The Omega Directive (Star Trek)

The Omega Protocol is a Starfleet Directive that overrules every other in existence but is completely secret by Federation law.
The Directive was initiated once in Star Trek Voyager and that wasn't the best of circumstance for the starship, so just how is it supposed to work and what else went on to force such a drastic order?
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This Video is for critical purposes with commentary.

[@CharlesUrban]

"Sir, all our controls are locked out and the letter Omega is on our console screens. Is this some kind of top-secret thing?" "Ah, [REDACTED], here we go again."

[@eugeneruby433]

The Omega Directive is my favorite episode of Voyager. Such a cool concept.

[@nosilverharbinger]

Not for me by a long shot. While The Omega Directive is definitely a very neat premise it simply never came together well. This problem was extremely common in all of Star Trek period. I'm just one of those people that can look past it and keep on watching. I think that my two favorite episodes of Voyager, and I can't decide which is the better one, would be "Death Wish" (Season 2 Episode 18) and "Blink of an Eye" (Season 6 Episode 12). As Star Trek goes those are both examples of extremely good episodes.

[@BlandRoamer]

I'd go with "Scorpion." Seeing what was traditionally, and to me still are, some of the scariest villains in TV getting trounced was such a moment for younger me

[@spiritofthewolf15x]

Star fleet intelligence would like to know your location.

[@richardlahan7068]

They don't have a need to know.

[@Paradisio84]

And the Borg

[@skipperydo6151]

Yes reveal your locations

[@skipperydo6151]

@Island Rogue 4568 damn it your not met to say that we gotta pretend we don't know where they are so that they don't run

[@skipperydo6151]

@Island Rogue 4568 nope this was last time you broke cover please come to 123 houting street for your reeducation

[@epickithri]

Seven already knew about the Omega directive tho since she retained knowledge she had from the Borg. Which included captains whom had been Assimilated in the past like Picard.

[@Milamberinx]

"Captains *who* had been" - I've assimilated a dictionary.

[@Leviathis_Krade]

@@Milamberinx might wanna eat a thesaurus next, or how about religious book to digest some patience and some quiet virtues

[@Milamberinx]

@@Leviathis_Krade don't be afraid to improve your use of the English language.

[@robertbenoit5374]

more than Picard. Battle of Wolf 359, 11,000 star fleet officers were killed or assimilated including at least a few captains out of the 39 ships involved

[@andrewgrandma2816]

@@robertbenoit5374 they probably assimilated those large ear fucks too. From Babylon 5. The bartenders.

[@asvarien]

If Omega is so very top secret, wouldn't it have made more sense for the computer to tell the captain quietly about it instead of doing the 24th century version of a blue-screen crash with a giant omega symbol shown to everyone on the ship? If it was absolutely necessary to stop everything it could have been programmed to do a fake crash taking the engines off-line and showing fake error messages. Whilst the crew is busy fixing the "crash" the captain could review the Omega data in private and the crew would never be any the wiser.

[@dragonalpha9894]

That's closer to what actually happens.

[@windhelmguard5295]

truth be told, star fleet should have also rigged their universal translators to censor any mention of omega particles, so only officers of the rank of captain and above can even speak of it

[@travisfoster6473]

You would think that makes more sense, but... plot twists and turns forbid it as Starfleet forbade mention of this, and the genesis project.

[@anlumo1]

If it didn't look as if it was intentional, the engineers on the ship wouldn't rest until they found out why it crashed, maybe uncovering the secret information.

[@Gray963]

Startrek ships are so technologically advanced with so many redundant systems that any kind of crash like that could only be intentional.

[@anarchyantz1564]

Shouldnt the entire video on the [REDACTED] be redacted due to the [REDACTED] directive?

[@Eatmydbzballs]

This is Star Trek not the SCP Foundation.

[@johnwclick]

How do we know? It's quite possible that The Foundation continues to exist... even in the Trek Universe. You don't just turn your back on the Gate Guardian no matter what century it is.

[@JeanLucCaptain]

ALERT: THIS VIDEO HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED BY THE SCP FOUNDATION AND IS REQUIRES (REDACTED) LEVEL CLEARANCE. ALL UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS WILL BE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE TERMINATION.

[@kauswekazilimani3736]

@@Eatmydbzballs 😂

[@kauswekazilimani3736]

Throw d class at it

[@mesner5x]

I'd consider this a threat akin to that of the borg in some ways. The destabilization of Omega molecules will essentially destroy Starfleet's very mission and intergalactic civilization as they know it.

[@carpathia8689]

Forget Starfleet Intelligence tracking you down. Worry about Section 31, instead.

