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Basically I was wondering, going from Mike's Reign of Terror, how long it would take a civilization to get any significant info out of the systems of say, an ISD.

How long would it take for say, the Feds to be able to have a military-industrial complex based on SW tech if they found an ISD?

Likewise, how long would it take modern day Earth to be able to build SW tech?

Decades for the Feds?
A century for current Earth?

Longer, less?

Centuries for the feds and thousands for current earth. After look at all the technology that the enterprise ran into under Kirk yet even almost 100 years later you don't see any of the technology or any applications of the simpler ones.

Are you asking how long would it take the Federation or modern Earth to build a Star Wars grade ship--say, an Imperial Star Destroyer?

Probably hundreds of years for the Federation, and a thousands for Earth.

Let's see. First, we'd have to figure out a way to access the ISD's computers. We don't know how heavily-encrypted the information in them is, or how many computer lockouts we'd have to get through. We could be looking at decades or even hundreds of years just to crack their encryptions.

Then, we have to translate from Basic to English. That's probably going to take years, even ignoring the near-impossibility of translating some of the more technical terms. The good news is, the computer core may include the Periodic Table, which should have some overlap with our Periodic Table--though it may also have some elements we don't know anything about.

Then, it's going to be a matter of analyzing and cataloguing the data--which could take decades by itself. Let's say, for example, we call up a file in the database on the BlasTech DL-44 blaster. It shows all the blaster's component parts and how to field-strip the weapon, perform routine maintenance, and even how to make some repairs to it.

Now, we have to dig up the files on each individual component used in the BlasTech DL-44. Assume that the database is designed to make this as simple as possible--ie, you select the component you want to review, and it brings up files available about that component. Great, we now know how to build a BlasTech DL-44--we know what parts are required and how to assemble them. Maybe, just maybe, this hypothetical database will (for whatever reason) include detailed instructions on how to manufacture these parts. On the other hand, there's no real reason for an ISD to be carrying around detailed files on the manufacturing of parts for a BlasTech DL-44--or, for that matter, to be carrying around detailed files on the construction of components necessary for building your own ISD.

However, let's assume that this theoretical database has Everything You Need To Know About Star Wars Technology, and given sufficient time, you can literally learn how to build anything, ranging from a pocket comm to a heavy turbolaser battery to the Death Star II.

Going back to the DL-44 example, we now know the components needed to make a BlasTech DL-44. Next, we have to figure out what machines are going to be needed to make the parts, and what materials will be needed in the manufacturing process. Then, we have to bring up the database information on those machines, and figure out what materials--and machines--we'll need to make the machines to make the components to put together a BlasTech DL-44.

And it goes on, and on, and on, because those machines are in turn going to require particular materials--that may or may not be available on Earth--and other machines to be built in the first place.

Here is where the Federation has an advantage--a pre-existing industrial capability for FTL capability. At least the Federation, once it figures out what materials it needs to build the BlasTech DL-44, can just hop into starships and go acquire those materials--assuming, of course, the Federation knows where it can FIND those materials, and has the means to acquire them. Of course, we know Tibanna gas comes from (some) gas giants, and you need Tibanna gas to make blaster cartridges. Can the Federation find a gas giant with this substance, and then effectively 'mine' the gas giant? Maybe, but the Federation may have to build machines to do the mining. Which will, in turn, require machines to build the machines to...yeah, you get the idea.

And for modern Earth, it's even worse--because, for the time being, we're effectively limited to materials present on this planet! Unless we find out Tibanna gas is available on Earth, we're going to have to build up the capability to travel to other planets before we even need to worry about building the mining equipment needed to acquire the tibanna gas for the DL-44 in the first place!

