Expert: Justin Case - 6/8/2009

Question
Here's another clip, the "Conundrum" clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ds9GRjSw4s

Beginning at about 4:35, I have some questions.

A) The alien knocked Worf easily to the floor. How do you think he would have responded had Data been at Tactical instead of Worf?

B) What level do you think the phasers were which Riker and Worf shot? Heavy stun? If he can survive the kill setting to his chest, he's one strong person.

C) If only 1 phaser were shot continuously, and it continuously hit him in the chest, would he eventually go down?

D) Roga Danar brushed off phaser blasts with even less of a problem than this alien. As did the Power Play hosts. Obviously the Power Play hosts were not getting fired at by phasers set to kill, and I really doubt that Danar was. Since this alien was obviously a threat, it's possible the phaser settings were lower than for Danar and the Power Play hosts. So, do you think the "Conundrum" alien is stronger than the other two?

E) Do you think the phaser blasts killed the alien in this clip?

F) Would phasers set to kill kill the "Conundrum alien," Danar and the Power Play hosts (they simply knocked out Quinn)? If not, what kind of effect would they have?

Answer
Hi John -

A) The Satarran seemed to not really be thinking but kind of panicked when he saw that his chance to destroy the Lysian Central Command was slipping through his fingers after all his 'hard work.'  My guess is he would have reacted the same, attempted to shove Data away from the weapon's console and tried to fire it himself.  I doubt he would have shoved Data as far as Worf went, but I think the Satarran's reaction would have been similar.

B) My guess would be that most phasers kept 'laying around' the bridge are set on a moderate stun setting at all times.  Any higher setting would be risking the lives of other bridge crew personnel (if the person shooting missed), and/or disintegration of key instruments or part of the hull if the person shooting missed.  If I were the Captain I would only authorize higher settings when on away missions, so my guess is the weapons Worf and Riker fired were at a moderate stun setting.

We've seen phasers at higher settings distingrate rocks, transparent aluminum and starship hulls so I doubt they were set near there and that the Satarran could survive if they were.

C) I think that if one phaser were fired at the Satarran continuously he would go down, it would just take time.

D) I doubt this alien is stronger than Danar or the Power Play infected humans from that episode.  I think the phasers were at a moderate stun setting and the Satarran was fueled up by adrenaline (or his people's equivalent.)

E) No, I don't think he was killed, probably knocked down pretty hard and unconscious when Dr. Crusher examined him, but I doubt his life was terminated.

F) Phasers set to kill can cause massive cellular disruption so, I think they could kill the Satarran.  

Even given their physiological improvements a setting near level 12 can cause massive cellular disruption to rocks and steel so I doubt even Danar or the Power Play alien could survive that.

Thanks!

D. -