- 22,042
- 18,126
Honestly, the Enterprise profile is pretty bad if you get into the nitty gritty of it.
Since this is pretty massive, I'll segment it into AP, durability and the new ratings.
This happens in Deep Space 9, but there's no such feats in TOS. It's not even stated (I'll get into General Order 24 later) that they could do this with a single shot in the original series. At best, they rig up a ground-based phaser cannon (not even the ship's phasers directly) capable of destroying half a continent in The Cage.
Idazmi claims that it was also based on a calculation for a laser-like weapon, but I've found no such calculation. Literally the only similar thing on the internet I was even able to find was this forum post.
- By channeling the full power of the warp core through the phasers, they are powerful enough to split a moon approximately the size of Luna in half with repeat fire,
So, I actually went over this before, but I still don't see a valid counter-argument to the actual point; they completely failed to do even split the asteroid on its weakest point, let alone even overpower its gravity. They don't ever present it as 'casually doable', this was simply the last resort option to save the planet (their own lives be damned), and we don't even see or hear of a lick of damage on the asteroid afterwards.
For all intents and purposes, this is not a feat in and of itself. Also, the plan was to concentrate a massive phaser barrage on a single fissure. It would definitely have to be eighthed in terms of yield.
- or destroy an asteroid-ship with a diameter of 200 miles before it can collide with an inhabited planet.
This was based on the assumption that they didn't reroute warp power back to the engines since there was a relatively small gap between episodes, but it's shown in the episode that they can recircuit power from weaponry/deflector beam and back at a whim.
Since they were going to blast the ship out of the sky, it should just scale to photon torpedoes, of which (based on Voyager's 38 torpedoes) there's probably only a few dozen. Thusly, we can still retain Multi-Continent level Photon Torpedoes, but for an actual reason this time.
- After the refit, warp-powered phasers are standard
This isn't even TOS. This is where we get to the film territory.
As Idazami says here, it explicitly covers the ship from TOS.
- Approximately 66 petatons per Photon Torpedo: It takes 77 Petatons of energy to blast Earth's atmosphere into space, and one of Enterprise's remote-detonated antimatter bombs blasted half of the atmosphere of the Earth-sized planet Tycho IV into space and left a visible continent-sized crater on the surface, with associated secondary damages including a shock-wave that propagated into high orbit with enough force to threaten a starship. Photon torpedoes also use antimatter - it can be assumed that they possess a similar warhead
This just isn't proven. What they used on Tycho IV wasn't ever stated to be anything similar to a photon torpedo in yield/power (which were only revealed to be physical weapons, let alone antimatter-based, by non-narrative material during the Enterprise's airing), it just used antimatter from the ship's engines.
In fact, they had to stay out of orbit because of the shockwaves, and they were still buffeted at maximum orbit.
- , and because they can move at warp speed, the total yield is higher with the kinetic impact].
Kinetic impact doesn't translate to explosive yield because they're two separate events.
- In accordance with General Order 24, the Enterprise can destroy the inhabited portion of a planet's surface [such as Eminiar VII], and was even stated to be capable of laying waste to 892-IV's entire surface in the episode "Bread and Circuses", a feat which requires a minimum total energy of 7 Exatons, assuming the crust is merely melted and not completely disintegrated
This is some bullshit.
All we ever know about General Order 24 is that it's based on programmed phaser barrages on cities from a ship that can move. And these planetary populations weren't based heavily underground, or had populations outside of the millions/low billions.
The specific planet outlined here doesn't even sport such defences. It's not explicitly stated that GO24 would apply here, so we can't actually apply this to other planets they could bombard in Star Trek, especially since this statement is made by an inhabitant from 892-IV and in reference to the planet itself; this is specifically just a planet that's virtually identical to 20th century Earth.
- Can tank multiple direct hits from the Planet Killer, each shot equaling about 6 exatons, as can it can reduce planets or even gas giants to rubble with sustained fire
Firstly, there's no citation to this 6 exaton figure. I asked and got no actual source for it, just melting a planet's surface, which was in reference to a different part of the argument.
Secondly, solar systems without gas giants exist, and they're actually more likely to harbour Earth-like planets. We have no idea what the destroyed planets were composed of.
Third, what it does it slowly carve up planets, use its tractor beams to drag in/consume the rubble, and leave behind a shit ton of debris. This could really be any yield, especially since the chunks would quite possibly have to fit inside its miles-wide maw.
Here's my idea for new ratings.
