N is for Nomad but who or what is he? Nomad appears in an epic Star Trek classic episode of 'the changeling' voiced by Vic Perrin. In 2002 this ancient space probe leaves earth on a peaceful mission, to seek out new lifeforms!...... On its interstellar journey Nomad encounters 'Tan Ru' another of its kind. Quite by accident a merging of computerized minds unites and becomes one. A new far superior device evolves from the joining with an entirely new mission. To seek out and destroy!
In a way this episode reminds me of V'ger from Star Trek The Motion Picture. Both machines are sentient however all is not what it seems. Neither Nomad or V'ger can comprehend human beings or our simple feelings! Despite Nomads vast knowledge imbedded into his data assimilation digital encoder, Earths 21th century space probe now believes humans are the enemy, imperfect in every way! We are to be exterminated! However, the machines mission of perfection soon proves to be its deadly weakness.
It mistakes Captain Kirk for his creator proving once and for all, Nomad too makes human-like errors!
CAPT. KIRK
I am the Kirk, the creator?
NOMAD
You are the creator.
CAPT. KIRK
You're wrong! Jackson Roykirk, your creator, is dead. You have mistaken me for him. You are in error. You did not discover your mistake. You have made two errors. You are flawed and imperfect and you have not corrected by sterilisation. You have made three errors.
NOMAD
Error. Error. Error. Examine.
KIRK
You are flawed and imperfect! Execute your prime function!
NOMAD
I shall analyse error. Analyse error,
KIRK
Now. Get those antigravs on it.
NOMAD
Examine error. Error.
In a way this episode reminds me of V'ger from Star Trek The Motion Picture. Both machines are sentient however all is not what it seems. Neither Nomad or V'ger can comprehend human beings or our simple feelings! Despite Nomads vast knowledge imbedded into his data assimilation digital encoder, Earths 21th century space probe now believes humans are the enemy, imperfect in every way! We are to be exterminated! However, the machines mission of perfection soon proves to be its deadly weakness.
It mistakes Captain Kirk for his creator proving once and for all, Nomad too makes human-like errors!
CAPT. KIRK
I am the Kirk, the creator?
NOMAD
You are the creator.
CAPT. KIRK
You're wrong! Jackson Roykirk, your creator, is dead. You have mistaken me for him. You are in error. You did not discover your mistake. You have made two errors. You are flawed and imperfect and you have not corrected by sterilisation. You have made three errors.
NOMAD
Error. Error. Error. Examine.
KIRK
You are flawed and imperfect! Execute your prime function!
NOMAD
I shall analyse error. Analyse error,
KIRK
Now. Get those antigravs on it.
NOMAD
Examine error. Error.
6 comments:
You're right - very similar to V'ger.
Nice post! I like the overview. Right now, I'm working on an N post, and I wish I'd thought of Nomad.
Love the post. I remember watching all the Star Trek episodes. You post brings back a lot of memories!
Good job,
Michelle :)
www.michelle-pickett.com/blog
A to Z Challenger
Thanks everyone. Its just as well Nomad never makes it to Earth!
Doesn't Uhura randomly get all her memories wiped by Nomad and need them reprogrammed? It's the saddest thing to ever happen to someone and not actually be a major aspect of a Star Trek episode. Right before the bum who gets zapped from history in "City on the Edge of Forever."
I believe Scotty tries to save Uhura from the 'mechanical beastie' which fails to appreciate why Uhura is singing 'Beyond Antares.' Its a shame we don't get to see more of Uhura in Star Trek but its great Nichelle stayed with the show.
Whoopi Goldberg told Starlog magazine, 'I've been a Trekkie from way back. The only time you ever saw black people in the future was on Star Trek.'
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