Object
Starboard Power Coupling
A reinforced conductive junction mounted in the Enterprise‑D's starboard engineering bay: matte‑gray duranium housing, braided superconductive conduits feeding into a bolted flange and thumb‑sized maintenance ports. Under battle stress the coupling smokes and sparks, insulation blistering and fasteners shearing; bridge consoles register erratic load readings while officers order immediate isolation and rerouting to stabilize affected systems.
3 appearances
Purpose
To mechanically and electrically join starboard power conduits, transferring current between the ship's power distribution buses and local starboard systems to maintain circuit continuity and allow load sharing or isolation during faults.
Significance
The damaged coupling becomes a tangible cause of power instability that amplifies the ship's vulnerability—triggering alarms, contributing to brownouts and shield failures, and heightening the stakes of Picard's tactical decision to hold station as a sacrificial shield.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used