Point of Order: SDN: Federation Propulsion Technology

[Marc Xavier]

The stardestroyer.net page on Federation Propulsion Technology makes the following claim in regards to a theorized vulnerability of Federation warp drives to strong gravity fields:

"The gravity well of the Dyson sphere in Relics forced the Enterprise-D out of warp, even though its surface gravity level was no higher than Earth-normal gravity."

Point of order, this is incorrect. The episode begins with the USS Enterprise traveling at warp speed. Mr. Data informs Captain Picard and Commander Riker that he has identified a distress signal from the USS Jenolan, a transport ship reported missing in the sector 3/4's of a century ago. Commander Riker calls for code "one-alpha-zero" to indicate a ship in distress. Captain Picard orders the ship be taken out of warp and brought to "all stop." The ensign obliges with an "aye, sir" and taps the controls on her console. Once she does so, the crew lurches forward. Commander Data, Commander Riker, and Captain Picard are all understandably concerned by this, and Picard requests a report.

Mr. Worf informs him that the ship has entered a "massive gravitational field." Mr. Data hurries to Ops as Picard and Riker return to the command area of the bridge. Data reports that there are no stars or other stellar bodies listed on the ship's navigational charts which would account for the phenomenon, although the sensors indicate the presence of an extremely strong gravitational source in the vicinity. The source is soon determined to be the Dyson sphere.


Additionally, shortly after Scotty beams aboard the Enterprise-D, he engages in an insightful conversation with Geordi (The following exchange is quoted directly from the episode):

Geordi: "So, you were saying a little earlier that you were on your way to the Norpin Colony when you experienced warp engine failure?"

Scotty: "Aye, that's right. See, we had an overload in one of the plasma transfer conduits, the captain brought us out of warp, we hit some gravimetric interference, and there it was--as big as life."

The trouble with the gravimetric interference only begins once the ship willfully brings itself out of warp. Mr. Scott did not say that the gravitational field of the Dyson sphere caused the warp field to destabilize, but rather that a failure of one of the warp engine systems necessitated the captain to order the Jenolan taken out of warp. Once that occurred, the ship was affected by the gigantic gravity well.

Considering the information from Deja Q which seems to indicate that warp fields work by reducing the mass of a starship, the fact that the Enterprise-D didnt appear to have any trouble with the Dyson sphere's gravity well seems apropriate.

[Ender]

I believe that this point was previously brought up and addressed, and that page is just waiting for Mike to have the free time to update it.

[Publius]

A point of order is only called when a rule of order or procedure is violated. An incorrect or inaccurate claim is not a violation of a rule of order, and consequently no point of order may be called.

E.g., in this case another Member would be justified in calling a point of order on the original poster, as he would be speaking out of turn and violating a rule of procedure by speaking on a point of order.

Of course, the original poster could assert a point of personal privilege to explain his conduct, if he so desired. Although it is rather difficult to imagine a presiding officer sustaining the point and allowing a Member to take the floor in order to defend his violation of the rules of order.

Publius

[Ender]

A point of order is only called when a rule of order or procedure is violated. An incorrect or inaccurate claim is not a violation of a rule of order, and consequently no point of order may be called.

E.g., in this case another Member would be justified in calling a point of order on the original poster, as he would be speaking out of turn and violating a rule of procedure by speaking on a point of order.

Of course, the original poster could assert a point of personal privilege to explain his conduct, if he so desired. Although it is rather difficult to imagine a presiding officer sustaining the point and allowing a Member to take the floor in order to defend his violation of the rules of order.

Publius

Huh. You learn something new every day.