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[[File:Warp trail fragments.jpg|thumb|Fragments of Suliban warp trails]]
 
[[File:Warp trail fragments.jpg|thumb|Fragments of Suliban warp trails]]
A '''warp trail''' (also known as an '''ion trail''') is a wake in [[subspace]] left by a [[starship]] using [[warp]] drive. A warp trail can be tracked with [[sensors]]. There are ways of masking warp trails, such as traveling through a [[nebula]].
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A '''warp trail''' was the trail of residual [[subspace distortion]] in [[space]] left behind by the [[warp drive]] of a [[starship]]. The trail could be tracked with [[sensor]]s. ({{DS9|The Maquis, Part II}}) The '''ion trails''' left behind by a ship traveling at warp were also sometimes referred to as warp trails. ({{VOY|Critical Care}})
   
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If the [[warp signature]] of a ship was suppressed by remodulating its [[plasma injector]]s, the ship did not leave behind a warp trail. ({{VOY|Warlord}}) A warp trail could also be masked with a randomized [[EM field]]. ({{VOY|Dreadnought}}) A [[nebula]] could also mask warp trails. ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}}) To find and track a warp trail left behind by a [[tricyclic plasma drive]] required information on the decay rate of the [[plasma]] it used. Even when traveling at impulse the ship left behind a warp trail. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}}) The warp drives used by [[Kazon-Nistrim]] and [[Rigelian]]s ended their warp trail after the ships dropped out of warp. ({{VOY|Maneuvers}}; {{ENT|Affliction}})
In [[2151]], the [[Enterprise (NX-01)|''Enterprise'' NX-01]] followed a [[Suliban cell ship]] into the [[atmosphere]] of a [[gas giant]] by tracking its warp trail. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}})
 
   
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The ion trail left behind by a ship could be in time dispersed by stellar winds. ({{ENT|Anomaly}}) When an ion trail was left behind by a ship at warp, subspace distortions could be detected in its wake. ({{VOY|Cathexis}}) The radiation signature from the ions could be used to determine the type of craft and [[propulsion system]] that left it behind. ({{VOY|Initiations}}; {{TNG|Parallels}}) By remodulating [[Deflector shield|shield]] harmonics, the ion trail could be masked. ({{VOY|The Raven}}) It could also be dissipated with a [[magneton pulse]]. ({{DS9|To the Death}})
In [[2154]], the crew of the ''Enterprise'' pursued [[Doctor]] [[Arik Soong]] and his [[Augment]]s into [[Klingon]] territory by tracking their warp trail. Once Soong discovered that this was the way the ''Enterprise'' was following them, he was successful in masking their trail. ({{ENT|The Augments}})
 
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Ion trails were also left behind by other propulsion systems such as advanced [[ion propulsion]]. ({{TOS|Spock's Brain}}) Ion trails were left behind by starships and shuttles using [[impulse engine]]s. It could be determined from the distribution of the ions what maneuvers the ship had used. ({{TNG|Relics|Parallels}}) Federation [[escape pod]]s landing on a planet also left behind an ion trail. Even after landing the propulsion system of the pod kept leaving behind the dispersion trail with a stronger concentration gradient near the pod. ({{TNG|Legacy}})
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==Examples==
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In [[2151]], the {{EnterpriseNX}} followed a [[Suliban]] vessel into the [[atmosphere]] of a [[gas giant]] by tracking its warp trail. ''Enterprise'' did not originally have the [[sensor]] acuity to identify a warp trail, but this changed when [[Subcommander]] [[T'Pol]] modified the sensors to isolate the [[plasma]] decay rate of the Suliban ship. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}})
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[[File:Ion trail, Anomaly.jpg|thumb|An ion trail left by an Osaarian vessel.]]
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In [[2152]], [[Travis Mayweather]] successfully located a [[Kreetassan starship]] by scanning for their warp trail. ({{ENT|Vox Sola}})
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In [[2153]], ''Enterprise'' tracked the ion trail of an [[Osaarian]] [[Osaarian merchant ship|vessel]] that had hidden inside a [[cloaking field]] to avoid detection. ({{ENT|Anomaly}})
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In [[2154]], the crew of ''Enterprise'' pursued [[Doctor]] [[Arik Soong]] and his [[Augment]]s into [[Klingon]] territory by tracking their warp trail. Once Soong discovered that ''Enterprise'' was using the [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey|Bird-of-Prey]]'s warp trail to track them, he was able to successfully mask their warp trail. ({{ENT|The Augments}})
   
 
In [[2356]], [[Magnus Hansen|Magnus]] and [[Erin Hansen]] attempted to mask their warp trail in a [[nebula]] when they and their daughter, [[Seven of Nine|Annika]], attempted to escape from the [[Borg]] aboard the {{USS|Raven}}. ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}})
 
In [[2356]], [[Magnus Hansen|Magnus]] and [[Erin Hansen]] attempted to mask their warp trail in a [[nebula]] when they and their daughter, [[Seven of Nine|Annika]], attempted to escape from the [[Borg]] aboard the {{USS|Raven}}. ({{VOY|Dark Frontier}})
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In [[2370]], [[Chief]] [[Miles O'Brien]] was able to retrace a [[Maquis]] warp trail to find [[Gul]] [[Dukat]]. ({{DS9|The Maquis, Part II}})
 
