398 lines
16 KiB
Groff
398 lines
16 KiB
Groff
and, by mimicking a radically increased gravitational field, pulls it
|
||
closer to the ship for examination or other purposes. Pressor beams use
|
||
the same technology but with polarities reversed to exert great
|
||
gravitational pressure on a small area. Conventional tractors and
|
||
pressors are effective only on masses less than several hundred thousand
|
||
tons; this makes their effect on other starships minimal. The net effect
|
||
of a full force tractor or pressor on a starship is equivalent to a hard
|
||
shove. Therefore, tractor and pressor beams generally are not used in
|
||
battle situations.
|
||
|
||
|
||
SCREENS
|
||
|
||
Defensive screening is one of the largest power drains in a Federation
|
||
starship and its main protection in battle. (Klingon -- being more
|
||
interested in offensive armament -- pay relatively little attention to
|
||
screening. But the better-engineered and -powered screens of a
|
||
Federation ship are a match for Klingon phasers.) The screens are a set
|
||
of classic force fields, domains of tuned high-state
|
||
particle/wavicle-packet fluctuations: six sets of field domains,
|
||
overlapping and reinforcing one another in a manner reminiscent of the
|
||
tuned reinforcement of phasers (i.e., one screen's destruction weakens
|
||
all of the others by 10 percent).
|
||
|
||
Enterprise has six screens -- fore, aft, right high, right low, left
|
||
high, left low -- that completely surround the ship when all are
|
||
running. Power can be selectively channeled to each of them to reinforce
|
||
one screen that's being attacked more forcefully than the others, though
|
||
this decreases the total power available to the others. Screens are
|
||
powered out of the warp drive and do not function at peak capacity while
|
||
the ship is in warp and running. This tends to encourage a captain to
|
||
choose "stand-and-fight" battle situations whenever possible.
|
||
|
||
Self-destruct can be effected by overloading all of the screens and
|
||
channeling full power to them. This option is available for last-resort
|
||
situations but is not considered a viable alternative in most battle
|
||
scenarios for obvious reasons. Those who bluff self-destructs often
|
||
find their bluffs called.
|
||
|
||
|
||
SENSORS
|
||
|
||
Enterprise's main sensor array (sometimes referred to as "scanners")
|
||
includes a variety of tachyar-based devices capable of detecting
|
||
movement or radiation and analyzing the composition and location of
|
||
almost every known element. At short range (up to 500 miles), the
|
||
sensors can detect individual creatures' life signs. At medium range
|
||
(500 to 50,000 miles) they are better at detecting movement and
|
||
radiation from the infrared up through visible light, the ultraviolet,
|
||
and x-rays; and doing compound analysis. Long-range sensing (50,000
|
||
miles to approximately 10 parsecs, or 32 light-years) is confined
|
||
primarily to very strong and artificial radiation sources (i.e., other
|
||
ships, which in warp drive tend to leave a readable "ion trail" behind
|
||
them) and large-scale physical movement (planetary orbits, stellar
|
||
motion, etc.). Certain lead-bearing and heavy-metal-bearing compounds
|
||
(pitchblende, etc.) will interfere with scanner functions. Long range
|
||
scanning in particular is easily disrupted by interstellar "jamming" and
|
||
"bad weather," because of the extreme length of the tackyon
|
||
particle/wave on which it relies.
|
||
|
||
Personal scanners, such as the tricorder, are also more effective at
|
||
close range (1 to 1000 feet) than at long range (5 to 10 miles).
|
||
Tricorder readings usually have to be supplemented with on-site
|
||
investigation: they tend to be vague.HF
|
||
|
||
|
||
TRANSPORTERS
|
||
|
||
Close-range transporters move people and objects by analyzing the energy
|
||
states of their atoms and then creating an equivalent set of states, or
|
||
Dirac jumps, at another location. (Therefore, one briefly "ceases to
|
||
exist" while in the transporter, which is what always makes Dr. McCoy so
|
||
nervous about using it.) The transporter's maximum range is 30,000 miles
|
||
(a little more than the usual orbital altitude of a visiting starship).
