>Just for the sake of fairness, Federation starships (with the
>exception of the Defiant class) are not, primarily, warships.

I recognize that Starfleet doesn't believe it's purpose is to fight wars. However, you build a craft that has shields, miliary grade weapons, teach all your captains how to fight, have a security staff, and in general treat your crews with military discipline, you have a military force.

That Starfleet delibritely handicaps itself in this regard is amazingly frustrating to me. As if you can't have warships that do both science, exploraration and conquest. Please.

Now if you were to say that warships aren't the best tool for such ventures, I couldn't agree more. We see that a little in the movies - where we have space stations, or pure science missions. However, the US miltiary, the british navy, etc. have demonstrated that warships can carry out basic exporation and some science experiements in the course of their cruise.

Thus my rant above - if Starfleet believes that putting delibrite weaknesses in their weapons creates some sort of benefit to peace, then they're smoking something. All that happens is that your personnel are more likely to be killed than your enemies.

sorry, with the exception of the ST:TOS more realistic than it's descendents.

t.

Trigger Argee
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Manon, Orado, etc.
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