather similar to the Romulan BOP, with the wings, the painted feather pattern. It's like a K'Tinga crossed with the original Romulan BOP.------------------ You know, when Comedy Central asked us to do a Thanksgiving episode, the first thought that went through my mind was, "Boy, I'd like to have sex with Jennifer Aniston." -Trey Parker, co-creator of South Park
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TSN
Member # 31
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posted
Y'know, "Bird of Prey" probably wasn't a Romulan name to begin with. It was a Federation name applied to Romulan ships which, appropriately enough, had birds of prey painted on them. One can assume that, when Klingons began producing ships shaped like birds, w/ birds painted on them, the Feds would go ahead and use the same term. "Cruiser" isn't a Klingon or Romulan term, yet it's used for some of their ships. Why not the same for BoP?------------------ "It'd be a pity if every pencil on Earth suddenly collapsed in on itself and blew everything up." -Krenim, TNO chat, September 30, 1999
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Bernd
Member # 6
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posted
From the part of the Federation, "BoP" could be a generic term for all starships looking like a bird-of-prey. The official Romulan and Klingon names, respectively, could have a completely different meaning. However, it is possible that "BoP" is the literal translation for both original names. Anyone speak Klingon? I always wanted to know what "B'rel" and "K'Vort" means.TSN, maybe you wish to edit your posting before Frank gets aware off it ------------------ Get your free signature at Ex Astris Scientia
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Dax
Member # 191
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posted
I'm surprised the Romulans don't have their own form of "BoP" in use now. All we ever see are their giant Warbirds. Surely the Roms would build fighter/raider type vessels as well.------------------ "Forgive me if I don't share your euphoria!" (Weyoun to Dukat, Tears of the Prophets) Dax's Ships of STAR TREK
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The First One
Member # 35
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posted
I have one or two ideas about that. Remember that the Romulans are very secretive - they became isolationist for years, people only saw the Warbird for the first time in 2364. They still maintain a Neutral Zone and don't let anyone through it. They ignore said neutral zone whenever they want, but only in force - i.e., with Warbirds. The only times we've seen other ships were shuttles or scout ships, and those were unusual situations. The only time they let a Federation starship - the Bellereophon - into thewir space, you can be sure they kept her away from anything important.
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Elim Garak
Member # 14
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posted
Well, they have a few runabout-like vessels. And experimental science ships.------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
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AndrewR
Member # 44
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posted
Rom mentioned in 'Little Green Men' that 'Quark's Treaure' could out-run a Romulan Interceptor------------------ "The story..." Londo says, "is not over yet. The story is never over."
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PsyLiam
Member # 73
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posted
Or the Warbird could be such a great design that they don't have many other classes. Alternatively, they could have several classes, they all just happen to look like D'Deredix class Warbirds.------------------ Cordellia: "Well, does looking at guns make you wanna have sex?" Xander: "I'm seventeen. Looking at linoleum makes me wanna have sex."
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Jim Phelps
Member # 102
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posted
Ok, I returned to the store, and didn't find the outline. I did find something more interesting, though: "Making of the Trek Films". An ILM employee confirms Okuda's statement that the BoP was originally supposed to be a Romulan ship commanded by Klingons. The change to a completely Klingon ship came while the model was being built - I guess that the model crew could have added a few Klingon details at that point, especially since the BoP was built off of sketches and prototypes, rather than detailed blueprints.Also, the whaling ship from STIV is actually a 140-foot long WWII minesweeper, which the production crew located and refitted a bit. Boris ------------------ "Wrong again. Although we want to be scientifically accurate, we've found that selection of [Photon Energy Plasma Scientifically Inaccurate as a major Star Trek format error] usually indicates a preoccupation with science and gadgetry over people and story." ---a Writers' Test from the Original Series Writer's Guide
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