Enterprise vs. Star Destroyer

[SPOOFE]

This isn't a question about facts as much as it is about imagination. There's this long-lasting argument going about which vessel would win in a fight, the U.S.S. Enterprise-D or an Imperial-Class Star Destroyer. My stance is that the ISD would prevail, due to over-all size, a MUCH greater abundance of weaponry, and the fact that it's a warship while the Enterprise is a diplomacy vessel. But I want to get the opinions of all o' you personages on this one.

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-SPOOFE

[Yoop]

The only appropriate answer is that Gandalf would kick both their asses.

[The Ryan]

The star destroyer definitely is bigger, but the technologies of the two universes are completely different. Does the destroyer have shields? Which one's weapons have the greatest range? Which ship is faster?
Also, I think that the most effective way to fight in the Star Trek universe, assuming that the opponents doesn't have the shields to prevent it, is to simply transport a bunch of explosives over to the other ship.

[SPOOFE]

Yes, the ISD has shields (particle and ray), the Enterprise has longer range and better speed, unless you take into account the ISD's hyperdrive, but that's not a very precise means of movement.

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-SPOOFE

[bibliophage]

I have a question: How mindless and pointless does a topic have to be before it's moved?

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Work is the curse of the drinking classes. (Oscar Wilde)

[Zion]

Well Bibliophage, I smell the distinct aroma of MPSIMS.

[The Ryan]

Originally posted by SPOOFE Bo Diddly:
Yes, the ISD has shields (particle and ray),

So are they shields in the Star Trek sense? Would they stop a teleporter?

the Enterprise has longer range and better speed, unless you take into account the ISD's hyperdrive, but that's not a very precise means of movement.

Then I guess the Enterprise could just continually stay out of range, although the Federation seems to have hang-ups about "cheap" moves like that.

[moriah]

No brainer: the good guys would win. This is Hollywood ain't it.*

Peace.

*ST is produced by Paramount.

[LordDenning]

I say GD.

[The Tof]

OK... did you see the Millenium Falcon go up against one of those Star Destroyers.. even Han Solo didn't actually intend to fight the thing. As c3po mentioned, the odds are practically impossible. I bring this up, because I imagine the Falcon and the Enterprise are probably fairly similar in size. (Just remember.. the Falcon compared to the thing was able to drift away with the star destroyers huge garbage-- and its lazers didn't even harm the thing.) End result-- Vader uses the force to squash poor ol' Kirk to oblivian. Absolutely no doubts

Screeme

[Alphagene]

I say GD.

Enterprise vs. Star Destroyer
also known as When Nerds Attack!

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Gypsy: Tom, I don't get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody does. I'm the wind, baby.

[dpr]

Well GoodGuys theory aside, and working from the assumption that both have shields...

I think the sheer size of the destroyer plus the fact that it has fighters capable of wearing down the enterprises shield (and rather quickly when you consider the mass of tie fighters they could put out against it).

Of course the trekkers would be quite devious and could always reverse the flux capacitors.


But what if it came down to mano-mano. A group of friends and I recently had a debate centering around trek characters v wars characters. The trek characters fared very well in all facets except against jedi/sith. Between the jedi mind trick and superior reflexes we found the only one who could stand alone was Data whose reflexes make him able to weild a light sabre very well (we assume) and whose sheer weight prevent him from being telekinetcially moved.

Of course that wouldn't help him if an ISD blew the Enterprise to smithereens...

[Timothy Campbell]

Okay, I'll put aside the fact that this question has an inanity quotient of 99%. Let's look at some facts.

In Star Wars, the weapons were intended to destroy ships. (Actually, the same goes for Battlestar Gallactica.) In Star Trek, the weapons could theoretically roast a planet. (Consider the minimalistic effects in the episode "A Piece of the Action".)

Quite frankly, Star Trek makes no sense. They encounter spacial anomalies of various intensities, but they always seem to survive with a few bruises and burns. The universe just isn't like that. You can be pelted with a potato gun or blasted by a hydrogen bomb. How is it that they always seem to be tossed about in such a limited range of damage?

