Average ss13 shift
Serious question here: isn’t the Warp core not the best place to do this? They probably have the right equipment and sensors in the engineering section to do that test and I would also image that the warp core would be much safer because of its added protection systems than anywhere else on the ship, right? So if the weapon blows up, they shut that section off, wait for it to blow and dust off the consoles.
It also looks like they are firing away from the warp core and not at it.
As for data standing right behind it, I mean, he is an android who doesn’t fear death or injury…
Learn scientific techniques like this and more at the Prometheus School of Running in Line with the Object that Will Kill You and Other Inane Blunders!
The Prometheus School of Running Away from Things*.
Remember to stand down range whilst testing an unknown weapon
“Look, we’ve only got the one engineering set, so we’d better use it.”
Geordie at least has an excuse as he was brainwashed by Romulans at the time. Data on the other hand was just an idiot.