It’s a lot worse than just next to the warp core too. It’s pointed directly at it and there is absolutely no backstop to that tiny target save for the core itself.
You’ve got it backwards. The phaser’s pointed directly away from the warp core, so the safest possible direction. Geordie’s at the phaser end, and Data’s the one relying on a tiny little target getting hit and using his own body as a backstop.
It’s a lot worse than just next to the warp core too. It’s pointed directly at it and there is absolutely no backstop to that tiny target save for the core itself.
You’ve got it backwards. The phaser’s pointed directly away from the warp core, so the safest possible direction. Geordie’s at the phaser end, and Data’s the one relying on a tiny little target getting hit and using his own body as a backstop.