One Sovereign class starship in orbit around modern Earth

[Ma Deuce]

An alien space capsule with a similar level of technology to us was able to activate a airlock on Voyager somehow.

Didn't they allow them on? It's been a while...

No, they didn't: Due to the rate at which that pod and it's crew were moving through time, normal time appeared to be standing still for them, thus Voyager's crew never knew they were even there until after they were "forced" into normal time as a delayed result of leaving their own planet, which experienced time at a stupendously faster rate than the rest of the universe.

[Kamakazie Sith]

An alien space capsule with a similar level of technology to us was able to activate a airlock on Voyager somehow.

Didn't they allow them on? It's been a while...

No, they didn't: Due to the rate at which that pod and it's crew were moving through time, normal time appeared to be standing still for them, thus Voyager's crew never knew they were even there until after they were "forced" into normal time as a delayed result of leaving their own planet, which experienced time at a stupendously faster rate than the rest of the universe.

Ugh, give another point to starfleet computer security.

[TurboPhaser]

Um, since time was frozen from the aliens point of view, so would have Voyager's computers, they wouldnt have detected them.

Computer security has nothing to do with it.

How they actually opened the docking port, I don't know.
Maybe its a mechanical thing more than computerised.

They were able to move things in that TNG ep when the E-D was frozen, maybe similar thing.

[Darth Wong]

To answer the original post:

If the ship is in low orbit, people will be able to see it with the naked eye. This will make it rather difficult to do anything related to it without public knowledge. To wit, if it's orbiting at high velocity around 1200km altitude, it will appear roughly 1/7 the size of the Moon in the sky, and you will notice that, even without trying. However, if the ship is in high orbit (eg- an orbit similar to the Moon's orbit), it would be little more than a speck to most people. So without knowing the orbit, it's difficult to know how much the publicity issue would matter.

Nevertheless, I would project that some kind of reverse engineering must be possible, albeit only after a period of many years of intense study. After all, we know that warp drive is only a few decades away according to the Star Trek timeline, so it can't involve too many huge leaps in science and technology compared to our current level; just a few key "tricks".

[Kon_El]

Voyager's crew never knew they were even there until after they were "forced" into normal time as a delayed result of leaving their own planet, which experienced time at a stupendously faster rate than the rest of the universe.

Huh? my head hurts just thinking about that. What episode was that in?

[Darth Wong]

Voyager's crew never knew they were even there until after they were "forced" into normal time as a delayed result of leaving their own planet, which experienced time at a stupendously faster rate than the rest of the universe.

Huh? my head hurts just thinking about that. What episode was that in?

A stupid one, which I suppose is a redundant statement since we're talking about Voyager and the word "temporal". If their timeframe was so greatly accelerated with respect to outside space, the intensity of light falling on their planet from the Sun and stars would be insignificant from their reference frame. In essence, the planet would be plunged into near-total darkness, all the time.

[Aeolus]

I can't believe anyone would threaten mutually assured destruction over something like this.

I think an international colaberation would be more likely than a single country trying to grab it anyway, although obviously some countries would end up excluded.

Could the crew of the space station get to the ship somehow?

I think there is probably a teaching holodeck program for everything we would want to know, at least with regards to pure theoretical science and the running of nonmilitary aspects of the ship.

You don't? It would change the entire world order, a lot of nations would willingly go to war to either prevent or achieve that

[Kon_El]

Voyager's crew never knew they were even there until after they were "forced" into normal time as a delayed result of leaving their own planet, which experienced time at a stupendously faster rate than the rest of the universe.

Huh? my head hurts just thinking about that. What episode was that in?

A stupid one, which I suppose is a redundant statement since we're talking about Voyager and the word "temporal". If their timeframe was so greatly accelerated with respect to outside space, the intensity of light falling on their planet from the Sun and stars would be insignificant from their reference frame. In essence, the planet would be plunged into near-total darkness, all the time.

Weird I was thinking the exact same thing. The planet would have to be really close to its sun for it not to freeze.

[Vertigo1]

Better question, what happens if one Sovereign class Starship appears around modern Earth....with the population of SD.net on board, the Mods having computer access privalges for primary systems and Wong having superuser privalges?

And say the holodecks were shut down so no holosex

What the hell would we do? COuld we even agree?