|
||
Because of the extreme proximity of the tolerances to which they must be
|
||
tuned to ensure that living beings get safely from one location to
|
||
another, transporters are cranky and delicate, and are constantly
|
||
malfunctioning for one reason or another: dilithium-crystal
|
||
misalignment; interstellar jamming, or "black noise" that threatens to
|
||
distort the signal: and so forth. When screens are up, the transporter
|
||
cannot be used to beam out of the ship. Overuse (heavy continuous
|
||
transporting for more than several hours) may cause transporter
|
||
circuitry to burn out. Intraship beaming is extremely dangerous and is
|
||
not recommended except in utmost emergencies. The result of beaming from
|
||
one location to another within the ship is almost always fatal.
|
||
|
||
|
||
SHUTTLECRAFT
|
||
|
||
Shuttlecraft are small general-use spacecraft powered by impulse power
|
||
only. They are used: for trips that exceed the transporter's effective
|
||
range, when the transporter is malfunctioning, and for carring objects
|
||
either too large or too delicate to entrust to the transporter. Their
|
||
power supply is rechargeable from the Enterprise but is still somewhat
|
||
limited. Their effective range is about 500,000 miles at .10 c.
|
||
(Shuttlecraft do not exceed this speed limit for fear of relativistic
|
||
effects.) This gives them up to about eight hours at cruise or an hour
|
||
at top speed.
|
||
|
||
|
||
COMMUNICATIONS
|
||
|
||
Subspace "radio" is actually a tachyon-based technology bearing little
|
||
resemblance to the radio of old. It is not dependent on lightspeed --
|
||
indeed the slowest it can go is c; its high speed limit is about 136,000
|
||
c, or warp 9. But even this great speed becomes insufficient for
|
||
effective communication as one's distance from Star Fleet increases. Out
|
||
near the Romulan Empire, for example, it takes nearly three weeks for a
|
||
message to reach Fleet. This leaves a starship captain pretty much on
|
||
his or her own, although regular communication with Star Fleet is
|
||
expected and advised. Subspace radio can be jammed purposely or
|
||
interfered with by bad interstellar "weather."
|
||
|
||
Communicators use the same technology but with a shorter range (about
|
||
40,000 miles) and much lower power. Use in atmosphere limits their range
|
||
to about 20,000 miles, because of the dissipation of tachyon pulses into
|
||
Cerenkov radiation on contact with the gas molecules in air.
|
||
|
||
Ship's intercom systems permits audio and visual communication and
|
||
conference calling to and from any location on the ship. One may also be
|
||
"patched in" to external communications, allowing these same
|
||
capabilities from virtually any location.
|
||
|
||
|
||
COMPUTER
|
||
|
||
Enterprise's computers are extraordinarily versatile, with a total
|
||
memory and "effective synapse number" that make some people wonder
|
||
whether they're slightly sentient. Their exact virtual memory size is
|
||
classified; it is rumored to be in the multiple petabytes(1 PeB equals 1
|
||
quadrillion bytes.) Computers can report verbally or visually (hard copy
|
||
or display) on any phenomenon the ship's sensors can detect and, if
|
||
requested, will include analysis. The computers also contain a vast data
|
||
base of general information on ship's function and other subjects.HF
|
||
|
||
|
||
SICK BAY
|
||
|
||
Sick bay contains various kinds of medical scanning equipment and
|
||
numerous devices for healing the sick: primarily the "anabolic
|
||
protoplaser," which forces tissue regeneration. The more delicate or
|
||
specialized the tissue (heart, brain, etc.) the longer such regeneration
|
||
takes. A broken bone can be reknit in about an hour. Damaged brain or
|
||
neural tissue regenerates in one to two days, but rehabilitation or
|
||
retaining time must be added.HF
|
||
|
||
|
||
SHIP LAY-OUT
|
||
|
||
DECK #1 DECK #7
|
||
Bridge Security
|
||
Library
|
||
DECK #2 Sickbay
|
||
Lab Transporter
|
||
Engineering
|
||
|
||
DECK #3
|
||
Turbo-lifts DECK #8
|
||
Recdeck
|
||
DECK #4
|
||
Turbo-lifts DECK #9
|
||
Reclamation
|
||
DECK #5
|
||
Spock's quarters DECK #10
|
||
McCoy's quarters Cargo hold
|
||
Scott's quarters
|
||
Uhura's quarters DECK #11
|
||
Chekov's quarters Phaser banks
|
||
Kirk's quarters
|
||
Cafeteria DECK #12
|
||
Briefingroom Observation deck
|
||
|
||
DECK #6 DECK #13
|
||
Turbo-lift Lounge
|
||
|
||
DECK #14 DECK #20
|
||
Turbo-lifts Gym
|
||
Pool
|
||
DECK #15
|
||
Maintenance DECK #21
|
||
Kitchen
|
||
DECK #16 Bowling alley
|
||
Warp-drive
|
||
DECK #22
|
||
DECK #17 Computer
|
||
Turbo-lift
|
||
DECK #23
|
||
DECK #18 Turbo-lift
|
||
Hydroponics
|
||
|
||
DECK #19
|
||
ShuttlebayHF
|
||
|
||
|
||
MISSION AREA
|
||
|
||
Partial description of active mission area: Galactic "southern
|
||
hemisphere,"Quadrantboundries:GalLong 290-310 degrees; distance
|
||
fromarbitrary Galacticcorevaries, 24000-27000 light-years.(Abstracts
|
||
ofplanets freelyadapted from Jane's Interstellar Gazetteer and
|
||
SystemCatalogue, 231st edition.By kind permission of the publisher, Jane
|
||
Interstellar Ltd., London WC1/Deneb V.)