Attack Potency: Multi-Continent level with phasers (Shouldn't be astronomically inferior to photon torpedoes, as they can damage starships capable of threatening the Enterprise. Comparable or superior to the D7, which damaged the shields of Voyager, a ship more advanced and powerful than the Enterprise. In accordance with General Order 24, the Enterprise can destroy the inhabited portion of a planet's surface, such as Eminiar VII, and was even stated to be capable of laying waste to 892-IV's entire surface), Photon Torpedoes (Prepared to destroy an asteroid with a diameter of 200-miles before it could devastate an inhabited planet) and Antimatter Mines (Ruptured the membrane of the Space Amoeba by detonating inside its nucleus), Higher with Warp Power (Antimatter drained from the Enterprise's engines blasted half of Tycho IV's atmosphere into space [a feat that requires 38.5 petatons] and left a visible continent-sized crater on the surface, with associated secondary damages including a shock-wave that propagated into high orbit with enough force to threaten the Enterprise itself. Diverted a moon-sized asteroid, before employing a more powerful amplified phaser barrage in a failed attempt to break it up)
Durability: At least Country level for the bare hull (Phasers on 1/100th power are completely harmless against it, while full phasers breach the hull and kill the crew without obliterating the ship entirely), Multi-Continent level for the Deflector Screens (Survived several attacks from Nomad, whose energy blasts were comparable to 90 photon torpedoes, though its shields were on the verge of failing. Took a massive barrage of attacks from numerous Romulan Birds-of-Prey)
Obviously, I'll also add some citations.
Since this is pretty massive, I'll segment it into AP, durability and the new ratings.
AP
- At least 4 petatons, capable of destroying continents from high orbit.This happens in Deep Space 9, but there's no such feats in TOS. It's not even stated (I'll get into General Order 24 later) that they could do this with a single shot in the original series. At best, they rig up a ground-based phaser cannon (not even the ship's phasers directly) capable of destroying half a continent in The Cage.
- TYLER: Then why aren't we doing anything? That entry may have stood up against hand lasers, but we can transmit the ship's power against it. Enough to blast half a continent.
Idazmi claims that it was also based on a calculation for a laser-like weapon, but I've found no such calculation. Literally the only similar thing on the internet I was even able to find was this forum post.
- By channeling the full power of the warp core through the phasers, they are powerful enough to split a moon approximately the size of Luna in half with repeat fire,
So, I actually went over this before, but I still don't see a valid counter-argument to the actual point; they completely failed to do even split the asteroid on its weakest point, let alone even overpower its gravity. They don't ever present it as 'casually doable', this was simply the last resort option to save the planet (their own lives be damned), and we don't even see or hear of a lick of damage on the asteroid afterwards.
For all intents and purposes, this is not a feat in and of itself. Also, the plan was to concentrate a massive phaser barrage on a single fissure. It would definitely have to be eighthed in terms of yield.
- SPOCK: To destroy it. A narrow beam concentrated on a single spot will split that mass.
- MCCOY: It might also cripple the ship, and we would be crushed by the asteroid.
- SPOCK: Incorrect. We'll still be able to get out of its path by use of impulse power.
- CHEKOV: Tau eight point seven. Beta point zero four one.
- SPOCK: That is our target. The asteroid's weakest point.
- CHEKOV: Almost dead centre, sir.
- SPOCK: Lock all phasers on that mark. Maximum intensity, narrow beam. I want to split that fissure wide open.
- MCCOY: You sound like you're cutting a diamond.
- SPOCK: Very astute, Doctor.
- SULU: All phasers locked, sir.
- SPOCK: We'll fire in sequence and continue firing as long as Mister Scott can maintain power.
- SULU: Standing by, sir.
- SPOCK: Fire phasers.
- SULU: Phaser one firing.
- SULU [OC]: Phaser two firing.
- SULU: Phaser four firing. All phasers fired, sir.
- SPOCK: Rig for simultaneous firing, Mister Sulu. Commence simultaneous bombardment.
- or destroy an asteroid-ship with a diameter of 200 miles before it can collide with an inhabited planet.
This was based on the assumption that they didn't reroute warp power back to the engines since there was a relatively small gap between episodes, but it's shown in the episode that they can recircuit power from weaponry/deflector beam and back at a whim.
- CHEKOV: Power dropping, sir.
- SPOCK: Degree of deflection, Mister Sulu.
- SULU: Not enough, Mister Spock. It's only point zero zero one three degrees.
- SPOCK: Recircuit power to engines. Maximum speed heading three seven mark zero one zero.
Since they were going to blast the ship out of the sky, it should just scale to photon torpedoes, of which (based on Voyager's 38 torpedoes) there's probably only a few dozen. Thusly, we can still retain Multi-Continent level Photon Torpedoes, but for an actual reason this time.
- After the refit, warp-powered phasers are standard
This isn't even TOS. This is where we get to the film territory.