[@Pierremur]

old version - Yes, STD various - dies laughing

[@danishsyed1068]

@@Pierremur well the Std is the old version so at least you will dealing with one with one deep space nine good luck bubby

[@Pierremur]

@@danishsyed1068 well done for missing the point. I await your pithy witty response

[@SageOutsider]

Forget about Section 31, the damn Borg collective would like a word with you.

[@3Rayfire]

Section 31 doesn't care. They're the first people in the Federation who would be trying to complete Omega.

[@casbot71]

*Captain Picard:* Come about ensign on a headings of 432. Worf, prepare a full spread of photon torpedoes on my… *Helmsman:* The controls are locked sir, I can't do anything. [Other voices chime in confirming the same, the Captain looks at the nearest display "Merde", desperately trying to enter his personal override code]. Meanwhile the Romulan warbird targets the temporally disabled Starfleet vessel and prepares boarding parties…their fake Omega molecule projector worked perfectly. That Sovereign vessel and the Android will be valuable prizes to dissect. It would make more sense for the ship to be programmed to automatically go to Warp in the opposite direction, besides the tactical vulnerability, if Omega detonates you want to get out of there ASAP. *Option one:* Captain, there's this weird subspace wavefront approaching…I'm locked out, controls aren't working, it's going to hit us. *Option two:* Captain, the ship just overrode me, we're doing warp 9 directly away from this weird subspace wavefront. I can't do anything, but at least we're outrunning it.

[@kamenwaticlients]

Exactly. I like this.

[@mikefischer8576]

Save for you can't make a fake omega partical genration the property is so special it's one of those things that has to be made. Second if the wave front exist your already fucked ss you can't outrun it

[@pacifistattack]

It would make sense for their to be some sort of exception to the rule if the ship was on Red Alert.

[@richardlahan7068]

There are only 360° in a circle. A heading of 432 is impossible.

[@xanderguldie]

Pretty sure the omega lockout won't be active in battle

[@lasamisalagne7377]

Oh, hi capta... [gets cut of by alert sound] [looks on display] Display: Ω Captain: FUUUUUUU

[@Karagianis]

Murphy's law being what it is, I'm imagining a scenario where a ship on a long range exploration mission looses its captain somehow, then runs into omega on the way back to base with no one on board who has the authority to unlock the ship's computers.

[@Paul-jy8cv]

usually if they lose the captain there next highest get command and the command codes are automatically transferred to them when accepting command usually to the type of codes or generic codes that starfleet uses for when anyone takes command and they just customize them

[@Daark_Karma]

@@Paul-jy8cv So for the story to work, the captain (and possibly first officer) would have to be lost and, for what ever reason, the next in line was unable to accept command before the omega directive happens

[@Paul-jy8cv]

@@Daark_Karma ah but you forget that only the captain is even told about the omega directive and by the time they find out the computers are locked with noting they can do(without know how to disable it since it looks like you have to go to the ready room to and lock the room to disable it)

[@jhonny44444]

@@Paul-jy8cv That last bit was probably just protocol. In the very beginning of the episode, the crew tries to access the consoles that are blocked by the Omega directive and it responds with a message that clearance level 10 is required (captains eyes only). I'd guess that any officer with a clearance level of 10 and higher could simply input their command codes and unlock the console.

[@Paul-jy8cv]

@@jhonny44444 but Commander Chakotay he says that he tried his own codes and they don't work. Plus something i noticed when listening to the episode today was the fact that they have classes for the captain on this so its a little more than just protocol. Though on another note with the prime directive suspended they should have given that race fusion or matter/antimatter tech just on the principle that whats to stop the scientist to try again later since they are in such bad shape.

[@Sireannon]

Should have had someone at the end yell "Hey you, stop!" in the background

[@ReiHinoSenshi]

*knock knock* Starfleet intelligence open up!

[@teetehi]

ReiHinoSenshi no transporter sounds then phaser fire then the click of a communicator and then starfleet day something along the lines of target down enterprise beem us back

[@eatpoopoo]

"Is that camera still running?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y37OgJeofb6hmM0

[@d0lph1n63]

you forgot to add in Seven of Nine’s revelation that the Omega Particle might also be sentient.

[@pwnmeisterage]

Seven of Nine's revelation seemed to be founded on more faith than science. Whether spiritual, religious, or science, a fanatic always interprets the "evidence" with expectations and bias. She saw perfection because she already wanted to see perfection.

