4.06: The Augments

[Dave]

4.06: untitled

Soong helps Archer track down the Augments before they can unleash a biogenic weapon.

edit: removed story synopsis that had nothing to do with this episode.

 

[McHorde-Trooper]

This three episode story was pretty enjoyable.

The question asked in one of the earlier threads about Kahn(sp?)
was answered. (Does that count as a spoiler?)

Uhm . . so is that Soong really the same Soong that built Data?
From all the descriptions I thought it was, but the last few lines . . ?

 

[Mariel]

Originally posted by McHorde-Trooper
Uhm . . so is that Soong really the same Soong that built Data?
From all the descriptions I thought it was, but the last few lines . . ?

I don't think so. Didn't he say that it would take a few generations to complete the work?
:blpaw:

 

[Dave]

I obviously haven't seen this episode yet, but I've been reading some online discussion about the practicality of the jump into space of the Augment (not very practical I think!)

We actually had this discussion before in the 'Total Recall' thread, and we found a website that explains the effects of a vacuum on the human body...
http://www.sff.net/people/Geoffrey.Landis/vacuum.html

Basically you will not explode if you hold your breath, nor will your eyes pop out like in 'Total Recall', but you would get swelling. Due to lack of oxygen you be unconcious within 10 seconds anyway, and dead after 90 seconds. Even with some kind of oxygen supply, you would freeze and be irradiated too.

It all depends on the length of the jump. The one in '2001: A Space Odyssey' would work. The jump in this episode appears to have been a much longer one. On the otherhand, these Augments are superhumans...

 

[Eway]

Yes, he said it may take a generation or two to complete the work. I have to admit...I did have a huge smile on my face during that scene. On another subject...who was that new blonde on the bridge....nice!!!

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by Eway
Yes, he said it may take a generation or two to complete the work. I have to admit...I did have a huge smile on my face during that scene. On another subject...who was that new blonde on the bridge....nice!!!

Who is she?

Archer makes the jump into space, not an Augment as I was led to believe, (or did Malik follow Archer.) But Archer's jump was only a little jump and he was being transported at the time. My only thought would be that if he could get frostbitten, then he should have taken longer to recover. Without medical treatments not presently available to us, he should have lost some fingers or toes.

Arik Soong begins the research into cybernetics, but it is his grandson Noonian Soong who builds B4, Lore, Data and Juliana.

There were other references to 'future' Trek in this episode: Archer threatens a Klingon captain with the humiliation of commanding a garbage scow, and the Augments discuss the fable of the 'Botany Bay' and Khan with Soong

A few nits:

If the universal translator is now good enough for Archer to speak fluently, and in six dialects, to the Klingon captain, and the Klingon captain in return could make himself very clear, then why did Uhura and Chekov need to scrabble about for phrase books in 'The Undiscovered Country' saying things like "We am thy cargo vessel?"

Also, do Klingon ships really have escape pods?

These are the guys who's code of honour means that they would rather die in battle than have their honour questioned. Ha! I would laugh in their faces at their escape pods if I was in their fleet. Then I'd have them immediately executed for dishonour! And I would inflict discommendation on all their family members too! And for the next three generations too!

How could Malik know about the launch of the 'Botany Bay' yet wasn't sure if Soong would know the reference? Soong taught the Augments everything they knew, or at least left them "the books." If it was so top-secret that all the official records were destroyed, and if Soong didn't know about it, how did they find out about it?

This wasn't as good as last weeks (and I missed the earlier episode ) but it is far better than most of the dreadful Season 2. The next arc of three looks good too.

 

[McHorde-Trooper]

. . why did Uhura and Chekov need to scrabble about for phrase books in 'The Undiscovered Country' . .

I thought the point of that scene was that they thought using the translator would give away the fact that they were not Klingon.
In some way translators programs are detectable. Monotone? Signal? Or maybe the other party hears the translation and the original words.

Although I think your nit of the translator is still very valid.

 

[ray gower]

It was by no means a bad episode, but there are several problems even ignoring Archer's little space walk and the Universal Translator.

There was another problem with the talking to the Klingons scene, other than the UT. Has anybody seen a Klingon stutter and hum before speaking like Archer was, or even be as limpwristed in his floundering "I wouldn't make comments like that about the Chancellor"? It would be my observation that polite Klingon chat would expect conspirational laughter and an even more lude response- Even more so if the Chancellor was present. Or the indecisive commander would expect ceremonial early retirement?
Or perhaps the UT makes a rather more liberal translation of what is said?

How did what-is-face get aboard the Enterprise at the end?
Enterprise didn't dock with the warbird and as far as we've seen todate the Klingons do not have transporters yet?

Won't ask how did breaking an arm kill somebody, just yet