The Voyage Without
- Thread starter Hiver
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You know what I want to see? I want to watch Zephyr pull out like, Calafornium rounds the next time the borg show up. Would probably be slow enough and high enough mass to punch straight through their personal shielding, and then, well nano-tech is hilariously terrible at functioning after it heats up too much
If you want slow, massive, and hot, why not a classic flamethrower?
Silverias
Seeing is Believing
- Location
- Squiddy Places
I do like the idea that the Borg are so high-tuned that, on the ground, conventional warfare works. Radar doesn't pick up someone throwing a rock, ablative armor doesn't react to someone climbing on it, why would the Borg adapt to kinetic weapons?
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Exactly. And honestly, I don't really think energy barriers react super well to massive amounts of kinetic energy.
Not enough energy fast enough, flame throwers kill mostly through radiant heat and lightning stiff on fire, so unless it's like, solar plasma thrower?
- Location
- Reading, Berks, UK
Navigational Deflectors suggest otherwise.
Silverias
Seeing is Believing
- Location
- Squiddy Places
Yeah, this is why I mentioned ground combat. In my mind, the energy expenditure for a fully effective kinetic shield on a drone is not worth it, not "They can't do it."
If you're expecting Borg tech to be thermally vulnerable, I'm not sure why you think a manageable pellet of highly radioactive isotope is going to be better at exploiting that than a large volume of combusting fuel. (And plasma is the worst idea if you intend to be in the room when using the weapon, hot gas doesn't take direction well.)
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Probably becayse Californium has a decay rate of ~30 seconds, versus the presumably sensibly burning napalm or napalm like mixture.
Though I think it's dumb for a completely *different* issue, primarily in regards to how hard it is to get Californium specifically from Nuclear Decay, and the fact that you now have an appreciable mass of rapidly decaying nuclear material within arms distance of you.
At that point you should just make a 1 ton (in TNT Equivalent) micro-nuke and beat them with *that*.
Which isotope are you thinking of? Californium has isotopes with half-lives ranging from weeks to millennia. Presumably also highly unstable ones like any element has when you go further off stability...
But yeah using an ultra-unstable isotope is basically a fission bomb with the problems in a different and normally harder place.
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Ah… californium rounds don't actually use the element californium. They're a theoretical weapon where you fired a shell of a radioactive isotope wrapped around a different isotope that, upon impact with a target, compresses and and immediately reaches critical mass and explodes.
So I suppose in theory you could use Californium, but you don't need to by any means.
Apologies, I should have explained that in the first post
Or at the very least have them in important/common areas.
Oh someone collapsed in the cafeteria or on the bridge? Would sure be helpful if the medical hologram could show up to give a preliminary whats wrong and basic instructions till they get to the medbay.
*nods* especially since in this version of Trek, they can't just beam the injured directly to sickbay.
In terms of exotic options against Borg drones, trying to mimic or reverse engineer their tractor shears would be one of the ideas ever. In addition to giving common crew an option for moving large masses in the course of their common duties.
12
I slowly blinked, trying to figure out why we had Maquis at the meeting table. More specifically, their leader, Chakotay of some sort of native american descent, his black hair cut short and a tattoo around one eye and down his cheek.
He kept sneaking glances at me in turn.
"Commander," I finally said, "May I ask what they are doing here and not in the brig?"
Janeway shook her head, "Currently, we both have larger problems, Lieutenant" she told me seriously, "We both have a crew member unaccounted for and we're clear across the galaxy from where we should be. We'll clear our differences later."
"Agreed," Chakotay agreed with a nod, "My chief engineer, B'elanna Torres is missing."
"And so's Ensign Harry Kim," Janeway confirmed, "We're going back onto that array and getting some answers. Zephyr, I want you on the away team."
I shook my head, "Not gonna happen, Commander. I've been up for three days straight and I'm feeling the chemicals my body creates in response to stress to let me be clear headed while I do that start to dissipate. As soon as I put my head down, I'm going to be out for at least a day. I really do not recommend waking me."
Janeway frowned slightly but nodded, "Understood. Paris, Chakotay, Tuvok, you're with me."
Tuvok shook his head, "Commander, as you are currently acting captain, regulation states that you should remain on the bridge instead of joining an away team," he said, "And as acting second in command, it is my duty to point this out."
Lieutenant-Commander Tuvok was a tall vulcan with almost buzzcut hair. He had been under cover with the Maquis group we were tracking.
Apparently he didn't feel like keeping that assignment going at the moment.
I slowly blinked before blinking twice more to try to get my eyes to focus.
Commander Janeway didn't look happy but she finally nodded, "Very well. Tuvok, gather a team. Zephyr, before you go unconscious on us, ship status?"