Well, for one I'd dig up a copy of Star Wars and start replicating lightsabers and various other cool looking weaponry. Then I'd use the ship's communications array to download all the porn I could get access to (legally or otherwise) and use the ship's weapons array to target and destroy all RIAA, MPAA, and any bigoted asshole I can find. After all of this, I'd start repair work on the holodeck (with assistance from the computer of course) so all us sick freaks can *ahem* have fun. However, since I fixed the damn thing, I would get first dibs. (mmmm, hot women in Bora Bora) Then while the rest of you are busy fulfilling your sickest desires on the holodeck, I'm busy studying the sensor logs to see if I can figure out how to re-create the temporal rift that sent the ship back here to begin with. What happens next would be up to Mike.

[Kamakazie Sith]

Better question, what happens if one Sovereign class Starship appears around modern Earth....with the population of SD.net on board, the Mods having computer access privalges for primary systems and Wong having superuser privalges?

And say the holodecks were shut down so no holosex

What the hell would we do? COuld we even agree?

Well, for one I'd dig up a copy of Star Wars and start replicating lightsabers and various other cool looking weaponry. Then I'd use the ship's communications array to download all the porn I could get access to (legally or otherwise) and use the ship's weapons array to target and destroy all RIAA, MPAA, and any bigoted asshole I can find. After all of this, I'd start repair work on the holodeck (with assistance from the computer of course) so all us sick freaks can *ahem* have fun. However, since I fixed the damn thing, I would get first dibs. (mmmm, hot women in Bora Bora) Then while the rest of you are busy fulfilling your sickest desires on the holodeck, I'm busy studying the sensor logs to see if I can figure out how to re-create the temporal rift that sent the ship back here to begin with. What happens next would be up to Mike.

No offense to anyone but why would it be up to Mike? I know this is a fictional scenario but serious if we were all there we'd have to elect a Captain, and the most logical choice would be someone with command experience.

Not saying Mike or others couldn't perform the job but would they be the best choice?

[Darth Wong]

No offense to anyone but why would it be up to Mike?

Obviously because I'd be the only one with superuser privileges on the ship's computer, as per the post he was responding to.

[Kamakazie Sith]

No offense to anyone but why would it be up to Mike?

Obviously because I'd be the only one with superuser privileges on the ship's computer, as per the post he was responding to.

Of course, but I believe you're a reasonable man. Do you believe you would be the best choice to command a starship?

Personally, if I were in your position I'd give command to someone who we all believed would have the most experience in such a position. Not saying I wouldn't make a good Captain but I'm certain there are others on this board, particularly experienced military members, that would make a better choice.

[Kamakazie Sith]

What I said kind of comes off rather insulting. I apologize, I meant no offense by it. I was thinking about the situation and wanted to comment.

[Darth Wong]

Personally, if I were in your position I'd give command to someone who we all believed would have the most experience in such a position. Not saying I wouldn't make a good Captain but I'm certain there are others on this board, particularly experienced military members, that would make a better choice.

Wrong. The top personnel would all have to be physicists and engineers, for the simple reason that we are on this ship to extract some kind of benefit for mankind from its technology, not to go fight a war.

[Kamakazie Sith]

Personally, if I were in your position I'd give command to someone who we all believed would have the most experience in such a position. Not saying I wouldn't make a good Captain but I'm certain there are others on this board, particularly experienced military members, that would make a better choice.

Wrong. The top personnel would all have to be physicists and engineers, for the simple reason that we are on this ship to extract some kind of benefit for mankind from its technology, not to go fight a war.

I say we go explore! But you're right. I fucked up by not reading the opening post nor other important posts.

[Vertigo1]

Personally, if I were in your position I'd give command to someone who we all believed would have the most experience in such a position. Not saying I wouldn't make a good Captain but I'm certain there are others on this board, particularly experienced military members, that would make a better choice.

Wrong. The top personnel would all have to be physicists and engineers, for the simple reason that we are on this ship to extract some kind of benefit for mankind from its technology, not to go fight a war.

I say we go explore! But you're right. I fucked up by not reading the opening post nor other important posts.

Psst! Thats what shuttles and runabouts are for.

[Kamakazie Sith]

Wrong. The top personnel would all have to be physicists and engineers, for the simple reason that we are on this ship to extract some kind of benefit for mankind from its technology, not to go fight a war.

I say we go explore! But you're right. I fucked up by not reading the opening post nor other important posts.

Psst! Thats what shuttles and runabouts are for.