|
||
|
||
|
||
ORNA/IOTA TRIANGULI
|
||
*******************
|
||
This system has 6 planets
|
||
Planet #2 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #3 has 3 moons
|
||
|
||
Free traders report one intelligent species (Name: ORNAE). They have a
|
||
reputation as great tool makers. Last contact: One standard year ago.
|
||
The Ornae were reported to be interested in Electronic Equipment and
|
||
Extracultural Artifacts. A striking borderline M-class world of blue
|
||
sandstone canyons and evaporated salt-pan seas. This is the home of the
|
||
Ornae, a strange protoplasmic/amoeboid species... never yet contacted by
|
||
Federation personnel but rumored by free traders to be the greatest
|
||
toolmakers in the galaxy. An Ornaet will use anything as a tool... even
|
||
itself.
|
||
|
||
|
||
MALAKIYY 12/789 CIRCINI
|
||
***********************
|
||
This system has 9 planets
|
||
Planet #1 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #5 has 3 moons
|
||
Number from primaries: 9
|
||
Diameter: 1860 miles
|
||
Mass: 3.5 sextillion metric tons
|
||
Distance from primary: 48.6 astro-units (4,519,800,000 miles)
|
||
Pre-existing information: Location uncharted; no preliminary mapping.
|
||
Planet name: Unassigned
|
||
|
||
From the surface of this small, dark rocky world, far out in its solar
|
||
system, a radio signal whispers desperately into endless night, crying
|
||
out for help...and the language it uses is ancient English.
|
||
|
||
|
||
ANDORGHA/KAPPA-1 APODIS
|
||
***********************
|
||
This system has 8 planets
|
||
Planet #1 has 3 moons
|
||
Planet #2 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #3 has 7 moons
|
||
Planet #5 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #6 has 4 moons
|
||
|
||
Planet location charted on two occasions. No confirmation of the
|
||
presence of intelligent life. U.S.S. Hastings attempted contact and
|
||
assumed lost. U.S.S. Vincennes also lost. Causes: Unknown. AREA
|
||
QUARANTINED. Commanders are cautioned to keep clear of this system
|
||
unless absolute necessity. An R-type world with a silvery, murky
|
||
methane atmosphere and a bad reputation...no Federation vessel
|
||
investigating it has ever come back.
|
||
|
||
|
||
HASTORANG/1214 NORMAE
|
||
*********************
|
||
This system has 6 planets
|
||
Planet #1 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #2 has 8 moons
|
||
Planet #3 has 4 moons
|
||
Planet #5 has 1 moon
|
||
System charted and mapped.
|
||
Planet name: Hastorang
|
||
Translation: "Lifemother"
|
||
Intelligent Hominid life
|
||
Level of civilization: Feudal
|
||
Single language: Daiya
|
||
|
||
Opened to licensed free trade four standard years ago. Prime Directive
|
||
is in force. A gorgeous M-type planet, almost a twin of Earth---but an
|
||
Earth stuck fast in the tenth century and populated by alien kings,
|
||
armored knights, distressed damsels, and wizards..."white" and
|
||
otherwise. And what of the dragons?
