The Others, the numbers, and the key

[Thinker]

To judge from the first episode, the Others were not responsible for bringing down Oceanic Flight 815. However, they seemed to have a fair idea right from the outset as to what happened, and some sort of plan `in place' apparently just for such things (notice how few instructions `Benry' had to give to Goodwin and Ethan - they *knew* what was expected of them). So the Others know that `incidents' like this happen from time to time, and bring with them the prospect of unwanted visitors. Call that item 1.

Next we have the Swan station; the equipment there apparently being directly responsible for downing Oceanic Flight 815. Yet, to judge from the orientation flick, the crew at the Swan Station was isolated from *everybody* else on the island, including the other Dharma folk. Call that item 2.

Putting these together, the following questions - one or two with long range implications for the show - become apparent:

1) Were the Others - `Benry's bunch' aware that it was the Swan Station that was responsible for the `incidents'?

2) Assume that the Others did have some idea as to what was going one with the whole entering the numbers bit. Do they still think the numbers are being entered, or are they aware that somebody (Desmond) activated what was supposed to be a complete shutdown procedure?

3) Just what are the consequences for the Others with the Swan Stations equipment permanently out of order?

If the Others were indirectly depending on the Swan Station equipment somehow, I can see them getting extremely teed off - maybe to the point of some sort of armed takeover.

 

[snoochface]

I think the Swan Station was just another experiment in the Dharma Initiative -- which Juliet said was "a long time ago". I'm not sure this batch of Others, some of whom are relatively young to have been involved in the original 1980-81 Dharma group, really cares much about that station, the computer, or the numbers.

I do find it interesting that they knew what was happening and what their immediate course of action had to be. They have probably been prepared for something like this since Danielle's group came ashore 16 years earlier, possibly even when Black Rock hit the island.

Someone in another thread mentioned the Others needing to keep whoever might stumble onto the island on the island, lest the island be discovered by the rest of the world. That's the best theory I've heard for why they needed such a plan in the event of an island collision.