Why only send 5?

[Andy9283]

It just occured to me that, why only send Niaomi in alone followed by 4 others, if they seem to be expecting a fight. Vests, gas masks, guns etc etc.
They seem to know theres survivors from flight 815.
They also know Ben and the others are 'natives', and seem to assume they cud be armed. Though i think they only know there is Ben and soe others, and have to compare names to the flight 815 list.

So why only send 4 people in against them odds?

They can't honestly expect to walk in on a lie, and snatch the master of lies Ben, then 'walk', well fly out.

[Reed]

Precisely. Bit of a plothole I feel. They have already failed their mission in a sense and that is bad because presumably they expected Ben to be WITH the Others.

[Matt Gogi]

Yeah that's a point I think this has been mentioned on here somewhere before, but maybe they have some sort of purge planned, hence the gas masks, so they could just obliterate the Others, take Ben, take the Oceanic 6 and bugger off

[Reed]

Bit of a large risk though, especially being that Naomi was the Leader of the operation yet they sent her in alone. Proceeded by sending only 4 [though crucial for the mission] Freighters - of which would more than likely die in a Purge.

The mission as a whole is VERY poorly organised. Naomi complained the team were not ideal for "this type of mission" when talking to Matthew Abbadon, though one would think they would have been better organised regardless.

The only one who has lived up to expectations is Miles', and that is only because he wants a $3.2 million pay-off from Ben. These Freighters are not the cleverest of people.

[esn]

I think this has got to lead in with my thoughts about Abbadon - that he is merely psostioning people on the island like peices on a chess board - or a backgammon board if you will. These people think that they are there to get Ben, but instead they are just as much a part of the game (for want of a better pharse) as the losties and the others are - they are there to fullfill a purpose, but not the one they thought they were there for.

[Reed]

Originally Posted by esn

I think this has got to lead in with my thoughts about Abbadon - that he is merely psostioning people on the island like peices on a chess board - or a backgammon board if you will. These people think that they are there to get Ben, but instead they are just as much a part of the game (for want of a better pharse) as the losties and the others are - they are there to fullfill a purpose, but not the one they thought they were there for.

But surely they are beneficial to some extent [to Abbadon/Minkowski] and what good are they dead? Who is to say they were not shot dead the moment they landed by Ben, Alpert and the Others?

[esn]

Originally Posted by Reed

But surely they are beneficial to some extent [to Abbadon/Minkowski] and what good are they dead? Who is to say they were not shot dead the moment they landed by Ben, Alpert and the Others?

Ok this is specualtion but Id guess that Abbadon knows that Ben etc wont shoot them if they got hold of them - hence the bullet proof vests. Dont ask me how, but part of me thinks that like there is an inside man (of sorts) on the island watching this going on - or perhaps two - one for each of the two main protagonists.

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by Reed

Precisely. Bit of a plothole I feel. They have already failed their mission in a sense and that is bad because presumably they expected Ben to be WITH the Others.

Hmm, I don't think it's a plot-hole.

It kinda makes alot of sense. It's classic stretegy - send in one person so as to not raise great suspicion. For a team which is not used to the environment and terrain like Naomi's lot, it makes sense for them to send in a skilled 'scout'. Someone with the ability and prowess to unlock the 'backdoor', if you will - and this is precisely what Naomi did (despite dying for her troubles). Had more of them been sent in on the first drop then it may have raised more suspicion. Also, and this is crucial I feel - the less links in the chain, the less chance for people to slip up or for mistakes to be made - especially when you're relying on a group of people who have specific skill sets but who are not fully fledged operatives (Naomi apart).

We can also compare Naomi's insertion to Ben (or 'Henry's') insertion into camp Lostie in S2. I have no doubt that this was planned (although Rousseau's trap may or may not have been part of that plan). The leader (or high ranking official) sent himself in to the lions den cos he was the only one capable of doing the job properly (see Ethan and Goodwin debacle) - this could help us understand why Naomi went in alone first off.

Tactics and strategy..and the art of war

I should also add that their "Primary Objective" may not be their "primary objective", if you get me. Oh, those crafty Freighties!

[Andy9283]

Very twisty indeed.
Though i can see why they sent all the friegties except for charlotte. Why they need an anthrapologist (Someone who studies fossils / rocks right?).

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by Andy9283

Very twisty indeed.
Though i can see why they sent all the friegties except for charlotte. Why they need an anthrapologist (Someone who studies fossils / rocks right?).

Yeah, it seems that way. In the other episode she mentioned that she 'needs to get to work' (or something to that effect) so it will be interesting to see exactly what this 'work' entails. Anthropology concerns the analysis of different cultures and life-forms, humanity etc and how they interact. It's quite a broad field, and it will be interesting to see which aspect of antropology Charlotte dabbles in As you note, we've already seen one aspect of her work (fossils etc).

[E Pluribus Unum]

Is it possible Charlotte was sent for, among other things, "Adam and Eve"?

[PaulineMRoss]

Originally Posted by Andy9283

Why they need an anthrapologist (Someone who studies fossils / rocks right?).

Anthropology is the study of people and cultures. Charlotte's PhD was in cultural anthropology, specifically. From Wikipedia, that is "investigation, often through long term, intensive field studies (including participant-observation methods), of the culture and social organization of a particular people: language, economic and political organization, law and conflict resolution, patterns of consumption and exchange, kinship and family structure, gender relations, childrearing and socialization, religion, mythology, symbolism, etc."

Fossils would come under palaeontology or archaeology, rocks would be geology. Archaeology is also a part of anthropology, and we can perhaps presume (because of the polar bear incident) that Charlotte has an interest in that branch of the subject too.

[Malion]

I've always thought, that due to the abilities of the frieghties that were sent, they were there for something other than Ben. The group of Dan, Charlotte, and Miles alone covers the various aspects of the island, Mathimatically, Historically, and Spiritually, plus Frank, who is their tour guide essentially, taking them to and fro to gather info on the island itself.

Abbadon = LOST fan who really wants to learn those mysteries.

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by E Pluribus Unum

Is it possible Charlotte was sent for, among other things, "Adam and Eve"?

Interesting thinking and certainly possible. One would further assume that whoever gave her specific instructions has a deep (if not recent) knowledge of the island, considering they'd know of Adam and Eve - who must be at least 100+ years old (including their 'death years'). Although time is different on this island.