[@SageOutsider]

Omega could actually become the ultimate defensive measure, for any species that just wants to be left alone, and has no desire to explore--set off omega explosions along your territory border, and suddenly no one can come bother you, be it 8472, the Borg, the Breen, Dominion, or even Star Fleet.

[@normiecamo4788]

I imagine if you are a species with the ability to manipulate Omega the Borg will just keep going at subspace until they reach you to assimilate your tech

[@danyelPitmon]

Kala Torres in the moment that any said experiment of the Omega would alert the Federation to the first sign of it being developed which would entail sending multiple Starfleet vessels and disposal teams to illuminate and destroy all notes and work on it plus dismantling and destroying any carrier system or the element itself that’s keeping this scenario impossible

[@TheForeverRanger]

Doesn't 8472 exist in fluidic space which is in a whole other realm.

[@LeahBouley]

Ide say it wouldn’t stop the undine (8472) since they can just appear in the middle of your space from thier realm lol

[@SageOutsider]

Leah Bouley Then we shall use nanoprobe torpedoes.

[@knowur10sand18s]

Wasn't it hinted in Voyager that the Omega molecule might be an intelligent lifeform and 7 felt it watching her back before it destabilized? Further implying it can't be harnessed because it doesn't want to be captured.

[@TheGamersRace]

No, that's so far off the mark. Seven watched the molecule stabilize without knowing why, so it didn't destabilize, it did the opposite. In order to remove the risk that it would destabilize, they ejected the resonance chamber and destroyed it with a torpedo in order to neutralize it. Omega was never implied or hinted at being a living molecule, and I'm not sure where this idea came from.

[@magnvss]

IN OTHER WORDS, the Omega particle coudl turn Stark Trek's (laws of physics) universe into our (laws of physics) universe. Sort of, kinda.

[@DMSProduktions]

Those 'laws' are mostly illusory!

[@Torontodude20000]

STIV I could really use a food replicator in my kitchen.

[@ebbe790]

Or into the Warhammer Universe...

[@CafeLiquerstreams]

@@ebbe790 dont compare the warp to subspace... Thats more like interwarp using slipspace

[@ebbe790]

@@CafeLiquerstreams I felt like the omega particle was the closet to how the Warp functions in 40k, but sub space and the eldari web way felt Vaguely closer

[@casbot71]

Omega would make a very effective *WMD* against _Borg hubs,_ send in a ship with a single molecule or able to synthesise a single molecule and detonate it in the middle of the hub or other major Borg facility (or just within range). All the Borg are suddenly independent and the Collective can't establish control until they leave the damaged subspace areas. And that's a lot of Borg, maybe even Cubes returning fall into the _desubspaced_ zone for a while afterwards till the Borg work out not to send Cubes in. The Omega ship (or a waiting fleet optimised for long term STL travel) has medical bays and a lot of EMH's to work on deBorging the former drones, and the techniques can be taught to those with medical knowledge causing a exponential wave of implant removal facilities. The knowledge of the former drones would be incredible, and from a "humanitarian" perspective it would be the best option - freeing everyone. It might even mess up the Borg Queen's Resurrection abilities. As for how the Omega equipped ship gets close enough, there is anti Borg cloaking tech and it could always come in on Slipstream drive or in transit through a transwarp corridor. Or even just fight their way in with Admiral Janeway's armour generator tech. The Omega molecule could be in the final stage of synthesise and they complete it in Borg space. Get all 7 (well, 6 now) hubs and the Borg are crippled, not to mention all their tech and the ex drones who know everything about it are there, and former drones are the best "people" to fight the Borg outside the zone afterwards, the mopping up. You lose the ability to travel at FTL through several regions of space you would never want to be caught dead in (at least dead for less than 72 hours with neural pathways intact), so overall it's a gain.

[@pacifistattack]

With every exposure the Borg would gain more knowledge of Omega, also if a ship failed and was assimilated the Borg would gain all knowledge as well as the actual Omega molecule(s) on that ship. Do you really want to risk giving them access to Omega?

[@SolePompano]

pacifistattack they already had access to omega seven of nine said so in the omega episode in Star Trek voyager. They failed, and it detonated. Though you are right if they got another try they could potentially succeed, but as talked about in this video and shown in voyager it needs to be a specific amount to actually stabilize and they could never stabilize just one (at least that we know of) so personally I think it would be an acceptable risk.

[@victorcaldera249]

Another problem they destabilize instantly how are you going to get seven light years away in a fraction of a second

[@DeathBYDesign666]

What if the transwarp corridors actually disperse the subspace damage over an even wider area? You could potentially spread the damage throughout the galaxy unintentionally. It's probably not worth the risk.

