User:Kai1701E/Multi Adaptive Refractive Shielding system

Developed by scientists and engineers at the Sathea IV Science Station, the Multi Adaptive Refractive Shielding system (or MARS system for short) is a combination of technologies and research obtained from the logs of the starship Voyager upon its return from the Delta Quadrant in the late 2370’s. It is currently the flagship research project of the Xenotech Research Institute at Tucker Station.

Technological Specifics

Multi-adaptive shielding was a deflector shield stealth technology developed by Erin and Magnus Hansen in 2353, for use in keeping their vessel, the USS Raven, virtually invisible to Borg sensors during their field study of the Collective. In 2375, the crew of the USS Voyager incorporated multi-adaptive shielding into the systems of the Delta Flyer, to facilitate a rescue mission for the Hansens' daughter, now known as Seven of Nine, who was being held captive by the Borg Queen in the Unicomplex. Although the shielding was initially successful in concealing the Flyer's presence, a work around was established by the Borg which, until now, had rendered the technology a risky development.

Further research obtained from Voyager related to refractive shielding, a deflector shield stealth technology used by the Devore Imperium of the Delta Quadrant, which allowed a vessel to remain invisible to conventional sensors unless they were specifically adapted to detect such a technology.

History of MARS

The MARS system was the brainchild of Professor Rikia Mariwat, a Bolian scientist, and her counterpart from the Starfleet Corps of Engineers, Dayo Ekaan. Initially proposed as far back as the early 2380’s, the system was put on the back burner due to R&D efforts elsewhere. Following the failed evacuation of Romulan space, and the change in focus for Starfleet, the team on Sathea IV were given permission to move forward with their proposal in the mid-2390’s as Starfleet looked at new ways of defending itself. Crucially, as an adaptation of two known shielding systems, Starfleet ruled that the technology would not constitute a cloaking device and would instead fall under the realms of other stealth technologies, thus not breaking the centuries old Treaty of Algernon.

For close to a year, the team conducted trial after trial on the holodecks of their labs. They tested every conceivable variable in their search for problems with their design. With each modification they made, reliability in the simulations increased. In the final simulation prior to field testing, the MARS technology would prove to be effective a whopping 89% of the time, which flukes such as spatial phenomenon, nebula gases and the like resulting in some form of detection for the system. With permission for field tests granted, Starfleet assigned the Inquiry-class USS Thesis as the testbed for trials.

But almost from the beginning, the project did not go to plan. Field tests of the system were successful only 43% of the time, and the tests were complicated further by the detection of an epic storm, known as the Century Storm, which engulfed the Paulson Nebula. Directly in the path of the storm, Thesis was caught in the gravimetric waves of the leading edge during the final test phase of her project and was soon rendered stranded. Days later, and during the worst part of the storm, a battle between the New Orleans-class frigate USS Santa Fe and a Klingon vessel provided the Thesis with an unfortunate, unexpected means to test her new capabilities for real. With her systems largely restored, the Inquiry-class ship emerged from behind a stealth wall and fought off the Klingon aggressors.

Whilst the test was unexpected, and early, there was enough success to warrant continued testing. Mere weeks later, Thesis went missing while conducting tests near FreeCloud. The cause of her ‘disappearance’ was determined to be acts of sabotage, with help received from Santa Fe once again. Putting back to Avalon Fleet Yards, an official inquiry into the sabotage aboard the Thesis seemingly resulted in Captain Ruas being stripped of her command.

Months later, the crew of the USS Hathaway, many of whom had served on Santa Fe or Thesis during the Century Storm, adapted their own version of the MARS system as a defence during the Lost Fleet attack on the Deneb Sector. Although the test was initially successful, significant damage sustained from system blowouts almost prevented Hathaway from taking part in the climactic Battle of Farpoint.

Whilst Hathaway's success meant the project was worth continuing with, the damage it caused every time meant it was unsafe to proceed with in its current guise. Under orders from the head of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers, all research and data was transferred to the Xenotech Research Institute at Avalon Fleet Yards, where the system would go back to the drawing board.