Scimitar Observations

Mad · Post by **Mad** » 2003-02-14 03:15pm

I've brought the following idea up before, but it hasn't really been addressed to my knowledge:

The Scimitar may have weak KE shielding, overall. The Scimitar has two shielding systems, but perhaps they are simply two layers of the same shield system. For protection against torpedo attacks, the top layer could detonate a photon torpedo by interfering with its electronics. Since a photorp explosion is mostly EM radiation (the result of a M/AM reaction), the lower shield simply absorbs the gamma rays. KE would be very low (basically any remaining bits of the casing).

Quantum torpedoes work via an unknown method, perhaps with more KE. This could explain why quantums were so effective in causing the Scimitar to shake heavily despite having its shields remain above 70% throughout the battle. It's possible that the shields, quite simply, don't handle KE very well.

Post by **AdmiralKanos** » 2003-02-14 03:20pm

Alyeska wrote:We have seen far worse impacts in planetary crashes for Federation ships yet they didn't cause near so much damage.

Both the E-D saucer and Voyager skipped and slid like a pebble skipping over water. That's not the same as a direct impact. Skip a rock as hard as you can over water or ice, and it probably won't shatter. Throw that same rock as hard as you can at a vertical rock wall, and it probably will shatter.

Then there is the whole shield aspect. It just doesn't make sense that shields would play no role. The best I can think of is that Schinzon lowered the shields on the Scimitar knowing the Enterprise had no more weapons and was waiting for Picard to finally relent and beam over.

That would be completely insane. Picard could just as easily beam over a bomb if he lowered his shields. This is like turning your back on an enemy who's run out of ammo in the hopes that he'll surrender instead of pulling out a knife.

Silver · Post by **Silver** » 2003-02-14 05:31pm

That would be completely insane. Picard could just as easily beam over a bomb if he lowered his shields. This is like turning your back on an enemy who's run out of ammo in the hopes that he'll surrender instead of pulling out a knife.

This is Trek. This surprises you how?

The Silence and I · Post by **The Silence and I** » 2003-02-16 02:24pm

Mad wrote:I've brought the following idea up before, but it hasn't really been addressed to my knowledge:

The Scimitar may have weak KE shielding, overall. The Scimitar has two shielding systems, but perhaps they are simply two layers of the same shield system. For protection against torpedo attacks, the top layer could detonate a photon torpedo by interfering with its electronics. Since a photorp explosion is mostly EM radiation (the result of a M/AM reaction), the lower shield simply absorbs the gamma rays. KE would be very low (basically any remaining bits of the casing).

Quantum torpedoes work via an unknown method, perhaps with more KE. This could explain why quantums were so effective in causing the Scimitar to shake heavily despite having its shields remain above 70% throughout the battle. It's possible that the shields, quite simply, don't handle KE very well.

This could work... and there is evidence for Q-torps having a relatively high K.E., or momentum anyway: http://stardock.hispeed.com/moviesfiles/defiantb.mpg

If it asks for a password, you can find it here: http://stardock.hispeed.com/movies/movies.shtml

Look for the clip of Tom Riker commanding the Defiant.