Can a warp field be engaged while sitting still?

[publiusr]

A planet star or Black hole warps space just sitting still. I would think a ship would have to engage warp nacelles slightly even to use tractor beams to keep the ship stationary and to have purchase on larger objects--firmer footing if you will.

 

[Christopher]

^Or it could just fire maneuvering thrusters to keep station while using a tractor beam.

 

[Timo]

We don't know exactly how tractor beams agree with Isaac Newton. Is a tractor beam simply a forcefield-based rope connecting the towing ship with the towed object? Or is it more like an independent grabbing hand that is merely projected by the towing ship but essentially anchors itself to the underlying structure of the universe rather than to the ship?

We seldom see and never hear a ship applying engine power in order to keep a tractored object under control - even if said object is a ship applying her own engine power in an attempt to break loose!

Timo Saloniemi

 

[publiusr]

^Or it could just fire maneuvering thrusters to keep station while using a tractor beam.

I could see that with smaller objects certainly. That's the gravity tractor method. Then too with the amount of power these ships generate...