Cocoon Report
Physical properties of the Cocoon shell
Last update SD 8.0617
For the most part the shell of the Cocoon consists of normal interstellar matter - ice crystals, metallic and mineral dust, gas atoms and very basic organic and anorganic molecules. It is the density of the matter that makes the Cocoon unique.
There is evidence of similar nebular structures in the Dentri and Ogano nebulae, but the wall density and thickness is much less significant than that of the Cocoon as of course the size is a few magnitudes smaller as well.
Based on simulations of different scenarios of how the Cocoon was formed, it is believed that there was a convergence of gravitational forces in this area of space that contributed to the concentration of materials in the wall. The collecting gravitational anomalies have passed as the rotation of the galaxy went on, leaving the collected matter behind, charged by the then young star systems' ionizing radiation.
The solar winds did their share to expell the matter not consumed in the formation of planetary bodies from their vicinity, leaving it in a shell of more than 280,000 kilometers thickness in any place observed but the thin spot of the Portal Sector, which is 70,000 kilometers. Actually it is estimated that the average thickness is between 450,000 and 500,000 kilometers.
The ever ongoing build-up of polarisation fields in the wall, powered by the stellar radiation collected on the inside, sets off massive energy storms, which are disproportionally increasing with the thickness of the shell wall. Ships - or for that matter any solid object above the size of a pebble - attract energy discharges like a lightning rod that would be able to quickly grind those objects to debris if they are not protected, preferrably by the new metaphasic shields used in the newest Starfleet ship designs.
Additionally, the energy discharges create ever changing temporary spiderwebs of weak subspace anomalies that are strong enough to tear apart a ship at warp speed by means of suddenly induced inertia and dampen all ways of subspace communication or scanning systems. It was only for the new DELPHI array that the thin spot in the wall could be discovered because it's sophisticated subspace phalanx was able to get a glimpse to the other side. A bold and certainly very risky attempt to penetrate the wall at slow impulse speed and hope for the shields to last to the other side was rewarded with the discovery of this unknown territory. It is clear that in this environment no ships would be able to enter and pass the portal undetected, especially not without a specifically qualified helmsman.
Currently the mapping of the shell surfaces on both in and outside are going on, which is a tremendous and neverending task, considering that there are several million square lightyears to be cartographed, with slow but dynamic changes to them going on. Two interesting spots have been found where the shell wall is folded, possibly responsible for the thinning in the wall at the Portal. A permanent observation station is under construction on Demeter, with others to follow in systems near the wall as exploration continues.
SD 8.0219 Ens Wyatt E. Duke, CSciO, NCC-800 USS FENRIS
Addendum SD 8.0617:
It is suspected that ionisation-based eddy currents might be capable of discharging into ship systems along activated shields. Several malfunctions have been observed on ships after passing the portal without other cause.