Ayiana Sevo/Duty Log Stardate 239207.15
Herein I have compiled a summary of data regarding the Tholians’ experimental “sticky web,” as it has come to be known. Most of this information actually comes from the U.S.S. Arrow’s own research a hundred years ago, and recently acquired.
Summary Report of New Tholian Weapon
In short, this new web is fired like a projectile at a target, upon which it sticks to the hull of said target. Instead of being composed of energy filaments that had to be interconnected manually via two or more ships, this Sticky Web was instead pre-formed in a web configuration. The filaments themselves are composed of high-tensile carbon-rodinium nanothreads. These threads are in essence carbon nanotubes 1nm in diameter. The bonds of carbon are enhanced with rodinium atoms for even more strength. Since the web is nothing more than interconnected strands, they can be compacted into an incredibly small space, and unfolded when needed. This allows the web to be loaded into any projectile casing, such as a photon torpedo.
Additionally, when the web is fired, it is coated with an extremely high temperature plasma. Without this coating, a thread of nanotubing can easily slice through most materials with ease. This plasma coating instead acts as a “glue,” magnetically attaching the web to the hull of a ship.
The web is carefully controlled not to cut into the ship’s hull, however it can be easily manipulated to do so if required. It appears its primary purpose is to immobilize a ship.
[Attached files: U.S.S. Victory Sensor Analysis - Sticky Web]
- [Attached files: Original Research conducted by the U.S.S. Arrow]
Radiation
The plasma coating has the side effect of emitting devastating ionizing radiation. This radiation penetrates every known type of hull. It is also extremely ionized, causing fast-acting damage to living tissue. Any lifeforms in the area of the ship where the web has been applied will begin to experience the symptoms of radiation poisoning within two minutes. Most common symptoms include:
- Bleeding from orifices, not limited to but including eyes and nose
- Headache
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Dizziness
Within five minutes:
- Loss of concentration
- Loss of memory
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Ten minutes:
- Unconsciousness
- Shutdown of organs
If a victim does not receive radiation treatment within half an hour, death is 95% likely.
Note that this information is taken from the Victory’s own experience with the radiation. These symptoms are most associated with carbon-based trillioid lifeforms. Different species may exhibit different symptoms or delayed reaction times.
One patient affected was a Pahkwa-thanh. His thick hide slowed the intrusion of the radiation into his body by a couple of minutes; his most noticeable symptom was increased body temperature. Unfortunately, he did not prove immune and soon lost consciousness as well.
In the end, however, I am happy to report that due to the efforts of the Victory’s medical team, there were no fatalities.
[Attached files: U.S.S. Victory Sensor Analysis - Radiation]
- [Attached files: Original Research conducted by the U.S.S. Arrow]
Possible Countermeasures
There have been no experimentally-confirmed countermeasures to this new Sticky Web. In both recorded cases where it was used, the ships’ power network was disrupted, preventing the ship from moving. Radiation caused death of the entire crew of the Arrow (a loss of 14 people). Approximately two dozen were affected on board the Victory, but were saved due to the efforts of its medical team.
1) The first line of defense for such a weapon would be a ship’s shields. They would prevent the plasma-coated web from reaching the hull, however it is unclear if the shields would dissipate the molecular bonds of the nanothreads, or if the web would stick to the shields unharmed. In the latter case, I predict a 75% probability that the web would drain the ship’s shields within one hour, upon which it would continue to the ship’s hull.
Thus, it is in the interest of the Tholians to catch a target off-guard. Both encounters with the Sticky Web were in the same area, an asteroid field with a unique electromagnetic-dampening effect. It is very similar in effect to a Farraday cage. No sensors or energy can enter or escape the area. This provides an ample spot for an ambush. As a ship’s shields would most likely be down if they were not expecting an attack, the Tholians can approach undetected and fire at a vulnerable vessel.
2) Polarizing the hull of a ship may reduce the effectiveness of the radiation by approximately 25% and also reduce the adhesion factor from the plasma.
3) Ablative armor would provide an additional layer of defense, combined with polarizing said armor can potentially reduce the effectiveness of the Sticky Web by 30%-60%.
End Log