Changes: Omega molecule

Revision as of 13:49, 19 June 2008

The Omega molecule Ω (also known as Particle 010) is a short-lived, highly unstable molecule, believed to be the most powerful substance in the known universe. Some Federation cosmologists theorize that Omega existed in nature at the instant of the Big Bang, when the universe as we know it was born.

An Omega molecule would be so energetic that even a few molecules would, in theory, be able to power a whole civilization. The molecule could be synthesized using boronite ore. A single Omega molecule was synthesized in the late 23rd century by Dr. Ketteract, a Federation scientist. The molecule remained stable for a fraction of a second before it exploded, killing 127 leading Federation scientists, destroying the research station and causing ruptures in subspace extending several light years, making warp travel impossible in the region.

Starfleet Command immediately realized that the use of even a few Omega molecules could effectively end spacefaring travel in an entire quadrant or even the entire galaxy. Starfleet not only banned research into Omega, but issued the Omega Directive, ordering the destruction of Omega molecules by any means necessary, and the suppression of any knowledge of the particle's existence beyond starship captains and flag officers.

Knowledge of Omega was not restricted to the Federation. The Borg learned of the substance through the assimilation of thirteen species, and were able to synthesize a single molecule of Omega. That molecule also exploded, destroying 29 Borg vessels with 600,000 drones lost. The Borg, who referred to Omega as Particle 010, regarded Omega with near-reverence as they believed it to exist in a flawless state. All Borg were ordered to assimilate it at any cost. From their data, the Borg designed a harmonic resonance chamber which could theoretically stabilize the molecule. (VOY: "The Omega Directive")

In 2374, the crew of the USS Argus (NCC-75124) encountered a power source that generated its power using Omega molecules in a Preserver Temple on the surface of Tyra III. Initially stable, the power source started to fluctuate when a science and engineering team from the ship attempted to shut it down and collapse the subspace field it was generating in order to keep the technology out of Dominion hands. These fluctuations allowed the Argus' to detect the presence of Omega particles for the first time and initiate the Omega Directive, shortly before a subspace field enveloped the temple and surrounding area. Captain Lex ordered the immediately ordered the extraction the Argus' remaining personnel from the surface and the ship warped away from the system shortly before the power source went critical. However the explosion was contained inside the subspace field and damage to subspace restricted to the same small area. (Star Trek: The Adventures of Argus: "Trial By Fire")

Later the same year in the Delta Quadrant, another civilization was actually successful in synthesizing some 200 million Omega molecules. They were able to keep the molecules stable by using Omega's own resonance to calibrate their containment field, though eventually an accident devastated their research facility. The starship USS Voyager managed to neutralize the molecules before they could do any further damage to subspace. Seven of Nine adapted the Borg harmonic resonance chamber design to emit an inverse frequency which would dissolve Omega's interatomic bonds. The remaining Omega molecules were destroyed by a modified gravimetric torpedo. (VOY: "The Omega Directive")

In 2380, the Confederation of Earth gained tha data that Seven of Nine had gathered regarding Particle 010* via mind probe, and set course to the M-class Moon in the Delta Quadrant where Voyager encountered the particle. The Confederates were able to create and stablize the particle and returned it to the Genesis Sphere. (STC: "Particle 010")

The Confederation of Earth uses the Borg designation for the Omega Molecule

Apocrypha

In Star Trek: Armada the Borg, led by a clone of Locutus of Borg, led an unsuccessful attack in 2376 upon the Federation and the Klingon and Romulan Empires in an attempt to gain an Omega particle, before being destroyed by the USS Enterprise-E.

According to the Star Trek: Section 31 book "Cloak", the Section 31 had an active participation on the disastrous Omega accident in the 23rd century, which the crew of the original Enterprise barely escaped.

