WARP PROPULSION
SUBSPACE FIELD GEOMETRY

	The propulsive effect is achieved by a number of factors working in 
concert. First, the field formation is controllable in a fore-to-aft direction. As 
the plasma injectors fire sequentially, the warp field layers build according to 
the pulse frequency in the plasma, and press upon each other as previously 
discussed. The cumulative field layer forces reduce the apparent mass of the 
vehicle and impart the required velocities. The critical transition point occurs 
when the spacecraft appears to an outside observer to be traveling faster 
than c. As the warp field energy reaches 1000 millicochranes, the ship 
appears driven across the c boundary in less than Planck time, 1.3 x 10¶ 
sec, warp physics insuring that the ship will never be precisely at c. The 
three forward coils of each nacelle operate with a slight frequency offset to 
reinforce the field ahead of the Bussard ramscoop and envelop the Saucer 
Module. This helps create the field asymmetry required to drive the ship 
forward.
	Second, a pair of nacelles is employed to create two balanced, 
interacting fields for vehicle maneuvers. In 2269, experimental work with 
single nacelles and more than two nacelles yielded quick confirmation that 
two was the optimum number for power generation and vehicle control. 
Spacecraft maneuvers are performed by introducing controlled timing 
differences in each set of warp coils, thereby modifying the total warp field 
geometry and resultant ship heading. Yaw motions (XZ plane) are most easily 
controlled in this manner. Pitch changes are affected by a combination of 
timing differences and plasma concentrations.
	Third, the shape of the starship hull facilitates slippage into warp and 
imparts a geometric correction vector. The Saucer Module, which retains its 
characteristic shape from the original concept of an emergency landing 
craft, helps shape the forward field component through the use of a 55¡ 
elliptical hull planform, found to produce superior peak transitional 
efficiency. The aft hull undercut allows for varying degrees of field flow 
attachment, effectively preventing pinwheeling, owing to the placement of 
the nacelles off the vehicle Y-axis center of mass. During Saucer Module 
separation and independent operation of the Battle Section, interactive warp 
field controller software adjusts the field geometry to fit the altered 
spacecraft shape. In the event of accidental loss of one or both nacelles, the 
starship would linearly dissociate, due to the fact that different parts of the 
structure would be traveling at different warp factors.  Æ