WARP FIELD NACELLES

	The energetic plasma created by the M/ARC, and passed along the 
power transfer conduits, quickly arrives at the termination point, the warp 
engine nacelles. This is where the actual propulsion work is done. Each 
nacelle consists of a number of major assemblies, including the warp field 
coils (WFC), plasma injection system (PIS), emergency separation system 
(ESS), and maintenance docking port.
	The basic structure of the nacelles is similar to that of the remainder 
of the starship. Tritanium and duranium framing members are combined with 
longitudinal stiffeners, and overlaid with 2.5 meters of gamma-welded 
tritanium hull skinning. The addition of three inner layers of directionally 
strengthened cobalt cortenide provides protection against high levels of 
warp-induced stress, particularly at the attachment hardpoints on the 
support pylons. All framing and skinning of the nacelles and the support 
pylons accommodates triply redundant conduits for SIF and IDF systems. 
Attached to the inner framing members are shock attenuation cylinders for 
the warp field coils, as well as thermal isolation struts for the plasma 
injection system.
	The emergency separation system would be used in the event that a 
catastrophic failure occurred in the PIS, or if a nacelle damaged in combat 
or other situation could not be safely retained on its support pylon. Ten 
explosive structural latches can be fired, driving the nacelle up and away at 
30 m/sec.
	During starbase layovers and low-sublight travel, with the M/ARC 
powered down, the maintenance docking port allows any work pod or 
shuttle equipped with a standard docking collar to attach, permitting 
engineering crews and hardware rapid access to the interior of the nacelle. 
Normal monitoring visits from within the starship are made by single-
occupant turbolift through the support pylon.  Æ