Improve On...Technical Knowledge!

[kawolsky]

Improve on...Technical Knowledge
by Jon Tulley

Here's some helpful information to assist with roleplaying sourced mostly from http://techspecs.acalltoduty.com/. This is a great website full of detailed technical data for every Federation ship.

Note. Some ships performance specifications vary and I have clearly indicated where this applies.

Table of Contents

1. Ship operating modes

2. Security Levels

3. Impulse Engines

4. Weapons

5. Shields

6. Tractor beams

7. Transporter system

8. Space communications

9. Universal Translator

10. Systems Diagnostics

11. Probes

1. Ship operating modes

The major operating modes are:

• Cruise Mode - The normal operating condition of the ship.
• Yellow Alert - Designates a ship wide state of increased preparedness for possible crisis situations.
• Red Alert - Designates an actual state of emergency in which the ship or crew is endangered, immediately impending emergencies, or combat situations.
• Blue Alert Á¢â,¬"œ Mode used aboard ships with planetfall capability when landing mode is initialized.
• External Support Mode - State of reduced activity that exists when a ship is docked at a starbase or other support facility.
• Reduced Power Mode  - This protocol is invoked in case of a major failure in spacecraft power generation, in case of critical fuel shortage, or in the event that a tactical situation requires severe curtailment of onboard power generation.

During Cruise Mode, the ship's operations are run on three 8-hour shifts designated Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Should a crisis develop, it may revert to a four-shift system of six hours to keep crew fatigue down.

Typical Shift command is as follows:

• Alpha Shift Á¢â,¬"œ Captain (CO)
• Beta Shift Á¢â,¬"œ Executive Officer (XO)
• Gamma Shift Á¢â,¬"œ Rotated amongst Senior Officers

2. Security Levels

Access to all Starfleet data is highly regulated. A standard set of access levels have been programmed into the computer cores of all ships in order to stop any undesired access to confidential data. Security levels are also variable, and task-specific. Certain areas of the ship are restricted to unauthorized personnel, regardless of security level. Security levels can also be raised, lowered, or revoked by Command personnel.

• Level 10 Á¢â,¬"œ Captain and Above
• Level 9 Á¢â,¬"œ First Officer
• Level 8 - Commander
• Level 7 Á¢â,¬"œ Lt. Commander
• Level 6 Á¢â,¬"œ Lieutenant
• Level 5 Á¢â,¬"œ Lt. Junior Grade
• Level 4 - Ensign
• Level 3 Á¢â,¬"œ Non-Commissioned Crew
• Level 2 Á¢â,¬"œ Civilian Personnel
• Level 1 Á¢â,¬"œ Open Access (Read Only)

Security Levels beyond current rank can and are bestowed where, when and to whom they are necessary.

The main computer grants access based on a battery of checks to the individual user, including face and voice recognition in conjunction with a vocal code as an added level of security.

From a roleplay aspect, these codes could be applied to almost any situation. On a personal log, a workstation or door for example.

3. Impulse Engines

We all know impulse engines are used to traverse distances where warp speeds would be infeasible. What you may not know is just how fast impulse speed actually is. In Star Trek canon, the impulse speed is measured in 0.00-0.99c, where Á¢â,¬ËœC' is percentage of speed of light. (Warp 1 or 1.0c, is the speed of light). Starfleet regulations stipulate that all vessels must travel no faster than .25c or 25% the speed of light to prevent time dilation. Impulse engines are capable of going faster than this if required, with an upper limit called Á¢â,¬ËœMaximum impulse'.

• Full impulse - .25c (1/4 speed of light)
• Half impulse - .125c
• Quarter impulse - .0625c

Maximum impulse:

• Akira - N/A Presume .75c
• Galaxy - .75c
• Intrepid - .80c
• Luna - .80c

4. Weapons

Starships use Á¢â,¬Ëœphaser emitters' arranged into strips called Á¢â,¬Ëœphaser arrays'. The term Á¢â,¬Ëœphaser bank' is used when the amount of emitters is small e.g. in a shuttle. Phasers are classified as particle weapons and utilize nadion particles. Phasers fire at .986c (almost warp 1) with an effective range of 300,000 kilometres.

The maximum effective range of a photon torpedo is 3,500,000 km for the Intrepid and Luna class and 3,000,000 km for the Akira and Galaxy class. They use matter/antimatter warheads with variable power settings.

