Blocking paths

[Uncle Sock]

I've been rewatching TNG, and I just saw "The Defector." For the first time, something struck me. At the end of the episode, Picard orders the Enterprise to head back to Federation space. As they turn around, a bunch of Romulan warbirds decloak and block their path.


Here’s what I don’t get: If there’s no “left or right” in space—as Tom Paris once pointed out—then there definitely isn’t an “up or down,” right? So how does a ship even block another ship’s path? I mean, aside from dramatic effect (it is a TV show, after all), couldn't the Enterprise have just warped out in literally any other direction?


It got me thinking, and now I’m curious—what do you all think?

 

[NCC-73515]

In the few seconds it takes the ship to turn enough to warp out next to the warbirds they can be fired on

 

[Uncle Sock]

In the few seconds it takes the ship to turn enough to warp out next to the warbirds they can be fired on

But why the need to turn around? Warp out to a safer distance. Break warp, and warp again in the direction you want?

 

[NCC-73515]

With the warbirds in the direction they would have to warp? Ships can only warp forward, maybe with slight curves, and the warbirds were too close. No ship ever warped up or down, and the nacelle orientation has to have meaning...

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

With the warbirds in the direction they would have to warp? Ships can only warp forward, maybe with slight curves, and the warbirds were too close. No ship ever warped up or down, and the nacelle orientation has to have meaning...

Most Vessels Warp Nacelles are designed to go forward with a light amount of turning capability.

Some Warp Nacelle Designs seem to better at turning while in FTL/Warp.

Given the design of Borg Cubes, I think they would be one of the few ships with FTL systems that can Warp in any direction with ease since their Warp Engine Systems doesn't seem to favor any single direction.

 

[Uncle Sock]

I get the argument about the nacelles and all, but I still don’t think that’s the whole reason why ships can’t go to warp in just any direction. The only explanation that really makes sense to me might be the deflector array—which, if I’m not mistaken, is usually located at the front of the ship. Maybe warping “up” or “down,” instead of straight ahead—even in emergency situations—could put unnecessary stress on the ship’s structure. Or does the deflector actually protect the entire ship, rather than just acting like a windshield?

 

[Ithekro]

In theory you can warp in reverse (Balance of Terror I believe has the Enterprise reverse from the Plasma Torpedo at Warp Two). The problem with trying that against another starship is that they can easily run you down. If you could warp at a limited speed in any direction....so can they. At which point you are playing a game of reaction time and "just how quickly can you go from warping one way to warping another way that is faster for your escape?" Like Warping "up" at warp two, coming to a stop, than warping all ahead flank. Would the Romulans be able to intercept you before your ship can engage in a forward direction?

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

In theory you can warp in reverse (Balance of Terror I believe has the Enterprise reverse from the Plasma Torpedo at Warp Two). The problem with trying that against another starship is that they can easily run you down. If you could warp at a limited speed in any direction....so can they. At which point you are playing a game of reaction time and "just how quickly can you go from warping one way to warping another way that is faster for your escape?" Like Warping "up" at warp two, coming to a stop, than warping all ahead flank. Would the Romulans be able to intercept you before your ship can engage in a forward direction?

If you're going in reverse, assuming you have a Aft facing Navigational Deflector of equal power to your Frontal Navigational Deflector, then and only then, can you Warp at similar speeds & acceleration to going in forward.

If you don't have a Navigational Deflector of equal power to your Frontal unit, your speeds will probably be limited to some degree.

It's like going in reverse in your car, it'll never be superior to going forward, and the enemy who is going forward chasing you, can easily chase you down.