I have a theory, a fan theory: I can explain all the rocks

[XCV330]

polystyrene makes a pretty good radiation barrier. just saying.

 

[JoseNoodles]

Not only in Riker's head, but in a different scene in the same episode even in captain Garrett's skull.

I always thought it was a piece of glass from an exploding console or piece of shrapnel from a metal beam or wall that struck Garrett.

 

[Mojochi]

Sure doesn't look like a rock to me. More like a metal fragment. Riker's neck wound looks like something similar tore his neck open too

Behind him looks like these "Rocks" but to me that could just as easily be insulation or charred molding

 

[Kirby]

I'm going with my own personal theory that the ships Geology department stores their planetary samples in the ceiling of the bridge. Call it faulty storage design.

 

[publiusr]

It's one of the biggest flaws in Star Trek that the federation, or Earth at least has so much technology but no one thought to invent surge protection or some kind of fuse for things that might explode.

Maybe the rocks are the surge protection…that behaves like a cross between this:
https://www.paint.org/coatingstech-magazine/articles/overview-intumescent-coatings/

and this:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_snake_(firework)

The idea is you trade energy for matter.
Say an energy weapon is used. That would just vaporize you and any pot-metal you hide behind.

But with the snake like expansion, it smokes up…puffs up quickly. So a death sentence is transmuted into a still violent response, but one that is a bit more survivable.

Word for today: intumescent.

The metal fragments try to contain the reaction, but it pops.

Some shrapnel yes—but you don’t wind up like Danny DeVito in Mars Attacks at least.

You’re trading evils, yes…but you have a chance.

I guess a Dungeons & Dragons equivalent would be to have someone throw a voodoo doll of you in the positive energy plane right as wraiths try to drain you….it won’t be pleasant, but…

 

[ANejat]

Theory two: the federation ships are special with how their bridges are at the top of the entire ship.
Other factions aren't that stupid, so their bridges actually have some proper ceiling on top of them.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Theory two: the federation ships are special with how their bridges are at the top of the entire ship.
Other factions aren't that stupid, so their bridges actually have some proper ceiling on top of them.

It's not the job of the hull to protect the bridge. That's what SHIELDS are for.

Any attack powerful enough to punch through a ship's shields will reach the bridge no matter where it is. So even if the bridge was deep within the hull it would not be any safer than if it was at the very top.

Besides, having the bridge on top makes it easier to swap it out and replace it (all Federation ships have replaceable bridge modules).

 

[Weyoun 251]

It's not the job of the hull to protect the bridge. That's what SHIELDS are for.

Any attack powerful enough to punch through a ship's shields will reach the bridge no matter where it is. So even if the bridge was deep within the hull it would not be any safer than if it was at the very top.

Besides, having the bridge on top makes it easier to swap it out and replace it (all Federation ships have replaceable bridge modules).

Which are sometimes installed at really weird angles with strange bumps that may or may not be for turbolifts...

 

[ANejat]

It's not the job of the hull to protect the bridge. That's what SHIELDS are for.

Any attack powerful enough to punch through a ship's shields will reach the bridge no matter where it is. So even if the bridge was deep within the hull it would not be any safer than if it was at the very top.

Besides, having the bridge on top makes it easier to swap it out and replace it (all Federation ships have replaceable bridge modules).

Huh, I didn't know that.
Thanks!

 

[T'Bonz]

One row of emojis is enough. Let's not overdo it, please.