THRESHOLD
Episode 31
Part A

 

Inside a type-12 shuttlecraft named Cochrane (after the space warp pioneer Zefram Cochrane), it being an upgraded type-9 shuttlecraft, Paris is at the controls. He is communicating with Torres and Kim who are on Voyager. Paris: "Warp 5.....warp 6......warp 7. I've reached critical velocity." Torres: "OK. Everything looks good on this end. Fire up the new engines."

Paris: "Acknowledged. Engaging transwarp drive in 4....3....2..." He presses the two controls.

Paris enters transwarp

Paris: "Transwarp on-line. Warp 9.2....9.3..... My vector's drifting." Kim: "Try to stabilise your field symmetry."

Paris: "Got it. Warp 9.6.....9.7. I'm reading a fracture in the port nacelle pylon." Torres: "Full power to structural integrity." Paris: "Warp 9.9.....9.95. I'm approaching the threshold. But the nacelle isn't holding!" Kim, via comms: "Tie in auxiliary power!"

Paris: "It's no use. I'm breaking up!" Paris is caught in a large explosion! It is the end of him and the shuttlecraft!

The holodeck program ends. Torres and Kim were indeed on Voyager, but at the holodeck control console, and Paris was also on Voyager, in a holographic re-creation of a shuttlecraft. Torres: "You're dead."

The 'dead' Paris is fed up.

Voyager's Messhall. Torres: "It's the pylon again. Every time we get close to crossing the threshold, the subspace torque rips a nacelle off the shuttle." Kim: "What about a duranium alloy? We could try using it to reinforce-" Torres: "No, I've thought about that already. It's too brittle."

Neelix: "More coffee? Ah. You look like a happy bunch." Kim: "We've hit a wall."

Neelix: "Oh, well, maybe I can help."

Paris: "Great," sarcastically. "Do you know anything about quantum warp theory or multi-spectral subspace engine design?" Neelix: "No." He takes a seat. But I'm a quick study. What are we working on?"

Torres: "Do you have anything to eat?" Neelix: "Er, sure. There's some Kalavian biscuits, er, somewhere in the kitchen."

Torres gets up: "I guess I'll go find them myself." To Kim: "Fill him in." She heads for the galley. Kim: "Neelix, erm, it would take too long to-"

Neelix: "What are you saying? I'm not smart enough? I'll have you know I did two years as an engineer's assistant aboard a Trabalian freighter. I'm well-versed in warp theory." Paris: "OK, OK. We'll tell you. We're trying to break the maximum warp barrier." Kim: "Nothing in the universe can go warp 10. It's a theoretical impossibility. In principle, if you were ever to reach warp 10, you'd be travelling at infinite velocity." Neelix: "Infinite velocity. Got it. So that means very fast." Paris: "It means that you would occupy every point in the universe simultaneously. In theory, you could go any place in the wink of an eye. Time and distance would have no meaning." Kim: "If Voyager achieved warp 10, we could be home in as long as it takes to push a button." Neelix: "Wow! And you're working on this?" Paris: "We discovered a new form of dilithium in the asteroid field we surveyed last month. It remains stable at a much higher warp frequency." Kim: "The problem is every time we simulate crossing the transwarp threshold, the nacelles get torn off the ship." Neelix: "I remember there was a time when I lost a warp nacelle going through a dark matter nebula." Paris: "This is a very different problem." Neelix: "I realise that. I'm just using it as an example. As the ship went through the nebula, it sent out a dark matter bow wave. Eventually so much pressure built up it tore the nacelle from its housing. Now maybe the same thing is happening to you." Kim: "No, the simulations don't indicate any kind of subspace stress on the nacelles." Paris: "Wait a minute. What about the shuttle itself?" Kim: "What do you mean?" Paris: "Maybe we've been looking in the wrong place. What if the nacelles aren't being torn from the ship? What if the ship is being torn from the nacelles?" Kim: "The hull of the shuttle is made of tritanium alloy. At the speeds we're talking about, that alloy could depolarise." Paris: "And create a velocity differential. The fuselage would be travelling at a faster rate of speed than the nacelles." Kim: "That means we just have to set up a depolarisation matrix around the fuselage." Paris: "That's it!"

