The Probe in: 'A Day in the Strife'

[Recoil]

The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

Ok,

One thing I have always wondered, but never really found out, was WHO sent that probe? I know it wasn't really at the core of the story, and that knowing wasn't very important. I also believe that JMS never said who sent that probe out. (similar to the alien race that is attacking B5 in the Season 5 episode 'A view from the gallery'). But I am curious as to what the theories out there are?

A new race?
An unknown race?
A long dead race?
Relic of one of the departed first ones?

My personal theory, and watching 'Lines of Communication' last Friday spawned this idea, was that is was Drakh. If you look at the color, and the overall styling/design, it DOES look a hell of a lot like a Drakh fighter. Could it be one of theirs?

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[Arrghman]

Re: The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

would it be possible that the probe was sent by the Gallery aliens? just a thought...

i dont really think it would be drakh though... they've been under the shadows wing, so to speak, for thousands of years, so they wouldnt really have any reason for sending out that probe... although its possible that they sent out the probe a long time ago and it just happened to reach b5 then?

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[Quagmire]

Re: The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

The probe is designed anyone sufficiently advanced. Anyone who's goal is to advance lower races or those who's masters have this goal would not be behind the probe.

There is no mention of who sent the probe. The probe can be seen as a method of dealing with possible threats without the creators having to travel.

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[GKarsEye]

Re: The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

Ya know, the end of that episode bothers me a bit. The whole time, they're working their butts off assuming that the probe does what it says it'll do. Then, at the last minute, Sheridan comes up with an alternative, and just randomly decides to go with that conclusion. Why? Was it just luck? Why did it take him so long to come up with the solution?

The one thing it does for the show, though, is show us Sheridan's prowess as an under-the-crunch instinctive leader. But still, it was a bit too action-movie-ish.

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[superbob]

Re: The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

Alternatively, the probe could have blown up and destroyed B5. Making the shadow war a forgone conclusion.

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[bakana]

Re: The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

Deciding that the probe was a Fraud was one of those "Gut Feeling" sort of things.

Sheridan probably looks Gift Horses in the mouth, too.

The logic is valid, though. Why would a race that wants to "Help" less advanced races need to give an IQ test?

Races that can Pass the test are the least likely to NEED help.

Sheridan recognized a Con Game when he saw one.



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Do not ascribe your own motivations to others:
At best, it will break your heart.
At worst, it will get you dead."

 

[Jade Jaguar]

Re: The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

I agree that it was a gut feeling that Sheridan had, and it did seem like a con game, a rather common one these days with sales people, like: "This is my best offer, you've got to take it right now, I won't be able to repeat it later." But that said, I could imagine logical reasons for the probe's behavior, if it were on the up and up. The test would determine the level of advancement of the contacted civilization, and the threat of death would get them to take it seriously, act fast, and not hold back. This would allow the probe to tailor its offer of advanced knowledge to suit the civilization, and move on. That's logical, but that's not what happened, of course.

I'll have to confess that the ep and its resolution did seem a bit Trekish to me.

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[This message has been edited by Jade Jaguar (edited January 16, 2002).]

 

[bakana]

Re: The Probe in: \'A Day in the Strife\'

Nomination for the Art Imitates Life Award:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, arial">quote:</font><HR> Logically, a probe like this would be sent off looking for information on the very cusp of technology that could pose a threat. That's why it *didn't* go off when the probe presumed them to be a less developed civilization; it was looking for civilizations that *are* sufficiently advanced to pose a possible threat; Sheridan says exactly that as he walks across C&C.


Interesting aside on this, btw, in the "where do you get your ideas?" department. The US House Science Sub-Committee held a series of hearings into the question of extraterrestrial contact during the 1970s, to determine what we should do in the event of contact. The most likely scenario, the scientists agreed, was a probe coming into our solar system. So what do we do in response to a message asking if anybody's home?


Believe it or not, it was the consensus of the Subcommittee that we should not respond... in case it was a berserker, just as shown in the episode. That is our government's official policy on the subject.


I just went through my stuff trying to find it... there was a formal report published by the Government Printing Agency in around 1978 or so. I think it was entitled something like "Prospects for Contact by Extra- Terrestrial Intelligence," and went into the whole CETI issue at great length. (Back then, it was CETI, for Contact With Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, changed shortly after the House hearing on the subject to SETI, Search For Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.) Any GPA office should have the report on file.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



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Do not ascribe your own motivations to others:
At best, it will break your heart.
At worst, it will get you dead."