In [[2370]], [[Chief]] [[Miles O'Brien]] was able to retrace a [[Maquis]] warp trail to find [[Gul]] [[Dukat]]. ({{DS9|The Maquis, Part II}})
   
In [[2372]], the crew of the {{USS|Voyager}} discovered a warp trail leading away from a moon they had been surveying for [[polytheranide]], which lead them to a seemingly lifeless planet with an unusual energy source. ({{VOY|Tattoo}})
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In [[2372]], the crew of the {{USS|Voyager}} discovered the ion trail of a [[Kazon carrier vessel]] commanded by [[Razik]] which had destroy [[Chakotay]]'s [[shuttlecraft]]. ({{VOY|Initiations}})
   
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Soon after, a warp trail was discovered leading away from a moon the ''Voyager'' crew had been surveying for [[polyferranide]], which lead them to a seemingly lifeless planet with an unusual energy source. ({{VOY|Tattoo}})
In the same year, the ''Voyager'' encountered the [[Cardassian]] [[Cardassian ATR-4107|Dreadnought missile]] in the [[Delta Quadrant]]. It contained a sophisticated array of [[computer terminology|computer technology]] as well as its own high-powered warp drive. To avoid detection, it was also capable of masking its own warp trail. ({{VOY|Dreadnought}})
 
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After a raid on ''Voyager'' by the [[Kazon-Nistrim]] in which a transporter module was stolen, [[Seska]] deliberately left a warp trail behind for [[Captain]] [[Kathryn Janeway|Janeway]] to follow. ({{VOY|Maneuvers}})
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In the same year, ''Voyager'' encountered the [[Cardassian]] [[Cardassian ATR-4107|''Dreadnought'' missile]] in the [[Delta Quadrant]]. It contained a sophisticated array of [[computer terminology|computer technology]] as well as its own high-powered warp drive. To avoid detection, it was also capable of masking its own warp trail. ({{VOY|Dreadnought}})
   
 
A group of rogue [[Jem'Hadar]] used a [[magneton pulse]] to dissipate their ion trail after attacking [[Deep Space 9]]. ({{DS9|To the Death}})
 
A group of rogue [[Jem'Hadar]] used a [[magneton pulse]] to dissipate their ion trail after attacking [[Deep Space 9]]. ({{DS9|To the Death}})
   
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When the Nistrim seized ''Voyager'' at the end of 2372, Seska ordered [[Maje]] [[Culluh]]'s [[askara]] to scan for the warp trail of a missing shuttlecraft even if they found its wreckage. ({{VOY|Basics, Part I}})
In [[2373]], [[Benjamin Sisko]] told [[Worf]] to look for an ion trail generated by a [[runabout]] [[Kira Nerys]] had taken to interview several Cardassians suspected of being behind the killings of a number of former members of the [[Shakaar resistance cell]]. ({{DS9|The Darkness and the Light}})
 
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In [[2373]], [[Tieran]], in the body of [[Kes]], stole a ''Voyager'' shuttlecraft and remodulated the [[plasma injector]]s to suppress its warp signature. ({{VOY|Warlord}})
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[[Benjamin Sisko]] told [[Worf]] to look for an ion trail generated by a [[runabout]] [[Kira Nerys]] had taken to interview several Cardassians suspected of being behind the killings of a number of former members of the [[Shakaar resistance cell]]. ({{DS9|The Darkness and the Light}})
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In [[2377]], Janeway ordered her senior staff to scan for the ion trail of [[Gar]]'s ship after the [[Dralian]] stole [[The Doctor]]'s program. ({{VOY|Critical Care}})
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Later that year, she again gave the order to scan for ion trails after ''Voyager''{{'}}s [[deuterium]] was stolen in [[The Void (anomaly)|the Void]]. ({{VOY|The Void}})
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In [[2378]], The Doctor masked the ''[[Delta Flyer II]]''{{'}}s ion trail after departing with ''Voyager'''s [[warp core]] to deliver it to a pair of kidnappers. ({{VOY|Renaissance Man}})
   
==Other references==
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==See also==
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*[[Impulse signature]]
*{{VOY}}
 
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*[[Plasma wake]]
**{{e|Critical Care}}
 
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*[[Subspace eddy]]
**{{e|Renaissance Man}}
 
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*[[Warp eddy]]
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*[[Warp frequency]]
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*[[Warp signature]]
   
 
[[de:Ionenspur]]
 
[[de:Ionenspur]]
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[[fr:Traînée de distorsion]]
[[Category:Propulsion technology]]
 
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[[Category:Warp]]
 
[[Category:Subspace]]
 
[[Category:Subspace]]

Revision as of 20:56, 23 February 2015

Warp trail fragments

Fragments of Suliban warp trails

A warp trail was the trail of residual subspace distortion in space left behind by the warp drive of a starship. The trail could be tracked with sensors. (DS9: "The Maquis, Part II") The ion trails left behind by a ship traveling at warp were also sometimes referred to as warp trails. (VOY: "Critical Care")