"Mostly functional, Commander," I answered, turning my head to her, slowly blinking as I tried to focus on her, "Shields are online, engines and power systems fully functional if fragile. We have phasers and I set a team to figure out the launchers. Secondary systems are a crapshoot and a lot of the rest is rerouted and jury rigged to get them working. Until primary systems are fully operational, secondary systems can fuck off."
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly and she nodded, "What about sensors?"
"Starboard is fully functional, port about seventy percent," I said and licked my snout, "Interior sensors are a secondary system. Full systems report can be accessed by the main computer."
Janeway nodded, "Understood. Alright everyone, we have our tasks. Let's get to work."
I slowly blinked as everybody started to file out.
Move or stay here.
Cabin or meeting room? I'm not about to sleep in a conference room, so I forced myself onto my paws and made my way through the bridge towards the turbolift.
I slowly squeezed into the tiny space, "Computer, my quarters."
The computer beeped and the doors closed. I slowly let a deep breath out and finally reached to tap my combadge, "Zephyr to Navari."
"Navari here," Dinah answered, sounding distracted, "You're alright, Zeph?"
"I'm fine," I said, "Just… wanted to see that you're alright."
"I'm good, just want to punch somebody."
"Hmh," I agreed, "Don't."
"Heh, no promises. Navari out."
I slowly blinked. Oh, the doors were open. That means I'm at my floor I think. I slowly untangled myself from the lift.
Uhm.
"Computer, where's my quarters?"
"Please follow the blinking lights," the computer voice answered and lights started to blink, leading towards the right. I had a faint memory of that being the right direction so I followed it.
I remembered reaching my quarters. I think.
The next thing I remembered however was something hitting my head. Thump.
Bump bump.
Thump. Bump bump.
Thump. Bump bump.
Taking a deep breath, I then slowly let it out as I stirred slightly, shifting position.
Go away.
Thump. Bump bump.
I forced an eye open to spot Dinah catch a tennis ball from clear across my cabin, next to the open door. She threw it again and it bounced off my head between my eyes, bounced off the wall, the floor and then she caught it again.
I rumbled in a growl and forced my free eye open again, "What do you want?"
"You're awake?" she asked, scooting a bit to be halfway out the door.
"...Yes. What are you doing out there?" I asked, raising my head.
Dinah cringed a bit, "Well, we tried waking you yesterday and you almost took my arm off, Commander Janeway thought I might be the person for the job. Any memory of that?"
"...No…" I admitted, slowly blinking, "...Sorry."
"No problem, I really should have known better than trying to wake you that early after a crash,," Dinah admitted, "But I thought the next attempt would be best from across the room. "
I slowly nodded, slowly blinking, "...What day is it? Actually, what year is it?"
That earned a quick grin and she fully entered my cabin again, "You've been out for two days," she said before turning serious, "But we're starting to need our chief engineer to be conscious."
Nodding again, I pushed myself onto my paws and stood up, starting to stretch, carefully spreading my wings, "Fair," I admitted, "I think I'm functional now."
Dinah reached me, "Good. So I'm going to tell you this while you're too groggy to be angry. We're stranded, Commander Janeway was forced to destroy the array to keep it from being captured by local marauder clans called the Kazon."
I slowly blinked, looking at her with my closest eye before I let out a sigh, "Well, fuck," I grumbled and headed for my tiny bathroom, leaving her to scamper out of the way.
He kept sneaking glances at me in turn.
"Commander," I finally said, "May I ask what they are doing here and not in the brig?"
Janeway shook her head, "Currently, we both have larger problems, Lieutenant" she told me seriously, "We both have a crew member unaccounted for and we're clear across the galaxy from where we should be. We'll clear our differences later."
"Agreed," Chakotay agreed with a nod, "My chief engineer, B'elanna Torres is missing."
"And so's Ensign Harry Kim," Janeway confirmed, "We're going back onto that array and getting some answers. Zephyr, I want you on the away team."
I shook my head, "Not gonna happen, Commander. I've been up for three days straight and I'm feeling the chemicals my body creates in response to stress to let me be clear headed while I do that start to dissipate. As soon as I put my head down, I'm going to be out for at least a day. I really do not recommend waking me."
Janeway frowned slightly but nodded, "Understood. Paris, Chakotay, Tuvok, you're with me."
Tuvok shook his head, "Commander, as you are currently acting captain, regulation states that you should remain on the bridge instead of joining an away team," he said, "And as acting second in command, it is my duty to point this out."
Lieutenant-Commander Tuvok was a tall vulcan with almost buzzcut hair. He had been under cover with the Maquis group we were tracking.
Apparently he didn't feel like keeping that assignment going at the moment.
