Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Factual error: The Excelsior detects the incoming shockwave from the exploded Klingon moon Praxis and is hit seconds later. Assuming that the Excelsior in these times isn't operating within Klingon borders (or even the Klingon solar system) and is monitoring the neutral zone light years away, the Excelsior cannot be hit or even be surprised by a shockwave coming from so far away. Gravitational shockwaves or explosions (even huge ones) are not faster than light. It would take years to reach the Excelsior.

Goekhan

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Suggested correction: It's described as a "subspace shockwave" so by Star Trek parlance this is some type of disturbance that can indeed travel faster than light.

TonyPH Premium member

Factual error: When the crew member aboard the Excelsior detects the incoming shockwave, he states, "Energy wave at 240 degrees, mark 6, port". However, when the shockwave hits the Excelsior seconds later, it is coming from her starboard side. (00:04:05)

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Mistakes

Other mistake: When Sulu tells Kirk he is coming to help, he states the Excelsior is currently in the Alpha Quadrant. The problem is the the Alpha Quadrant in the Star Trek universe is one quarter of the total Milky Way Galaxy. While technically correct, Sulu giving his position as in the Alpha Quadrant is useless to Kirk in terms of knowing when to expect help. It doesn't matter where Khitomer is in the galaxy. Sulu saying he is in the Alpha Quadrant gives Kirk absolutely no idea of when he will arrive. He could be anywhere from 5 minutes away to 5 weeks away or even further. Remember, it was originally projected to take Voyager 70 years to go from the Delta Quadrant back to the Federation in the Alpha Quadrant.

Guy

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Suggested correction: The implication is that Excelsior has only very recently crossed the border from the Beta Quadrant to the Alpha Quadrant.

TonyPH Premium member

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Quotes

Captain James T. Kirk: Spock, you want to know something? Everybody's human.
Captain Spock: I find that remark... Insulting.

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Trivia

Trivia: Originally, this movie was going to be a prequel about when Kirk and Spock first met at Starfleet Academy.

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Questions

Question: I always feel like I'm missing something with the scene where Kirk orders the Enterprise to reverse at the beginning of the battle. It confuses the Klingons and leads to a short respite in taking fire, which I would assume was exactly Kirk's intention, but then Kirk himself expresses confusion that the Klingons had stopped firing. What else could Kirk have been trying to do with that action?

TonyPH Premium member

Chosen answer: Kirk is highly skilled and experienced in combat. He knows the bird of prey must be between the Enterprise and the planet, so he instinctively orders a reverse after they are hit, fearing that they are at point-blank range. Chang is worried that Kirk may have somehow detected him, so he holds fire and repositions, but Kirk is merely being cautious.

BaconIsMyBFF

Answer: Kirk wants to buy time to find a way to detect Chang's ship. Reversing is an unorthodox tactic so Chang is also thinking.

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