[@Zeakthecat]

i think the only reason why starfleet hasn't figured that idea out, is because there isn't a backup way of FTL travel to be installed on starships, once the subspace is destroyed.

[@gallendugall8913]

Really what they should have done moving the timeline forward for Discovery into an era where warp travel was knocked out for a couple of generations and they're re-exploring with some new FTL system.

[@anlumo1]

Yes, they could use a fungus-like network to travel anywhere instantaneously instead. I just can't think of a good name for the device for it. The mushroom drive?

[@xBINARYGODx]

@@anlumo1 The Shit Drive, The Bad-Writer Drive, The Hack Producer Drive, so many appropriate names.

[@Napoleonic_S]

@@anlumo1 jump drive.

[@mrbuttocks6772]

@@anlumo1 Hyperdrive and slipspace drive are candidates :D

[@FingerinUrDaughter]

@@xBINARYGODx how about we go with "trans-warp technology"? even better, we decribe it as being a fully controllable time warp, which the borg use exclusively, yet only once use to go back in the past and assimilate races

[@sergeantassassin3425]

Arguably more dangerous than even the Borg themselves. Some things should best be left alone and unknown.

[@nilok7]

This may be the closest thing to Eldritch Knowledge in Star Trek.

[@Eradicator-jv9xr]

So if we launch a omega torpedo it neutralizes about a borg cube immediately and renders the entire sector uncapable of warp

[@congnghequansuvn474]

i want to make a bomb with omega and place it on a dreanought and send to Dominion space. Enjoy sub light speed, changling!

[@Pulsarnix]

I love that they have the element in Voyager and then they make it a pivotal plot point in Star Trek Legacy involving T'Uerell and an early from of The Borg. That is If you consider Star Trek Legacy cannon, which barring a couple of very minor errors (such as Kirk apparently being an Admiral aboard the Enterprise A) it could be.

[@andyb1653]

THAT, is how a Soviet RBMK reactor explodes. Omega particles. (note: this is why we haven't been visited by aliens. Dyatlov blew a hole in subspace, no FTL within 7 Ly of Sol since 1986.)

[@kharjo8099]

Lol

[@Spacegoat92]

You're delusional. You didn't see Omega molecules.......YOU DIDDANT!!!!!!!!

[@TheCptnjaneway]

He's delusional, get him to sickbay

[@yougosquishnow]

But it's only 3.6 roengen

[@nicholasmorsovillo2752]

I'll bet even after Voyager returned home Janeway most likely had to inform Starfleet Command about the incident with the Omega Particles and that Seven of Nine had found a way to stabilize it before they had to destroy it following Starfleet's orders concerning the Omega Particle.

[@asvarien]

Voyager was briefly at the beginning of the universe just before the big bang when Quinn took them there hiding from Q. The Omega alert never went off so we must assume that his theory was wrong and that omega was not present at the big bang.

[@Pulsar047]

It's not impossible that other factors could have prevented the detection of Omega at that moment. But yeah, that would have been a neat bit of continuity that the writers sadly overlooked.

[@scottmantooth8785]

an adroit observation on your part...guess dealing with the Q was enough drama for one episode unless the presence of the Q somehow negated the effects or detection of Omega Particles...or maybe i'm just overthinking things again

[@hardwirecars]

@@scottmantooth8785 yeah thats it Q disabled it so it would not something or other.... overthinking happens lol

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@hardwirecars so i've been told on many occasions

[@talentlessartist7929]

Or maybe the writer of that episode didn't consider that.

[@brooklynswaterboy5329]

I am very happy to see that your channel is growing

[@LaloHikari8]

Good work, not all experiments conducted by Starfleet are successful, only the experiment related to the Omega Particle are classified, but no the Genesis device, anyway the UFP should take more precautions making experiments, especially the dangerous one. Nice touch at the end

[@XxAsoka21xX]

HI KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. LOVE LISTENING TO THIS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK

[@FirestormDDash]

Fun fact. We are post explosion and thus can never see the science to go faster then light.

[@Lukos0036]

And the iconians play with it like it's nothing.

[@Paul-jy8cv]

iconians tech is like magic IE so far beyond starfleet its not funny

[@andrewgrandma2816]

@Jeff Sol the Q are in reality 2 dimensional. But they're so advanced they do things from their home world anyway.

[@deathstrike]

Iconia was considered to be the most advanced race ever known in the ST universe. Only the Q rivaled them and actually were fond of them. But this is only one race known that used Omega. The others include (possibly) the Kelvans, the Solanae (servitor race of the Iconians) and the Android race Dr Chapel's former lover discovered. Many others including the T'Kon, the Kh'li'ct of the ST Book "Windows to a lost world" and possibly the Preservers. So many but the Federation sees this as too much a threat despite Seven actually making a breakthrough.

