Federation Cloaking

[Tannekar Sef]

I'm part of a crew that's just managed to "acquire" an ancient (Class 1) claoking device. We are a Maquis vessel, a "liberated" Aerie class Federation starship.
My question is this: Is it possible to install the device, and what complications may be entailed?
I know that a treaty prevented Federation vessels from using cloaked vessels. Being Maquis, we fall under no such restriction. But I also remember reading somewhere that the power systems or the warp engine design on Federation vessels interfered with its operation.

[Mazza]

If you have Scotty on board, then you should be able to integrate such a device seemlessly into your ship's systems in a matter of minutes despite the vast differences in technology between your ship and the ship from which you acquired the cloaking device.

If you have Scotty on board.

[toadmage]

Yes I think a crew could install cloaking device , but how well will it work ?

Maybe the cloak will work at long scan and short range other ships can detect that you are there .

Other thought is that the cloak only blocks scanner from see it . A person can still look out a window signing your ship . This idea is the Last Uncion RPG book that stated one of the Klingon early cloak system operates on the "Devil " D-12 cruiser.

[Balok]

An early cloak will not fool modern Federation sensors, but may fool the older sensors of older ships.

It is possible to integrate cloaking technology into modern Federation ships. We know this because they did it on the Defiant. The specifics might be classified, but the Maquis enjoy favor with certain elements of Starfleet, and might be able to obtain the necessary data. How well an older cloak integrates with an older ship is a matter for some research.

Older cloaks eat power. It's likely that a small ship couldn't do much else while operating one. Certainly it couldn't fight.

[Tobian]

Well certainly the maquis aren't bound by the treaty of Algeron, since they are fighting the federation too

I would say that the ship would still have a good chance of hiding you - for example a cloaked ship in the badlands WOULD be invisible - because there's so much other interference out there! (which would add a +5 or 6 to any sensor roll I'd say!)

Where I would say the cloak would be useful would be at very long ranges.. you detect a ship droping out of warp at the edge of the system you're in. Your cloak would hide you at those ranges. When you got within the combat ranges (maybe up to extended) the sensors would kick in BUT that means you still have the opportunity to do soemthing about it - aka - go hide behind a rock / planet / suns coronosphere / land / play dead etc..

I think the best way to get the thing to work is to use it to buy you time. If you're going toe to toe with a galaxy class starship and think they can't see you - you're going to lose!

[Tannekar Sef]

Well, it's good to know that we can use this device to our advantage. I'm just lucky that the ST allowed us to get it. It may be old, and it may be rickety and prone to breaking down at the worst time, but it's a great tactical resource. Even if in a limited scope. Makes a good plot device, too!

We'll never take on anything like a Galaxy Class starship, but piracy has become THAT much easier... Heh, Cardies won't know what hit'em. Until we tell them, that is!

[Tobian]

Don't forget that before the dominion jointly built ships with the Cardassians, the cardassians had much the inferior sensor technology to the federation, and in a relative context they wouldn't have had as much experience at detecting cloaked ships. - to that date the only major technologically advanced species they had come against (in a show context, of the major races) was the Federation - who didn't employ such devices - The Federation has of course had allot of explosure (Romulans, Klingons) - hence more likellyhood of spotting them.

Technically you could argue they met the Breen, but then can you see a Breen ever decloaking !

[Tannekar Sef]

Whew, it's a good thing we haven't gotten to the Dominion War, yet. I mean, we all know what happens afterwards, but hey - that's half the fun of playing, right? Being part of it.

I suppose that's why the "Kobayashi Maru" is such a great way to analyze character. To look at how it feels to lose, even as you fight against it. Espescially since our ST won't let us just negotiate our way out of it like some characters!

[Tobian]

Kobiashi Maru has everything to do with determining what sort of character a person has and how they come with defeat, and nothing to do with actual 'cloaking tactics' because if you don't know about it you can't react till you do.. other than to have a number of game plans thought out in your head.. Much like Benjamin explains to the Prophets - you don't know what's coming next, but the reinforcement of similar input pathways allows you to determine an approximate path to follow.

Let us know how it all turns out!

[Shoshuro]

I would consider the Marquis as Cardassian citizens with only former ties to the Federation.

Well, the original Marquis at any rate. After all it didn't prevent people from Star Fleet, the Federation or elsewhere from joining. Remember, the Marquis started as a group trying to rejoin the Federation due to what the Cardassians were "allegedly" doing to former Fed colonies.

[Tobian]

That's partially true. yes you can consider most of the original Maquis to be Cardassian citizens, but their people come from many sources, up to and including ex Starfleet officers who support their cause (Eddington and Chakotay being prime examples) - and many people who neighbour cardassian space - as many of those planets and teritories shifted hands during the cardassian war, so they are likelly to harbour deep resentment to the Cardassians and would be willing to fight them.

I don't think that the maquis were wanting to rejoin the Federation, they mostly seemed to just be fighting the Cardassians at first - and in some ways their resentment owards the Federation for 'abandoning' them meant that they in time came to hate the Federation too.

[Balok]

It's possible that your cloak could fool the Cardassians, at least pre Dominion War.

Should the Cardassians ever discover what you're doing, they may assume that the Klingons or Romulans provided you with technical help. Why? Because it's in their nature to suspect conspiracy...

[Tobian]

Yep and you better have some good freinds - if you are ever in that room, and there's a guy asking you how many lights there are....

if you aren't an important Captain in Starfleet then your only other option would be to break out - and Cardassians are good at Security !

[Tannekar Sef]

I was reading in another thread that there isn't much in the way of rules for detecting cloaked vessels. I only have access to the Player's Guide, and I want to be ready for our next game in case we need to use our cloaking device. It makes sense to use a tactical manouver to raise or drop the cloak, but how does a ship detect a cloaked vessel (assuming one has reason to search for one - for that matter, is it possible to detect a cloaked vessel without trying to?)

Also, is there any way to boost the strength of a cloaking device besides the "System Overhaul" Professional Ability (Tier 3 Engineer). Perhaps using the ship's navigational deflector? Anyone been in such a situation with any suggestions?

Oh, and on a side note, Tobian, I think it says in the time-line in the back of the PG that the Cardassians engaged the Klingons in several skirmishes before a non-aggression treaty was drawn up. While their sensor tech in that area may be a somewhat inferior, I'm sure that watching for Klingon vessels inside Cardie borders would be part of their training. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

Thanks!

[Doug Burke]

Originally posted by Tannekar Sef
I was reading in another thread that there isn't much in the way of rules for detecting cloaked vessels. I only have access to the Player's Guide, and I want to be ready for our next game in case we need to use our cloaking device. It makes sense to use a tactical manouver to raise or drop the cloak, but how does a ship detect a cloaked vessel (assuming one has reason to search for one - for that matter, is it possible to detect a cloaked vessel without trying to?)

Each cloaking device has a rating. This rating is the TN to detetc the presence (but not the specific location) of the cloaked ship.

Also, is there any way to boost the strength of a cloaking device besides the "System Overhaul" Professional Ability (Tier 3 Engineer). Perhaps using the ship's navigational deflector? Anyone been in such a situation with any suggestions?

Rules-wise, not really. But considering tyhe weakest cloak has (IIRC) a rating of 16, there's not much need...