A Federation interdictor cruiser

[Sarevok]

In the TNG episode Force of Nature it was revealed that vetryon particles could disrupt warp. Two scientists rigged some unmanned platforms to emit those particles making warp travell impossible in nearby space. Now this could be used to create a Federation interdictor cruiser. Take a starships, modify it's deflector dish to emit vetryon particles and it will prevent nearby ships from warping out.

[Gandalf]

Theoretically yes, but what was the range on these platforms?

[Sarevok]

Theoretically yes, but what was the range on these platforms?

Well they caused a Ferengi Marauder and the Enterprise-D to drop out of warp while in interstellar space. So their range could be quite high since interstellar space is big. Maybe their range is billions of kilometers. Also the Marauder's warp drive was destroyed when it tried to force it's way through so it is a pretty effective system.

[Alyeska]

Strategicaly speaking the system would be limited because of how vast space is. However when you know where your enemy will be moving through, then they gain use.

I've always felt that Starfleet used something like this in FC in order to slow down the Borg Cube on its way to Earth. That would explain how slower ships like the Defiant were at both the first and last Borg battle.

[JME2]

While this would certainly apply to conventinal warp drive, would transwarp itself be affected? If so, then I agree with Alyeska's FC theory.

[Alyeska]

There is no direct evidence it would affect Borg Transwarp (they appear to have 3 types). However circumstansial evidence does indicate its possible this is what happened.

We know the following.

There exists Warp Interdiction fields
Borg Cubes are faster then any Starfleet ship
Defiant class ships are not as fast as Galaxy class ships
The Defiant was at both the first and last battle of First Contact

We can conclude that something slowed the Borg down significantly enough that a slower Starfleet ship was able to catch up. We also know its in Starfleets best interest to slow the Cube down while they gather more assets, say at Earth. So we are left with a theory that Interdiction fields were used against the Borg. Just no concrete proof this happened.

[Enola Straight]

Wasn't this "interdiction field" first used in the Hekaras Corridor, a very narrow passageway through a star system which, unfortunately, is now experiencing subspace rifts?

[Chris OFarrell]

We have no idea of the range of said pulses. The becons actualy had to emmit a distress signal or some other such lure (such as a debris field) to attract the attention of the Starship. The pulse also past right through shields and fried any subspace related activity on the ship including the subspace fields in the shields, warp core and some of the computers / communications systems.

[Isolder74]

In the TNG episode Force of Nature it was revealed that vetryon particles could disrupt warp. Two scientists rigged some unmanned platforms to emit those particles making warp travell impossible in nearby space. Now this could be used to create a Federation interdictor cruiser. Take a starships, modify it's deflector dish to emit vetryon particles and it will prevent nearby ships from warping out.

Not the deflector dish of doom! It would be better to build a unit that does it as a containes system rather then weaken your deflector array with extra tasks.

It does bear a good idea though. The problem is it would deny both sides warp travel until the particle dissapate.

[Kuja]

It does bear a good idea though. The problem is it would deny both sides warp travel until the particle dissapate.

True enough, but then, the same thing happens when a SW Interdictor is switched on.

How quickly do these particles dissipate?

[Isolder74]

It does bear a good idea though. The problem is it would deny both sides warp travel until the particle dissapate.

True enough, but then, the same thing happens when a SW Interdictor is switched on.

How quickly do these particles dissipate?

What I mean is any fancy warp manuvers, like The Picard Manuever, would now be out on both sides which would ensure that the better fleet is garanteed to win.

[Sarevok]

It does bear a good idea though. The problem is it would deny both sides warp travel until the particle dissapate.

True enough, but then, the same thing happens when a SW Interdictor is switched on.

How quickly do these particles dissipate?

IIRC as soon as the particle generating unit is switched off the field dissappears.

[Solauren]

I'd also be tempted to make partical canons that work on this.

Remember, the Subspace tech frying effect lasted after the field was gone.

That would be a handy weapon for disabling enemy ships

Aim, Fire, and one disabled enemy ship

[CaptainChewbacca]

I'd also be tempted to make partical canons that work on this.

Remember, the Subspace tech frying effect lasted after the field was gone.

That would be a handy weapon for disabling enemy ships

Aim, Fire, and one disabled enemy ship

According to Insurrection, subspace weapons are illegal due to their unpredictable nature and the way they can permanently damage space.

[Typhonis 1]

Or you set it up along an enemies expected path and have them drop into normal space n something "fun" like a minefield. A remote station should be possible.

[Solauren]

[quote="CaptainChewbacca"
According to Insurrection, subspace weapons are illegal due to their unpredictable nature and the way they can permanently damage space.[/quote]

Oh, I know that. But I'm not sure a Vertiron particle weapon is a subspace weapon per-say.

I just affects subspace systems.

In many ways, it's the equal of a Star wars Ion cannon, just on Star Trek subspace-based systems (i.e Warp Drive, Shields, Communications)

[Sarevok]

I'd also be tempted to make partical canons that work on this.

Remember, the Subspace tech frying effect lasted after the field was gone.

That would be a handy weapon for disabling enemy ships

Aim, Fire, and one disabled enemy ship

According to Insurrection, subspace weapons are illegal due to their unpredictable nature and the way they can permanently damage space.

Well the two scientists in the episode in question were protesting subspace damage caused by warpdrives. They should be doing subspace damage to protest subspace damage !