Rigil's New Endeavour thread...

[Dinah]

At his words, however, T'Pol merely gave him a sidelong glance, complete with the raised Eyebrow of Annoyance. It was a slightly modified version of the Eyebrow of Doom, and Hoshi had learned that it was the Vulcan's way of expressing that whomever she was talking to at that time was being obtuse. In the early days of Enterprise's launch, it was a toss up whether Jonathan Archer or Trip Tucker received this particular Eyebrow more.

T'Pol certainly has a way of getting her point across.

You didn't make it too easy for Endeavour. I really like the idea of taking counter measures one step further and using sophisticated decoys. This is certainly in keeping with the technology of the drone ship. We know the Romulans are sneaky, determined and more-than-worthy adversaries. This bird of prey is essentially functioning behind enemy lines. I would think it would have a hand-picked crew. Even though they outgun the bird of prey, I think Endeavour is going to all it can handle.

I like how you're writing Hoshi. It's obvious that she's grown a lot over the past years. Deep down, the same doubts and fears still remain, but she can control her emotions. You didn't turn her into some vengeance-seeking Rambette. It's obvious that she's watching the other officers on the bridge and drawing strength from them -- especially Captain Tucker. I wonder if Trip will ever know what he's giving her.

Being on the bridge and taking control is far different from flying blind down in engineering. I know Trip is aware that he has changed, but I wonder if he really knows how much he's changed. Sim said that, although his dad wanted him to be an engineer and his mom wanted him to be an architect, he always wanted to be a starship captain. Like Archer, Trip is probably now painfully aware that you must be careful what you wish for.

[Rigil Kent]

I really like the idea of taking counter measures one step further and using sophisticated decoys.

I'll freely admit that one of my biggest gripes about Trek is how they go about starship combat. All they have are shields and armor for defense. Period. This really bothers me, 'cause we've seen how easily (and often) shields can be taken down, so I always wondered why they didn't start having stuff like a p-def system (think of the Phalanx system on a modern ship), or flares (ala those countermeasure things that submarines use). This just seemed like a logical extension of it my version of the universe.

I suppose the argument could be made that by TOS the weaponry has become so sophisticated that the usefulness of such countermeasures is no longer there, although I question that since it seems like every missile/torpedo that Starfleet or whomever they're fighting is dumb-fire: it either hits or it doesn't, it never tracks.

I wonder if Trip will ever know what he's giving her.

Probably not. Trip has always struck me as a guy who is unaware of his affect on people, whether it's how some women are attracted to him (note: T'Pol had to point out Lianna, and he was surprised when both Amanda Cole and T'Pol kissed him), or how he was seen as the heart of Enterprise - which is why I can't get excited about the direction they're taking in TGTMD: remove Trip from the equation, and the crew of ENT simply don't work as well together, 'cause the glue holding them together is absent. Therefore, I really doubt that he's aware of how ... steadying his command presence is (aided in large part by T'Pol's presence, of course.)

Sim said that, although his dad wanted him to be an engineer and his mom wanted him to be an architect, he always wanted to be a starship captain. Like Archer, Trip is probably now painfully aware that you must be careful what you wish for.

I was wondering if anyone would remember that. I had a line quoting that a while back (I think it was in the Ragnarok fic during the final Archer/Tucker scene) but I ended up dropping it 'cause I couldn't get it to work. Who knows? It may make a reappearance at some point; after all, I'm not done with the Sim storyline yet...

[Rigil Kent]

presents...

Act Four, Scene Three.

Void duel...

=/\= =/\= =/\= =/\=

Up at Fanfiction.net for those of you who prefer it there.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Heh. Cool. CPT Chulak...

Cool!

I've now caught up with what you wrote while I was away... and my God, this all frakkin' rocked! I cannot even recall if I've ever read space battle scenes this good before!

Some questions though...

So, neo-polnium, is that a real element. I know plonium is, but neo-polonium?

That scene with Eisler and Nate was so filled with tension. Excellent! And Rick even managed to scare an augment! That says a lot about him. :eek3: But I wonder why Eisler told Nate about what he knows? Wouldn't that be dangerous for him. He cannot stay alert forever if Nate eventually decides to do something about Eisler's knowledge.

Phlox is older that T'Pol. Has it ever been stated how old he is exactly?

Trek sensors seem to operate over light-years, but here they cannot detect a ship within the Solar system. I get that the BoP has powered down its warp engines, but does that mean that Trek sensors relies on detecting warp signatures?

I also wonder why Starfleet didn't know that the Saratoga was false. While clever on the part of the Romulans, wouldn't Starfleet know where the real ship would be (and even be in contact with it), thus noticing a false Saratoga?

Heh, given your reputation I actually thought the Triton was going to be toast once it spiralled towards the asteriod.

[Rigil Kent]

Some questions though...

Okay ...

