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[[File:Warp core breach close up.jpg|thumb|A warp core breach begins]]
 
[[File:Warp core breach close up.jpg|thumb|A warp core breach begins]]
{{Disambiguate|the beverage|Warp core breach (beverage)}}
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{{disambiguation|the beverage|Warp core breach (beverage)}}
 
 
A '''warp core breach''' was a catastrophic failure of a [[starship]]'s [[warp core]].
 
A '''warp core breach''' was a catastrophic failure of a [[starship]]'s [[warp core]].
   
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
A breach could occur in a variety of ways, but was frequently characterized by a coolant leak from the main reaction chamber, resulting in a runaway reaction within the warp core. [[Antimatter]] [[antimatter containment|containment]] was lost, and the resultant contact between antimatter and the normal matter of the ship destroyed the vessel.
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A breach could occur in a variety of ways, but was frequently characterized by a [[coolant leak]] from the main [[reaction chamber]], resulting in a runaway reaction within the warp core. [[Antimatter]] [[antimatter containment|containment]] was lost, and the resultant contact between antimatter and the normal matter of the ship destroyed the vessel.
   
 
===Consequences and prevention===
 
===Consequences and prevention===
The breach was almost always irreversible, as most safety protocols and systems would have failed prior to the event. [[Warp core ejection system|Warp core ejection]] was a common method of dealing with a breach, although this was considered a last ditch effort and often failed aboard. The {{ShipClass|Galaxy}} was notorious for this problem. The evacuation of the crew to the [[primary hull]] and initiating [[saucer separation|separation]] was also used in cases where the vessel had that capability, such as on Galaxy Class vessels. In situations where a saucer separation could not be initiated, then evacuation of the ship via [[escape pod]]s or [[shuttle]]s would occur. Regardless, the aim was to get as much distance between the core and the crew as possible before detonation. In the case of saucer separation (or warp core ejection), the ship was left running on [[impulse drive|impulse power]] and batteries, as the warp core and [[warp nacelle]]s were required for warp drive.
+
The breach was almost always irreversible, as most safety protocols and systems would have failed prior to the event. [[Warp core ejection system|Warp core ejection]] was a common method of dealing with a breach, although this was considered a last ditch effort and often failed aboard. The evacuation of the crew to the [[primary hull]] and initiating [[saucer separation|separation]] was also used in cases where the vessel had that capability, such as on ''Galaxy''-class vessels. In situations where a saucer separation could not be initiated, then evacuation of the ship via [[escape pod]]s or [[shuttle]]s would occur. Regardless, the aim was to get as much distance between the core and the crew as possible before detonation. In the case of saucer separation (or warp core ejection), the ship was left running on [[impulse drive|impulse power]] and batteries, as the warp core and [[warp nacelle]]s were required for warp drive.
 
In some cases of warp engine ruptures drive plasma could be vented and dumped into space to avert a breach. In ''Star Trek: Generations,'' the warp core breached to a primary coolant leak causing the warp core to overheat therefore causing core integrity to be lost.
 
   
 
==Occurrences==
 
==Occurrences==
  +
in [[2267]], [[Khan Noonien Singh]] tried to blow up the starship ''Enterprise'' by overloading the warp core when he failed to capture it. [[James T. Kirk]] stopped him and the overload in time. ({{TOS|Space Seed}})
In [[2368]], [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] remembered a '''containment breach''' situation in main engineering due to a [[telepathic memory invasion]] by the [[Ullian]] [[Jev]]. [[Ensign]] [[Keller]] died during this event. ({{TNG|Violations}})
 
   
 
In [[2368]], [[Commander]] [[William T. Riker|Riker]] remembered a containment breach situation in main engineering due to a [[telepathic memory invasion]] by the [[Ullian]] [[Jev]]. [[Ensign]] [[Keller]] died during this event. ({{TNG|Violations}})
In [[2369]], the ''Enterprise''-D was destroyed by a warp core breach, generated by a massive energy feedback into the warp core from a power transfer to a Romulan vessel. The core breach was averted when time reset itself and Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] remotely steered a [[runabout]] into the transfer beam. ({{TNG|Timescape}})
 
  +
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In [[2368]], the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} collided with the {{USS|Bozeman}} after encountering a space-time distortion in the [[Typhon Expanse]], causing a warp core breach which destroyed the ship. The explosion led to the creation of a [[temporal causality loop]], from which the ''Enterprise'' was able to avoid the collision before it happened. ({{TNG|Cause and Effect}})
  +
 
