ADMIRAL JANEWAY'S SHUTTLECRAFT

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Starfleet Command continually develops offensive and defensive strategies and technology in order to meet the security needs of the United Federation of Planets, with many advances created as a direct response to a perceived or definite threat. For example, USS Defiant was originally designed as a "Borg buster". By 2404 Starfleet's weapons and shield systems are superior to those of previous generations, but some of the advancements made to combat the Borg threat in particular come about because of the wealth of experience gained by the crew of USS Voyager as they travelled through the Delta Quadrant for a total of 23 years. To change history and return Voyager to Earth after only seven years in the Delta Quadrant, Admiral Kathryn Janeway journeys back in time, from 2404 to 2377, travelling aboard a heavily-armed and well-defended shuttlecraft, in order to share this technology with her previous self. Despite breaking the Temporal Prime Directive, in doing so she creates a new timeline and ensures that the Intrepid-class starship Voyager returns to the Alpha Quadrant fitted out with a formidable range of offensive and defensive technology which will assist Starfleet in countering the Borg threat in the new future.

click to enlarge in a pop-up window

Admiral Janeway's vehicle is a shuttlecraft reserved for command staff. It is modified for her intended time-travelling mission, and kept at Oakland Shipyard for her to collect. One significant system aboard it is the shield generator which is built onto the shuttlecraft's outer hull. The Klingon scientist Korath shows a particular interest in this defensive technology, and reneges on his deal with Admiral Janeway to supply her with his revolutionary chrono-deflector in an attempt to buy the shield generator and thus acquire its specifications; no doubt there is a large market for that kind of technology. Korath learns just how effective the shield system is when his battle cruisers attack the shuttlecraft, as the power of Klingon disruptors is easily absorbed by the ablative armour which covers the shuttlecraft's exterior.

The ablative armour generator for the shuttlecraft is a small element positioned on the top of the vessel, and comprises a raised, triangular-shaped module with a dark recessed panel toward its forward apex. Positioning the emitter at this roughly central point allows the ablative shields to be erected around the exterior hull of the shuttle within two seconds. This speed is very useful as the speed of deployment can be as important as the level of protection the system provides. The defensive system is initiated by the verbal command to the ship's computer, "deploy armour" made from within the vessel's interior. The emitter the glows briefly with a blue-coloured light then activates smaller satellite modules located on the forward port and starboard bow. Within a fraction of a second the exterior shielding begins to form, with the nose and cockpit covered by a series of individual shaped interlocking dark grey plates. From the inside of the shuttlecraft, the view from the cockpit is subsequently obscured, and the inner surface of the ablative armour appears as glowing blue hexagons through the transparent viewing ports. The interior lighting of the cockpit becomes subdued and the red alert status bars automatically indicate the vessel's condition when the ablative armour is initiated. The shielding is capable of withstanding substantial enemy bombardment yet not retard the maneuvering ability or weapons capability of the vessel on which the armour is installed.

close-up of armour when deployed View of armour deployed as seen from inside the shuttlecraft cockpit

A Main ablative armour generator. Armour is deployed in sequence from this section. Sectional pieces form-fit adjacent to the the hull. B Armour covers almost every area of the shuttlecraft, including the forward viewing ports. This requires the pilot to rely on sensor data alone while the armour is deployed. C The secondary armour generators extend shielding from the nose of the craft aftwards. D The Bussard collector at the tip of each warp nacelle is left unshielded. E Even when fully deployed, the vessel's Starfleet insignia can be seen beneath the heavy plating.

The individual shapes of the ablative armour plates differ according to the surface around which it is generated. The upper narrow slope of the craft consists of a larger number of smaller plates with the sides being protected by larger curving elements. The forward section of the warp nacelles are not entirely covered by the armour shielding as this would impede their normal function, but the target presented is small, making it difficult though not impossible for threat forces to locate and fire upon the warp drive of the shuttlecraft. All sensor and navigation systems operate normally when the ablative armour generators are on-line, and these are similarly protected from enemy weapons along with the shuttlecraft's other systems.

There are two unavoidable design limitations with the exterior units that leaves a vessel equipped with ablative armour technology open to attack.

1. On a small vessel such as Admiral Janeway's shuttlecraft, if the armour is not already deployed when an enemy opens fire, the vessel might be destroyed. This almost happens when two Klingon battle cruisers suddenly decloak and immediately target the generator on the shuttlecraft's exterior. A single Klingon disruptor hit prevents the shields from being engaged, leaving the small vessel practically defenseless against superior firepower. Admiral Janeway deals with this by invoking evasive maneuvers and calling on Captain Harry Kim for help who is luckily nearby and who commands a Nova-class variant starship.
2. In common with previous Starfleet shield technology, it is not possible for personnel to beam into or out of a vessel with its shielding in place. Therefore a ship is vulnerable if it has to disengage the system in order to transport a crewmember to or from the ship.

After Admiral Janeway arrives aboard USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant in 2377, her younger self (Captain Janeway) orders an examination of the shuttlecraft and its technology. Seven of Nine reports to Captain Janeway:

"The technology aboard the admiral's ship is impressive. Much of it appears to have been designed to defend against the Borg. The stealth technology is incompatible, but I believe we can adapt the armour and weapons."

The technology proves to be crucial in helping USS Voyager, guided by Admiral Janeway and Captain Janeway together, as they plan a course through a Borg transwarp hub to reach the Alpha Quadrant. The shuttle's stealth technology is incompatible with Voyager's systems, but the ablative armour generator is reproduced on a much larger scale and fitted to the outer hull of Voyager at strategic locations. The outfitting task involves a team of crewmembers wearing environmental suits working on the exterior of Voyager's hull.

Captain Janeway: "Captain's personal log, stardate 54973.4. We've begun outfitting Voyager with Admiral Janeway's upgrades. As soon as the major modifications are complete, we'll reverse course and head back to the nebula. Though I've had some strange experiences in my career, nothing quite compares to the sight of my future self briefing my officers on technology that hasn't been invented yet." outfitting anti-Borg armour (pop-up window)

The emitters constructed on Voyager's hull are a series of long, sectional platforms with raised central ridges designed to activate in sequence from bow to stern and completely encase the exterior hull in the same way as it does for Admiral Janeway's smaller shuttlecraft. Once engaged, Voyager is capable of withstanding a continual Borg assault, and is also protected from Borg tractor pulses which attempt to lock on to the ship as it travels toward a transwarp hub ("tractor pulse" is the Borg term for the Starfleet term "tractor beam").

Voyager deploys anti-Borg armour. (pop-up window)