Kolvoord Starburst

A Kolvoord Starburst was a dangerously complex flight maneuver performed by light spacecraft, considered one of the most spectacular feats of precision flying. A wrong move during the maneuver, even a slight one, could lead to a catastrophic collision.
The maneuver was performed by five light spacecraft flying in a circular formation, following with them crossing within ten meters of each other and flying off in the opposite direction, while opening their coolant interlocks and igniting their plasma trails as they make the crossover. When done successfully, the maneuver created a spectacular light pattern resembling a five-pointed star.
File:Kolvoord Starburst formation.jpg|After performing a spin, the ships involved enter formation to pass within ten meters of each other, traveling 80,000 kph
File:Kolvoord Starburst passby.jpg|The ships involved open their coolant interlocks, as they pass directly by each other, heading out in five separate directions
File:Kolvoord Starburst emptvents.jpg|The coolant interlocks then vent plasma exhaust, leaving a trail
File:Kolvoord Starburst final.jpg|The plasma exhausts are ignited, forming a starburst pattern
== History ==
Starfleet Academy banned the Kolvoord Starburst in the 2260s following a training accident in which all five cadets attempting the maneuver were killed. In 2368, however, Nova Squadron, an elite group of cadets led by Nicholas Locarno, conspired to perform it at the end of the academic year in order to impress the guests attending the commencement demonstration, despite Joshua Albert and Wesley Crusher attempting to protest that it was banned for a reason and that they needed an unfeasible amount of training. During a clandestine practice session near Titan, Albert lost control of his craft and caused a collision that resulted in the destruction of all five craft. Albert was killed, while the others were rescued via emergency transporter. Locarno, afraid of what would happen if the accident's cause came to light, pressured his surviving teammates into lying about what had happened and blaming Albert alone.
During the inquiry into the incident, the crew of the ran simulations of the flight and correctly surmised that the cadets were attempting the maneuver, rather than the one on the approved flight plan. Captain Jean-Luc Picard confronted Cadet Crusher, a former member of the Enterprise crew, about their findings but Crusher refused to answer.
Without direct evidence, the board ruled that the accident was due to pilot error on Albert's part. At the last minute, however, Crusher admitted to the full truth – that they were indeed attempting the Starburst and that Albert had confessed that he didn't feel ready but the others pressured him into performing.
The entire squad faced expulsion but Locarno, as team leader, took full responsibility for their actions and was the only one expelled. The other survivors received severe academic consequences and had to repeat a year, but were allowed to continue their studies and graduate. However, Crusher lost his desire to join Starfleet as a result of the fiasco, leading to him dropping out of the Academy and electing to join The Traveler instead. (; ) 
In 2381, Locarno utilized the Kolvoord Starburst as a logo for Nova Fleet; on his jacket, the ships he captured, and his communication devices, which displayed the symbol when a call ended. By this time, he had come to feel that Nova Squadron would have succeeded had the Academy professors allowed them to practice more. Ironically, when he was killed by a Ferengi Genesis Device, the resulting explosion emitted the Kolvoord Starburst in the process of creating planet Locarno. ()
== External link ==
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de:Kolvoord-Sternenexplosion
Category:Maneuvers