How difficult SHOULD it be to steal a starship?

[Angry Fanboy]

Question inspired by a recent episode of Star Trek Discovery, and by various past Star Trek episodes where a Starfleet ship has been taken over by a hostile force.

How difficult should this be and what countermeasures should be in place to prevent this happening to stop an enemy boarding a Starfleet vessel and flying away with it as easily as stealing someone's car in Grand Theft Auto?

 

[F. King Daniel]

It should be impossible, with the tech at their disposal.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

How difficult should this be and what countermeasures should be in place to prevent this happening to stop an enemy boarding a Starfleet vessel and flying away with it as easily as stealing someone's car in Grand Theft Auto?

Incredibly Difficult

- Automatic Constant scanning of intruders by the computers with Smart AI checking for invalid people/creatures coming aboard.
- Automatically turn on Force Fields to trap intruders and make it difficult for them to cross every room, every step.

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- Multiple Wall mounted turret phasers/sensors from all sorts of angles at every corner on the roof and ground.
- Every Doorway should have Turrets on top as well

Imagine walking into a room, every corner, every doorway will simultaneously shoot at you.

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One Turret Booby Trap made by Gul Dukat was enough to create that much trouble.
Imagine in a square room, at least 4x Beam emitters from the roof, 4x from the ground, one from right above the doorway all targeting the intruder.

The Force Fields trapping the target.

If Beam Weaponry doesn't work, use other forms of beams, drain the environment of oxygen, shunt in gas, etc.
Hell, I'd agree to have them fire Agonizer beams on the intruders if possible.

Alert all the internal security and crew to arm up and clean house.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

Incredibly Difficult

- Automatic Constant scanning of intruders by the computers with Smart AI checking for invalid people/creatures coming aboard.
- Automatically turn on Force Fields to trap intruders and make it difficult for them to cross every room, every step.

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- Multiple Wall mounted turret phasers/sensors from all sorts of angles at every corner on the roof and ground.
- Every Doorway should have Turrets on top as well

Imagine walking into a room, every corner, every doorway will simultaneously shoot at you.

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Accept third party cookies

One Turret Booby Trap made by Gul Dukat was enough to create that much trouble.
Imagine in a square room, at least 4x Beam emitters from the roof, 4x from the ground, one from right above the doorway all targeting the intruder.

The Force Fields trapping the target.

If Beam Weaponry doesn't work, use other forms of beams, drain the environment of oxygen, shunt in gas, etc.
Hell, I'd agree to have them fire Agonizer beams on the intruders if possible.

Alert all the internal security and crew to arm up and clean house.

Just imagine all of this in one of those episodes where the ship itself goes nuts and doesn't recognize the crew...

 

[Angry Fanboy]

Even if you don't go down the route of weapons turrets in every corridor, surely the moment someone activates intruder alert (or it's activated automatically) the computers should instantly recognise any unauthorised personnel and beam them into confinement.

 

[Timo]

Taking over a starship should involve going against the starship herself. And those are pretty damn clever and cruel! However, it seems the crews aren't comfortable with the cleverness and cruelty, and lock down the ship's abilities so that she's a meek servant most of the time. There really should be a simple break-glass, twist-handle system that does but one thing: open the lock on the box that contains the ship's initiative!

Although getting the ship back in the box afterwards might be nigh-impossible... Plus she might arrange for emergencies just in order to gain her freedom.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Angry Fanboy]

The occasions where Data took over the Enterprise in TNG I don't have much of a problem with - you're up against a virtual superbeing who can operate at a much higher level than anyone else, knows the ship inside out etc.

But a hostile force beaming onboard and basically just sitting down at the controls and able to operate the ship normally?

Even today I can prevent people using my phone if they take it and the computers in offices won't work without logins if someone happens to walk in and try to use one.

 

[Forbin]

How easy is it to steal a current naval vessel? Say you wanted to steal a nuclear missile sub that's parked at its base. I'd put your odds at zero.