As Idazami says here, it explicitly covers the ship from TOS.
- Note: This only covers the original USS Enterprise from TOS, not the lettered models, the alternate reality versions, the reboot movie version or anything else.
- Approximately 66 petatons per Photon Torpedo: It takes 77 Petatons of energy to blast Earth's atmosphere into space, and one of Enterprise's remote-detonated antimatter bombs blasted half of the atmosphere of the Earth-sized planet Tycho IV into space and left a visible continent-sized crater on the surface, with associated secondary damages including a shock-wave that propagated into high orbit with enough force to threaten a starship. Photon torpedoes also use antimatter - it can be assumed that they possess a similar warhead
This just isn't proven. What they used on Tycho IV wasn't ever stated to be anything similar to a photon torpedo in yield/power (which were only revealed to be physical weapons, let alone antimatter-based, by non-narrative material during the Enterprise's airing), it just used antimatter from the ship's engines.
- SPOCK: An ounce should be sufficient. We can drain it from the ship's engines and transport it to the planet surface in a magnetic vacuum field.
In fact, they had to stay out of orbit because of the shockwaves, and they were still buffeted at maximum orbit.
- SPOCK: Exactly. A matter-antimatter blast will rip away half the planet's atmosphere. If our vessel is in orbit and encounters those shock waves
- KIRK: A chance we'll have to take, Mister Spock.
- SPOCK [OC]: Spock here, Captain.
- KIRK: Proceed immediately to maximum orbit.
- SPOCK [OC]: Acknowledged.
- CHEKOV [OC]: All decks, stand by. Shock waves.
- , and because they can move at warp speed, the total yield is higher with the kinetic impact].
Kinetic impact doesn't translate to explosive yield because they're two separate events.
- In accordance with General Order 24, the Enterprise can destroy the inhabited portion of a planet's surface [such as Eminiar VII], and was even stated to be capable of laying waste to 892-IV's entire surface in the episode "Bread and Circuses", a feat which requires a minimum total energy of 7 Exatons, assuming the crust is merely melted and not completely disintegrated
This is some bullshit.
All we ever know about General Order 24 is that it's based on programmed phaser barrages on cities from a ship that can move. And these planetary populations weren't based heavily underground, or had populations outside of the millions/low billions.
- SCOTT [OC]: All cities and installations on Eminiar Seven have been located, identified, and fed into our fire-control system. In one hour and forty five minutes
- SCOTT: The entire inhabited surface of your planet will be destroyed.
- KIRK: Yes, I do. I've given you back the horrors of war. The Vendikans now assume that you've broken your agreement and that you're preparing to wage real war with real weapons. They'll want do the same. Only the next attack they launch will do a lot more than count up numbers in a computer. They'll destroy cities, devastate your planet. You of course will want to retaliate. If I were you, I'd start making bombs. Yes, Councilman, you have a real war on your hands. You can either wage it with real weapons, or you might consider an alternative. Put an end to it. Make peace.
- Mirror SPOCK: Standard procedure, Captain? (Kirk nods) Mister Sulu, you will programme phaser barrage on Halkan cities.
- Mirror SULU [OC]: Yes, Mister Spock.
The specific planet outlined here doesn't even sport such defences. It's not explicitly stated that GO24 would apply here, so we can't actually apply this to other planets they could bombard in Star Trek, especially since this statement is made by an inhabitant from 892-IV and in reference to the planet itself; this is specifically just a planet that's virtually identical to 20th century Earth.
- SPOCK: Fascinating. This atmosphere is remarkably similar to your twentieth century. Moderately industrialised pollution containing substantial amounts of carbon monoxide and partially consumed hydrocarbons.
- SPOCK: Different in shape only, Captain. The proportion of land to water is exactly as on your Earth. Density five point five, diameter seven nine one seven at the equator, atmosphere seventy eight percent nitrogen, twenty one percent oxygen. Again, exactly like Earth.
- CLAUDIUS: But on the other hand, why even bother to send your men down? From what I understand, your vessel could lay waste to the entire surface of the world. Oh, but there's that Prime Directive in the way again. Can't interfere.
- LOVOK: Computer analysis indicates that the planet's crust will be destroyed within one hour, and the mantle within five.
- PICARD: Go to Red Alert. Shields to maximum. [...]
- WORF: The Romulan has passed us.
- PICARD: Damage report.
- WORF: Casualties reported. Seventy percent loss to the shields.
- UHURA: (at Spock's station) Life continues to exist on the planet.
- MCCOY: Got to break through it somehow.
- SCOTT: Doctor, I told you we couldn't do it without killing everyone in the asylum dome.
- MCCOY: I know it, Scotty.