So, the modern Earth timeline for building a BlasTech DL-44:
Step 1: Unlock ISD computer core.
Step 2: Translate Basic to English.
Step 3: Build industrial capability to support systemwide space travel.
Step 4: Use access to entire solar system to gather whatever materials are needed--and available--for further industrialization.
Step 5: Pray that all materials necessary to build the BlasTech DL-44 are available in the Sol system. If so, proceed to Step 9.
Step 6: Use newly-acquired resources to expand industrialization efforts.
Step 7: Achieve FTL spaceflight.
Step 8: Explore galaxy in search of materials needed to build the BlastTech DL-44 as well as materials needed to build whatever machines are required to build all the component parts of the DL-44. And, of course, the materials needed to build the machines to build those machines...and so forth and so on.
Step 9: Begin construction of machines needed to build the component parts of a BlasTech DL-44.
Step 10: Assemble component parts into a completed, functional BlasTech DL-44.

Congratulations! Earth has now succeeded in building a BlasTech DL-44 pistol. Now to find this "neutronium" we need for the hull of an ISD, and the "hypermatter" we need for the power source...

In summation, "thousands" of years for Earth to catch up with the Star Wars technology level is probably being wildly optimistic--it's assuming that, not only does this hypothetical database spell out for us how to create the technology it contains, as well as the concepts behind that technology, but goes so far as to flat out TELL Earth how to go about building the most basic spaceflight and FTL capabilities we'd require to begin the process of industrializing enough to start thinking about using this technology!

The Federation may well take hundreds of years, despite its enormous advantages in some areas--or longer, depending on how much further advanced than "current" Federation science the technology contained in that ISD's theoretical database is.

Don't forget to factor in all the wars your going to have to fight in order to hold onto this 'treasure chest' of miracle technology. Unless someone actually thinks the Romulans and Klingons wouldn't want a piece of the thing?

That's not even considering the wars that might result on modern earth, you might as well just name the ship Ares thanks to all the wars it'll cause.

Seriously, it sounds like a godsend but in reality would be the galactic equivalent of a hot potato.

One thing. ISDs are combat warships not colony ships. Does an ISDs computers contain useful information on how to actualy build up stuff ? Maybe all they contain is software needed to run the various weapons and systems on the ship. A good analogy would be the computers on a real life warship. They dont contain info on making the radar, missiles etc found on the ship only stuff that is needed to run these things.

Also, in star wars, there has been interstellar nations for over 25,000 years, maybe even many times that. The number of preceding technologies would be immense. There would be hundreds, if not thousands of transitory machines that would be needed to be built. Also, would the ISD database contain all of the laws of physics which neither earth nor fed scientists know, but star wars scientists know?

Besides, how can the Federation (and especially modern Earth) build something they don't have the means to build due to the non-existence of certain alloys, materials and lack of the necessary scientific and engineering knowledge etc.?

However just seeing the stuff in action or even in part will spur innovation and will advance science. After all the tie's use ion engines of which we already understand the basics. And also we would know that faster than light travel of some form is possible. So with in a few years you might see some improvements in existing technology and perhaps new stop gap technology that mimics the easier to produce techs.

I'd reckon only a few thousand years- it took the Republic only 25,000 to get to where they are, and they didn't have the benefit of all the technology given to them on a silver platter, as it were.

Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba wrote:I'd reckon only a few thousand years- it took the Republic only 25,000 to get to where they are, and they didn't have the benefit of all the technology given to them on a silver platter, as it were.

Ummm...the Republic. There are numerous bits that preceding tech that outrivals ours or the Federation for thousands of years before hand.

Kerneth put it best. It would take all that...to build the DL-44...let alone anything else. And that is IF the ISD has "Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask..."

I think everyone is going about this the wrong way...

If I Discovered an ISD Computer core, the LAST thing I would try and do is use it to try and build a full ISD!

Understanding the concepts of HyperMater, HyperDrives, and how how to make both would be FAR more important to civilization. Thinking of ALL the Tech needed for an ISD, or even an X-Wing, It would be foolish to try and do something on such a scale.

Just replicating FTL Travel, however primitive, would advance society by leaps and bounds! ((Eh, Technologicalicly speaking, Social Society would remain as screwed up as ever ))