[@lichslayer0045]

Because the Iconians mastered the technology to harness Omega among with other tec. Iconians technology alone is one of the most advanced threw out the quadrants past to currents civilizations technology.

[@adamwilder2943]

Thanks Rick sir, for explaining the Omega Directive..🚔👍

[@darkage5]

Amazing video. I always wanted more background on why this was so hush hush. Although I wish you would have touched more on the Borg involvement with Omega.

[@mattsiede443]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for a truly great vid... I loved it and watched it 3x!!!!

[@vidman5000]

It was a pretty good episode. Definitely on one of the must watchables in the series.

[@Arnoudbr]

That's a really good spisode !

[@Ensue85A]

I always enjoy your stuff

[@williammerkel1410]

Can you imagine how much it would have sucked to get sent to the Lentaru sector to investigate that explosion? 7 years there and 7 years back would not have been fun.

[@joergn83]

:) would be a great TED talk

[@pwnmeisterage]

In the third _Star Trek: Destiny_ novel, a large source of Omega particles was used to draw Borg attention away from Earth. Picard "had taken the precaution of bypassing the main computer's automatic Omega Directive protocol" so that his ship wouldn't be paralyzed during the climactic confrontation. He also broke protocol by educating his officers and crew about Omega, and by advising the captains of other Starfleet vessels to do the same.

[@llanorick]

I can think of 31 reasons why you shouldn’t have made this video.

[@quwykxz]

And I can think of 13 reasons why it's a good thing he did. (Google Omega 13, if you don't already know about it. 😁)

[@OuttaMyMind911]

I don't understand. Could you section out those 31 reasons?

[@jasonyoung7705]

@@OuttaMyMind911 Section 31

[@absoluteunit2542]

@@jasonyoung7705 bruh you got wooshed

[@dojokonojo]

I can think of 285 reasons why we can profit off the Omega molecule :D

[@SinbadNaiver]

ROFL, just hearing him run the fuck away at the end. XD

[@mastertadakatsu]

Helm Officer: Sir, we are locked out of all controls and the Old Greek letter Omega is on all consoles. Captain: Well.......shit.

[@charlesmayes2384]

Yeah.. What if they were in the middle of combat situation?

[@LeahBouley]

Janeway literally looks like she took a shit when she confirms the presence of omega tho lol

[@retluoc]

There is one power source greater than the Omega particle -- it was in the movie "Supernova". Ninth dimensional energy. When James Spader's character said "whoever made it was trying to hide it in the ass-end of the universe", he wasn't kidding.

[@HexAyed]

Mmmm the Omega particle, Always teleports me back to playing Star Trek Armada

[@abbynormal7525]

One if my favorite episodes of Voyager.

[@danyelPitmon]

Obviously this makes you an admiral and this would be the course teaching new captains about the omega directive G that means I am a captain in Starfleet

[@warlockjmn]

You missed one point. Only captains and bridge officers on the flag ship knew about omega. Great video.

[@brothersgt.grauwolff6716]

Why is there an Omega symbol on all our vid displays and our Battle Barge's engine's have shut down and not even our Techpriests can't rouse the machine spirits and why has the ships captain sequestered himself in his personal chamber's?

[@weldonwin]

Would be exceptionally vexing if the ship in question was an Ultramarines vessel

[@LordDarthHarry]

@@weldonwin "Clearly the Machine Spirit has been corrupted by Chaos and is mocking us by displaying our symbol upside down! W must initiate self destruct to purge this abomination!"

[@Humaricslastcall]

Makes me want a Star Trek/ Warhammer 40k crossover. Oh and i am pretty sure the Techpriests do know about what's going on and are following the explicit instructions from the emperor handed down for generations to only the highest of their kind. They just don't speak of it for fear of the ENTIRE SHIP being declared heretical and it's blasted remains being swept up and incinerated by the Inquisition. And if the situation proves dire enough, you will be let known of it and be tasked to help resolve it if your skills are necessary.

[@brooklynswaterboy5329]

I love your toppects that u talk about

[@obilesk]

oof. *topics. cutest typo ever. ;)

[@calamitysi]

Lantaru Starbase...Trek's very own Chernobyl . Great vid, Rik!

[@danmanx2]

Well done!