I slowly blinked before blinking twice more to try to get my eyes to focus.
Commander Janeway didn't look happy but she finally nodded, "Very well. Tuvok, gather a team. Zephyr, before you go unconscious on us, ship status?"
"Mostly functional, Commander," I answered, turning my head to her, slowly blinking as I tried to focus on her, "Shields are online, engines and power systems fully functional if fragile. We have phasers and I set a team to figure out the launchers. Secondary systems are a crapshoot and a lot of the rest is rerouted and jury rigged to get them working. Until primary systems are fully operational, secondary systems can fuck off."
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly and she nodded, "What about sensors?"
"Starboard is fully functional, port about seventy percent," I said and licked my snout, "Interior sensors are a secondary system. Full systems report can be accessed by the main computer."
Janeway nodded, "Understood. Alright everyone, we have our tasks. Let's get to work."
I slowly blinked as everybody started to file out.
Move or stay here.
Cabin or meeting room? I'm not about to sleep in a conference room, so I forced myself onto my paws and made my way through the bridge towards the turbolift.
I slowly squeezed into the tiny space, "Computer, my quarters."
The computer beeped and the doors closed. I slowly let a deep breath out and finally reached to tap my combadge, "Zephyr to Navari."
"Navari here," Dinah answered, sounding distracted, "You're alright, Zeph?"
"I'm fine," I said, "Just… wanted to see that you're alright."
"I'm good, just want to punch somebody."
"Hmh," I agreed, "Don't."
"Heh, no promises. Navari out."
I slowly blinked. Oh, the doors were open. That means I'm at my floor I think. I slowly untangled myself from the lift.
Uhm.
"Computer, where's my quarters?"
"Please follow the blinking lights," the computer voice answered and lights started to blink, leading towards the right. I had a faint memory of that being the right direction so I followed it.
I remembered reaching my quarters. I think.
The next thing I remembered however was something hitting my head. Thump.
Bump bump.
Thump. Bump bump.
Thump. Bump bump.
Taking a deep breath, I then slowly let it out as I stirred slightly, shifting position.
Go away.
Thump. Bump bump.
I forced an eye open to spot Dinah catch a tennis ball from clear across my cabin, next to the open door. She threw it again and it bounced off my head between my eyes, bounced off the wall, the floor and then she caught it again.
I rumbled in a growl and forced my free eye open again, "What do you want?"
"You're awake?" she asked, scooting a bit to be halfway out the door.
"...Yes. What are you doing out there?" I asked, raising my head.
Dinah cringed a bit, "Well, we tried waking you yesterday and you almost took my arm off, Commander Janeway thought I might be the person for the job. Any memory of that?"
"...No…" I admitted, slowly blinking, "...Sorry."
"No problem, I really should have known better than trying to wake you that early after a crash,," Dinah admitted, "But I thought the next attempt would be best from across the room. "
I slowly nodded, slowly blinking, "...What day is it? Actually, what year is it?"
That earned a quick grin and she fully entered my cabin again, "You've been out for two days," she said before turning serious, "But we're starting to need our chief engineer to be conscious."
Nodding again, I pushed myself onto my paws and stood up, starting to stretch, carefully spreading my wings, "Fair," I admitted, "I think I'm functional now."
Dinah reached me, "Good. So I'm going to tell you this while you're too groggy to be angry. We're stranded, Commander Janeway was forced to destroy the array to keep it from being captured by local marauder clans called the Kazon."
I slowly blinked, looking at her with my closest eye before I let out a sigh, "Well, fuck," I grumbled and headed for my tiny bathroom, leaving her to scamper out of the way.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Well it actually happened. Now we see how many other ways back are destroyed for similar reasons.
He also barely eaten anything while he was awake for three days. So that must be a big reason why he crashed so hard.
- Location
- England
I thought it was (Doylist) to avoid having to retread canon events (much like the failure to transport avoided the array events). The Watsonian reason being the established 'cram and crash' pattern.
It was mentioned in the previous entry and the engineer trying to fix the ship is a pretty obvious move, so I have no problems with it.
... probably... the problem with the marauders would be easily solved by dragon and intimidation... resulting in them getting back home with the array and thus no story.
Then again what happened is completely in character for Zephyr so
Silverias
Seeing is Believing
- Location
- Squiddy Places
I don't just mean this immediate crash. I mean it as a function of his biology.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It was in the last one of this series, so no, or at least it wasn't out in only for this section
So a bit of canon that hasn't been re-established yet: the destruction of the Val Jean. I imagine it probably happened because having two ships would completely throw out Voyager's character dynamics. But Zephyr's three-day repair binge could have set Voyager up with enough capability improvements to improve the outcome there.
