Starships routinely leave base without important equipment installed (it will on next Tuesday). What

What equipment you as Captain would never leave port without?

I'll go first: Main Deflector Dish. Whatever happens out there, we will probably need to project a beam of antiprotons on it and the dish is the only component capable of handling the frequency.

 

depends on the mission, certain items and mechanical are needed.

 

Life support.

 

I would insist on the transporter containing duplicate patterns of Scotty, Spock, Uhura and McCoy. Perhaps Alexander as well, just in case.

 

NO

 

LCARS. They literally have no operating system and have to do every single thing in the most manual way imaginable.

 

It'd probably be Sensoars for me. You have to scan anything and everything out there to have an idea of what to do. Also need them in case general Chang wants to pay a visit

 

Considering all the meteoroids and other bits of space dust and nasties, that dish damn well better be there, briskly!

https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Navigational_deflector#:~:text=The navigational deflector (also known,and potentially be a hazard.

My list, which includes but is not limited to:

• Deflectors
• Sheilds
• Tractor beams
• Food synthesizer to make all the hamburgers for Ensign Wimpy there...
• Phasers set to stunning, gotta deal with Bluto of the evil empire high command somehow
• The captain's personal tribble, since the ship's complement of pillows are just too hard
• The captain's personal spellchecker since the word's correct spelling happens to be "Shields" and, oops, the browser didn't go all red-squiggly on it
• Yeomen in go-go boots and skants (of all types, I may be picky but I like 'em all. And now, I'm off to re-rewatch TNG season one... again...)
• etc

And I loathed that line from GEN. Ever since TVH, the reliance on excessive comedy at the expense of the story (and/or its characters) was too often misplaced. Trek had humor before, but it flowed with the plot and felt more natural... oh, then comes NEM, whose tone is too much in the opposite direction, but I digress... If nothing else, in GEN, seeing Stuart Bondek before he was Stuart Bondek is always a joy... if that makes any sense because I never do...

 

* Extra fuel.
* Extra ammo.
* Extra doughnuts.
* Extra clean underwear.

 

Chess set.

 

My holodeck program

 

Lemon-scented napkins.

 

Engines.

 

But Bluto can only be stunned by Olive Oyl.

 

That whole thing in Generations was ridiculous. Why would you have a "shakedown" cruise with important pieces equipment not due to be delivered until Tuesday? And the captain of the ship knew about it?

 

Happens all the time when bureaucrats and politics are involved. They likely wanted the E-B launched on a certain date for political reasons, so "rush it out of the door, it's not like it's going into anything complex" is in play.

My group had this in 2012 - a new lab building had been set up and there was pressure to move us in (from our shittier, smaller but working lab) in order to have occupancy so it looked good when the stakeholders visited. Never mind that we couldn't do any actual work in there due to lack of various facilities....

Oh, as lab leader I knew - and protested - but was told I'd be "playing football with my own head" if I didn't toe the line...

 

Yep, I wouldn't be surprised if the Captain got a call from the admiral:

'-You're leaving thursday 17th.
-Can't leave then, the tractor beam only arrives the tuesday after that!
-Too bad, you're leaving thursday.
- But it's irresponsible to leave earlier! I'm captain of this vessel and I have the final say ...'
- And I have the final say on who will become the new captain if you don't leave Thursday. Just play along, John. It's only for the press and for PR. You'll just make a short trip within the solar system with the press and some VIP's -zero risks- and then it's back to the safety of space dock where all installations can be completed at leisure. The Commander-In-Chief is harassing me personally over this one. You're leaving thursday. That's an order.

 

If you didn't have a main deflector not being able to project a beam would be the least of your worries, if you wanted to go to warp.

Plus, wasn't the E-B just on a shakedown cruise?? i doubt they leave for real missions with essential parts missing.