U.S.S. Voyager :
ANCILLARY SYSTEMS
U.S.S. Voyager :
ANCILLARY SYSTEMS
Some ancillary systems form subsections in other parts of SHIP USS VOYAGER, particularly the Detailed Exterior Tour a.k.a. Specifications. Subsection links given within the text below; they have more information and illustrations.
The Intrepid-class Federation starship USS Voyager represents the latest technological innovations at the time of its launch in 2371, incorporating state-of-the-art warp drive technology and computer systems. Designed for scientific exploration, Voyager also features some of the most effective back-up and redundancy features built into its ancillary systems. These systems are vital in the continued successful operation of any starship, and while they may not be as high-profile as the major systems, their efficient operation assists considerably during Voyager's journey across the Delta Quadrant.
In common with Federation Starfleet starship designs over the last two centuries, Intrepid-class vessels have an extensive series of interconnecting crawlways and access tunnels known as Jefferies tubes (named for Matt Jefferies, deceased, designer on the staff of [TOS]). The Jefferies tube network runs to more than 80 separate corridors, allowing access to all of the internal systems of the ship. Electroplasma system power conduits, computer network connections, and environmental systems (Diagram Tour of USS Voyager see under 'Atmospheric Recycling'), are deliberately routed along these vertical and horizontal shafts, and there is enough room within them to allow long-term work to be carried out. In cases of emergency, the Jefferies tubes have been used to evacuate damaged areas, and even to hide from occupying forces, such as the Kazon-Nistrim occupation of Voyager in 2372/73 depicted in [#42 and #43 Basics] or to try and evade a macrovirus infestation shown in [#54 Macrocosm].
 crawlway [#150 Repression] The same shot but with access doors closed is in section Corridors & Jefferies Tubes. |
 junction [#93 One] |
The electroplasma system, or EPS, networks to all areas of the vessel directly from main engineering on Deck 11, through a series of EPS conduits feeding power directly to the control systems across the ship through the generated power grid. (Like other Federation starships USS Voyager's magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and EPS taps provide energy for all ships systems in a shared load arrangement with the warp reaction core, but the MHD is mentioned only in TNG Tech and not on screen.)
In 2371, before USS Voyager departs for the mission to the Badlands, the new captain, Kathryn Janeway, is being given a tour of her ship by Admiral Patteson:
Lt. Carey: "One of the EPS relays just went offline."
Admiral Patterson to Captain Janeway: "Voyager's first malfunction." [#118 Relativity]
In keeping with all starship designs, there are multiple redundant back-up systems for both the transfer of power and also the generation of it, although it should be noted that the breakdown of a secondary power conduit can severely affect the function of its entire system. This is demonstrated when Lon Suder disables the secondary phaser couplings during the Kazon occupation of the ship in [#43 Basics, Part 2]. The entire EPS system undergoes extensive power conservation modification under the instruction of the Enarans (in [#48 Remember]), with the addition of Borg technology to enhance key power couplings in 2374, in [#70 The Gift] (Kim and Seven of Nine go to work on the plasma relays in Jefferies tube 13 alpha, section 12). The electroplasma system may be hidden away behind bulkheads or left exposed, depending on the system and area of the starship or facility in which it is situated. The most important factor is ease of access for the engineers who need to be able to service or repair vital systems as quickly as possible.
typical electroplasma system
There are specialised networks which deliver specific kinds of energy to two of the most vital ancillary systems, these being the Structural Integrity Field (SIF) and Inertial Damping Field (IDF). Both of these systems are of particular note on Voyager because of the starship's vessel's ability to land on a planet's surface. The Structural Integrity Field is an electromagnetic energy barrier which reinforces the physical hull of the vessel and absorbs the enormous strains generated on the infrastructure when accelerating and decelerating. In keeping with previous designs, extra power can be diverted to the SIF in times of additional stress. Landing the starship creates such stresses, and the SIF has to be extremely flexible in order to cope with the constantly changing forces as Voyager makes its way through the atmosphere of a planet and finally lands. See also SHIP USS VOYAGER: Detailed Exterior Tour aka Specifications: page 4, Landing the Ship And Taking Off Again.
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Left: Torres struggles to regain her seat as Voyager's IDF goes |
During impulse or warp flight, the Inertial Dampening Field (IDF) (also known as the 'Inertial Damping Field') creates a counterbalancing amount of stress on the crew, in order to prevent them from being instantly crushed during acceleration and deceleration. During heavy attacks, the IDF can be temporarily unbalanced, often resulting, in the vessel shaking violently with the impact, but the strength and flexibility of this system reduces any potentially dangerous forces to a minimum. On the approach to planetary landing, Voyager's IDF is initially increased to maximum in order to cope with the huge gravitational stresses added to the motion forces. Once the vessel touches down, the IDF can be reduced to match the gravitational conditions of a planet or even taken offline as the forces of motion generated in space travel are not present. Due to Voyager's ability to take off and land, both the IDF and SIF systems carry specific enhancements to aid this process.
 main computer core  click for Replicator Index replicator in messhall early in 2371, [#1 and #2 Caretaker] |
One of the biggest changes in ancillary systems comes in Voyager's computer system, which incorporates bio-neural circuitry and optronic data cores not found in the Optical Data Network systems of Galaxy-class and Defiant-class Starfleet vessels (such as the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D and USS Defiant NCC-74205 respectively including the USS Sao Paolo which was renamed USS Defiant). These separate units consist of a number of gel packs containing bioneural cells, and they have substantially increased LCARS computer processing speed and command response time, although they are prone to viral infections which can seriously degrade their performance such as seen in [#16 Learning Curve]. The ODN network runs from the primary and auxiliary computer cores around the ship via a series of easily accessible trunks, as does the network supplying the replicators aboard Voyager.
Replicators are one of the vital ancillary systems aboard the ship. For Voyager's journey through the Delta Quadrant has none of the certainties of navigating known territory, and on many occasions the only food available is through the replicators. Rations are introduced early in the journey, in 2371, when power consumption is at a premium, and Neelix helps alleviate the fuel shortages by cooking food grown by Kes in the airponics bay and/or obtained elsewhere such as during a planetary forage. (One such forage is seen in [#11 State Of Flux], in which episode Neelix acquires a supply of leola root.)
Voyager is designed around regular maintenance of its systems and periodic replacement of consumable materials. There is little opportunity to dock at a friendly space station in order to carry out extensive work, but whenever that event arises, Voyager is equipped with a variety of external connect hard points, consumable ports, and air-locks - more information. The main port and starboard docking ports are located forward on Deck 8, while the underside of Deck 15 is designed to allow transfer of deuterium and antimatter into the storage tanks on Decks 12 and 15.
Voyager is also equipped with a Reaction Control System (RCS) used for docking or station-keeping, as well as a series of low-powered tractor beams for delicate maneuvering or maneuvering at close quarters. Along with its sophisticated sensor arrays, deflector shields, and environmental system (which is based on Deck 12), Voyager's ancillary systems are able to continue functioning effectively and efficiently.
 main deflector dish [#149 Drive] |
 a docking port source: ST Mech |
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