External links

Omega molecule article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
Omega molecule article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 [[Starfleet Command]] immediately realized that the use of even a few Omega molecules could effectively end spacefaring travel in an entire [[quadrant]] or even the entire [[Milky Way Galaxy|galaxy]]. [[Starfleet]] not only banned research into Omega, but issued the [[Omega Directive]], ordering the destruction of Omega molecules by any means necessary, and the suppression of any knowledge of the particle's existence beyond starship captains and [[flag officer]]s.
-Knowledge of Omega was not restricted to the Federation. The [[Borg]] learned of the substance through the [[assimilation]] of thirteen species, and were able to synthesize a single molecule of Omega. That molecule also exploded, destroying 29 Borg vessels with 600,000 [[Borg drone|drones]] lost. The Borg, who referred to Omega as Particle 010<!-- note: Seven of Nine specifically stated "zero-one-zero", not "zero-zero-one", so please leave this as is...-->, regarded Omega with near-reverence as they believed it to exist in a flawless state. All Borg were ordered to assimilate it at any cost. From their data, the Borg designed a [[harmonic resonance chamber]] which could theoretically stabilize the molecule.
+Knowledge of Omega was not restricted to the Federation. The [[Borg]] learned of the substance through the [[assimilation]] of thirteen species, and were able to synthesize a single molecule of Omega. That molecule also exploded, destroying 29 Borg vessels with 600,000 [[Borg drone|drones]] lost. The Borg, who referred to Omega as Particle 010<!-- note: Seven of Nine specifically stated "zero-one-zero", not "zero-zero-one", so please leave this as is...-->, regarded Omega with near-reverence as they believed it to exist in a flawless state. All Borg were ordered to assimilate it at any cost. From their data, the Borg designed a [[harmonic resonance chamber]] which could theoretically stabilize the molecule. ({{VOY|The Omega Directive}})
+In [[2374]], the crew of the {{pre|USS|Argus|NCC-75124| (NCC-75124)}} encountered a power source that generated its power using Omega molecules in a [[Preservers|Preserver Temple]] on the surface of [[Tyra III]]. Initially stable, the power source started to fluctuate when a science and engineering team from the ship attempted to shut it down and collapse the subspace field it was generating in order to keep the technology out of Dominion hands. These fluctuations allowed the ''Argus''<nowiki>'</nowiki> to detect the presence of Omega particles for the first time and initiate the Omega Directive, shortly before a subspace field enveloped the temple and surrounding area. Captain [[Jonozia Lex|Lex]] ordered the immediately ordered the extraction the ''Argus''<nowiki>'</nowiki> remaining personnel from the surface and the ship warped away from the system shortly before the power source went critical. However the explosion was contained inside the subspace field and damage to subspace restricted to the same small area. ({{argusEp|Trial By Fire}})
-Another civilization in the [[Delta Quadrant]] was actually successful in synthesizing some 200 million Omega molecules in [[2374]]. They were able to keep the molecules stable by using Omega's own resonance to calibrate their containment field, though eventually an accident devastated their research facility. The [[starship]] [[USS Voyager|USS ''Voyager'']] managed to neutralize the molecules before they could do any further damage to [[subspace]]. [[Seven of Nine]] adapted the Borg harmonic resonance chamber design to emit an inverse frequency which would dissolve Omega's interatomic bonds. The remaining Omega molecules were destroyed by a modified [[gravimetric torpedo]]. ({{VOY|The Omega Directive}})
+Later the same year in the [[Delta Quadrant]], another civilization was actually successful in synthesizing some 200 million Omega molecules. They were able to keep the molecules stable by using Omega's own resonance to calibrate their containment field, though eventually an accident devastated their research facility. The [[starship]] [[USS Voyager|USS ''Voyager'']] managed to neutralize the molecules before they could do any further damage to [[subspace]]. [[Seven of Nine]] adapted the Borg harmonic resonance chamber design to emit an inverse frequency which would dissolve Omega's interatomic bonds. The remaining Omega molecules were destroyed by a modified [[gravimetric torpedo]]. ({{VOY|The Omega Directive}})
 In [[2380]], the [[Confederation of Earth]] gained tha data that [[Seven of Nine]] had gathered regarding Particle 010* via mind probe, and set course to the M-class Moon in the [[Delta Quadrant]] where [[USS Voyager|''Voyager'']] encountered the particle.  The Confederates were able to create and stablize the particle and returned it to the ''Genesis Sphere''. ({{STC|Particle 010}})