This is all fantasy, folks. It's all good fun, but we know that if Voyager could create all that antimatter that it could annihilate an entire planet.

These shows are not about logic, but about philosophy. They make some effort to incorporate science into their shows because science is part of our lives, but we can't assume that the writers REALLY know what they're talking about. Nor should we
expect them to, because they have other
fish to fry.

So we "suspend disbelief" and ask ourselves about other questions. For example: would we be better off pursuing the "Borg" concept of perfection, or should we look towards the idea that we have to progress towards a higher level? If I'm not being too redundant, are the Borg locked into a stagnant paradigm, or are the Star Trek representation of humans moving towards something similar to what the "Q" have accomplished?

It is foolish to try to predict where our technology will go. I think that certain science fiction shows work just because they place aside the technological aspect in a blaze of "technobabble". What is more important: the means or the end?

Let's not confuse mythopoetical expression with prophecy.

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[JDeMobray]

Y'know, there's an actual episode of TNG where Worf and the rest of the bridge crew comment, jokingly on the effect of "Laser Weapons" on the Enterprise's shield. The laser weapons is in quotes because of the very disdainful tone of voice Worf used to describe what they were being attacked with. Apparently, lasers do not have any significant effect on the shields of a Federation starship.

Now, a quick look into the Star Wars technical specs that West End Games put out a few years ago, lists the armament of a Victory class Imperial Star Destroyer as 10 Quad Turbolaser batteries, 40 Double Turbolaser batteries, and 80 Concussion Missile launchers. (It also lists the size of the Victory class at 900 meters long.) Tie Fighters are listed at 6.3 meters with 2 fire-linked Laser cannons.

Now, the U.S.S. Enterprise D is listed in the Star Trek Technical manual at 641 meters in length and 470 meters wide. (Nowhere near the Millenium Falcons tiny 26.7 meters, btw.) The same manual lists it's 12 Type-X phasers and 3 rapid fire burst photon torpedo tubes. It carries nowhere near as many weapons as the ISD. However, the real strength comes in the Shield Generators, which are listed as having a 2,700,000 teraJoule output.

Given the Enterprises apparent immunity (or at least immense resistance) to laser weapons, I've got to give this fight to the Enterprise every time. The situation only becomes worse for the Empire if you figure in a fleet v. fleet combat, or upgrade to the Enterprise E.

(OH MY GOD, I NEVER REALIZE HOW BIG OF A NERD I REALLY AM!!!!!!)

[PVonAtark]

A surprisingly easy question. To wit: In Star Trek: The Next Generation, There is a particular episode (sorry, I don't know the title) in which the enterprise crew is attacked by a primitive vessel using laser weapons. This is commented on by lt. Worf, "captian, they are targeting us with LASER weapons (scoff)" The ships weapons have absolutely no effect on the Enterprise's shields.

On the other side of the equation, in all three movies, the crew and officers of the ISDs refer to their primary weapons as turbolasers.

In other words, Darth Vader and crew would attack the Enterprise with great gusto, firing all of their weapons and having ABSOLUTELY NO EFFECT. (Vader would be furious, probably choke out three or four random officers) Most likely, the Enterprise wouldn't even bother to counterattack.

Possible swerve, Vader's powers don't seem to work at range, (If they did, then why is Yoda still alive?), however, vader can use his powers on an image. (see Empre strikes back) So, when Picard hailed the executor, Vader could choke him out.

[dpr]

Not wanting to get nerdy but have to reply to your cop-out answers re lasers (I should point out I AM a trekkie and do remember that episode but quibbling about semantic definitions isn't addressing the debate fairly).

For a start it has been addressed in the past (I will supply reference when I get the time) that Star Wars weapons aren't 'lasers' as we know them. The blasters they use are energy-based weapons but not 20th century lasers. So let's not quibble over exact types - let's assume they're working from the same physics realm if this debate is to continue.

[JDeMobray]

Um, while it may have come up on some message board somewhere, none of the official or even the semi-official Star Wars source material I have ever seen makes any sort of distinction between a Turbolaser and a regular, old-fashioned one.