In [[2369]], the ''Enterprise''-D was destroyed by a warp core breach, generated by a massive energy feedback into the warp core from a power transfer to a [[Romulan]] vessel. The core breach was averted when time reset itself and Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] remotely steered a [[runabout]] into the transfer beam. ({{TNG|Timescape}})
 
 
 
[[File:Warp core breach flashpoint.jpg|thumb|left|The flashpoint of a core breach]]
 
[[File:Warp core breach flashpoint.jpg|thumb|left|The flashpoint of a core breach]]
In [[2371]], the [[engineering hull]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} was destroyed in a warp core breach following rupture of the [[magnetic interlock]]s. The shockwave created by the explosion caused the vessel's saucer section to crash-land on [[Veridian III]]. ({{film|7}})
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In [[2371]], the [[engineering hull]] of the ''Enterprise''-D was destroyed in a warp core breach following rupture of the [[magnetic interlock]]s due to an attack by a D12-class [[Bird-of-Prey]]. The [[shock wave]] created by the explosion caused the vessel's [[saucer section]] to crash-land on [[Veridian III]]. All hands survived, but the vessel was a total loss. ({{film|7}})
   
 
In early [[2372]], as a result of a [[subspace inversion]] of the [[Bajoran wormhole]], the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} was under threat of a core breach, with the ejection system disabled. [[Benjamin Sisko]] was able to shunt the excess power over to the [[deflector array]] with the help of an [[interphasic compensator]], averting the breach. ({{DS9|The Visitor}})
 
In early [[2372]], as a result of a [[subspace inversion]] of the [[Bajoran wormhole]], the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} was under threat of a core breach, with the ejection system disabled. [[Benjamin Sisko]] was able to shunt the excess power over to the [[deflector array]] with the help of an [[interphasic compensator]], averting the breach. ({{DS9|The Visitor}})
   
 
==Risk factors==
 
==Risk factors==
  +
[[Nucleonic particle]]s from a [[polaric field]] flooded the [[intake manifold]]s of the {{EnterpriseNX}} in [[2153]], causing an injector flare that could have caused a warp core breach. [[Charles Tucker III|Trip Tucker]] sustained life-threatening injuries during a manual shutdown of the reactor to prevent the breach. ({{ENT|Similitude}})
[[Antineutrino]]s tend to have a neutralizing effect on warp core containment fields of Federation starships. A [[Sikarian]] [[spatial trajector]] field, utilizing antineutrinos, nearly caused a warp core breach on the {{USS|Voyager}}. ({{VOY|Prime Factors}}) One of the USS ''Voyager''{{'}}s [[shuttlecraft]], the ''[[Cochrane (shuttlecraft)|Cochrane]]'', was destroyed by a warp core breach in [[2374]]. Its occupants, [[B'Elanna Torres]] and [[Tom Paris]], had to don [[environmental suit]]s and beam into open space to await rescue. ({{VOY|Day of Honor}})
 
   
 
[[Antineutrino]]s tended to have a neutralizing effect on warp core containment fields of Federation starships. A [[Sikarian]] [[spatial trajector]] field, utilizing antineutrinos, nearly caused a warp core breach on the {{USS|Voyager}}. ({{VOY|Prime Factors}}) One of the USS ''Voyager''{{'}}s [[shuttlecraft]], the ''{{dis|Cochrane|shuttlecraft}}'', was destroyed by a warp core breach in [[2374]]. Its occupants, [[B'Elanna Torres]] and [[Tom Paris]], had to don [[environmental suit]]s and beam into open space to await rescue. ({{VOY|Day of Honor}})
The reaction of [[veridium]] isotopes with [[warp plasma]] will cause a warp core breach. This led to the near destruction of the ''[[Delta Flyer II|Delta Flyer]]'' in [[2377]], although the warp core was successfully ejected into a [[class J nebula]] before the explosion could destroy the vessel. ({{VOY|Drive}})
 
   
If a large number of [[tachyon]]s leak in to a warp core, a warp core breach is almost certain to occur, as a result of the tachyons creating a resonance frequency causing the core pressure to increase out of control. ({{VOY|Day of Honor}})
+
The reaction of [[veridium]] [[isotope]]s with [[warp plasma]] would cause a warp core breach. This led to the near destruction of the ''[[Delta Flyer II|Delta Flyer]]'' in [[2377]], although the warp core was successfully ejected into a [[class J nebula]] before the explosion could destroy the vessel. ({{VOY|Drive}})
  +
  +
If a large number of [[tachyon]]s leaked into a warp core, a warp core breach was almost certain to occur, as a result of the tachyons creating a resonance frequency causing the core pressure to increase out of control. ({{VOY|Day of Honor}})
   
