Prometheus class

[USSHermes]

We saw in message in a bottle (voy) that the ship splits into multiple sections during it's multi-vector assault mode, each part capable of warp flight...

...OR IS IT?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ey...E3FA0922&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=28


The upper element only has a very small mini-nacelle. I would speculate that this mini-nacelle has some limitations, otherwise there would be no need for larger nacelles on ships.

So, this being the case, which limitation do you think seems more appropriate from the options below:

1. The upper part can only stay at the same warp speed as it's fellows for a limited time before dropping out of warp speed.

2. The upper part canot achieve warp on its own, but can 'coast along' at warp for a limited time.

3. other?

 

[JNG]

I do expect that giving it visible mini-nacelles was intended to suggest a warp performance superior to coasting or controlled deceleration. It can probably initiate warp on its own, but I agree with you that its performance is likely to be limited compared to the other separated sections (and especially in comparison to the united configuration, of course).

Pink Ranger probably flies that section.

 

[Mr. B]

The white impulse-looking engines are part of the warp drive on the upper section.

 

[Bill Morris]

2. The upper part canot achieve warp on its own, but can 'coast along' at warp for a limited time.

Huh? How does one coast along at warp? A ship is either inside a warp bubble that warps space fore and aft or it isn't. It's not moving, even though it's changing its location relative to things outside the warp bubble.

But this class does have three warp cores:
Prometheus MSD

 

[JNG]

2. The upper part canot achieve warp on its own, but can 'coast along' at warp for a limited time.

Huh? How does one coast along at warp? A ship is either inside a warp bubble that warps space fore and aft or it isn't.

I think by "coast" OP meant the same way a photon torpedo takes a handoff warp field and maintains warp speed for a time despite not being able to initiate warp on its own.

 

[USSHermes]

LCARS Wrote:
Huh? How does one coast along at warp? A ship is either inside a warp bubble that warps space fore and aft or it isn't.

IIRC there was an episode of TNG "The Emissary" where a probe was launched at high warp and travelled for a long time at warp, despite it's small size and presumable lack of warp core.

 

[Bill Morris]

Anyway, in the case of the Prometheus the dorsal and ventral parts of the engineering hull have two nacelles each that you can easily see, and what is not as obvious is that the primary hull has two small extendable warp nacelles used only in Multivector Assault mode and only if it must travel at warp. So when the ship is engaged in battle at impulse, they remain tucked away.

 

[Deks]

I would surmise the small warp nacelles would allow the Prometheus separated parts to maintain high warp velocity, but on it's own, it would likely not be able to go to very high warp (likely would be able to achieve and maintain something along the lines of Warp 6 or 7 ... maybe 8 or 9 with coaxing ... but in the 'faster than Voyager' range ... no).

 

[Praetor]

Pink Ranger probably flies that section.

I lol'd.

 

[Kross]

I do expect that giving it visible mini-nacelles was intended to suggest a warp performance superior to coasting or controlled deceleration. It can probably initiate warp on its own, but I agree with you that its performance is likely to be limited compared to the other separated sections (and especially in comparison to the united configuration, of course).

Pink Ranger probably flies that section.

Ha!

The MVAM really hurt the cool factor of the Prommy for me. I did like the whole "holo-emitters throughout the ship" idea however.

 

[nx1701g]

^ I think it increased it for me.

 

[Kross]

^It was just missing the "Go go Power Rangers!" and Billy the Blue Ranger!

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

The Prometheus struck me as a very expensive toy - a deadly implement of efficient death which was so complex and over-engineered that mass production would be too much of a pain. I'd imagine that Starfleet must have perhaps produced a small amount of them, regained their senses and halted production.

 

[Kross]

According to Memory Beta, there four - The USS Prometheus, Cerberus, Hercules and the Meridian. http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Prometheus_class

The Prommy is a cool ass looking ship, but the only way I'd use it in a fanfic is if it were a MVAM-less variant or somehow had that feature disabled.

 

[Dream]

The Prometheus struck me as a very expensive toy - a deadly implement of efficient death which was so complex and over-engineered that mass production would be too much of a pain. I'd imagine that Starfleet must have perhaps produced a small amount of them, regained their senses and halted production.

It's too much of a crappy overpowered fanboy ship for me. The ship is something I see Nero or Shinzon using, not our starfleet heroes.

 

[Gepard]

The upper element only has a very small mini-nacelle. I would speculate that this mini-nacelle has some limitations, otherwise there would be no need for larger nacelles on ships.

Actually, the saucer has two mini-nacelles. The second one pops out from the underside and is visible in the schematic views published in Star Trek: The Magazine.



(Click for larger.)

I would imagine that the presence of paired nacelles on the saucer was intended to imply that it had some level of full-warp capability on its own.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

The Prometheus struck me as a very expensive toy - a deadly implement of efficient death which was so complex and over-engineered that mass production would be too much of a pain. I'd imagine that Starfleet must have perhaps produced a small amount of them, regained their senses and halted production.

It's too much of a crappy overpowered fanboy ship for me. The ship is something I see Nero or Shinzon using, not our starfleet heroes.

Such a ship would be expensive to build and maintain, as well. Why build one of these when you can kick more ass with say - 3 Sabres. And for cheaper. And less maintenance for all the fancy uber tech stuff.

If Starfleet had deployed Prometheus in the Dom War - she probably would have been a hangar queen - compatible parts for its fancy-pants systems wouldn't be commonly available, making maintenance a nightmare. If she recieved any warp drive damage of any kind - she'd be out for a loong time.

Coincidentally, this is what I think happened to the Sovereign-class ships during the war. Extremely effective when deployed, but difficult to deploy.

 

[Kross]

That always annoyed the hell out of me, the total lack of Sovereigns on screen during the D-War. Imagine the Trekgasm to see two Sovereigns (one of them the E-E) flanking a Galaxy as they make a run on some Jemmie ships.

 

[The Badger]

Such a ship would be expensive to build and maintain, as well. Why build one of these when you can kick more ass with say - 3 Sabres. And for cheaper. And less maintenance for all the fancy uber tech stuff.

If Starfleet had deployed Prometheus in the Dom War - she probably would have been a hangar queen - compatible parts for its fancy-pants systems wouldn't be commonly available, making maintenance a nightmare. If she recieved any warp drive damage of any kind - she'd be out for a loong time.

I could easily imagine a Prometheus variant entering service. Heavily modified, with a lot of the more gimmicky systems removed (hell, if you're going to build a ship that splits into three parts, go the whole hog and have it crewed by the Power Rangers).

Get rid of that multi vector attack system, use some cutting edge (but more easily repairable) technology, and you've got yourself a decent warship.

 

[nx1701g]

That always annoyed the hell out of me, the total lack of Sovereigns on screen during the D-War. Imagine the Trekgasm to see two Sovereigns (one of them the E-E) flanking a Galaxy as they make a run on some Jemmie ships.

That was ordered by Paramount Pictures not to happen. I remember reading - I don't remember where though - that there had been talk of including a Sovereign in the fleet headed to Cardassia but Paramount told them absolutely not because the Sovereign was the current movie ship and wasn't allowed to appear on TV.