posted
Okay, NON-ENERGIZED bars then. Plain old, metal bars! Is that too much to ask? I mean, even Enterprise deprives us of this, despite not having practical forcefields yet!
posted
In the 24th century, according to the TNG Technical Manual, Cetaceans (dolphins and orcas, to be specific) are carried aboard Galaxy-class ships such as the Enterprise-D and aid in guidance & navigation. The Cetacean crew of the Enterprise herself consists of twelve Atlantic and Pacific bottlenose dolphins, (Tursiops truncatus and T. truncatus gilli) overseen by two Takaya's whales, (Orcinus orca takayai) elite specialists whose duty it is to study all theoretical topics in navigation and submit recommendations to Starfleet for G&N system upgrades.
It sounds like they're more of a study group than actual navigators of the ship. I think by TNG's timeframe, most navigational functions are carried out by the computer. (Although FASA would have us believe that the E-D has Medusan navigators trapped in the floorboards beneath the main viewscreen, IIRC... )
-MMoM
-------------------- The flaws we find most objectionable in others are often those we recognize in ourselves.
Registered: Jun 2001
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quote:Originally posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim: (Although FASA would have us believe that the E-D has Medusan navigators trapped in the floorboards beneath the main viewscreen
The FASA book in question (Star Trek The Next Generation Officer's Manual) never says where the Medusan interface chamber is. I doubt they intended it to be in underneath the main viewscreen. But, yeah, the Medusans are "trapped" as apparantly there is no access between the Medusan section and the normal sections of the ship. Would have been interesting if FASA had produced their planned Enterprise-D deckplans, (a full seven or eight years before the 'official' set) to see exactly how all the strange stuff they came up with fitted together.
-------------------- "My theories appal you, my heresies outrage you, I never answer letters and you don't like my tie." - The Doctor
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posted
For all interested, I happen to have the FASA Star Trek: TNG Manual nearby on my bookshelf.
Here is the excerpt regarding the Medusan navigators:
quote: Interactive Navigational Control System
The Interactive Navigational Control System is a highly controversial emergency system because it depends on the use of Medusan navigators. A highly intelligent race who long ago evolved into a noncoporeal form, Medusans are known throughout the Federation as mathematical and navigational experts without equal.
In the last several decades, cultural and technological advances have made it possible to recruit these exotic lifeforms to operate as onboard navigators in direct, symbiotic relationship with the ship's artifical intelligence computer systems in case of emergency. Should normal navigational procedures become impossible for any reason, the ship's Medusan navigator can link directly into the ship's navigational system to provide "single-handed" control of all helm and navigational system controls.
Though many within the Federation question the moral implications of such a move, the onboard presence of a Medusan Specialist (who holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Commander aboard ship) has produced no serious problems to date. Because the sight of Medusan physiology produces violent psychosis and paranoia in humanoid life forms, the Medusan must be housed in a specially prepared environment chamber that is off-limits to others.
pg. 60, Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual, published 1988 by the FASA Corp.
There is also a graphic of the INCS on page 70 of the manual, however, I am not able to post images as I don't have an image host. The graphic does not have any information on what deck the INCS and Medusan habitat are on.
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
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posted
I always loved the special weapons that FASA came up with, like the "disruptor field."
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
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posted
I'm guessing that these sea-people ) are quite ok with the idea of going into space - and a fine with the concept. So I wonder if they have their own ships?
Andrew
-------------------- "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." - Jim Halpert. (The Office)
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: I'm guessing that these sea-people ) are quite ok with the idea of going into space - and a fine with the concept. So I wonder if they have their own ships?
Andrew
They didn't seem to mind when they shiped off with the exploration vessel Streaker. Unfortunatly, she crashed on some planet with the most important discovery to both mankind and sea-kind. Oh, wait... wrong universe.
quote:Originally posted by Middy Seafort: Because the sight of Medusan physiology produces violent psychosis and paranoia in humanoid life forms, the Medusan must be housed in a specially prepared environment chamber that is off-limits to others.
Next thing you know, Cthulhu will be part of the waste-extraction system, and Hastur will replace the warp drive.
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) are quite ok with the idea of going into space - and a fine with the concept. So I wonder if they have their own ships?
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