Object
Bussard Collectors
A pair of forward-mounted ram‑scoop assemblies built into the ship's nacelles, their grillwork and superconducting coils glowing a brief, iridescent crimson when expelling or collecting hydrogen. Roughly the size of a small cargo container each, they pulse with vented exhaust and give off a flaring, harmless red bloom that can be mistaken for an energy blast. Crew on the Main Bridge recoil at the sudden glow until officers identify the harmless exhaust and defuse tension.
2 appearances
Purpose
To collect and channel diffuse interstellar hydrogen for fusion systems and to manage hydrogen exhaust flows; here they produce a visible hydrogen exhaust flare rather than a weaponized discharge.
Significance
Functions as the story's visual ruse: the crimson flare from the collectors convinces captors the ship can deliver a lethal strike, enabling Riker's non‑violent bluff and the crew's clean extraction. The collectors thus drive a tactical turning point and underscore themes of restraint and command judgment.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used