WARP CORE

Warp Drive

To Journey areas vast distances in soace at speeds greater than that travelled by light, starships are fitted with warp engines fuelled by anti matter. Warp factor one is the speed of light. The measure of subspace field stress is a cochrane and warp factors are computed according to an asymptotic formula. Voyager's normal cruise speed is warp factor six (about 392 times the speed of light) but the ship can reach warp 9.975, comfortably. Warp Ten is considered the absolute speed limit of the universe.

Primary propulsion system used by most fasther-than-light interstellar spacecraft. Warp Drives used by Voyager employ the controlled anihilation of matter and antimatter, regulated by dilithium crystals, to generate the tremendous pwoer required to use warp speed. It is anadvisable to go to warp inside of a sola system because exceeding the speed of light near a gravity well can be dangerous if the gravitational potentials are not precisely taken into account.

The Voyager's folding wing and nacelle warp drive system allows the starship to exceed the warp 5 "speed limit", imposed in the TNG episode "Force of Nature", without polluting the space continuum. Warp travel is a non-propulsive technology. It moves the ship, but it doesn't propel it any particular direction.

Impulse Power operates in the same way as 20th century rocket technologies and is thus propulsive with inertial effects; that is, once you turn off the rockets you keep moving forward. Scince warp drive operates by creating a seperate subspace field, you could instantly stop a ship under warp drive if you could kill the subspace field rapidly enough.

Warp Factor

The warp factor is a unit of measure for faster-than-light warp velocities generated by the warp drive. Warp factor one is c, the speed of light, while higher speeds are computed geometrically under one of two different formulae. Voyager, whose variable-geometry warp drive nacelles prevent damage to the subspace continnum, was one of the first federation ships built able to exceed warp 5.

Warp Field

This is the "bubble" of subspace in which a starship travels when using warp drive. A low-level warp field can have the effect of reducing the local gravitational constant within the field itself. This is because a subspace field resembles the time-space distortion of a gravitational field. The effect is that a low-levcel warp field can be used to temporarily reduce the apparent mass of an object (with relationship to the outside universe).

Warp Field Coils

Toroidal structures within a starship's warp drive nacelles that, when bombarded by high energy plasma. actually form the subspace "bubble" in which the ship travels at warp. Exposure to a verteron pulse can overload field coils, causing warp drive, and all other subspace systems, to fail.

Warp Field Effect

Cimulative damage to the structure of the subspace continuum caused by repeated exposure of an area to warp travel. Areas with already preexisting subspace instability were particularly sensitive to the effect. As the exposure to warp field energy increased, so did the chances of a subspace rupture. The warp field effect was particularly severe when warp factor 5 was exceeded. More recently though the Federation ships were created so they can go at higher warp speeds without harming the subspace continuum.

Warp Particles

Subatomic matter created by a warp field, unstable under space-normal conditions. When Voyager was trapped in a type-4 quantum singularity in 2371, the crew saturated the event horizon with warp particles to find a subspace instability.

Warp Plasma Particles

Residual amounts of plasma created during matter/antimatter reaction. It has been determined that discharging a phaser or disruptor weapon in the vicinity of warp plasma particles will cause them to ignite. Transporter beams are also known to destabilize the plasma.

Warp Shadows

Energy phenomenon produced under certain conditions by warp-driven starships. Warp shadows have been known to cause sensor ghosts to appear on some types of sensors.

Warp 10

Under Warp theory, an infinite velocity unattainable by normal warp drive technology. An object traveling at warp 10 would theoretically occupy all points in the universe simultaneously.

Tanswarp

In subspace physics, a velocity equalling warp 10, unattainable under normal warp theory. Controlling the point of exit from transwarp, and therefore the destination point in normal space, remains a significatn unknown to the federation science. Tom Paris was the first human to pilot a ship that could attain transwarp speeds. Unfortunately, transwarp velocity was shown to have extremely dangerous effects on living beings.

Subspace

Subspace is a field that defines a particular frame of reference at all points in known space. It is composed of an infinite number of cells like a honey-comb. A ship entering warp uses subspace so as to keep its frame of reference regardless of speed. The asymmetrical peristaltic warp field propels a ship by pushing against each anchored reference frame of subspace. The first field coil achors the ship to the occupied position in subspace, then passes the field along to the next coil along with its anchored position in subspace, and so on down the nacelle.

Spatial continuum with significantly different properties from our own, a fundamental part of warp drive. Warp-driven starships employ a subspace generator to create the asymmetrical spatial distortion necessary for the vessel to travel faster than the speed of light. Subspace is also used as a medium for subspace radio transmissions.

Subspace Compression

Phenomenon resulting from differential field-potential values in nearby portions of the same warp field. Subspace compression can cause different parts of an object to have different inertial densities, resulting in structural strain on the object. In severe cases, subspace compression can tear an object apart at the subatomic level. Depending on relative field symmetries.

Subspace Field Distortions

Phenomenon that generally indicate the presence of a warp-propulsion system.

Subspace Funnel

Subspce link between two points in normal space.

Subspace Instabilities

Area of weakness in the fabric of normal space. Areas demonstrating subspace instabilities were more prone to warp-field effect.

Subspace Rift

The extrusion of subspace into normal space over a discernible event horizon. The cumulative exposure of warp-field energy to susceptible areas of space was thought to cause these rifts to form.

Subspace Rupture

Huge swirling anomaly that draws surrounding matter into a central vortex. A subspace rupture was discovered in the Handi system in 2169 by a Vulcan ship.

Subspace Shock wave

Powerful energy front generated by a massive energy discharge.

Subspace Vacuole

Short-lived interspatial passageway. Subspace vacuoles occurred naturally on the Vhnori homeworld, linking that planet to an area of space near a ringed planet in the Delta Quadrant.

Space-Normal

Technical term describing slower-than-light travel.

Static Warp Shell

A symmetrical subspace bubble, often toroidal or spherical in 3D profile. A static warp shell cannot be used for warp-propulsion applications because warp drive requires an asymmetrical warp field.