[@thomashill6347]

Thank you for the insightful look into a interesting topic as it is so dangerous we would hope the Borg if any race did limit it's ability to travel at sub light speed. I think it would also prevent a Borg ship from make a transwarp portal YES?. I would have slowed their spread into the other quadrants around their starting point.

[@MrYTGuy1]

For when you need a directive that's more prime than the actual prime directive 🖖👾

[@hardwirecars]

no it means if by some chance a sub warp species gets the omega particle they can let themselves be known beams down oh shit yall about to blow up the galaxie!

[@3Rayfire]

The Prime Directive is the first directive...the Omega Directive is the last.

[@circuitsandcigars1278]

The Borg have left the room Species 8472 has entered the room

[@lemagreengreen]

This was one of my favourite VOY episodes

[@Belzediel]

You git, I was laughing so hard i had a coughing fit and spilt my tea.

[@Spacegoat92]

Fine i'll watch the episode again!!!!!!!!

[@SuperLuigiSixty4]

It's funny: I picked up that "Section 31: Cloak" novel completely by chance and was genuinely surprised once I realized where it was leading. Of course James T. Kirk was around for the events.

[@Deltarious]

This would actually be a very interesting potential avenue of growth/world development in Trek if technologies were created that could suppress, in whole or in part, the damage that Omega causes and other technologies started to come online to repair the damage it caused. I think it's interesting enough of a concept to be an overarching plotline for several seasons and potentially could be used to transition the galaxy into a new technological age and explain many advancements, which perhaps provides an opportunity to correct many lore inconsistencies and add reasonable restrictions (I.e. "we can't do this because it would override our warp core's Omega destabilisation prevention protocols" or "We physically can't do that because the way our core is designed prevents us to protect against the physical possibility of an Omega detonation) it would potentially provide quite satisfying limits.

[@Blundabus1337]

I want to see the story of Omega in a show first hand. I want to see what the scientists were thinking, doing, who survived the explosion, how they managed to tell starfleet, ect. Did they get in a shuttle and travel for 7 years to get back to warp space? Since supposedly communications didn't work? It's very fascinating but there's a lot of holes not filled.

[@djzeederbyshire2932]

One of the best episodes of VOY IMHO...

[@thoruszwolf4153]

I find it disturbing that Starfleets standing orders are to commit acts of piracy that would rightfully be taken as an act of war.... imagine the federation makes contact with a race that uses stabilized omega in their warp drives, then starts boarding all their merchant vessels, neutralizing them, and leaving them adrift in space

[@scottmantooth8785]

yeah...that would be tricky to deal with since if they had stabilized omega particles their weapons technology would be insanely advanced and accurate

[@thoruszwolf4153]

@@scottmantooth8785 Yeah, but from a moral standpoint, what right does Starfleet have to say what others are allowed to do? .... I feel that enforcing this directive against those who do not submit to the Federations authority is crossing the moral grey zone and venturing into the black

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@thoruszwolf4153 agreed it would be crossing a very dangerous line when dealing with other races and established civilizations that are in all probability several millennia older than the Federation itself...would not make first contact with other planets in this region very easy...or safe

[@kyleheins]

I suspect if they encountered a species that had full control over omega, they would suppress all kmowledge of and contact with that species among the federation and begin top secret discussions with them, because if it by chance was possible to repair the damage done by destabilization then it would be orders of magnitude safer to learn how to work with the stuff. Not to mention making enemies of such a race would be insanely stupid. Imagine if thwir ships had an omega powerplant made of a stable group of molecules... firepower beyond even the borgs ability to handle, since the power output would dwarf anything in the borg arsenal.

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@kyleheins truly you have a dizzying intellect

[@Chaosmage42]

i have to wonder if the the ore itself is also something that must be found and destroyed or collect and hidden. Seven's tale of what the borg did makes me think that the ore is extremely rare and the only reason voyager found so many was that the planet had a large quantity of it , probably completely used up in order to produce that many omega molecules. But i wonder could the presence of the ore trigger the directive as i would guess starfleet would want to stop any chance of anyone stumbling upon it

[@Krahazik]

If you could obtain stabilization, would make a heck of a doomsday weapon

[@mb2000]

I’m glad you touched on the issue of what might happen if a starship that was engaged in something important, like fighting off a Borg invasion, detected Omega. Hopefully it wouldn’t shut everything down without warning at least! One thing I didn’t get in “The Omega Directive” was that Janeway brought the senior staff in what was happening, but later had to tell Tuvok that the Omega Directive superseded the Prime Directive. Surely that would have been one of the main points to cover in her initial briefing and not something to drop on him while the Omega mission was already in progress? How could anyone synthese Omega to start with anyway? To get out “as much energy as a warp core” surely they’d have to put in as much energy as a warp core. So if they can do that, why do they need Omega?