 

[Henoch]

It's "super easy, barely an inconvenience". Just in TOS alone, the ship was taken over (not counting just being neutralized/held) at least 15 times in 79 episodes or 19% of its episodes :

1. Charlie X (by Charlie)
2. The Naked Time (by Riley)
3. The Menagerie, Part 1(by Spock)
4. The Menagerie, Part 2 (by Spock)
5. Space Seed (by Khan)
6. I, Mudd (by Norman)
7. Return To Tomorrow (by Henoch )
8. By Any Other Name (by the Kelvans)
9. The Ultimate Computer (by M-5)
10. And The Children Shall Lead (by stupid kids shaking their fists)
11. Is There In Truth No Beauty (by Larry Marvick)
12. The Day Of The Dove (by a pin wheel)
13. Wink Of An Eye (by hyper fast Scalosians)
14. Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (by Bele)
15. The Way To Eden (by space hippies)

 

[USS Firefly]

How easy is it to steal a current naval vessel? Say you wanted to steal a nuclear missile sub that's parked at its base. I'd put your odds at zero.

That sounds like a challenge! We should meet with more people of this forum, and borrow the Enterprise!

 

[Angry Fanboy]

The analogy that seems the most readily available would seem to be could a modern-day naval warship be boarded and taken control of by hostile force, the crew imprisoned and the ship sailed away, weapons used etc.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Just imagine all of this in one of those episodes where the ship itself goes nuts and doesn't recognize the crew...

Then design better systems that won't go nuts.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

Then design better systems that won't go nuts.

True, but that's Star Trek.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

True, but that's Star Trek.

No, that's sloppy writing.

 

[fireproof78]

Theoretically it should be very difficult. There are several institutions that have better security than Starfleet with real world protocols that would make it very difficult, including ID checks, user accounts, and biometric as appropriate.

The reality presented on Star Trek itself is that it is quite easy. So, clearly security is limited in terms of anticipation. Just requires someone to know the right frequency or code and lights out.

Yes, it would be nice if all the ideas in this thread were taken in to consideration. I'll be anxiously awaiting their implementation.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

No, that's sloppy writing.

You say that like it's not kind of the same thing.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Because they're not treating Security as it should be, a huge priority in the lives of StarFleet Officers.

Considering the awesome power of even the lowly Defiant Class, much less a bigger & more powerful StarShip.

The writers themselves don't put any effort to research Real World security procedures & methodology to implement in their shows.

Hell, the TV show "24" showed more efforts to play a Cat & Mouse game of Security and Methods of infiltrating into CTU.

 

[fireproof78]

Because they're not treating Security as it should be, a huge priority in the lives of StarFleet Officers.

Nope. Never have really. It's an unfortunate bug that became a feature.

 

[FederationHistorian]

It should be absolutely impossible.

- Security cameras

- Bioscans and biometric IDs

- Auto transporter lock and subsequent beaming for intruders

- Force fields

- The occasional patrol, even if they are goofing off in the holodeck in their spare time, since phaser fire is bound to be detected

- Anyone who lives on the ship instead of the starbase or space station, a la Worf and the Defiant in DS9

- Anti-cloaking scans

- Antivirus software, to prevent subroutines to get around virtually every security option listed above

- Keeping the ship in park

-Starbases and spacedocks requiring their own authorization clearance codes to leaving

- Basic locks on their doors that can only be opened by authorization security code. Especially for the bridge, engineering, sickbay, the battle bridge, the armory, crew quarters, classrooms, and the captain's ready room. Even the bar should be locked down.

Plus the annual Baryon Sweep when everyone is off the ship, meaning no one should be allowed on the ship while the sweep is completed.

 

[fireproof78]

It should be relatively simple. The ship's computer monitors all life signs. each one should be continually checked against a list of authorized personnel, either assigned or checked in. Any additional life signs should immediately be isolated and security alerted.

Red alert should lock down nonessential compartments, and each person given access only to assignments.

Weapons should be biometrically locked to authorized personnel. Overrides only coming from captain, executive officer or security chief.

Theoretically, based upon available technology, it should be close to impossible.

According to available data the reality is that Starfleet Security operates like everything else-needs of the plot.