----- Original Message ----- From: Murray mjsmith@tcd.ie

I have a theory about Mellanby's ability to leave the Federation with Dayna. He made a deal with the authorities that he be allowed to leave, in return for giving them the fruits of his weaponry research.

Hmmm... a bit unlikely. He says that he was tortured before telling them what they wanted to know; when Servalan asks him if he feels guilty, he replies that he does, but when offered a chance to save Dayna, took it. If he did something innocent, why would he feel guilty afterwards?

In any case, if Mellanby did what you say, that would mean he cut a deal with the Federation to use his own research to kill his own friends in the rebel movement, and he couldn't have been unaware of this. So if he did make a deal with the authorities, he's still selling out his friends to save his own hide.

This can explain his attitude towards weapons on Sarren, in terms of researching and developing them but not using them to kill.

Actually, it seems like that scenario would make him *less* likely to be developing weapons. Put it this way: Mellanby is a rebel, who has just cut a deal with the authorities to give them research which he knows they will use on his fellow rebels. Knowing that his own research has just led to the death of his friends, isn't this a good reason to, like Alfred Nobel, hang up the old tool-belt? And if he's developing weapons on Sarran with the intention of selling them to the Federation later... then what that says about his ethics is very, very sinister indeed.

He knows that he is good at weapons research and development, so continues with it, but has a belief that if his weapons are used to kill (like in the rising on Earth) they will produce results that will hurt him and his family.

But, as Dayna asks, why go on doing it in that case? Why not design nonfatal weapons, or other devices using the same technological skills (after all, a lot of weapons research used in WWI and II has since been turned to applications in everything from construction to airline safety)? If his weapons are used at all, they will *naturally* be used to kill, else what's a weapon for? Look what happens when Servalan gets hold of a gun. Look what happens when Chel gets hold of a gun. Look what happens when Dayna gets hold of a gun... For him to take the attitude you outline is selfish at best and criminal at worst.

Fiona

The Posthumous Memoirs of Secretary Rontane Decidedly Tarantinoesque at http://nyder.r67.net

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----- Original Message ----- From: Murray mjsmith@tcd.ie

Fiona,

...

Actually, it seems like that scenario would make him *less* likely to be developing weapons. Put it this way: Mellanby is a rebel, who has just

cut a

...

deal with the authorities to give them research which he knows they will

use

...

on his fellow rebels. Knowing that his own research has just led to the death of his friends, isn't this a good reason to, like Alfred Nobel,

hang

...

up the old tool-belt? And if he's developing weapons on Sarran with the intention of selling them to the Federation later... then what that says about his ethics is very, very sinister indeed.

The problem is that he is a fugitive. Unlike Nobel, he can't take up a career as a philanthropist, as he'll be found out by the Federation. Also,

I didn't particularly mean he had to become a philanthropist, just give up making weapons... or, as I suggested, start developing more practical things along the same lines. Laser surgery tools, perhaps?

there's the question of where he gets his money from. Nobel was a millonaire when he gave up making dynamite.

True-- but "I needed the money" isn't a terribly moral excuse for making weaponry either :).

I recall the 'Voyager' episode you mentioned, with the villain called Seska, something which had me in fits of laughter.

I wonder if it was deliberate? I mean, names like Rani and Selma etc. crop up in a lot of SF shows regardless, but Seska seems to be a bit harder combination to come up with... mind you, I know of at least one real-life person called "Saskia," so perhaps it is a coincidence.

Then, I also recalled a character in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation': a woman called Vash, a name pronounced the same way as the French 'vache', the word for 'cow'.<bg>

Yes, I noticed that one too, and thought it very appropriate :).

The Angel episode you mentioned was 'She', which I regard as the worst episode in that very good first season.

A lot of people don't like "Power" either. The only real problem I had with "She," actually, was the fact that she fancied Angel-- just once I'd like there to be a female guest character who doesn't.

Fiona

The Posthumous Memoirs of Secretary Rontane I blame Mr Rochester, myself, at http://nyder.r67.net

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----- Original Message ----- From: Murray mjsmith@tcd.ie

...

I didn't particularly mean he had to become a philanthropist, just give

up

...

making weapons... or, as I suggested, start developing more practical

things

...

along the same lines. Laser surgery tools, perhaps?

How can you be sure that thay can't be used as weapons?

Thing is, anything can be used as a weapon. A shoe can be used as a weapon if you use it to bludgeon somebody to death :). The point of making something else is that it has a purpose other than destruction-- where, as Dayna points out, the only thing Mellanby's weapons can be used for is killing.

I'd be surprised if she didn't find Angel attractive. That character's reaction was _mild_ compared to Cordelia when she first saw Angel:

It does, though, suggest a disturbing monotony of taste among the women of California :).

Fiona

The Posthumous Memoirs of Secretary Rontane More variety for your money at http://nyder.r67.net

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