To: CAPT Tolar, ENS Vemok
CC: @USS.Mariner Senior Staff
From: ENS R. Felenn
Subj: Thoughts On Etnoziroh-class Counter-Measures
Captain Tolar, Ensign Vemok!
I am writing to you both as I felt I would require further approval to continue from one and help with calculation of the success odds from another. I will do my best not to repeat previous reports, but rather to summarize them here in a way that would lead to my proposed solution.
Within the framework of Project Nuthuza, initial investigation of Etnoziroh-class dreadnaught, the vessel’s hull composition was determined to be the following:
- 54% Neutronium
- 16% Trellium-Azedite
- 10% Tritanium
- 13% Chrondite
- 7% Nitrium
It has been surmised that the first two materials are the backbone of the hull. Neutronium functions as a defense against energy-bases and kinetic weaponry, sensor scanning and transporter beams. Trellium-azedite seems to supplement neutronium by providing additional defense against the influence of spatial anomalies (like the very wormholes which the vessel can generate for its FTL propulsion) and against some forms of radiation. Chrondite/nitrium alloy serves as a kind of “glue” for the two to merge them into more homogenous composite material. (Source: Confederacy of Azed Datafile)
Thus far, the main counter-measure against these dreadnaughts is the Teleraptor Beam. One of the modes of this counter-measure targets and overwhelms the very core which generates the wormhole for the vessel, effectively destroying it.
During our initial briefing earlier today on the discussion of the vessel’s hull, my first idea were transphasic torpedoes. However, these payloads were designed to bypass the energy-shielding defenses, not the hulls. While I am no metallurgist, it seems we could focus on disrupting the hull’s composition, either on trellium-azedite (as it gives additional defensive boost to the neutronium hull and ensures that the vessel does not “crack” under all the neutronium weight while it is conducting wormhole jumps) or at the chrondite/nitrium component (in order to loosen the stability of combined neutronium/azedite alloy).
From the kinetic weapon payloads, the gravimetric torpedo looks like as the most suitable candidate. Here I do not necessarily mean the specialized version developed by Dyson Joint Command. The “regular” photon torpedo armed with gravimetric charge could be sufficient. Either way, this torpedo type may not have the brunt firepower but its after-effect, the gravimetric shear, could cause a disruption of neutronium/azedite alloy matrix to a degree sufficient to take it down with conventional firepower afterwards. Initial simulations show, however, that the gravimetric torpedo would have to be detonated within the hull (i.e. not the vessel interior, but as it passes through the bulk of hull material) to achieve noticeable effect. Essentially, the deployed warhead would have to “phase in and out” through the hull, much like transphasic torpedoes “phase in and out” through the shields.
To achieve this, the warhead could be additionally equipped with phase discriminator (in similar fashion how the crew of Enterprise-D had done it on Devidia II) or, to ensure more efficient phasing, with a molecular phase inverter. However, the latter devices are not easy to come by and they used often for more benign purposes, such as correcting the deviations of annular confinement beam in the transporters.
Another option that comes to mind is, actually, related to transphasic effect. Some 40 standard years ago, it had been suggested that transphasic effect could be achieved with phaser weapons if one were to use iron-60 crystal matrix. The project was deemed inefficient as such modification greatly reduced the total power output of ship-mounted phaser weapons. However, in this case, we would not need a great power output to “peel off” the neutronium. We would just need to scratch it enough in order to locally weaken the molecular bonding to ensure the penetration of the phased gravimetric torpedo.
In summary, the general sequence of actions would go like this:
-
Initial fire with iron-60 modified phaser weapons. Mariner’s auxiliary pulse cannons might do the trick, as energy delivered in brief, condensed pulses may be more efficient than semi-continuous fire from phaser beams. This would weaken the surface molecular bonds of the hull (i.e. leave a “scratch”).
-
Fire photon torpedoes armed with gravimetric charge and equipped with phase discriminator/molecular phase inverter at the “scratched” position.
-
Detonate the torpedoes once they phase-in within the hull. The gravimetric shear should cause the deeper disruption of molecular or metallic bonds within neutronium/azedite compositional matrix, allowing for conventional firepower to take over.
I need to emphasize this is purely a thought experiment. A technical solution which is viable in ideal circumstances. Whether it is applicable from the tactical point of view is beyond my competences. It would also require precise timing in all the above stages (and perhaps sub-stages), hence why I called for Ensign Vemok’s help - to perform all the calculations. But as You, Captain, mentioned in the briefing, this is not a one-person task and it will require brain-storming - on both catching and disabling a ship. With this communique, I suppose I wanted to “open the dance floor”, as the Human saying goes.
//SIGNED//
ENS Renaah Felenn, Ops Officer
USS Mariner
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//ATTACHMENT//