|
||
|
||
|
||
ACHIR/R OCTANTIS
|
||
****************
|
||
This system has 1 planet
|
||
|
||
Location and existence noted within last standard year. Area outside the
|
||
Federation's patrol corridors. Several forms of intelligent life
|
||
reported to share the sphere. All the species reported to be
|
||
technologically advanced. An alien species has built a Dyson sphere
|
||
around this lovely rose-colored sun---a stupendous feat of engineering,
|
||
now home to billions of people. But the star is dangerously variable and
|
||
about to flare up. Without the help of a Federation starship, billions
|
||
could die.
|
||
|
||
|
||
NIAU/I 139 CIRCINI
|
||
******************
|
||
This system has 8 planets
|
||
Planet #1 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #3 has 3 moons
|
||
Planet #4 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #6 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #7 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet name: Niau
|
||
Type of planet: Class "M"
|
||
Diameter: 6000 miles
|
||
Mass: 5 sextillion metric tons
|
||
Distance from primary: 2 astro-units (186,000,000 miles)
|
||
Satellites: 1
|
||
Intelligent life: Not confirmed
|
||
Contact: Unconfirmed finding of "BONES" of unknown landing party. An
|
||
Earthlike planet populated by an intelligent feline species in the early
|
||
stages of its space program. As yet there has been no official contact
|
||
with the Federation. However, a delirious free trader picked up in a
|
||
derelict ship near the system reported seeing the bones of a previous
|
||
exploratory expedition there. This observation has not been confirmed.
|
||
|
||
|
||
JAUZAH/4403 PAVONIS
|
||
*******************
|
||
This system has 4 planets
|
||
Planet #2 has 2 moons
|
||
Planet #4 has 3 moons
|
||
|
||
Location charted and preliminary mapping done. Intelligent life readings
|
||
un-confirmed. Readings confused and no final determination made. No
|
||
artifacts or other signs of life forms known to the Federation. Planet
|
||
name assigned randomly. A small, dry, cold planet, rich in minerals,
|
||
but barren of cities or other artifacts. Sensors insist that life has
|
||
evolved here...but it has not yet been found. Star Fleet cannot tell if
|
||
this is a trap, a sensor malfunction, or a misunderstanding.
|
||
|
||
|
||
KLUSOS/515 ARAE
|
||
***************
|
||
This system has 1 planet
|
||
|
||
Location charted and preliminary mapping done. Intelligent life found.
|
||
Hostile action precluded direct contact. U.S.S. Nihal attacked in orbit.
|
||
All communication refused. Nihal withdrew to avoid prolonging the
|
||
engagement. About as non-Earthlike as a planet can get---a world of
|
||
corrosive soil and an atmosphere full of hydrochloric acid. Why this
|
||
world"s sleek, glassy starships attack everyone who passes by remains a
|
||
mystery... as does what can be done to stop them.
|
||
|
||
TSHIO/803 MUSCAE
|
||
****************
|
||
This system has 6 planets
|
||
Planet #1 has 4 moons
|
||
Planet #3 has 3 moons
|
||
Planet #6 has 7 moons
|
||
|
||
Location charted. No mapping. Intelligent life found. Anomalous sensor
|
||
readings indicate possible contamination by more advanced culture.
|
||
PLANET QUARANTINED. Position classified. Prime Directive in full
|
||
effect. A world superficially Earthlike but housing a bizarre culture
|
||
uprooted from Earth by another spacefaring species in the dim past.
|
||
|
||
|
||
KHUT/43 PAVONIS
|
||
***************
|
||
This system has 2 planets
|
||
Planet #2 has 2 moons
|
||
Intelligent life found.
|
||
Contact: Ceased by request of Khut. Reclusive species, extremely
|
||
cautious. Privacy has religious importance. Federation vessels
|
||
are advised to avoid planet except in extreme emergency.
|
||
A hot world of mountainous continents washed by soupy seas of
|
||
hydrocarbons and liquid plastics. In those seas live the a'Khut,
|
||
intelligent and reclusive beings who in the past have asked only
|
||
to be let alone. Recently, however, they have been desperately
|
||
hailing every ship that passes their planet.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|