Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Dec 3, 2009 8:56:13 GMT -6
In this episode, Wesley is on the flight team at Starfleet Academy. The Enterprise is on its way back for the graduation ceremonies (Wesley is still a year or two off, but if I remember correctly Picard was scheduled to address the graduating class) when they receive word that an accident has happened. During a practise exercise near Saturn, the five ships in the flight collided, and one student (not Wesley) was killed in the crash. Picard of course volunteers Data and Laforge to help investigate the cause of the accident, and together they discover that the students had been practising a highly illegal maneuver, the Kolvord Starburst.
Locarno, the upperclassman who had talked them into doing the Kolvord Starburst in the first place, assures the other three that all they have to do is lie through their teeth and they'll be home free. The commandant might suspect, but there isn't enough evidence to convict them. Wesley, however, has been taught that "the first duty" of a Starfleet officer is to the truth, even if it hurts.
We were talking about Locarno in the Tournament thread until the poll was locked, but I think there are still some things to be said about him.
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Post by andrewlee on Dec 3, 2009 12:34:40 GMT -6
Lacarno was deceitful, arrogant, and unethical because he would have kept the truth about the accident to himself and the rest of the squad which haunted the dead classmate's parents! Tom Paris is modeled after him in many ways and is played by the same actor. I have never been a Wesley Crusher fan, but he did the right thing in telling the truth!
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Dec 7, 2009 8:38:02 GMT -6
I don't think Locarno was a bad guy. It just never occured to him that the Kolvord Starburst was banned for a good reason. He thought they could do it without having an accident. His only mistake was in not taking responsibility for it the way he should have. For that reason alone, he wouldn't have been a good Starfleet officer.
What about Boothby? He was an interesting character, wasn't he?
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Post by andrewlee on Dec 7, 2009 10:39:15 GMT -6
Boothby was around for a long time at Star Fleet Academy. A number of Star Fleet personal made references to him. He had a lot of good advice that he generously passed on to the students there!
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Dec 10, 2009 9:02:55 GMT -6
Who else mentioned Boothby?
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Post by Enchanted Girl on Jun 12, 2010 18:44:12 GMT -6
I'm surprised you memorized his name. I certainly couldn't remember it, although I do remember everything that happened in the episode.
I do think Wesley did the right thing, but I kind of went through the same emotions he did at the end of the episode. I thought there was NO WAY Locarno would have lied and suffered for the rest of their sakes, even though he told Wesley he would. I was certain he was just being manipulative and then at the end of the episode, he did just what he said he would. Yes, Wesley did the right thing, but I don't blame him for feeling like crap about it after the ending of that episode.
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Jun 14, 2010 7:39:18 GMT -6
Well, I have the advantage of having seen it half a dozen times. And about a year ago, not being able to find a TNG compendium at my bookstore, I started compiling my own, jotting down notes as I watched the episodes.
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Luke
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Post by Luke on Jun 23, 2010 11:27:52 GMT -6
Do you think anybody still does the Kolvoord starburst?
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Jun 25, 2010 7:51:26 GMT -6
Just because cadets were banned from doing it doesn't mean that professional stunt pilots couldn't do it. I say why not?
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Arkroyal
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Post by Arkroyal on Jun 25, 2010 10:19:03 GMT -6
It's quite possible the sort of thing that a Red Arrows type outfit would do. If trainee RAF pilots were caught doing half the things the Red Arrows do I expect the consequences would be harsh. Quite probably they'd be dishonourably discharged. (Not being in the military I cannot verify that last bit.)
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Luke
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Post by Luke on Jun 30, 2010 11:34:50 GMT -6
Did you notice their quarters at the academy had doorknobs? How quaint!
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Atoz 77
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Post by Atoz 77 on Jul 2, 2010 7:59:13 GMT -6
Military academies are often like that. They want to get the students used to deprivation. But on the other hand, what's to say that most buildings on Earth still use good old-fashioned, tried and true technology like doorknobs?
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