"Die is the Cast" planetary attack solution?

[Robert Walper]

For the record, I'm not trying to imply any type of firepower scaling from this episode. I'm merely trying to explain the shockwaves of such an impressive scale that do not apparently damage the planet's surface. A planetary shield seems to be a reasonable possibility.

The fact that the fleet's sensors were getting falsified scans suggests the possbility they may not have detected the shield, assuming it existed.

[Patrick Degan]

Another possibility is that the planetary crust is composed of an unusually high proportion of silicates; higher than what one would expect from a terrestrial world. If Romulan and Cardassian disruptors are also based on some sort of mass-dependent exotic nucleon reaction as phasers, that may provide a reason why their weapons were ineffective. Elements with progressively higher atomic numbers are correspondingly more resistant to such weapons, as has been observed before.

[The Kernel]

Another possibility is that the planetary crust is composed of an unusually high proportion of silicates; higher than what one would expect from a terrestrial world. If Romulan and Cardassian disruptors are also based on some sort of mass-dependent exotic nucleon reaction as phasers, that may provide a reason why their weapons were ineffective. Elements with progressively higher atomic numbers are correspondingly more resistant to such weapons, as has been observed before.

This makes sense since they had to do computer projections for damage estimates to the planet. You would think that a Romulan commander would have a pretty fair idea of the damage potential of the ships under his command and he wouldn't need to do any simulations.

[Patrick Degan]

Another possibility is that the planetary crust is composed of an unusually high proportion of silicates; higher than what one would expect from a terrestrial world. If Romulan and Cardassian disruptors are also based on some sort of mass-dependent exotic nucleon reaction as phasers, that may provide a reason why their weapons were ineffective. Elements with progressively higher atomic numbers are correspondingly more resistant to such weapons, as has been observed before.

This makes sense since they had to do computer projections for damage estimates to the planet. You would think that a Romulan commander would have a pretty fair idea of the damage potential of the ships under his command and he wouldn't need to do any simulations.

The possibility that also must be considered is that all of the data on the Founders' homeworld which Enabrin Tain's tacticians and those of the Tal'Shiar relied upon for their attack models was fed to them by "Col. Lovok", and therefore was actually quite unreliable.

[The Kernel]

Another possibility is that the planetary crust is composed of an unusually high proportion of silicates; higher than what one would expect from a terrestrial world. If Romulan and Cardassian disruptors are also based on some sort of mass-dependent exotic nucleon reaction as phasers, that may provide a reason why their weapons were ineffective. Elements with progressively higher atomic numbers are correspondingly more resistant to such weapons, as has been observed before.

This makes sense since they had to do computer projections for damage estimates to the planet. You would think that a Romulan commander would have a pretty fair idea of the damage potential of the ships under his command and he wouldn't need to do any simulations.

The possibility that also must be considered is that all of the data on the Founders' homeworld which Enabrin Tain's tacticians and those of the Tal'Shiar relied upon for their attack models was fed to them by "Col. Lovok", and therefore was actually quite unreliable.

No, the Romulans likely got their Intel from the Federation. Renember that the Defiant likely scanned the Founder's homeworld and they had an agreement with the Romulans for ALL of the intelligence gathered from the Gamma Quadrent.

[Lord Poe]

The possibility that also must be considered is that all of the data on the Founders' homeworld which Enabrin Tain's tacticians and those of the Tal'Shiar relied upon for their attack models was fed to them by "Col. Lovok", and therefore was actually quite unreliable.

Actually, no. They used the report filed by Odo for their information, IIRC.

[FTeik]

Lovok (and possibly not only he) could have manipulated the data from Odo (or the conclusions based on it).

This might be a stupid question, but given the nature of the weapons used, should there even be flames and ejecta?

[Darth Wong]

Lovok (and possibly not only he) could have manipulated the data from Odo (or the conclusions based on it).

This might be a stupid question, but given the nature of the weapons used, should there even be flames and ejecta?

Depends on what the subject of the argument is. Some people have tried to claim fantastic energy figures for TDiC (literally billions of times greater than anything else that Trek ships have done before), and in that case, they need to show us the money.

If, on the other hand, someone is trying to prove that the phasers used some kind of cheap NDF reaction to take off huge chunks of the crust, there need not be any ejecta. However, the problem of ripping away millions of square km of crust without revealing the glowing mantle underneath still remains.

[FTeik]

Not if their assault was lacking in depth (if they penetrated only a few meters deep). But if i remember correctly, they were also using torpedos and that should have resulted in ejecta and flames.

[TrekWarsie]

I seem to remember a brief scene, only lasted maybe a second or two, after the initial bombardment subsided where there images of what looked like what could loosely be considered fire or the atmosphere burning off.

[Lord Poe]

I seem to remember a brief scene, only lasted maybe a second or two, after the initial bombardment subsided where there images of what looked like what could loosely be considered fire or the atmosphere burning off.

Where?

[Kamakazie Sith]

I seem to remember a brief scene, only lasted maybe a second or two, after the initial bombardment subsided where there images of what looked like what could loosely be considered fire or the atmosphere burning off.

Where?

RIGHT THERE!!!!!!!! Can't you see it......LOOK!

Seriously, as much as I would like this scene to be proof a better ST firepower I can't help but think of the many other examples which show lower performance.