[@scottmantooth8785]

How could anyone synthesize Omega Particles to begin with? Simple...it's called plot convenience...

[@mb2000]

Scott Mantooth well yeh plot convenience, but once you start using facts like that, you can explain just about anything that’s even remotely true!

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@mb2000 also reading ahead in the script would prevent a lot of problems with encountering species that might object to the intentional destruction of their primary propulsion/power technologies...that typically causes ill feelings and a pronounced level of surliness if not outright hostility

[@Skyblade12]

If a species was able to stabilize and use it, it would also make for one heck of a defense. “Blow up our ship and you wipe out your quadrant’s FTL” is quite a deterrent to attack.

[@quwykxz]

Two things came to mind while watching this: 1) Of all the sentient, space faring species in the Trek galaxy (hundreds, thousands of them?), SURELY there has to be more than a few who have discovered the Omega Particle and decided that mucking around with it is a good idea. I mean, if Starfleet/The United Federation Of Planets thinks that the only species that are intelligent enough to discover this thing are already part of the U.F.P., then that is the utmost height of foolish hubris and idiotic, vain egoism on their part! 2) Theoretically, if one goes beyond the "borders" of the galaxy and into the so-called "dark space" that exists between galaxies, one could conduct experiments on the Omega Particle in relative safety to the galaxy, right?

[@rightsideup6304]

Hard to do 2 due to the galactic barrier or something. Rick made a video on it iirc

[@SageOutsider]

1. Discovering it is rare even when looking for it on purpose--the Borg have known of it for ages, and only tried once, since synthesising boromite ore, is apparently very difficult, even for the Collective. 2. To find it by accident, is even rarer--the galaxy is incredibly LUCKY that it was the Federation that (apparently) discovered it instead of say, Klingons or Romulans. 3. There is no evidence that other Alpha Quadrant species haven't discovered it as well, either by their own science, or espionage--for all we know, other species know about it, they just know it's just NOT WORTH IT, since the most tiny chance of screw up, means crippling entire sectors, but that said, it's more likely the conditions needed for discovering it at all, are rare to begin with. 4. The travel time needed just to reach the edge of the galaxy, is such that it just isn't worth it--you'd spend centuries traveling there, and for what? An experiment that is likely to kill you? Or leave you stranded for the rest of your life?

[@danyelPitmon]

QUWYKXZ The reason why no one can do the development of the Omega element is because Starfleet all the ships are equipped with the ability of sensing an alerting the captain when ever there is the first sign of the development of the omega particle that when Starfleet would come in and illuminate the element from existence it doesn’t matter on your premises because Starfleet has already taken all of that into account with the omega directive

[@firemanjoe9491]

What if we live in a world that had the omega affect already happen to it? Hence that is why we do not invest much into space travel.

[@anlumo1]

In a Star Trek-like universe, if such a molecule does exist, it's rather unavoidable that at least one species at some point discovers it and blows up the whole galaxy's subspace. The federation can't be everywhere, especially not in the gamma and delta quadrant.

[@xBINARYGODx]

@@anlumo1 well it still better than doing nothing, and since they are generally not aware of what is happening in other Galaxies, it may have happened their and not in the Milky.

[@shauntempley9757]

@@anlumo1 All the other Galactic Powers have identical emphasis on the omega particle. If two or more are at war and are in a battle, each will stop fighting the other if one appeared. They will work together to solve the issue.

[@theishiopian68]

I would assume that the response is tailored depending on alert status. presumably in case of a red alert only certain systems are shut down. its unlikely anyone is gonna check out a weird sensor ping when theres a borg cube to worry about

[@carlh-thehermitwithwi-fi679]

BLEEP! Love it

[@lostkeys1318]

Didn't you do a video on this topic already? I coulda sworn

[@setojurai]

What topic?

[@GRSteen]

He mentioned the Omega particle in the "8 Failed Federation Experiments" video.

[@randomgooy7456]

Nice

[@BoisegangGaming]

I'm surprised Starfleet doesn't have "Omega Torpedoes" as their equivalent of nuclear weapons against threats they can't diplomatically deal with. Considering the mental stability of the admiralty, the fact no one has even tried to weaponize it is funny.