As for working from the same physics, I had thought that's what we were doing by comparing references to lasers with lasers from the other series. Now if you mean, 'Let's put them on equal technological footing but leave everything else the same' then certainley the ISD is going to win just based on sheer number of weapons; but I don't think that's what the original question was about.

Star Trek technology is leaps and bounds ahead of the Star Wars equivalents in pretty much every way. (Excepting the force, which is more of a magic effect anyway).

[JJ Richard]

[quote]Originally posted by Timothy Campbell:
[b]Okay, I'll put aside the fact that this question has an inanity quotient of 99%. Let's look at some facts.

Funny, my calculator came up with 99.002234566744%

Can't for the life of me figure out where the massive difference originates. Is my calculator inane? Insane? Arrggghh!

JJ

[scr4]

You know, a powerful laser should be a useful weapon against Star Trek ships, because the one thing not affected by their shields is visible light. General Products hulls have the same problem.

A cloaking device would be a useful defence though. Did they ever explain why they can look out from a cloaked ship? The old Invisible Man had better physics there - the eyes were not invisible, otherwise he can't see.

[Icerigger]

I think we should only consider what is on the screen not what has been written in novels or tech manuals. What have we seen of the star destroyers' weapons and shields? Very little. In SW an ISD blasted a chunk of Leia's ship and disabled it. When the Falcon escaped form the space port and was being pursued by two ISD
even at point blank range the destroyers were not able to disable the falcon only weaken it's shields. In Jedi one A-wing fighter collided with a Super Star Destroyer
and damaged it enough that it collided with the Death Star 2. The shields in SW are not effective because we constantly see fighters weave in and out at close ranges to the hull without being bothered by shields around the vessels. The fighters in the SW universe are just too small to generate the power necessary to affect large ships. Especially if they are shielded as in the Trek universe.

[manhattan]

OUT! Out I say!

[jackas]

I'm not much of a Star Trek fan but even if these two ships existed, think of it this way.....

Star Trek is set in the FUTURE.

Star Wars is set "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...."

Given this time difference, distance and the fact that many of the physical aspects of Space and Time do not hold true for either periods (ie where is the gravity coming from, why do particals slow down after they blow up etc) I can't see there being much chance of the two ever meeting.

But we can only hope!

[Jai Pey]

Anyone ever read the fan-fiction crossover stories with SW and ST? This scenario has been played out before.

For anyone who's read the SW "real" fiction books (e.g. The Rogue Squadron series), I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the Ion cannon yet. I'd love to know what havoc that'd wreak on the Enterprise.

Regards,

Jai Pey

[Cactus Jack]

Kirk wins. Kirk always wins. That's all I've got to say.

[DSYoungEsq]

Interesting point not yet mentioned: So far as I can remember, the Star Wars universe ships can't fight in hyperdrive. In Star Trek, the ships fight while travelling at warp speeds. This means, theoretically, that the Enterprise would have the advantage in attacking speeds, but the ISD would be able to hyper out and avoid any destruction.

And, yes, it is inane, but it's fun to imagine anyway.

[Esprix]

Originally posted by Screeme:

I imagine the Falcon and the Enterprise are probably fairly similar in size.

The Enterprise held just over 1,000 crewmen plus cargo - the Millenium Falcon held 4 plus cargo. The MF in ST terms is about half as much larger than a runabout from Deep Space 9.

Esprix

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Ask the Gay Guy! (or, if you prefer the Jesusfied version, Asketh the damn Priest Guy!)
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"Never assume a malicious intent when stupidity will explain just as well."
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[sixseatport]

Originally posted by PVonAtark:
A surprisingly easy question. To wit: In Star Trek: The Next Generation, There is a particular episode (sorry, I don't know the title) in which the enterprise crew is attacked by a primitive vessel using laser weapons. This is commented on by lt. Worf, "captian, they are targeting us with LASER weapons (scoff)" The ships weapons have absolutely no effect on the Enterprise's shields.

