I have a sudden image of someone in a Fed office somewhere, looking at the performance specs for a starship tricked out with Borg engines.
"Warp Ten is a theoretical abstract," he said with an aggrieved sigh. "It's a simple way of expressing speed in a fashion that doesn't get confusing when you compare various tech levels, and racial engine designs. After all," he continued, pointing at engines across the ages, "Warp nine on a starship from Kirk's era is barely Warp six by the modern chart. Warp one is lightspeed, while Warp ten is the theoretical maximum of the universe. So fast that literally, anywhere in the universe is the same distance as anywhere else."
He then held up the engineering schematic. "So how exactly do you plan to make this abomination fit?" He threw up his hands. "Warp fifteen indeed! It doesn't work, when Warp 10 is a theoretical abstract to begin with!"
Admiral Picard gave the spluttering engineer a patient smile as he leaned forward and pushed the schematic down. "Then I guess you're going to have to redraw the Warp curve, again."
The engineer gave the admiral a fulminating look before gathering his notes and storming out of the admiral's office. Jean-Luc watched him go and sipped his tea, trying hard not to feel smug.
---
Those who fear the darkness have never seen what the light can do.
"Warp Ten is a theoretical abstract," he said with an aggrieved sigh. "It's a simple way of expressing speed in a fashion that doesn't get confusing when you compare various tech levels, and racial engine designs. After all," he continued, pointing at engines across the ages, "Warp nine on a starship from Kirk's era is barely Warp six by the modern chart. Warp one is lightspeed, while Warp ten is the theoretical maximum of the universe. So fast that literally, anywhere in the universe is the same distance as anywhere else."
He then held up the engineering schematic. "So how exactly do you plan to make this abomination fit?" He threw up his hands. "Warp fifteen indeed! It doesn't work, when Warp 10 is a theoretical abstract to begin with!"
Admiral Picard gave the spluttering engineer a patient smile as he leaned forward and pushed the schematic down. "Then I guess you're going to have to redraw the Warp curve, again."
The engineer gave the admiral a fulminating look before gathering his notes and storming out of the admiral's office. Jean-Luc watched him go and sipped his tea, trying hard not to feel smug.
---
Those who fear the darkness have never seen what the light can do.