NCC-1701 Saucer Section in the episode The Apple?

[Frumius]

I never realized it before, but even in Kirk's day I found a hint that the Enterprise could separate the saucer section and maneuver it separately, as in Picard's day. In this scene 25 minutes into The Apple, the machine god Vaal of the local tribal people is bringing the Enterprise down with some kind of tractor beam. If Scotty lets that happen, not only will he and the rest of the crew perish ("There's over four hundred guys, there!"), but Kirk threatens to fire him.

Scotty (on the bridge): ...We're goin' down and we can't stop it.
Kirk (on the planet): I'm sick of hearing that word, "can't!" Get that ship outta there.
Scotty: Sir, we're doing everything within Engineering reason.
Kirk (furious): Then use your imagination! Tie every ounce of power the ship has into the impulse engines. Discard the warp drive nacelles if you have to and -- track outta there with the main section, but get that ship outta there!


V a a l

[Baak]

Hmmmmm... I have to disagree with you Frum. Personally I don't think this means they could separate the saucer section.

My understanding is the Warp Nacelles are the cigar-shaped tubes separated from the rest of the ship as much as possible - they generate the "warp bubble" that surrounds the entire ship - whereas the impulse drive is located in the squarish section at the back of the saucer itself (essentially blasting back between the warp drive nacelles).

I imagine Kirk was talking about jettisoning the nacelles to cut out weight and/or give Vaal less to grab a hold of, but doing so would still leave the entire bottom section of the ship along with the connector to the saucer and the saucer itself.

At that point the Enterprise wouldn't be able to move very fast/far (only using impulse drive), but at least the entire crew would be alive.


That's my interpretation anyway.


lol: In The Nitpicker's Guide the author has a trivia question for this episode:

"What is Kaplan's nickname after the lightning bolt hits him?"

[vinylrake]

lol: In The Nitpicker's Guide the author has a trivia question for this episode:

"What is Kaplan's nickname after the lightning bolt hits him?"

Krispy?

Toastman?

Ash?

[Frumius]

I imagine Kirk was talking about jettisoning the nacelles to cut out weight and/or give Vaal less to grab a hold of, but doing so would still leave the entire bottom section of the ship along with the connector to the saucer and the saucer itself.

Yes, maybe. They might dump the Shuttle Bay portion, too. It's just a clue, and I hadn't realized that any kind of separation was possible in Koik's day.

Another clew is in the link I included to the Memory Alpha* databank, where this quote is near the bottom of the page:

This episode's original script called for an emergency saucer separation. However, due to budgeting, the effect was only mentioned but not seen. The first time it will be seen is in TNG's pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint".

Of course "emergency saucer separation" could be a loose description of simply dumping the nacelles. However, why, since they'd have only the very low power of impulse engines, would they want to lug around that huge bottom seegar part with the shuttle bay? I say dump that, too, to allow some emergency speed to get outta harm's way.

*Of course, Memory Alpha is just a wikki thing, and as I understand those, we could type anything we want in there.

[vinylrake]

*Of course, Memory Alpha is just a wikki thing, and as I understand those, we could type anything we want in there.

Well you *could* type whatever you want into a star trek wiki (like you can on any wiki if the wiki doesn't have any security on the editing feature) but you know if you made even one tiny mistake or said something not accepted in the ST world you would be beaten to death by fanatical trekkies and your post would be keeled with extreme prejudice.

[Baak]

lol: In The Nitpicker's Guide the author has a trivia question for this episode:

"What is Kaplan's nickname after the lightning bolt hits him?"

Krispy?

Toastman?

Ash?

Spot.

[Baak]

Interesting if the original episode script really used the term "Emergency Saucer Separation", as that is definitely different (and more interesting imo) than "dropping the nacelles".

I think they were considering dropping the warp-drive nacelles because I don't think you can go into warp-drive so close to a planet - think you have to be "out in space" a bit before kicking it in.

Kirk might have enjoyed that situation too since they'd probably have to double-up the crew, and he'd already adjusted the "seating arrangements" so his quarters happen to be packed with his own hand-picked younger, single, yeoman types should any "emergency" situation arise...

[vinylrake]

But of course.

ps. on another thread, glad you like my new avatar. I was asked last week to change it and just today finally got it updated. I think it's really sweet.

I would have liked to find graphics that more closed matched each other's perspective but I think what I found works reasonably well - at least when sized at 100x100 pixels on a 19" monitor. (stop sniggering Frum, I know it's a kludge job)

[Skarg]

According to the board & miniatures game Star Fleet Battles (which was originally based on the Star Fleet Technical Manual), the saucer section was indeed detachable for emergency purposes (but not merely for tactical convenience - it couldn't be trivially re-attached) - the impulse engines are on the back of the saucer.

[Frumius]

Skarg's a trekkie, too!