I remember the episode. It wasn't that the technology of the laser couldn't hurt the Enterprise's shields, it was because the lasers were such low-energy weapons. Phasers are basically really high energy lasers -- like a turbolaser in Star Wars.

[DSYoungEsq]

ok, folks, now I have to step in and force y'all to get a bit of a grip on reality.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT PHASERS OR STAR DESTROYER ENGINES ARE BASED ON; THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INVENTED YET AND AREN'T EVER ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED IN THE MOVIES OR TV SHOWS.


Sorry, folks, but get a grip, huh? Phasers are bright streaks of light that do damage, so are turbo lasers. Shields stop damage from happening, in an unexplained, but photographically different way from episode to episode and movie to movie.

Guessing through imagination what might happen is fun; attempting to discuss the issue by logically analyzing the scientific properties of the various weapons, etc., is plain silly.

[Yue Han]

Ummm....

sixseatport:

Look at it this way: the Enterprise has a small matter-anitmatter mixer as it's power source. An Imperial Star Destroyer has a small star/black hole as it's power source. I don't have my PhD yet, but that doesn't sound like much of a contest to me....

Which side are you weighing this on? Because Trek has the advantage.
Matter + Antimatter = Unimaginable amounts of energy.

A star would be fusion. Fusion provides a lot of power, but not as much as matter-antimatter would.

A black hole would provide NEGATIVE energy. Nothing gets out a black hole. Ever. Not even Boba Fett.

--John



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Knights of the Order of Snopes: Above All, Accuracy

[Sterra]

the star crusher got out of a black hole(i think)

why would matter+ anti matter produce energy?

wouldent it just cancel out?

as for universe against universe the empire would win.

hmm... is there some sort of role playing type thing for star trek? Star wars has one so im guessing star trek does to. I only played role playing type games once to realise i dont liek it

[Yue Han]

Matter + Antimatter = Energy bacuase that's how the Universe works. Antimatter is real stuff, no just a scifi invention.

When matter comes into contact with antimatter, the mass of both is completely converted into energy, in the relationship
E(energy) equal M(mass), mutlipled by c(the speed of light) squared.

c is a large number. 3*10^8 meters/second, I believe. Therefore, a little antimatter makes a lot of energy.

--John

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Knights of the Order of Snopes: Above All, Accuracy

[wevets]

Due credit must be given to my friend Brian Gilmore for the following:

Data: Captain, we have detected a large triangular ship on our sensors.

Picard: Very well, Mr. Data, open a hailing frequency.

::a large, shiny, black dome head appears, filling the main viewscreen of the Enterprise::

Picard (Officious tone): Greetings, I am Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Ent... ack...kcuk...uulkk...kkkak...

Darth Vader: All too easy.


Repeat as necessary until the Federation runs out of starships.


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"...Dark Matter, every pound of which weighs ten thousand pounds" -Futurama

[tracer]

All the Enterprise would have to do is back up at Warp Two and lob photon torpedoes at the Star Destroyer until it explodes. Star Destroyers' turbolaser beams only move at the speed of light, not faster; photon torpedoes can travel at up to warp 9 (c.f. The Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual).

If the Star Destroyer tried to hyperdrive outta there, the Enterprise could give chase at high warp speed.* The Star Destroyer, like all Star Wars vessels, will be incapable of firing any of its weapons while in hyperspace, but the Enterprise will have no such limitation.


*) The ST:TNG Tech Manual describes warp 9 as being about 1000 times the speed of light. We really don't know how fast ships travel in hyperspace in the Star Wars universe. All we know about Star Wars ship speeds is that the Millennium Falcon was considered "fast" because it could make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs -- a parsec being a unit of distance, not time.

[SPOOFE]

Well, I started this, so I think it's about time I offered up my take for analysis.

First, ISD's do have shields. Those big, seemingly-vulnerable-yet-not-as-vulnerable-as-you'd-think domes on top of the command tower. They're pretty effective, I suppose.

Anyway, here's the scenario as I'd see it... argue with it if you want, but if you do, I expect you to offer up a different scenario to counter.