He and Kim leap to their feet, eager to get to work. "Neelix, you're a genius." Paris hugs Neelix and Kim gives him congratulatory pats on the shoulder.

After they leave, Neelix heads back toward the galley. "I have no idea what they just said."

He passes Torres exiting the galley with a plate of biscuits, and he takes one. She looks down at the plate as he does so. She will soon find out that Paris and Kim have gone back to work without her.

On the Briefing Room's wall-mounted monitor is displayed a playback of Paris' test-flight, carried out after making the modifications discussed in the Messhall. Playback: Paris, on monitor: "Warp 9.92. The pylons are secure. Everything looks good. 9.97.....8.....9....warp 10!" Playback: Torres, via comms: "You've crossed the threshold. You've done it. And there's been no damage to the nacelles." The playback ends.

The staff watching the playback.

After the playback they turn toward the table for discussion.

Janeway: "When you came to me a month ago, and said you had a way to cross the transwarp threshold, I thought it was more of a fantasy than a theory. Congratulations to all of you."

Torres: "So we can try a manned test flight?" Janeway: "What's your flight plan?"

Paris: "I'll bring the shuttle up to speed. The second I cross the threshold, I'll cut the engines, drop out of warp and come about."

Kim: "After that, we'll analyse the shuttle's sensor logs. Once we know it's safe to travel at transwarp, we'll try a more extended flight."

Chakotay: "To be honest, it's almost frightening. Up 'til now, it's all been theory. I never thought it would actually happen. Are we ready for it?" Janeway: "In the last couple of centuries, we've always managed to use new technologies wisely. I'm confident this time won't be any different. Besides, there's no way to put the genie back in the bottle. All we can do now is keep moving forward, carefully."

Janeway, smiling at Paris: "Well, good luck, Mr Paris. If this works, you'll be joining an elite group of pilots - Orville Wright, Neil Armstrong, Zefram Cochrane......and Tom Paris."

Paris: "I kind of like the way that sounds." Janeway: "I thought you might."

USS Voyager.

Paris' private quarters. The door signal sounds. Paris: "Come in." Janeway entes. Paris: "Captain! I, erm-" Janeway: "At ease, Mr Paris. I know it's late." Paris: "Can I get you anything?" Janeway: "No, thank you." Paris: "Now why do I get the feeling this isn't just a social call?" Janeway: "I've just spoken to the Doctor, and it's his opinion that we let Ensign Kim make the test flight." Paris: "May I ask why?" Janeway: "He checked over your biometric readings from the shuttle simulations. He says you have a slight enzymatic imbalance in your cerebellum." Paris: "So?" Janeway: "I know it doesn't sound like much, but he can't predict what will happen when you cross the threshold. He believes there's a small chance that you could suffer a brain haemorrhage under the subspace stress." Paris: "How big a chance?" Janeway: "Two per cent." Paris: "Huh! Two per cent?! I'll take that chance." Janeway: "There's no reason to. Ensign Kim is capable of piloting the shuttle for this mission." Paris: "Yeah, he's capable. That's not the point!" Janeway: "What is the point, Mr Paris?" Paris: "Well, it's hard to explain but......this is MY flight." Janeway: "Your flight?" Paris: "When I was a boy, my father used to tell me that I was special, that one day I'd do something significant. My teachers at school, all the kids, everyone used to say: 'Tom Paris is going to do something important when he grows up.' Obviously, that didn't happen." Janeway: "This isn't about personal redemption. We're talking about medical risk. Your life could be in danger and we need you." Paris: "Captain, this is the first time in ten years I feel I have a life to risk." Janeway: "You're sure about this?"

Paris: "Captain, I've never been so sure about anything. Please, please let me make the flight."

Janeway stands up and appraises him, looking him firmly in the eye as she decides: "Good luck, Lieutenant." She leaves and he breathes a sigh of relief.