So, neo-polnium, is that a real element. I know plonium is, but neo-polonium?

Well, I called it neo-polonium because it seemed logical to assume that the Romulans were using something similar to the polonium neutron trigger in an atomic bomb, but not identical. I'm not keen on just making crap up like they generally do on Trek, so instead of trying to come up with a silly-sounding element, I assumed they would just refer to it as "neo-" until they could fully identify what makes it different from polonium.

But I wonder why Eisler told Nate about what he knows? Wouldn't that be dangerous for him. He cannot stay alert forever if Nate eventually decides to do something about Eisler's knowledge.

Heh. There are a number of options that could explain this. Rick could be working for Reed and stating some things intended to shake Hayes' nearly fanatical devotion to Harris, or he could just be acting in his blunt, no bullshit personality where, if he's going to kill you, he'll tell it to your face.

Phlox is older that T'Pol. Has it ever been stated how old he is exactly?

Nope. I looked on Memory Alpha and it listed only that he was born in the same century as T'Pol who born in 2088 (I believe). Simply based on the character, it seemed logical that he was older since he was clearly wiser than she was...

Trek sensors seem to operate over light-years, but here they cannot detect a ship within the Solar system. I get that the BoP has powered down its warp engines, but does that mean that Trek sensors relies on detecting warp signatures?

It's a little more than just taking their warp core offline. As I've had T'Pol state, Romulan ships are already difficult to track, so it's logical to assume that they have a number of built-in stealth characteristics that make them difficult to track as well. This Romulan ship has also basically been "running silent" for most of the time it has been in-system, so that increases the difficulty somewhat.

Plus, as you know, I tend to roll my eyes at the technobabble handwavium Magic!Sensors of Trek.

I also wonder why Starfleet didn't know that the Saratoga was false. While clever on the part of the Romulans, wouldn't Starfleet know where the real ship would be (and even be in contact with it), thus noticing a false Saratoga?

That will be addressed.

Heh, given your reputation I actually thought the Triton was going to be toast once it spiralled towards the asteriod.

Heh. Intentional, actually. It's sort of like M. Night Shyamalan's movies: there's always a twist in the end ... so what if does one without it? Same thinking applies...

[blacknblue]

Nice dogfight.

[JadziaKathryn]

Oh, man, Earth can't catch a break!

Aren't the Remoras nuclear? 'Cause I'm not sure it's such a good idea to use that in one's home solar system. Then again, I don't suppose Romulans are any better in system.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Well, I called it neo-polonium because it seemed logical to assume that the Romulans were using something similar to the polonium neutron trigger in an atomic bomb, but not identical. I'm not keen on just making crap up like they generally do on Trek, so instead of trying to come up with a silly-sounding element, I assumed they would just refer to it as "neo-" until they could fully identify what makes it different from polonium.

Then there would probably be an isotope of polonium. A quick google told me it should be polonium-210. I don't think any other isotope would be as effective, or even if they could be used as triggers.

Incidentally, polonium-210 is what killed Russian dissident Aleksandr Litvinenko.

[blacknblue]

Don't worry about it. The sun is one continuous fusion explosion.

[JadziaKathryn]

Okay, I know that smiley is shrugging, but every time I see it I think, "Weightlifting? What?"

I salute you for trying to make sense of all the science stuff, Rigil.

[Rigil Kent]

Bwa ha ha ha! Make sense of it? I'm making it up as I go! (Not bad for a history geek, huh?) Do you know how hard it was to find a good site that gave me some idea about how to dismantle an atomic bomb?

The Remoras are actually a small anti-matter weapon ... but their range is very limited and they're programmed to self-destruct when their fuel supply is expended...

Then there would probably be an isotope of polonium. A quick google told me it should be polonium-210. I don't think any other isotope would be as effective, or even if they could be used as triggers. :shrug:

That we know of. This is taking place 150 years in the future, after all. Who knows what we'll discover in that time? Plus, it's Romulan tech. Maybe they found something new...

Incidentally, polonium-210 is what killed Russian dissident Aleksandr Litvinenko.

Ironically, I just read the article about his assassination in the new Popular Science...

[Shakabutt]

I loved the space fight in this one ,i mean ,Endeavour starts to throw "rocks" at the bird of prey ,i could imagine the Romulan commander saying : "I'l send you the bill as*hole!!!" .
And i liked the BOP ballons

Another great chapter ,keep em' coming

[Rigil Kent]

presents...

Act Four, Scene Four.

Last stand...

=/\= =/\= =/\= =/\=

Up at Fanfiction.net for those of you who prefer it there.

[Reanok]

I just finished reading about Endeavour battle with the Romulans and it reminds me of balance of terror very tense . T'Pol was able to help find the enemy ship and the ending is shocking to say the least. Earth getting hit again yikes! These Romulans are very ruthless in more ways than one.

[blacknblue]

SO now we get to wonder where they hit...