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[[Image:Balok's_Cube.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Balok's cube.]]
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[[File:Balok's_Cube.jpg|thumb|Balok's cube]]
While mapping beyond previously charted [[space]], the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|Enterprise]] encountered '''Bollocks cube'''.
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While mapping beyond previously charted [[space]], the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} encountered '''Balok's cube''', a [[First Federation]] [[warning buoy]].
   
The [[sensor]]s registered the cube as entirely solid, each edge 107 meters long, and massing just under 11,000 [[metric ton]]s. But neither the sensors nor [[Scotty]]'s experience were able to explain how the device sensed the [[starship|ship]], moved to block it, and moved to remain in position.
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The ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[sensor]]s registered the cube as entirely solid, each edge 107 [[meter]]s long, and massing just under 11,000 [[metric ton]]s. But neither the sensors nor [[Montgomery Scott]]'s experience were able to explain how the device sensed the [[starship|ship]], moved to block it, and moved to remain in position.
   
The cube held a position 1593 meters in front of the Enterprise. [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] elected to play a waiting game. Eighteen hours later, with no change in the cube's status, Kirk convened a briefing. [[Spock]] speculated that the device with either a [[space buoy]], or "flypaper" -- designed to hold ships in place, or to measure their capabilities. He opined that it would be unwise to appear too weak.
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The cube held a position 1,593 meters in front of the ''Enterprise''. [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] elected to play a waiting game. Eighteen hours later, with no change in the cube's status, Kirk convened a briefing. [[Spock]] speculated that the device was either a [[space buoy]], or "flypaper" – designed to hold ships in place, or to measure their capabilities. He conjectured that it would be unwise to appear too weak.
   
The ship attempted to pull away, using a spiral course. The cube maintained its position, but at half-speed, began to emit dangerous [[radiation]], and to close on the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|Enterprise]]. Kirk first ordered a halt; when the cube continued to close and emit radition, he retreated before it. It maintained its approach, closing even at [[Warp drive|multi-warp speeds]], and emitting increasingly deadly radiation. It was finally destroyed at point blank range by a short burst of [[phaser]] fire.
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The ship attempted to pull away, using a spiral course. The cube maintained its position, but at half-speed, began to emit dangerous [[radiation]], and started to close on the ''Enterprise''. Kirk first ordered a halt; when the cube continued to close and emit radiation, he retreated before it. It maintained its approach, closing even at [[Warp factor|warp factor 3]] speeds, and emitting increasingly deadly radiation. It was finally destroyed, at point-blank range, by a short burst of [[phaser]] fire.
   
Events that followed revealed that the cube was intended first to hold the ship, and later to threaten it, so that the alien [[Balok]] could learn what sort of reaction this would prompt. At one point, Balok used Kirk's destruction of the cube as "proof" that the Federation was a hostile organization; this was a ploy on his part to goad Kirk for the purpose of testing him. ''([[TOS]]: "[[The Corbomite Maneuver]]")''
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Events that followed revealed that the cube had been intended first to hold the ship, and later to threaten it, so that the [[alien]] [[Balok]] could learn what sort of reaction this would prompt. At one point, Balok used Kirk's destruction of the cube as "proof" that the Federation was a hostile organization; this was a ploy, on his part, to goad Kirk for the purpose of testing him. ({{TOS|The Corbomite Maneuver}})
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:''These buoys were seen again in a non-[[canon]] source, the [[games|video game]] ''[[Star Trek: Shattered Universe]]'', this time belonging to the [[mirror universe]] Balok, used against the ISS ''Excelsior''. They were each easily dispatched by a few shots from the ''Excelsior'' fighters.''
 
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{{bginfo|The original version of Balok's cube was filmed at the [[Howard Anderson Company]]. (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 27, No. 11/12, p. 76) When the buoy was digitally rendered for [[Star Trek: The Original Series#Remastered|Remastered TOS]], it was intended that the cube not be drastically changed from its original appearance. VFX Line Producer [[Michael Okuda]] recalled, "''We wanted [[CBS Digital]] to recreate that almost exactly.''" Fellow VFX Line Producer [[Dave Rossi]] noted, "''We gave it a little more sense of dimensionality, I think.''" (''Spacelift: Transporting Trek into the 21st Century'', [[TOS Season 1 Blu-ray]] special features)|According to ''[[Star Trek Maps]]'' (chart B), these First Federation buoys were referred to as outpost buoys. There was a network of them with each buoy approximately 10 [[parsec]]s apart from one another, at the border of First Federation space.|This type of buoy was seen again, en masse, in the [[games|video game]] ''[[Star Trek: Shattered Universe]]'', this time belonging to the [[mirror universe]] Balok, used against the ISS ''Excelsior''. Each individual buoy was dispatched by a few shots from the ''Excelsior'' fighters.}}
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[[de:Baloks Würfel]]
 
[[Category:Probes]]
 
[[Category:Probes]]

Revision as of 11:20, 30 September 2013

File:Balok's Cube.jpg

Balok's cube

While mapping beyond previously charted space, the USS Enterprise encountered Balok's cube, a First Federation warning buoy.

The Enterprise's sensors registered the cube as entirely solid, each edge 107 meters long, and massing just under 11,000 metric tons. But neither the sensors nor Montgomery Scott's experience were able to explain how the device sensed the ship, moved to block it, and moved to remain in position.

The cube held a position 1,593 meters in front of the Enterprise. Kirk elected to play a waiting game. Eighteen hours later, with no change in the cube's status, Kirk convened a briefing. Spock speculated that the device was either a space buoy, or "flypaper" – designed to hold ships in place, or to measure their capabilities. He conjectured that it would be unwise to appear too weak.

The ship attempted to pull away, using a spiral course. The cube maintained its position, but at half-speed, began to emit dangerous radiation, and started to close on the Enterprise. Kirk first ordered a halt; when the cube continued to close and emit radiation, he retreated before it. It maintained its approach, closing even at warp factor 3 speeds, and emitting increasingly deadly radiation. It was finally destroyed, at point-blank range, by a short burst of phaser fire.

Events that followed revealed that the cube had been intended first to hold the ship, and later to threaten it, so that the alien Balok could learn what sort of reaction this would prompt. At one point, Balok used Kirk's destruction of the cube as "proof" that the Federation was a hostile organization; this was a ploy, on his part, to goad Kirk for the purpose of testing him. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver")

The original version of Balok's cube was filmed at the Howard Anderson Company. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 27, No. 11/12, p. 76) When the buoy was digitally rendered for Remastered TOS, it was intended that the cube not be drastically changed from its original appearance. VFX Line Producer Michael Okuda recalled, "We wanted CBS Digital to recreate that almost exactly." Fellow VFX Line Producer Dave Rossi noted, "We gave it a little more sense of dimensionality, I think." (Spacelift: Transporting Trek into the 21st Century, TOS Season 1 Blu-ray special features)
According to Star Trek Maps (chart B), these First Federation buoys were referred to as outpost buoys. There was a network of them with each buoy approximately 10 parsecs apart from one another, at the border of First Federation space.
This type of buoy was seen again, en masse, in the video game Star Trek: Shattered Universe, this time belonging to the mirror universe Balok, used against the ISS Excelsior. Each individual buoy was dispatched by a few shots from the Excelsior fighters.