Authentication approved
Our communication officer has received an authentication notice from the political officer on the Death of Halkans. He has verified our identity and ordered the security officer to order weapons and patrols to stand down, and we are to approach at no more than one-quarter impulse. Deviation from the approved approach vector will mean we'll be dead before we have time to dodge. The one thing fast about the hull we're approaching is the weapons systems, whether or not they're fully enabled.
Annihilator-class hulls don't fly very fast. They don't dodge very well. They don't have to...they're mobile weapons platforms. A single Annihilator can interdict a planet; two can blockade a system, and four a subsector. Bussard ramscoops and military/industrial replicators mean they rarely run out of fuel, repairs or weaponry. Thousands of shock troops and engineers are permanently stationed aboard, and training facilities mean that raw recruits don't stay raw for long. Of course, there must be checks and balances, or any officer commanding one would try to conquer his way across the galaxy.
The main check is the bridge interface. Without a Defiant-class ship attached as a bridge, the bridge is primitive, save for short-range weaponry. Hulls are limited to Warp 4, three-quarters impulse, attack sleds, short-range weaponry, and docking clamps won't activate for full starships. Hulls don't have captains (although no one is going to argue with the officer commanding one), and the weapons systems have software locks to prevent aiming at other parts of the hull or nacelles. With the Murgatroid in place, the hull can make Warp 6 (maximum speed Warp 6.5), all weapons are active, and non-Defiant-class ship docking can occur.
Yes, the Annhilator is impressive without the bridge module attached. It can still do serious damage to system defense boats and orbiting stations, but can only target planetary surfaces using mass drivers. The attack sleds it is normally equipped with are agile and fast, but don't have long ranges. With its mobile fleet, it can safely defend itself against just about anything...but with the bridge module attached, it becomes a thing of true beauty.
We are within docking range. Docking will commence momentarily.
Annihilator-class hulls don't fly very fast. They don't dodge very well. They don't have to...they're mobile weapons platforms. A single Annihilator can interdict a planet; two can blockade a system, and four a subsector. Bussard ramscoops and military/industrial replicators mean they rarely run out of fuel, repairs or weaponry. Thousands of shock troops and engineers are permanently stationed aboard, and training facilities mean that raw recruits don't stay raw for long. Of course, there must be checks and balances, or any officer commanding one would try to conquer his way across the galaxy.
The main check is the bridge interface. Without a Defiant-class ship attached as a bridge, the bridge is primitive, save for short-range weaponry. Hulls are limited to Warp 4, three-quarters impulse, attack sleds, short-range weaponry, and docking clamps won't activate for full starships. Hulls don't have captains (although no one is going to argue with the officer commanding one), and the weapons systems have software locks to prevent aiming at other parts of the hull or nacelles. With the Murgatroid in place, the hull can make Warp 6 (maximum speed Warp 6.5), all weapons are active, and non-Defiant-class ship docking can occur.
Yes, the Annhilator is impressive without the bridge module attached. It can still do serious damage to system defense boats and orbiting stations, but can only target planetary surfaces using mass drivers. The attack sleds it is normally equipped with are agile and fast, but don't have long ranges. With its mobile fleet, it can safely defend itself against just about anything...but with the bridge module attached, it becomes a thing of true beauty.
We are within docking range. Docking will commence momentarily.