THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

MAIN DISCUSSION

HOW ONE MOLECULE AFFECTS THE
PRIME DIRECTIVE (THE OMEGA DIRECTIVE)

The general content of this section also appears, though not under this heading title, in [Voyager] and the Prime Directive.

an Omega molecule [Season 4: #89 The Omega Directive]

The Omega molecule is considered such a threat to the fabric of space that Starfleet's classified Starfleet General Order known as the Omega Directive requires the captain of a starship to notify Starfleet Command immediately upon detection of an Omega molecule, and authorises the use of any and all means necessary to destroy an Omega molecule. "Omega" is technically a codename. The Omega Directive even authorises a starship captain to violate the Prime Directive if necessary to erase knowledge of even the existence of Omega.

A few Omega molecules contain enough energy to power an entire planet. Following a disastrous experiment by Federation scientists led by Dr Ketteract, Starfleet realised that the use of even a few Omega molecules could effectively end spacefaring civilisation as we know it and therefore banned research into Omega and issued the Omega Directive. It can be argued that, devastating as an explosion caused by Omega is, Omega molecules are natural phenomena and should not be interfered with. As Starfleet has banned research into Omega then a defence against it will not be devised within the Federation, but might be eventually by a non-Federation civilisation. Starfleet's Omega Directive is a policy of suppression, of research and knowledge as well as the molecule itself, seems out of keeping with the organisation's normal policy of being open (apart from Section 31, a shadowy department whose nature and activities are explored in [DS9]). Arguably, Starfleet should continue to conduct classified research, if only to attempt to devise methods of harnessing the power of Omega (why should the failure of Ketteract's single experiment be seen as anything as a setback?) for use as fuel and of ascertaining ways to defend against hostiles who might have harnessed the power of Omega as a weapon, in the same way that nuclear research is carried out both in the 21st century.

The existence of Omega molecules is first established in Star Trek in [Season 4: #89 The Omega Directive] and is more extensively described under that episode entry. Omega is the 24th century's equivalent of the nuclear fission of Earth's 20th century.

It is interesting and maybe unsettling that Starfleet authorises the suspension of the Prime Directive if ever or whenever Omega is detected. But it can be seen as only one of several suspensions of the Prime Directive along with that of asylum (see MAIN DISCUSSION: HOW ASYLUM AFFECTS THE PRIME DIRECTIVE) and individual decisions made by Starfleet captains.