Ship Systems - General Overview
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Impulse Drives and RCS Thrusters



 		 Propulsion system for sublight speeds. In Federation starships, the impulse drive usually consists of a fusion reactor, an accelerator, a driver coil assembly and an exhaust director. The fusion reaction generates a highly excited plasma. This plasma can be employed for propulsion, or can be diverted through the EPS so as to supply other systems.
 RCS Acronym for Reaction Control System, also referred to as maneuvering thrusters. The RCS is a low-power propulsion system for low-velocity attitude and translational control.
 

Warp Drives

 		 Propulsion system of starships that allows faster-than-light travel, also referred to as warp drive. The main components of a warp propulsion system are matter and antimatter storage, injectors, constriction segments, warp core, warp plasma conduits and warp coils. The controlled annihilation of antimatter and matter inside a dilithium crystal in the warp core generates the energy necessary for a warp field and also supplies most of the ship's systems.
 

Navigational Deflector

 

Device that deflects potential obstacles in a starship's flight path. The deflector dish usually produces a low-power static field for deflecting submicron particles and a concentrated main beam that pushes aside larger objects thousands of kilometers ahead of the ship. (Blue dish on the belly of the ship).
 

Shields

Forcefield around a starship or space station that serves for protection against natural hazards and enemy attacks. Phaser and disruptor fire cannot directly penetrate the shields but weapons may weaken the shields by draining energy from them and their respective energy sources. Transporters cannot be used when the shields are in place.



Sensors


 		 Sensors are attached to the outer hull of a starship. Among them are navigational sensors which determine the ship's position and velocity and scientific sensors for astronomical observation, planetary surface analysis and remote lifeform analysis. Internal sensors are used to control life support and detect hazardous environmental conditions as well as to track potential intruders.
 

Phasers


 		 Phaser banks are attached to the outer hull of a starship in form of small apertures or domes, or extended to segmented strips and rings. Phaser beams travel at light speed, and the maximum efficient operation range is 300,000km.
 

Torpedoes

 		 Photon torpedo Matter/antimatter annihilation weapon.
 Quantum torpedo Further development of a photon torpedo that employs a quantum uncertainty to generate additional particles and enhance the detonation. Torpedoes are usually stored on racks in restricted access rooms.
 

Tractor Beam


 		 Device used by Federation starships to hold and tow other vessels. Apart from the main emitter and optional auxiliary emitters located around the hull, a small tractor beam emitter is located in each shuttle bay to control the landing procedure.
 

Environmental Systems
Designation for a number of ship systems necessary to maintain living conditions for the crew, namely atmospheric system, gravity generators and EPS. The life support systems are distributed throughout the ship and redundant systems are available to provide maximum safety for the crew.