I'll disregard the fact that there's a huge time differential between these two eras of fiction. Let's just say that Q sneezed and accidently warped both ships to a random patch of space somewhere in the universe.

Enterprise detects the ISD at several million kilometers away. Enterprise hails the ISD. The commander of the ISD (not necessarily Vader) responds to the hail (let's assume that the two forms of transmission are compatible). After a while, he decides that this so-called "Enterprise" would be a good catch to benefit the Empire. He secretly orders gunners to their stations and pilots to their fighters. Enterprise may or may not detect the powering up of turbolasers and ion cannons... but what has been implied from the various Star Wars novels and source books, it doesn't take more than a few seconds. ISD micro-jumps (it's been done many times) right up next to the Enterprise. The Enterprise is confused by this action and isn't able to get its' shields up in time. The initial volley of the ISD wounds the Enterprise critically. The following salvo from the 72 fighters continue to wound it. Repeat until destruction is complete.

Now, I know this is full of holes... there may be other ways that the two ships could come into contact with each other, and it may even be more interesting to have a gun battle inside either ship.

Anyway, I'll shush now and go eat some potatoes. Mmm.... po-ta-toes.....

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-SPOOFE

[inertia]

Screeme: No, the Enterprise is waaaay bigger than the Falcon.
Enterprise: crew 1000
Falcon : crew 3

Perhaps what is throwing you guys off is the fact that the Enterprise is a much more graceful structure. It doesn't LOOK that big, but if you'll recall from Star Trek 1 the thing is absofreakinlutely huge. It's huge beyond hugeness. Furthermore, the 1701-D is a galaxy class ship while the original Enterprise is merely a Constitution class which was tiny in comparison. My point being that the ISD isn't any larger. The Imperial Executor is the newer looking SD which shows up in Episode VI. It is larger than the stock ISD, but I can't find the measurements for it.

SD: Just over 1,600 meters.

In the last 2-hour episode there was an Enterprise E or F. This thing de-phased using the phasing device Ricker worked on in a previous episode, it had three engines not just two, and Ricker (now the El Capitan) says, "Warp 13, engage." That sumbitch would toast the Death Star.

[tracer]

inertia wrote:

In the last 2-hour episode there was an Enterprise E or F. This thing de-phased using the phasing device Ricker worked on in a previous episode, it had three engines not just two, and Ricker (now the El Capitan) says, "Warp 13, engage." That sumbitch would toast the Death Star.

The episode to which you are referring, entitled "All Good Things...", features the Enterprise from 25 years in the future. You have to freeze-frame the video tape, but it is possible to make out its registry number: it is NCC 1701-D. That's right, D. Not E or F. It's the good old Galaxy-class Enterprise D of ST:TNG with some extra goodies strapped onto its hull.

The extra goodies on its hull included a third warp nacelle (as you've mentioned), and a mondo powerful phaser cannon that could blast clear through a Klingon battlecruiser, shields and all, in a single hit.

However, it was not this souped-up Enterprise D that travelled at "Warp 13". The "warp 13, engage!" line was spoken by Captain Beverly Crusher, in command of her own scientific exploration starship. It is reasonable to assume that the upgraded Enterprise would be able to go even faster. Then again, we have no idea how fast "Warp 13" is -- the current warpspeed scale has warp 10 as "infinitely fast", so that means the Trek universe 25 years down the like must have re-calibrated the warpspeed scale God-knows-how.

[tracer]

Er, that should be "down the line", not "down the like", in that last paragraph.

[inertia]

Jai Pey: I'd almost forgotten about the Ion Cannons. That's a good point.

Cactus Jack: James always wins, but Jean Luc is on the 1701-D.

sixseatport: Are you sure about the energy source thing for the ISD? I have no idea as I don't recall having heard before.

tracer: Are you absolutely certain that Riker never mutters "Warp 13, engage"? I remember him saying it and additionally, I've never been a fan of Voyager. If you are absolutely certain I guess I'll have to concede defeat since I do not have a copy handy and wouldn't know where to look this up.