If the warp signature of a ship was suppressed by remodulating its plasma injectors, the ship did not leave behind a warp trail. (VOY: "Warlord") A warp trail could also be masked with a randomized EM field. (VOY: "Dreadnought") A nebula could also mask warp trails. (VOY: "Dark Frontier") To find and track a warp trail left behind by a tricyclic plasma drive required information on the decay rate of the plasma it used. Even when traveling at impulse the ship left behind a warp trail. (ENT: "Broken Bow") The warp drives used by Kazon-Nistrim and Rigelians ended their warp trail after the ships dropped out of warp. (VOY: "Maneuvers"; ENT: "Affliction")

The ion trail left behind by a ship could be in time dispersed by stellar winds. (ENT: "Anomaly") When an ion trail was left behind by a ship at warp, subspace distortions could be detected in its wake. (VOY: "Cathexis") The radiation signature from the ions could be used to determine the type of craft and propulsion system that left it behind. (VOY: "Initiations"; TNG: "Parallels") By remodulating shield harmonics, the ion trail could be masked. (VOY: "The Raven") It could also be dissipated with a magneton pulse. (DS9: "To the Death")

Ion trails were also left behind by other propulsion systems such as advanced ion propulsion. (TOS: "Spock's Brain") Ion trails were left behind by starships and shuttles using impulse engines. It could be determined from the distribution of the ions what maneuvers the ship had used. (TNG: "Relics", "Parallels") Federation escape pods landing on a planet also left behind an ion trail. Even after landing the propulsion system of the pod kept leaving behind the dispersion trail with a stronger concentration gradient near the pod. (TNG: "Legacy")

Examples

In 2151, the Enterprise NX-01 followed a Suliban vessel into the atmosphere of a gas giant by tracking its warp trail. Enterprise did not originally have the sensor acuity to identify a warp trail, but this changed when Subcommander T'Pol modified the sensors to isolate the plasma decay rate of the Suliban ship. (ENT: "Broken Bow")

File:Ion trail, Anomaly.jpg

An ion trail left by an Osaarian vessel.

In 2152, Travis Mayweather successfully located a Kreetassan starship by scanning for their warp trail. (ENT: "Vox Sola")

In 2153, Enterprise tracked the ion trail of an Osaarian vessel that had hidden inside a cloaking field to avoid detection. (ENT: "Anomaly")

In 2154, the crew of Enterprise pursued Doctor Arik Soong and his Augments into Klingon territory by tracking their warp trail. Once Soong discovered that Enterprise was using the Bird-of-Prey's warp trail to track them, he was able to successfully mask their warp trail. (ENT: "The Augments")

In 2356, Magnus and Erin Hansen attempted to mask their warp trail in a nebula when they and their daughter, Annika, attempted to escape from the Borg aboard the USS Raven. (VOY: "Dark Frontier")

In 2370, Chief Miles O'Brien was able to retrace a Maquis warp trail to find Gul Dukat. (DS9: "The Maquis, Part II")

In 2372, the crew of the USS Voyager discovered the ion trail of a Kazon carrier vessel commanded by Razik which had destroy Chakotay's shuttlecraft. (VOY: "Initiations")

Soon after, a warp trail was discovered leading away from a moon the Voyager crew had been surveying for polyferranide, which lead them to a seemingly lifeless planet with an unusual energy source. (VOY: "Tattoo")

After a raid on Voyager by the Kazon-Nistrim in which a transporter module was stolen, Seska deliberately left a warp trail behind for Captain Janeway to follow. (VOY: "Maneuvers")

In the same year, Voyager encountered the Cardassian Dreadnought missile in the Delta Quadrant. It contained a sophisticated array of computer technology as well as its own high-powered warp drive. To avoid detection, it was also capable of masking its own warp trail. (VOY: "Dreadnought")

A group of rogue Jem'Hadar used a magneton pulse to dissipate their ion trail after attacking Deep Space 9. (DS9: "To the Death")

When the Nistrim seized Voyager at the end of 2372, Seska ordered Maje Culluh's askara to scan for the warp trail of a missing shuttlecraft even if they found its wreckage. (VOY: "Basics, Part I")

In 2373, Tieran, in the body of Kes, stole a Voyager shuttlecraft and remodulated the plasma injectors to suppress its warp signature. (VOY: "Warlord")

Benjamin Sisko told Worf to look for an ion trail generated by a runabout Kira Nerys had taken to interview several Cardassians suspected of being behind the killings of a number of former members of the Shakaar resistance cell. (DS9: "The Darkness and the Light")

In 2377, Janeway ordered her senior staff to scan for the ion trail of Gar's ship after the Dralian stole The Doctor's program. (VOY: "Critical Care")

Later that year, she again gave the order to scan for ion trails after Voyager's deuterium was stolen in the Void. (VOY: "The Void")

In 2378, The Doctor masked the Delta Flyer II's ion trail after departing with Voyager's warp core to deliver it to a pair of kidnappers. (VOY: "Renaissance Man")

See also