Completely Automatic, all of my systems are down

posted on June 3rd, 2010, 10:14 pm

Hmm, I always thought that aspect of Enterprise was very peculiar - if those Drone Ships were so darn effective, then why were they completely abandoned? Pulling technology out of one's arse... anyway, the idea is interesting, but I think it would be highly illogical for it to be part of the Leahval, as that is a rather large sized cruiser. I think the Romulans if they were serious about a drone ship would actually build a special vessel for it. It would make no sense to use a vessel with such a large mass, even if you were to strip out most of it, and I think they would be more likely to design it from the bottom up as a drone vessel (just as in current technology).

That being said, I don't really like the idea too much. The Ciadan though will get drone-type ships as I recall  :sweatdrop:

Unmanned drone ships actually could be (re-)invented by any faction in my opinion.
First of all it reduces the losses in times of war, and then there is more room for tactical equipment since the quarters, laboratories and sick bays are gone. But it's true that in Star Trek the life supporting things onboard are so much integrated into the designs basics, that it makes no sense to refit a former manned ship to be completely without crew. A design specifically designed to be unmanned is more likely.

posted on June 3rd, 2010, 10:15 pm

i cant wait for the ciadan then

maybe a separate drone ship for romulans. to use outside of fleets.

posted on June 5th, 2010, 1:40 pm

Economically, wouldn't it be cheaper to install a holo-crew on an existing ship?  At least for no other reason than to limp home if everyone else is dead. (E.C.H. Anyone?)

Then again, it might also be an interesting passive, to temporarily replace missing crew so as to nullify the resulting penalties.

As far as a remote-controlled ship goes, it would naturally be very vulnerable to certain ECM/EMP weapons, or anything else to disrupt the connection.  And, if there was no crew, what happens when someone else beams over?  There would have to be service areas at least, and auto-defences or not, I could see the borg making short work of those ships.

posted on June 5th, 2010, 1:53 pm

If a full Holocrew was viable, it would likely be used already. The ECH was probably a short-term thing, similar to the EMH it was based on.

If there's no crew, they'd have to rely on computer safeguards to protect it, just like the Dreadnought. Automated guns (similar to the EF1 Gunship) would help, and is already a fully viable method.

posted on June 5th, 2010, 2:53 pm

i suggested transporter inhibitors, the ones from insurrection which stopped beaming in. that would stop most board.

posted on June 5th, 2010, 9:07 pm

or maybe you could just have no space for anyone to beam into and leave it depressurized. That being said it doesnt make since that it would be a refit, if i was going to make it id design a new ship that was the size of a destroyer with the guns of a battleship.

posted on June 5th, 2010, 9:09 pm

No space to beam into would also make it difficult to repair.

posted on June 6th, 2010, 1:16 am

Your holographic crew is irrelevant.  Your computers will be adapted to service us.  Technology without flesh is irrelevant.  Resistance is futile.