 
==Deliberate initiations==
 
==Deliberate initiations==
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-D, warp core breach.jpg|thumb|A warp core breach in progress]]
 
[[File:USS Enterprise-D, warp core breach.jpg|thumb|A warp core breach in progress]]
  +
Warp core breaches were occasionally performed deliberately; they were most often used as the primary means of fulfilling a starship's [[auto-destruct]] sequence.
Warp core breaches have been deliberately performed; [[Q]] purposefully caused the core aboard the ''Enterprise''-D to breach in 2369 (so that, if he was right and she ''was'' in fact a Q, [[Amanda Rogers]] could prevent it) and [[Geordi La Forge]] caused a breach of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}'s warp core in [[2375]] to seal a [[subspace tear]] caused by an [[isolytic burst]] (the core having been ejected from the ship prior to detonation), while in [[2258]] of [[Nero]]'s [[alternate reality]], {{alt|Montgomery Scott}} ejected and detonated the warp core''s'' of [[USS Enterprise (alternate reality)|that timeline's ''Enterprise'']], and the resultant explosion pushed the ship free of the [[black hole]] consuming the ''[[Narada]]''. ({{TNG|True Q}}; {{film|9}}; {{film|11}}) They are more often used as the primary means of fulfilling a starship's [[auto-destruct]] sequence.
 
  +
 
[[Q]] purposefully caused the core aboard the ''Enterprise''-D to breach in 2369 (so that, if he was right and she ''was'' in fact a {{dis|Q|species}}, [[Amanda Rogers]] could prevent it), and [[Geordi La Forge]] caused a breach of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}'s warp core in [[2375]] to seal a [[subspace tear]] caused by an [[isolytic burst]] (the core having been ejected from the ship prior to detonation).({{TNG|True Q}}; {{film|9}})
  +
  +
''In [[2258]] of [[Nero]]'s [[alternate reality]], {{alt|Montgomery Scott}} ejected and detonated the warp core''s'' of [[USS Enterprise (alternate reality)|that timeline's ''Enterprise'']], and the resultant explosion pushed the ship free of the [[black hole]] consuming the ''[[Narada]]''.'' ({{film|11}})
   
 
To demonstrate the damaging effects warp drive were having on [[subspace]], [[Serova]] took her ship out into the [[Hekaras Corridor]] and intentionally overloaded her warp engines, causing a core breach that killed her and destroyed her ship. The resultant burst of warp energy proved her theory by creating a [[subspace rift]]. ({{TNG|Force of Nature}})
 
To demonstrate the damaging effects warp drive were having on [[subspace]], [[Serova]] took her ship out into the [[Hekaras Corridor]] and intentionally overloaded her warp engines, causing a core breach that killed her and destroyed her ship. The resultant burst of warp energy proved her theory by creating a [[subspace rift]]. ({{TNG|Force of Nature}})
   
[[Farrakk]] was killed by a warp core breach when [[Hagath]] had his ship sabotaged in [[2373]]. ({{DS9|Business as Usual}})
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[[Farrakk]] was killed by a warp core breach when [[Hagath]] had his ship [[sabotage]]d in [[2373]]. ({{DS9|Business as Usual}})
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[[de:Warpkernbruch]]
   
 
[[Category:Warp]]
[[de:Warpkernbruch]]'''
 
'''''
 
[[Category:Warp| ]]
 

Revision as of 17:08, 23 June 2015

AT: "xx"

Warp core breach close up

A warp core breach begins

For the beverage, please see Warp core breach (beverage).

A warp core breach was a catastrophic failure of a starship's warp core.

Description

A breach could occur in a variety of ways, but was frequently characterized by a coolant leak from the main reaction chamber, resulting in a runaway reaction within the warp core. Antimatter containment was lost, and the resultant contact between antimatter and the normal matter of the ship destroyed the vessel.

