Auto-destruct
The auto-destruct system (also known as self-destruct or destruct sequence) was a starship system that allowed the total destruction of the vessel. This was typically activated as a last resort, usually to prevent a ship from falling into enemy hands.
On Star Fleet vessels, the activation sequence varied from class to class, but usually required authorization from the Captain and/or senior officers, with the use of command authorization codes in most cases. Once the countdown was activated, the computer gave audio warnings, usually with an interval of 10 seconds until the last 10 seconds that were counted down in intervals of a second, and displays graphics on viewscreens.
There is also option of ordering a silent countdown - a single voice prompt would occur at the commencement of the sequence, with no further audio warnings made.
Methods
On most Federation ships, the destruct sequence used one of two methods of completion (both may be installed to allow for redundancy).
- The first uses the ship's matter and antimatter fuel supplies, combining them in an unmoderated reaction with the resultant annihilation reaction being more than enough to obliterate the entire vessel, much like a warp core breach.
- In the second, explosive charges placed at key points throughout the vessel would ensure complete destruction. It is approximately half as powerful as the former method (an estimated yield of 1,000 and 500 photon torpedoes, respectively).
Klingon vessels, like the D7 class, were equipped with this self-destruct method that caused a containment failure within the warp core.
A Borg vessel's self-destruct mechanism forces the ship's power grid to feedback on itself, forcing an explosion that destroys the ship. When a Borg vessel is critically damaged, all of its vital technology, such as the transwarp coils, self-destruct to prevent their use by other species.