I suppose that wouldn't be too difficult. I wouldn't be flying them in any canyons or asteroid field anytime soon. Could you imagine how difficult it would be to fly one of those things "keyboard" style. I could deal with a mouse at the very least. I think they also have a trackball but

[Vertigo1]

I suppose that wouldn't be too difficult. I wouldn't be flying them in any canyons or asteroid field anytime soon. Could you imagine how difficult it would be to fly one of those things "keyboard" style. I could deal with a mouse at the very least. I think they also have a trackball but

Well, thats what computer tutorials are for. Hell, you can even use a holodeck to train yourself to pilot them.

[Kamakazie Sith]

I suppose that wouldn't be too difficult. I wouldn't be flying them in any canyons or asteroid field anytime soon. Could you imagine how difficult it would be to fly one of those things "keyboard" style. I could deal with a mouse at the very least. I think they also have a trackball but

Well, thats what computer tutorials are for. Hell, you can even use a holodeck to train yourself to pilot them.

Well that's what I meant by the anytime soon part. I'd certainly take a real one out and fly around in open space but for more advanced manuevers I'd wait till I was trained via computer tutorial first.

[TurboPhaser]

Voyager's crew never knew they were even there until after they were "forced" into normal time as a delayed result of leaving their own planet, which experienced time at a stupendously faster rate than the rest of the universe.

Huh? my head hurts just thinking about that. What episode was that in?

A stupid one, which I suppose is a redundant statement since we're talking about Voyager and the word "temporal". If their timeframe was so greatly accelerated with respect to outside space, the intensity of light falling on their planet from the Sun and stars would be insignificant from their reference frame. In essence, the planet would be plunged into near-total darkness, all the time.

Exscuse me, but it was not stupid.

Yes, there were some inaccuracies, but considering it is Science Fiction, we can forgive.

Considering the declining quality of Voyager's later seasons, I thought this episode was a jewel among pebbles. A fairly original idea, a good plotline, quite engaging.

You really shouldnt judge something on its technical inaccuracies.

[Xon]

Wrong. The top personnel would all have to be physicists and engineers, for the simple reason that we are on this ship to extract some kind of benefit for mankind from its technology, not to go fight a war.

Dont forget the Computer science/IT guys.

The entire ship is run by a computer with worse security than Windows 95. Thankfully the stability isnt that bad, but I wouldnt trust my life to it. Lives would depend on how the people in IT/computer screwup on a starship.

Warpcore aside, the computer systems are the single largest source of disasters in Startek from TOS to VOY.

If you dont know how to use it, figuring out how it works and how to biult it/repair it would be much harder.

The types of people you let near a manuel computer console would have to be very carefully screened.

[hvb]

Wrong. The top personnel would all have to be physicists and engineers, for the simple reason that we are on this ship to extract some kind of benefit for mankind from its technology, not to go fight a war.

Unfortunately engineering is based on physics, but the Sovereign class is decidedly not! For much of Treknology to be physical to we would have to pile just about all our physics and engineering texts into the nearest airlock, then cycle & rinse ... (because it's mostly incompatible with the scripwrite-physics we would have to accept and work with).

I vote we do something constructive whit our time, while we wait for that first shuttle that will force us to make enemies of the governments of mankind (or else hand over that kind of power to people the likes of Bush ... a real win-win situation ain't it ), and get that holodeck up and running. That's what superuser access is for anyway.
The Sovereign may give a few tech goddies, but much of the stuff is just too screwed-up physics-wise to reverse-engineer (like transporters and undoubtedly the warp drive itself) so would remain one-of-a-kind pieces, and the rest can be done better already (like handguns and touch screen computers ).

I just realized I have run out of hyphens and must be off to get more.

[Alyeska]

Wrong. The top personnel would all have to be physicists and engineers, for the simple reason that we are on this ship to extract some kind of benefit for mankind from its technology, not to go fight a war.

Dont forget the Computer science/IT guys.

The entire ship is run by a computer with worse security than Windows 95. Thankfully the stability isnt that bad, but I wouldnt trust my life to it. Lives would depend on how the people in IT/computer screwup on a starship.

Warpcore aside, the computer systems are the single largest source of disasters in Startek from TOS to VOY.

If you dont know how to use it, figuring out how it works and how to biult it/repair it would be much harder.

The types of people you let near a manuel computer console would have to be very carefully screened.

You are incorrect about warp cores. That was only an issue on the Galaxy class and it was fixed.