Fist Warp Flight - Fist Contact Question

Discussion in 'Star Trek Movies I-X' started by chinaski, Mar 22, 2013.

  1. chinaski

    chinaski Ensign Newbie

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    how did Zephram Cochran acheive warp without dilithium crystals?
     
  2. Finn

    Finn Bad Batch of TrekBBS Admiral

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    Who said he didn't?
     
  3. Tosk

    Tosk Admiral Admiral

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    I'm sure he wanted to punch that Vulcan in the face, sure...but if he had then Trek history would be a lot different, most likely.

    Fist contact? C'mon. :devil:
     
  4. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    According to old Trek novels, dilithium is found on Earth - but was often mislabelled as simple quartz. Many museums became rich overnight by ransacking their exhibits once dilithium's fourth-dimensional properties were discovered.

    Here's a random instructional film:
    [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hemM8rrx2Yw[/YT]
     
  5. chinaski

    chinaski Ensign Newbie

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    thanks for the video- cool!
     
  6. Ronald Held

    Ronald Held Vice Admiral Admiral

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    AFAIK there is nothing canonical that stated the Phoenix used Dilithium for its warp drive.
     
  7. Timo

    Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Or that dilithium, trilithium, paralithium or any of the other types of lithium crystal would be necessary ingredients for warp overall. But we know that Feds, Klingons and Romulans alike appreciate and mine the substance (even though large Romulan warships in the 24th century utilize a superior, supposedly dilithium-free power source), and that even minor cultures recognize its value, so apparently it does provide some sort of an advantage.

    But it's clear there are many ways to skin this particular cat, and Cochrane might well have used one that doesn't call for any materials more exotic than the titanium for the hull.

    Timo Saloniemi
     
  8. Peach Wookiee

    Peach Wookiee Cuddly Mod of Doom Moderator

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    It's also possible he used nuclear fuel.
     
  9. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    I was always under the impression that dilithium was the most efficient fuel source for matter/anti-matter reactors. Some other type of reactor and fuel source may have been used for the Phoenix's short-range test flight.



    Star Trek: Fist Contact would have to be a Kirk movie.
     
  10. Deck 1 - Bridge

    Deck 1 - Bridge Lieutenant Junior Grade

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    Nah, niche porn more like!
     
  11. arch101

    arch101 Commodore Commodore

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    Science isn't my strong point, but, I thought that in the fictional Trekverse, Dilithium crystals focused the matter/antimatter reaction. Duterium is the inert fuel mixed with the antimatter. I always assumed that since Cochrane's warp core is a tiny demonstrator, he must have found some other more conventional way to focus the reaction. Geordi was probably being kind by not mentioning the gross inefficiency (compared to what he's used to) of Cochrane's ship.
     
  12. CoveTom

    CoveTom Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    He used a Mr. Fusion.
     
  13. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Recast the role of Picard with Chuck Norris.



    [​IMG]




    .
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2013
  14. Jon1701

    Jon1701 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I've never seen an episode of Star Trek where they state you can only achieve Warp Drive with dilithium crystals.

    Of course, this appears to be the preferred option - but we've seen lots of others (the romulans use a quantum singularity) so cochrane could have been using anything.

    Then again, there is nothing in the dialogue that says they don't use them...;)
     
  15. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I just figured he somehow reconfigured the nuclear warhead to fuel the thing. Dilithium was just a power source in the 24th century. Like most cars today run on gas, but it's not the only thing in the universe that conceivably propel a car.
     
  16. Ronald Held

    Ronald Held Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Why do people saw Dilithium is a fuel? All it seems to do is catalyzes the M-AM reactions.
    Canonically is there any dialogue or graphic saying Dilithium or antimatter was used?
     
  17. Jon1701

    Jon1701 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I don't think so. The only technical bit I remember is:

    I don't think there is much else.
     
  18. Ssosmcin

    Ssosmcin Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Dilithium could have come later, taking the place of other, less efficient methods. That's progress.
     
  19. CoveTom

    CoveTom Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    There's also this bit from "Peak Performance":

    That seems to suggest that the function of the dilithium crystals is to somehow regulate the matter/antimatter reaction, rather than to provide the fuel for it.
     
  20. Robert Maxwell

    Robert Maxwell memelord Premium Member

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    Given Cochrane's desire to retire to a tropical island filled with naked women, I have no doubt the first warp ship was powered by testosterone.