5. Shields

Deflector shields are produced by a series of emitters placed throughout the ship which in turn, are powered by the warp engines and impulse fusion generators. All Starfleet ships have incorporated a mandatory nutational shift in frequency, the shields alter their graviton polarity to better deal with more sophisticated weaponry.

During combat, the shield sends data on what type of weapon is being used on it, and what frequency and phase the weapon uses. Once this is analysed by the tactical officer, the shield can be configured to have the same frequency as the incoming weapon - but different nutation. This tactic dramatically increases shield efficiency and was adopted in response to the Borg threat.

• Akira class:
  Asymmetrical subspace graviton field. Projection range on average is 10m away from the hull.

• Galaxy class:
  Symmetrical subspace graviton field. The shields, when raised, operate at two distances. One is a uniform distance from the hull, averaging about 10-12 meters. The other is a bubble field, which varies in distance from any single point on the hull but has a common centre within the ship.

• Intrepid class:
  Symmetrical oscillating subspace graviton field. Projection range on average is 30m away from the hull.

• Luna class:
  Symmetrical oscillating subspace graviton field. Projection range on average is 30m away from the hull.

6. Tractor beams

Tractor beams work by firing a graviton beam which creates a pocket of subspace fields around an object, lowering the gravitational constant of the universe within. This makes the manipulation of any object inside the pocket much easier. The tractor beam places spatial stresses on the object in specific areas, allowing it to hold the "tractored" object in a fixed location or alter its position and/or trajectory.

The maximum range of a tractor beam is 30,000km, the maximum mass the beam can manipulate varies in canon, so it's best to use common sense. Basically, the greater the mass of an object means a reduced effective range of the tractor beam and vice versa.

7. Transporter system

Personnel transporters are of a standard design aboard Starfleet vessels. They have a maximum range of 40,000 km with a maximum payload of 900kg (1,763 lbs). Each transporter room can transfer 100 persons per hour.

8. Space communications

Non-subspace communications range varies between ships, with a standard data transmission speed of 18.5 kilo-quads per second. All subspace communications travel at a speed of Warp 9.9997.

• Akira class:
  Standard Communications Range: 42,000 - 100,000 kilometres

• Galaxy class:
  Range unknown, assume maximum of 100,000 kilometres.

• Intrepid class:
  Standard Communications Range: 30,000 - 90,000 kilometres

• Luna class:
  Standard Communications Range: 30,000 Á¢â,¬"œ 90,000 kilometres

9. Universal Translator

So we all know about the universal translator, but what you may not know is that every Starfleet personnel has a receiver implanted into their ear canal. The famous badge is where the translator electronics are housed.

10. Systems Diagnostics

When you wish to roleplay a diagnostic, it's useful to know what type you will need and be aware of it's capabilities. Instead of saying "I perform a diagnostic" you can now be more specific.

Level 1 Diagnostic - This refers to the most comprehensive type of system diagnostic, which is normally conducted on ship's systems. Extensive automated diagnostic routines are performed, but a Level 1 diagnostic requires a team of crew members to physically verify operation of system mechanisms and to system readings, rather than depending on the automated programs, thereby guarding against possible malfunctions in self-testing hardware and software. Level 1 diagnostics on major systems can take several hours, and in many cases, the subject system must be taken off-line for all tests to be performed.

Level 2 Diagnostic - This refers to a comprehensive system diagnostic protocol, which, like a Level 1, involves extensive automated routines, but requires crew verification of fewer operational elements. This yields a somewhat less reliable system analysis, but is a procedure that can be conducted in less than half the time of the more complex tests.

Level 3 Diagnostic - This protocol is similar to Level 1 and 2 diagnostics but involves crew verification of only key mechanics and systems readings. Level 3 diagnostics are intended to be performed in ten minutes or less.

Level 4 Diagnostic - This automated procedure is intended for use whenever trouble is suspected with a given system. This protocol is similar to Level 5, but involves more sophisticated batteries of automated diagnostics. For most systems, Level 4 diagnostics can be performed in less than 30 seconds.

Level 5 Diagnostic - This automated procedure is intended for routine use to verify system performance. Level 5 diagnostics, which usually require less than 2.5 seconds, are typically performed on most systems on at least a daily basis, and are also performed during crisis situations when time and system resources are carefully managed.

