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From: okie@ihuxs.UUCP (B.K. Cobb)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: cloaking
Message-ID: <538@ihuxs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-May-84 09:53:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxs.538
Posted: Thu May 31 09:53:14 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Jun-84 09:34:07 EDT
References: <445@trwspp.UUCP>, <1719@dartvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 28

As I understand it, the cloaking device consumed
quite a bit of power.  In fact, in a recent ST novel
(M.S. Murdock's 'Web of the Romulans'), the Romulan
vessel that had the cloaking device was equipped with
extra fuel supplies; it was considered a "suicide
mission" and thus they could stay "cloaked" for a
much longer period of time than normal.

So, taking that to a logical conclusion, the power
consumption on the stolen model of the device may just
be too power-intensive to make it effective.  As another
netter mentioned earlier, that would probably require
some research to make it more efficient.  Personally,
I would hope it never reaches the stage where it is used
frequently--it smacks too much of 'deus ex machina' for
a number of situations.  Perhaps it could become one of
those wonderful things that are fun to use, but can't be
used much at all?

Hey, let's start another strange discussion--how does
the darn thing do it, anyway?  By bending light?  By
altering indices of refraction?  By psionically creating
the impression of emptiness?  Any ideas?

B.K. Cobb
ihnp4!ihuxs!okie

"Aren't you dead?"