I just read this from Ron Moore at some conference explaining the use of “tech” as a placeholder in Star Trek scripts.
http://scifiwire.com/2009/10/ron-moore-calls-star-trek.php
La Forge: “Captain, the tech is overteching.”
Picard: “Well, route the auxiliary tech to the tech, Mr. La Forge.”
La Forge: “No, Captain. Captain, I’ve tried to tech the tech, and it won’t
work.”Picard: “Well, then we’re doomed.”
“And then Data pops up and says, 'Captain, there is a theory that if you tech the other tech … '” Moore said. “It’s a rhythm and it’s a structure, and the words are meaningless. It’s not about anything except just sort of going through this dance of how they tech their way out of it.”
Amusing in a marklar way. I understand why writers might do this, especially where continuity is an issue (maybe they should use it more). But coming from Moore, I get the feeling that maybe he went overboard with the use of placeholders in plotting that series.
“No, Admiral. We can’t tech the tech because of reason.”
“Starbuck, I feel you.”
“The cylons are going to something us. And they have a another thing.”