11. Probes

Probes come in all shapes and sizes and are made for a variety of purposes. Here is the standard list of Starfleet vessel probes. When roleplaying, it's useful to know what information you need to know and which probe is best suited to the task.

Class I Sensor Probe:

Range: 2 x 10^5 kilometers
Delta-v limit: 0.5c
Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion
Sensors: Full EM/Subspace and interstellar chemistry pallet for in-space applications.
Telemetry: 12,500 channels at 12 megawatts.

Class II Sensor Probe:

Range: 4 x 10^5 kilometers
Delta-v limit: 0.65c
Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion, extended deuterium fuel supply
Sensors: Same instrumentation as Class I with addition of enhanced long-range particle and field detectors and imaging system
Telemetry: 15,650 channels at 20 megawatts.

Class III Planetary Probe:

Range: 1.2 x 10^6 kilometers
Delta-v limit: 0.65c
Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion
Sensors: Terrestrial and gas giant sensor pallet with material sample and return capability; onboard chemical analysis submodule
Telemetry: 13,250 channels at 15 megawatts.
Additional data: Limited SIF hull reinforcement. Full range of terrestrial soft landing to subsurface penetration missions; gas giant atmosphere missions survivable to 450 bar pressure. Limited terrestrial loiter time.

Class IV Stellar Encounter Probe:

Range: 3.5 x 10^6 kilometers
Delta-v limit: 0.6c
Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion supplemented with continuum driver coil and extended deuterium supply.
Sensors: Triply redundant stellar fields and particle detectors, stellar atmosphere analysis suite.
Telemetry: 9,780 channels at 65 megawatts.
Additional data: Six ejectable/survivable radiation flux sub probes. Deployable for non stellar energy phenomena.

Class V Medium-Range Reconnaissance Probe:

Range: 4.3 x 10^10 kilometers
Delta-v limit: Warp 2
Powerplant: Dual-mode matter/antimatter engine; extended duration sublight plus limited duration at warp
Sensors: Extended passive data-gathering and recording systems; full autonomous mission execution and return system
Telemetry: 6,320 channels at 2.5 megawatts.
Additional data: Planetary atmosphere entry and soft landing capability. Low observatory coatings and hull materials. Can be modified for tactical applications with addition of custom sensor countermeasure package.

Class VI Comm Relay/Emergency Beacon:

Range: 4.3 x 10^10 kilometers
Delta-v limit: 0.8c
Powerplant: Microfusion engine with high-output MHD power tap
Sensors: Standard pallet
Telemetry/Comm: 9,270 channel RF and subspace transceiver operating at 350 megawatts peak radiated power. 360 degree omni antenna coverage, 0.0001 arc-second high-gain antenna pointing resolution.
Additional data: Extended deuterium supply for transceiver power generation and planetary orbit plane changes.

Class VII Remote Culture Study Probe:

Range: 4.5 x 10^8 kilometers
Delta-v limit: Warp 1.5
Powerplant: Dual-mode matter/antimatter engine
Sensors: Passive data gathering system plus subspace transceiver
Telemetry: 1,050 channels at 0.5 megawatts.
Additional data: Applicable to civilizations up to technology level III. Low observability coatings and hull materials. Maximum loiter time: 3.5 months. Low-impact molecular destruct package tied to anti tamper detectors.

Class VIII Medium-Range Multi Mission Warp Probe:

Range: 1.2 x 10^2 light-years
Delta-v limit: Warp 9
Powerplant: Matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine; duration of 6.5 hours at warp 9; MHD power supply tap for sensors and subspace transceiver
Sensors: Standard pallet plus mission-specific modules.
Telemetry: 4,550 channels at 300 megawatts.
Additional data: Applications vary from galactic particles and fields research to early-warning reconnaissance missions.

Class IX Long-Range Multi Mission Warp Probe:

Range: 7.6 x 10^2 light-years
Delta-v limit: Warp 9
Powerplant: Matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine; duration of 12 hours at warp 9; extended fuel supply for warp 8 maximum flight duration of 14 days.
Sensors: Standard pallet plus mission-specific modules
Telemetry: 6,500 channels at 230 megawatts.
Additional data: Limited payload capacity; isolinear memory storage of 3,400 kiloquads; fifty-channel transponder echo. Typical application is emergency-log/message capsule on homing trajectory to nearest starbase or known Starfleet vessel position.

[Jon Tulley]

Updated with Luna class information.