Consequences and prevention

The breach was almost always irreversible, as most safety protocols and systems would have failed prior to the event. Warp core ejection was a common method of dealing with a breach, although this was considered a last ditch effort and often failed aboard. The evacuation of the crew to the primary hull and initiating separation was also used in cases where the vessel had that capability, such as on Galaxy-class vessels. In situations where a saucer separation could not be initiated, then evacuation of the ship via escape pods or shuttles would occur. Regardless, the aim was to get as much distance between the core and the crew as possible before detonation. In the case of saucer separation (or warp core ejection), the ship was left running on impulse power and batteries, as the warp core and warp nacelles were required for warp drive.

Occurrences

in 2267, Khan Noonien Singh tried to blow up the starship Enterprise by overloading the warp core when he failed to capture it. James T. Kirk stopped him and the overload in time. (TOS: "Space Seed")

In 2368, Commander Riker remembered a containment breach situation in main engineering due to a telepathic memory invasion by the Ullian Jev. Ensign Keller died during this event. (TNG: "Violations")

In 2368, the USS Enterprise-D collided with the USS Bozeman after encountering a space-time distortion in the Typhon Expanse, causing a warp core breach which destroyed the ship. The explosion led to the creation of a temporal causality loop, from which the Enterprise was able to avoid the collision before it happened. (TNG: "Cause and Effect")

In 2369, the Enterprise-D was destroyed by a warp core breach, generated by a massive energy feedback into the warp core from a power transfer to a Romulan vessel. The core breach was averted when time reset itself and Captain Picard remotely steered a runabout into the transfer beam. (TNG: "Timescape")

Warp core breach flashpoint

The flashpoint of a core breach

In 2371, the engineering hull of the Enterprise-D was destroyed in a warp core breach following rupture of the magnetic interlocks due to an attack by a D12-class Bird-of-Prey. The shock wave created by the explosion caused the vessel's saucer section to crash-land on Veridian III. All hands survived, but the vessel was a total loss. (Star Trek Generations)

In early 2372, as a result of a subspace inversion of the Bajoran wormhole, the USS Defiant was under threat of a core breach, with the ejection system disabled. Benjamin Sisko was able to shunt the excess power over to the deflector array with the help of an interphasic compensator, averting the breach. (DS9: "The Visitor")

Risk factors

Nucleonic particles from a polaric field flooded the intake manifolds of the Enterprise NX-01 in 2153, causing an injector flare that could have caused a warp core breach. Trip Tucker sustained life-threatening injuries during a manual shutdown of the reactor to prevent the breach. (ENT: "Similitude")

Antineutrinos tended to have a neutralizing effect on warp core containment fields of Federation starships. A Sikarian spatial trajector field, utilizing antineutrinos, nearly caused a warp core breach on the USS Voyager. (VOY: "Prime Factors") One of the USS Voyager's shuttlecraft, the Cochrane, was destroyed by a warp core breach in 2374. Its occupants, B'Elanna Torres and Tom Paris, had to don environmental suits and beam into open space to await rescue. (VOY: "Day of Honor")

The reaction of veridium isotopes with warp plasma would cause a warp core breach. This led to the near destruction of the Delta Flyer in 2377, although the warp core was successfully ejected into a class J nebula before the explosion could destroy the vessel. (VOY: "Drive")

If a large number of tachyons leaked into a warp core, a warp core breach was almost certain to occur, as a result of the tachyons creating a resonance frequency causing the core pressure to increase out of control. (VOY: "Day of Honor")

Deliberate initiations

USS Enterprise-D, warp core breach

A warp core breach in progress

Warp core breaches were occasionally performed deliberately; they were most often used as the primary means of fulfilling a starship's auto-destruct sequence.

Q purposefully caused the core aboard the Enterprise-D to breach in 2369 (so that, if he was right and she was in fact a Q, Amanda Rogers could prevent it), and Geordi La Forge caused a breach of the USS Enterprise-E's warp core in 2375 to seal a subspace tear caused by an isolytic burst (the core having been ejected from the ship prior to detonation).(TNG: "True Q"; Star Trek: Insurrection)

In 2258 of Nero's alternate reality, Montgomery Scott ejected and detonated the warp cores of that timeline's Enterprise, and the resultant explosion pushed the ship free of the black hole consuming the Narada. (Star Trek)

To demonstrate the damaging effects warp drive were having on subspace, Serova took her ship out into the Hekaras Corridor and intentionally overloaded her warp engines, causing a core breach that killed her and destroyed her ship. The resultant burst of warp energy proved her theory by creating a subspace rift. (TNG: "Force of Nature")

Farrakk was killed by a warp core breach when Hagath had his ship sabotaged in 2373. (DS9: "Business as Usual")