Section 3: Power Generation and Application
Quite frankly we have no real clue here beyond what was told to yourselves during your tour aboard the Vanguard.
What is below is pure guesswork for now.
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Power Generation:
Controlled Matter-antimatter reactions with a far higher level of energy extraction and control than anything currently known.
Presently the STG has no understanding of how this takes place, or how they channel the power generated, but estimates from the top theoretical scientists suggest a power output on a scale equivalent to the total power generation of a large city every second.
Below are comments from Doctor Morroth, who was stationed on the Vanguard for its trip through the Relays to the Citadel:
"While aboard the Vanguard I attempted to subtly prod my host, Ensign Drake, for details surrounding their technology, but found the young Human to be very alert and adept at avoiding directly asking my questions without appearing to do so.
Using the freely-provided computer in my quarters, I was able to learn a few key details. Their power is controlled via the usage of something called dilithium crystals. As to what these are, it is unclear, as my access was restricted to that provided to a young school child.
While others would feel insulted by this level of access, I found it an acceptable way to introduce their technology without giving away any details that would threaten the safety of the ship and crew."
We currently have no idea as to what these crystals are, how they are used or where to find them. I recommend close surveillance of the Vanguard and her crew in the months ahead as I believe they will try to find a source of dilithium to re-supply and secure their power source.
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FTL Capability
The Vanguard achieves FTL speeds by simply powering themselves to a speed greater than that of light.
The ship generates some kind of unusual energy field around itself, then surges forward past light-speed.
This method, while generally slower than Mass Effect Acceleration, is believed to be more controllable and adaptable.
We hypothesise that it may be possible to combine the two methods of FTL to achieve speeds around 10000 Light years per day.
Also, when generating the energy field, the Vanguard gives off a radiation spike this is similar to what we have detected from the Mass Relays just before a ship is accelerated to the target Relay. We hypothesize that there is a correlation between these two events.
Something that was not given to the researchers but I was able to gain access to is the video feed from Captain MacLeod's and Spectre Shepard's conversation with the being called Sovereign.
[Please note that I will not be drawn into speculating if the dreadnought used by Saren was an actual Reaper or simply a highly advanced AI controlled ship used by the Reapers.]
Sovereign mentioned something called sub-levels. This is a highly controversial theory that there are 9 or 14 levels to space-time, and that we occupy level 0.
While I do not claim to understand the theory, the fact that both the super-dreadnought and the Vanguard possibly use such technology [and that Sovereign claimed that it has been intentionally denied to us] leads me to believe that this area should be investigated with a significant increase in allocated science funds.
I have attached a secondary file concerning the scientists that are involved in the relevant fields for your consideration: 1FDS45GSG-J
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Shuttles:
Again, we wish to point out that we believe that the smaller shuttlecraft and fighter-craft also use a similar, but far smaller version, of the same power generation technology.
We would recommend the acquisition of such a craft to further our understanding of this new technology.
While I too would suggest gaining access to a shuttle, I would advise caution with whatever plan is considered as Starfleet regulations make it very clear that technology must not be allowed to fall into the hands of a more primitive society – something that in this regard, we clearly are.
This means that I suspect that Captain MacLeod would go to great – if probably not lethal – lengths to ensure that the acquired technology is either recovered or destroyed.