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From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Galactica is dead meat...
Message-ID: <707@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-May-85 15:21:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.707
Posted: Mon May  6 15:21:51 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 8-May-85 02:46:22 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 85

<"Cylons approaching, range five Microns."  "Don't fire 'till you see the
whites of their nuclei!">

The (good 'ol) Enterprise against the Galactica?  Aw, come on now, the Big
E could clean its clock any day!

The scenario for such a battle is easy to envision.  The Galactica, passing
through Klingon territory, hears Kirk described as "A tin-plated dictator
with delusions of godhood."  Adama naturally assumes Kirk is some sort of
high-powered Cylon, and moves to attack.

Lets take a look at armaments, first:

The Galactica has 3 Viper squadrons, augmented by one squadron left by
Battlestar Pegasus (Silver Spar squadron).  Say, 18 to a squadron, gives 72
Vipers the Big E must face, coupled with the close-in defenses of Galactica
itself (flexible mounted dual weapons).  Vipers armed with some sort of
"Blaster."

The Enterprise has multiple Phaser batteries, and two Photon Torpedo tubes.
Plus items usually used for other purposes, like tractor beams,
transporters, and the "meteor sweeper" mounted on the engineering hull.

Defenses:

Galactica had something called "shields," but I seem to recall these were
physical shields dropped over the bridge windows when under attack.  The
Vipers have no defensive systems at all.

Enterprise has its shields, able to withstand phaser hits, and functional
against near-misses by photon torpedoes.

Propulsion:

Galactica has (nuclear?) reaction propulsion, Vipers have chemical reaction
propulsion.  Neither capable of FTL travel.  Evidence:  in the Two-parter
with Lloyd Bridges (Commander Kane) he says, "We'll even try get her
(Pegasus) up to light speed," in a flippant, bouyant way.

Enterprise has FTL capability, with high rate of accelleration.

Galactica approaches Enterprise behind a semi-hemispherical cover of Viper
fighters, intending to place Enterprise at the 'focus' of the Vipers for
simultanous attack.  Galactical would enter the fray to polish off "poor
creepled Enterprise."

Kirk furrow his brow quizzically at the approach of the fleet, plows
through Vipers, plants a photon torpedo spread into Galactica, and
continues with mission.

Proof:

1.  Vipers are worthless against Big E.  Note in the first episode of BG,
the Cylons "strafe" people on a planet.  The explosions are minor, people
and buidings just fall over.  The Viper blasters are probably the same.  In
other words, LESS POWERFUL THAN A HAND PHASER!  Phasers burn things,
dematerialize things, and probably would slice a Viper instantly.  If I
were Kirk, I would "Raster scan" ship's phasers towards approaching Vipers.

2.  Vipers are vulnerable.  Note, in "Tommorow is Yesterday," the Big E
shreds an F-104, which, coincidentally, is what the Vipers were modeled
after, using the tractor beam.  Why not use it (and the "meteor sweeper")
on the Vipers?

3.  Enterprise is invulnerable.  Note that in "Balance of Terror" the
shields deflect most of the energy of a point-blank nuclear detonation.  I
don't think anything the Vipers or the Galactica pack could get through
the shields.

4.  Since the "Galactica universe" doesn't have FTL, it would be quite
likely they wouldn't be able to detect the big E when same is under warp
drive (Does HMS Victory has ASW?).  Enterprise could go into warp, position
itself, and pick them off, one by one.

Although I don't have any of my references with me, I am confident in
saying the Galactica is pretty puny by Star Trek standards.


				   Ron Wanttaja
				   (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

"Mr Scott... what are those dark smears on the hull?"
"That's where those Viper hit us, sir?"
"Their weapons do any damage?"
"Ach, they didn't shoot us, you ran us through a pack of them..."