Shields & Phasers II

StarfleetCommand74656 · Captain Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 653 Location: On STV

Why do the starfleet ships always start hull-breaching- bursting into flames, whatever, BEFORE the shields are down? Isn't this like your house catching fire before you left the oven on?

TrekkieMage · **Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:56 pm**

Even if the shields protect the ship from the actual blast, the ship still rocks back and forth. If everthing on the ship is shaking apart, then it would make sense that things break, hit eachother, and burst into flames.

PrankishSmart · **Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:23 am**

I think when they give shield strength report (eg shields are down to 60%), then that�s total shields. You can breach the forward shields and get hull damage while total shield power is still up to 60% or whatever.

Watch nemesis. Data gives shield strength reports of different areas during the battle with the scimitar. You even see the enterprise's shield report on a console at one stage IIRC.

Hitchhiker · **Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:15 pm**

In addition, a ship is under tremendous stress during a battle. The power requirements can cause EPS conduits to rupture, which can lead to hull breaches, fires, etc.

~Voyager Fanatic~ · Super Genius Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 1787

In my opinion and words,

Shields serve as a basic/essential defence barrier for the ship. It functions as a protective cushion, absorbing some of the shock and damage the ships receives. However, the ship still receives some of the effects and in some instances, it causes a ruptured plasma coolent here, and a damaged EPS relay there etc.

robbiewebster · **Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:03 pm**

^Exactly, a bullet proof vest will stop the bullet from entering your flesh, but you'll still have a nasty bruise and in most cases a bruised/broken rib or two.

Captain Digness · Commander Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 418

personaly i believe it is in part due to the extreme force sustained by the shield emitters