- SCOTT: Well, there's one last thing we might try. Perhaps the ship's phasers can cut through a section of the force field at its weakest point. Where did you say that was located, Mister Sulu?
- SULU: On the far side of the planet, Mister Scott.
- MCCOY: Will it leave a margin of safety for the people below?
- SULU: Yes, sir.
Durability
This one is more brief.- Can tank multiple direct hits from the Planet Killer, each shot equaling about 6 exatons, as can it can reduce planets or even gas giants to rubble with sustained fire
Firstly, there's no citation to this 6 exaton figure. I asked and got no actual source for it, just melting a planet's surface, which was in reference to a different part of the argument.
Secondly, solar systems without gas giants exist, and they're actually more likely to harbour Earth-like planets. We have no idea what the destroyed planets were composed of.
Third, what it does it slowly carve up planets, use its tractor beams to drag in/consume the rubble, and leave behind a shit ton of debris. This could really be any yield, especially since the chunks would quite possibly have to fit inside its miles-wide maw.
- SPOCK: Nonetheless, Captain, sensors show nothing but debris where we charted seven planets last year.
- DECKER: Well, it's miles long, with a maw that could swallow a dozen starships. It destroys planets, chops them into rubble.
- KIRK: Matt, your log stated that the fourth planet was breaking up. You went in to investigate.
- DECKER: We saw this thing hovering over the planet, slicing out chunks of it with a force beam.
- SPOCK: It has ceased fire. We're being held in a tractor beam. We're being pulled inside, Commodore. You must veer off.
- DECKER: Maintain phaser fire, helmsman.
- SPOCK: We have lost warp power. If we don't break the tractor beam within sixty seconds, we never will.
- DECKER: We saw this thing hovering over the planet, slicing out chunks of it with a force beam.
- KIRK: Did you run a scanner check on it? What kind of a beam?
- DECKER: Pure antiproton. Absolutely pure.
- WASHBURN: We made a complete check on structural and control damage, sir. As far as we can tell, something crashed through the deflectors and knocked out the generators. Somehow the antimatter in the warp drive pods has been deactivated.
- SPOCK: Temporarily, Captain. Our shields absorbed energy equivalent to ninety of our photon torpedoes.
- KIRK: Ninety?
- SPOCK: I may add, the energy used repulsing this first attack reduced our shielding power twenty percent. [...]
- SPOCK: We can resist three more such attacks. The fourth will shatter our shields completely.
New Ratings
Phasers do scale to photon torpedoes, albeit below them. In Errand of Mercy, they pretty quickly destroy a D7.- KIRK: Configuration, Mister Sulu.
- (Everyone is thrown about as the Enterprise is hit by multiple weapons fire.)
- KIRK: Phaser banks, lock on. Return fire. Maintain firing rate. One hundred percent dispersal pattern.
- SPOCK: We've hit him, Captain. He's hurt.
- KIRK: Damage control, report to the first officer.
- SULU: Captain, the other ship doesn't register. Only drifting debris. We got him.
- SCOTT: That's a Klingon ship! But it couldn't be, not in this area.
- SPOCK: Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design.
Here's my idea for new ratings.
Attack Potency: Multi-Continent level with phasers (Shouldn't be astronomically inferior to photon torpedoes, as they can damage starships capable of threatening the Enterprise. Comparable or superior to the D7, which damaged the shields of Voyager, a ship more advanced and powerful than the Enterprise. In accordance with General Order 24, the Enterprise can destroy the inhabited portion of a planet's surface, such as Eminiar VII, and was even stated to be capable of laying waste to 892-IV's entire surface), Photon Torpedoes (Prepared to destroy an asteroid with a diameter of 200-miles before it could devastate an inhabited planet) and Antimatter Mines (Ruptured the membrane of the Space Amoeba by detonating inside its nucleus), Higher with Warp Power (Antimatter drained from the Enterprise's engines blasted half of Tycho IV's atmosphere into space [a feat that requires 38.5 petatons] and left a visible continent-sized crater on the surface, with associated secondary damages including a shock-wave that propagated into high orbit with enough force to threaten the Enterprise itself. Diverted a moon-sized asteroid, before employing a more powerful amplified phaser barrage in a failed attempt to break it up)
Durability: At least Country level for the bare hull (Phasers on 1/100th power are completely harmless against it, while full phasers breach the hull and kill the crew without obliterating the ship entirely), Multi-Continent level for the Deflector Screens (Survived several attacks from Nomad, whose energy blasts were comparable to 90 photon torpedoes, though its shields were on the verge of failing. Took a massive barrage of attacks from numerous Romulan Birds-of-Prey)
Obviously, I'll also add some citations.
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