[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Solid points Ale, but

Spoiler!

They weren't authorized to use force to free their people, that's why the union was going to send diplomats in to negotiate.



On your second point, I keep going back in my head that this was a non space fairing race, that didn't even know that there was anyone out there. As well it was pointed out that their satellites weren't designed to look at the stars for study, but for position. In their minds as a non space faring species they would believe that those constellations were constant across the galaxy.

Spoiler!

I'm sure Kelly and Bortus knew they weren't supposed to kill about 40 people trying to escape. And also, when the straw that breaks the camel's back is a baby being taken OUT of the prison, from prisoners who believe they're supposed to be there anyway, so that it could have a privileged, wonderful life I can't buy in. The real hero of this episode was the baby's father.

Second point. Here on earth (in reality) we figured out stars and planets well enough to understand the perspective of the stars would change depending on where and when they were being viewed before we invented electricity. That society was extremely advanced compared that, so I find it difficult to believe they couldn't of built some telescopes and done some actual research.