THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

STORIES INVOLVING THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

[Season 4: #89 The Omega Directive]

Episode Index - part of Ship's Logs which includes illustrated transcripts and synopses

The existence of Omega molecules is established in this story, and it is the first and so far the last time that it features in Star Trek.

an Omega molecule

There is one formal legal exception to the Prime Directive - 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 and symbolised by the omega symbol being the last letter of the Greek alphabet.

The Omega Directive even authorises a starship captain to violate the Prime Directive if necessary to erase knowledge of even the existence of Omega. The Omega Directive was implemented by Starfleet after a group of Federation scientists headed by Dr Ketteract, synthesised a single Omega molecule in an experiment circa 2274. A few Omega molecules are contain enough energy to power an entire planet. But the particle remained stable for only a fraction of a second before it exploded, destroying the research station and the scientists and causing subspace ruptures extending across several light-years, making warp travel impossible in the region. Since then, that region, the Lantaru sector remained and still remains officially off-limits to Federation vessels; Paris comments that it is impossible to create a stable warp field there, that being a pre-requisite of warp speed spaceflight. Starfleet Command immediately realised that the use of even a few Omega molecules could effectively end spacefaring civilisation as we know it and accordingly not only banned research into Omega but issued the Omega Directive. Starfleet's Omega measures themselves violate the Prime Directive, which is discussed further below.

an Omega molecule on the LCARS screen in Voyager's Briefing Room

The story depicts an unusual situation, for Janeway has to deal with the Omega Directive while out of contact with Starfleet, as she informs the senior staff after Chakotay persuades her to let the staff share and assist with her burden of responsibility. The seriousness with which Starfleet treats Omega is seen when Janeway enters her Ready Room. She seals the doors and access to the classified file on Omega (Janeway orders the computer: "Access secured datafile Omega 1.") requires the security clearance of starship captains and Federation flag officers, ie. clearance level ten and above (as Janeway responds to the computer's prompt for her clearance code, after it confirms her voice print: "Janeway-one-one-five-three-red, clearance level ten.")

Janeway to senior staff: "If we were in the Alpha Quadrant right now, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'd be in contact with Starfleet Command, and they'd send in a specialised team to deal with the crisis. In their absence, we'll have to make do with the training I've received, and the knowledge Seven has retained from the Borg. You've all seen this symbol: - Omega. The last letter of the Greek alphabet, chosen by Starfleet to represent a threat not only to the Federation, but to the entire galaxy. Only Starship Captains and Federation Flag Officers have been briefed on the nature of this threat. ..... The most powerful substance known to exist. A single Omega molecule contains as much energy as a warp core. In theory, a small chain of them could sustain a civilisation. ..... Omega destroys subspace. A chain reaction involving a handful of molecules could devastate subspace throughout an entire Quadrant. If that were to happen, warp travel would become impossible. Space-faring civilisation as we know it would cease to exist." [Season 4: #89 The Omega Directive]

In the story, Janeway, aided by her crew, successfully locates and destroys Omega, and in so doing, through Seven's eyes, we see a "perfect" Omega molecule; this gives Seven her first experience of a spiritual nature, as it is not just a story about the suppression of Omega. In order to achieve her objective, Janeway appropriates the molecule from a damaged alien containment facility and Voyager fights off alien attacks, and her interaction with these aliens which would, were it not for the Omega Directive, constitute a violation of the Prime Directive.

Omega could be said to be the 24th century's equivalent of the nuclear fission of Earth's 20th century, with this story describing past and present efforts by Starfleet to deal with the immense potential of such power or possible massive destruction. 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.

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.

Click for the Personal Log entry for this episode - continuity, observations, personal views, behind-the-scenes etc.

 

 

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