BTW, the ISD definitely has shields, but as an experienced X-wing fighter pilot I can say that it's a fairly easy propostition to knock out the shield generators (after having disposed of the Tie fighters and Tie bombers and occasionally some Tie advanced, of course.) As a matter of fact, I've taken out two or three ISD's out singlehandedly.

SW does have the hydrospanner, though.

[SPOOFE]

Inertia, the Enterprise-D is about 650 meters long. An Imperial-Class Star Destroyer is 1600 meters long. I'm not trying to sound like a brainiac or superior or anything, and this is fiction, but there are set things to be kept in mind.

For some fun, check out the Star Wars Guide to Vehicals or the Cross-Sections book. In addition to a really crazy view of the innards of the Death Star, it's got the workings of a Star Destroyer.

(And the Executor is 8000 meters long... you see, unlike those who manage to avoid nerdliness, I know a sickening amount on this subject... take care, y'all!)

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-SPOOFE

[kaylasdad99]

Coupla things, the net result of which will probably do nothing more than reveal me for the lightweight I am:

1. The Galactic Empire does not have transporter technology. Am I the only one who suspects that their shields might be transparent to a technology that their engineers don't even appear to have anticipated? I concede that whatever is being beamed over by transporter is simply another form of energy, and thus should be stopped just as surely as an energy weapon, but in ROTJ, the shields didn't prevent a relatively slow-moving out-of-control X-wing fighter from taking out the bridge deflectors(as was pointed out earlier), so I'm not betting the farm on the efficacy of ISD shields against a transporter beam.

2. This isn't mine, but I'm using it anyway. The Star Wars people can generate an energy weapon that can sunder the molecular bonds of any material, and what do they do with it? They make swords.

[dpr]

Well, as I've already said in a straight Enterprise v ISD battle I feel the ISD would win regardless of my inner feelings (which are cheering for Picard et al).

Interesting to pit the ISD against something like the Borg though. The first encounter could be quite brief - the ISD's firepower annihalate the entire cube quickly and efficiently. But do the collective (other cubes) then adapt? If their communication is subspace then the ISD may struggle with the next borg attack.


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The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

[The Asbestos Mango]

Ok, the turbolasers in the Star Wars universe fire blasts of laser light that is so incredibly amplified and condensed that it is effectively a solid.

I think the ISD, with that kind of weapons technology, could effectively pound the Enterprise into dust.

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Now in my second month of exile in the 21 pit

[JDeMobray]

Asmodean: Currently, Last Unicorn Games is putting out a rather extensive line of RPG products based on the Next Gen/DS9 series'.
FASA (the same company who does Battletech) produced a system in the early to mid 1980's, written by Greg Coystikain.

[sixseatport]

[thread hijack]

Let's expand this a little bit: How about the Federation vs. The Empire?

Okay, the numbers are a little skewed (300 federation ships vs. 25,000 Imperial Star Destroyers!). Throw in the Romulans, Cardassians, Klingons.....hell, just throw in the entire Star Trek universe vs. The Empire. Who would win?

[/thread hijack]

Federation shields work basically by absorbing energy and redirecting it (either off into space or into some kind of buffer in the ship -- can't remember). The turbolasers from the Star Wars universe are basically giant energy throwers -- 'laser' is a misnomer. A Star Destroyer would be able to throw so much energy at the Enterprise that the shields would overload and blow up the ship before Picard could even say 'surrender.'

Look at it this way: the Enterprise has a small matter-anitmatter mixer as it's power source. An Imperial Star Destroyer has a small star/black hole as it's power source. I don't have my PhD yet, but that doesn't sound like much of a contest to me....

<my geek factor just tripled for having posted this!>

[Lexicon]

Allright, to quote the OP:

This isn't a question about facts as much as it is about imagination.

So, please excuse me if I am not 100% accurate on all the sci-fi "facts" that there are.

