2.11 Deflector Shields, Battle Configuration & Tactical Analysis

Deflector Shields

In brief: A series of energy forcefields which protect the Enterprise against both natural dangers and enemy attack. The defensive shields are very powerful and are more than adequate to protect the ship against most hostile forces. A NAVIGATIONAL DEFLECTOR sweeps far ahead of the Enterprise and pushes aside meteoroids and space dust which might otherwise be a hazard to the ship at high impulse or warp speed. The transporter cannot be used when the shields are in place. The ship's computer can automatically activate the shields in a crisis situation before our human crew can react.

Deflector shield power: Usually expressed in terms of percentage of shielding remaining, as in “shields down to thirty-seven percent... we cannot survive another attack.”

Battle Configuration (Saucer Sep)

In brief: In combat situations, the Enterprise is capable of separating into two spacecraft. This allows the saucer (which houses the majority of the crew and their families) to wait in relative safety while the remainder of the ship (the “battle section”) becomes a formidable deterrent force. When separated, command of the battle section is transferred to the battle bridge.

Battle section: This is the lower half of the ship, incorporating the Engineering hull and Warp Engines. The Battle Section is capable of warp speeds and is equipped with two photon torpedo launchers and a full spread of phaser banks and deflector shield generator. The top of the Battle Section (Deck 8) is the location of the Battle Bridge, which serves as a command center.

Saucer section (aka primary hull): When separated from the battle section (which contains the warp drive), the Saucer section is incapable of warp speed. The saucer section does have its own set of impulse engines for slower-than-light travel, and it has a complete set of deflector shields and phaser banks. When separation occurs at warp speed, the residual warp fields can take several minutes to fully collapse, so the primary hull can “coast” for some distance before it goes sublight. Control of the saucer section is managed from the main bridge.

Tactical Analysis

One of the more formidable weapons in the Enterprise's arsenal is its extensive tactical analysis ability. These capabilities and skills are often more important in the successful resolution of a crisis than are advanced weaponry and tactics. Our captain and staff are fully trained in cultural sociology, crisis analysis, and strategy. They are able to anticipate and deal with most potential conflicts, long before they reach the need for force.

Sensors and computers play an crucial part in the ship's defensive and offensive capabilities. The intelligence-gathering capability of these sophisticated systems are a powerful tool in evaluating potential adversaries and helping our people to estimate their probable responses.