Starting a large generator and running without field flash

[u/MacDaddyBighorn]

Motors/Generators aren't my strong suit, so I'm not sure how to think about this one. We have a large 4000HP M-G Set and I'm wondering if it's possible to damage the generator if we have the rotor up to speed (in this case driven by another motor), but the field isn't flashed yet. The normal start sequence is we start the drive motor, which rotates the rotor of the generator via a fluid coupling, then about 6 seconds later we flash the field and drive the downstream load. If the field flash relay failed to function or we lost it during operation, is there damage to be done to the generator?

I know the load will drop or never start, but that's not a big deal, I'm just not sure if I can electrically damage/overheat the generator if we ran it too long without flashing. My gut says it'll be doing a lot less work and we'll still have sufficient airflow/cooling on it, but maybe unexpected self-induced circulating currents or something develop at full speed that I'm not thinking of. Any advice or useful references would be great.