Anyway, I think that the Star Destroyer would open a huge imerial can o' whoop ass on the Enterprise. I may be wrong but the Star Destroyer is a warship, right? The Enterprise isn't is it?
And they both have shields. They are not that different in size. They are both kind of big and bulky and slow to maneuver.
The SD (that's "Star Destroyer", not Straight Dope") has some distinct advantages.[list][*]Weapons out the wazoo.[*]Fighters and small support ships.[*]Tractor beams[*]The force[*]No petty moral hangups nor slightest compunction with wiping out foes entirely.[*]Two words: Death Star

All in all, I think that not only would the ISD beat the Enterprise like a side of beef, but that the Empire on the whole would spank the Federation like a red headed stepchild.
Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
The cool thing is, that since this is fiction here, there is no right or wrong, so it's safe to say that everyone is right. I guess that means that everyone is simultaneously wrong as well, but that's another thread entirely.

[kinoons]

Now, if you want to compare the two ships, then you need to remove the force from the battle. We all know that vader would open Santi's emperial size keg of whoop 'o ass, but he could do so from any whip. Stick him inside a garbage scow and he still whoops ass....

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...for more silky smooth segues, write to "silky smooth segues" 610 n 10th street, Albuquerque NM 87109.

[Esprix]

A few points:

• "Star Trek" (the original series) had a warp scale that went up at least as high as 13, I think a little higher, but we never found out what the upper threshold was. According to the tech manuals, it was recalibrated when warp technology improved so that warp 10 was the upper limit (being in all places and all times at once, which Einstein says is impossible, but "Voyager" managed to circumvent rather clumsily, and the Enterprise got pretty near with the Traveller's help). Although it is possible they'd broken this law of physics and could go faster than that threshold (i.e., warp 13) by the time of "All Good Things...", I'd guess they just again recalibrated the scale with the development of new warp technology (the 3rd warp nacelle might support this).
• An Imperial Star Destroyer might win the first battle with the Borg, but I guarantee they'd lose the war. Frankly, I'm still amazed they haven't taken over the Federation. I just never got the impression that the SW universe folk were as clever as the ST universe folk. Personally, I'd love to see Vader as a Borg... {heh heh heh}
• Regarding the Force, and assuming a lot of it is mental control, you forget that the ST universe is chocked full of telepathic races - Vulcans, Betazoids, and so on. In the above scenario, Deanna would have immediately felt Vader's evil chill and warned Picard off to a safe distance, or at least had him fire on the Star Destroyer. I'd also love to see Spock mind-meld with Vader!

That is all.

Esprix

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Ask the Gay Guy! (or, if you prefer the Jesusfied version, Asketh the damn Priest Guy!)
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"Never assume a malicious intent when stupidity will explain just as well."
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[sixseatport]

I don't have time to post responses to everyone, but here's a link with official definitions (i.e. OKayed by Lucas) and decent scientific explanations of the science in Star Wars -- including everything you ever wanted to know about ISDs.

Oh, and I was wrong about the engine -- it's not a small star or black hole, it actually is a giant antimatter engine (a much bigger version of what Enterprise has).
http://theforce.net/swtc/

[Esprix]

Hmmm, from what I can recall visually from the show, it sounds like some Borg cubes (for example, the one that got through to Earth in ST:First Contact) are about as big as a Star Destroyer.

So which one of those would win? Especially considering a Borg cube can also take heavy damage and keep fighting, just like a SD.

Do you think the Borg Queen would get it on with Vader boy? "Data? Data who?"

Esprix

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Ask the Gay Guy! (or, if you prefer the Jesusfied version, Asketh the damn Priest Guy!)
------------------
"Never assume a malicious intent when stupidity will explain just as well."
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[tracer]

kaylasdad99 wrote:

1. The Galactic Empire does not have transporter technology. Am I the only one who suspects that their shields might be transparent to a technology that their engineers don't even appear to have anticipated?

In the Star Trek universe, transporters can't even function through the shields of the ships running the transporters. If the technology to make shields transporter-transparent existed, the Star Trek engineers would surely have incorporated this capability into their ships' shield designs. The fact that no beam-through-able shields exist in the Star Trek universe implies that all shields would stop transporters, whether the shield engineers know about the existence of transporters or not.

But then, bringing down a Star Destroyer's shields is simply a matter of scoring one well-placed direct hit on the shield generator tower.