Okay, I'm not sure what the radiation status of dilithium is, but here's my understanding of the stuff:
It's not radioactive. It's a crystalline structure where atomic lithium is fused into a diatomic solid state, but I don't recall there being anything about the lithium atoms being an unstable isotope. The only unstable isotopes of lithium are VERY short-lived, and would not create a stable crystalline structure for the warp core.
At least, that's my understanding.
HOWEVER, there's the possibility of tons of other energy sources being used on starships, which could include radioactive isotopes. Yes, I could see a conduit containing radioactive materials rupturing and releasing those isotopes into the damaged sections of the ships. The thing is... would the metal beams and other structures of the collapsed ship shield the victims from exposure if the stuff is airborne and getting onto their skin? If the exposure is due to direct particulate contamination, then... imagine the radioactive materials being like dust or vapor released into the air, and most of the irradiation received by the victims only happens if the stuff gets ON them. You had mentioned that some folks were more shielded than others, which to me sounded like gamma rays and high energy electromagnetic and penetrating subatomic particle radiation... not particulate contamination from an isotope release.
Now, I'll be honest... 99% of your readers wouldn't know and won't care. I'm an oddity - I work with this stuff all the time. But then, I'm always an oddity. And please DO know that I will continue to love your story regardless of the technicalities of the radiation sources. :D
no subject
It's not radioactive. It's a crystalline structure where atomic lithium is fused into a diatomic solid state, but I don't recall there being anything about the lithium atoms being an unstable isotope. The only unstable isotopes of lithium are VERY short-lived, and would not create a stable crystalline structure for the warp core.
At least, that's my understanding.
HOWEVER, there's the possibility of tons of other energy sources being used on starships, which could include radioactive isotopes. Yes, I could see a conduit containing radioactive materials rupturing and releasing those isotopes into the damaged sections of the ships. The thing is... would the metal beams and other structures of the collapsed ship shield the victims from exposure if the stuff is airborne and getting onto their skin? If the exposure is due to direct particulate contamination, then... imagine the radioactive materials being like dust or vapor released into the air, and most of the irradiation received by the victims only happens if the stuff gets ON them. You had mentioned that some folks were more shielded than others, which to me sounded like gamma rays and high energy electromagnetic and penetrating subatomic particle radiation... not particulate contamination from an isotope release.
Now, I'll be honest... 99% of your readers wouldn't know and won't care. I'm an oddity - I work with this stuff all the time. But then, I'm always an oddity. And please DO know that I will continue to love your story regardless of the technicalities of the radiation sources. :D