[@SantomPh]

the admiralty is in general not stupid or wistful . There is a reason we only see the weird ones on the show for the most part, they are the ones trying to do strange things like promote phase cloaking, promote an alien possessing them and making them eat entrails, deem Data a non-human, take over Earth in a coup or kill the Khitomer Accords...you might have a point there, but in truth most Admirals are like Ross, Kirk and Janeway, usually doing the right thing. Owing to its philosophy Starfleet usually researches weapons when there is a need to , otherwise their military research is usually just research for scientific sense or variations of existing research like phase cannons, the Defiant and Prometheus classes etc. They don't weaponize things just because. The Omega Particle does things far beyond a "nuclear option", it literally leaves a hole in space and time that is not going to disappear so easily. The transphasic torpedoes Admiral Janeway gifts the Voyager are overkill enough and technically illegal since they are from the future. And even those were meant to fight the Borg, not to achieve some military superiority.

[@kylehazachode]

Can you do a video on what subspace is?

[@scottmantooth8785]

it's like regular space only more gluten free

[@SavageDarknessGames]

There’s five theorized layers of space time: No space - all mater and energy are void Sub space - unstable and only radio and similar energies can exist Reg space - where we are Hyper space - unstable but could offer faster than light travel for momentary time frames Ultra space - where thoughts become reality. (Possibly where all of regular space was constructed).

[@patrickofinnigan4986]

Omega torpedoes would be very useful on civilizations that were bothering the federation. Oh? Romulans at it again? Poosh! Boom! No FTL travel for you. See you in like 500 years hahaha. Would be a game changer.

[@SageOutsider]

Making omega particles to begin with, is not the easiest thing to do, and even the Borg managed to screw it up.

[@killerbee1974]

I hope lower decks makes a reference to this. when i saw it i was like, now im interested

[@steve1978ger]

it's an analogy on the dangers of nuclear fission and how the risks that come with harnessing it require drastic measures of containment that can disrupt democracy

[@TheForeverRanger]

I wonder how Omega would affect the planet Meridian if one were to go off nearby? Would it affect its phase shifting?

[@noitallmanaz]

I love how this sounds like this is a real thing...

[@james8449100]

I think and i might be totally wrong full impulse is .25c but with modification you can accelerate to .99c but relatively (in star trek relativistic effects only happen if you exceed. 25c)

[@3Rayfire]

No real modifications needed, .25c is standard full impulse for Starfleet ships to avoid all relativistic effects. The Enterprise boosted out of Earth orbit at .5c in Star Trek TMP. Impulse engines aren't really fuel efficient at warp speeds, but I imagine that Zephram Cochrane was using a fusion reactor (impulse) for the Phoenix's warp flight, since I imagine Antimatter would've been scarce after the nuclear holocaust.

[@beastdude]

I would assume that a different ftl travel form would be reached if omega were to render current warp drive unusable, although it'd probably take quite a while first.

[@scottmantooth8785]

perhaps an Omega Particle Drive is what is required for a stable Slipstream Propulsion Harmonic System...just speculation on my part obviously

[@tcsnowdream9975]

The saddest thing is that they could have used this in Discovery; either tying it to the Burn or tying it to species C-10, which I think they were going for - they were farming Boronite, IIRC… which is used to make Omega. I just wish it was explicit.

[@RimWulf]

You said "any kind of FTL travel" but there were other kinds of FTL in canon that don't use subspace to work. Was this misspoken or am I mistaking?

[@SantomPh]

most of those , as Janeway discovered are quite dangerous for Starfleet vessels. Finding something as naturally perfect and useful like the Bajor Wormhole is incredibly lucky

[@seymoronion8371]

Good catch

[@LordyT34]

Even the Federation has a little bit Imperium of Mankind in it, deep, deep down

[@iblackfeathers]

having now watched this future video, we are now part of the “omega” timeline of events.

[@phrophetsamgames]

The moment this thing hits your screen you know that [REDACTED] just [REDACTED].

[@VCYT]

I saw this episode last week :-) ... when Trek was good. ...tho discovery ain't bad, i'm warming to it.

[@little-wytch]

*temporal beams in and flashes Section 31 badge* I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me. 😛lol nice video.

[@laughingman3777]

THOLIANS: CULTURAL INDEX NEXT PLEASE

[@LeaderoftheFates]

Ahh the directive where you can kick the doors down on primivie people to get those particles

[@Firepup740]

Imagine ending up in a sector filled with Omega particles. That would suck having your ship lock up every five minutes.

[@Draliseth]

~logs in to STO and plots route to Antares system~ I got time.

[@FrancisGo.]

The exposed Quadrant would be a great place to build bases that Starfleet could use to preserve a federation stronghold in the event of an invasion. Using the genesis device, the Federation would have 7 light years worth of real-estate so heavily fortified that it wouldn't be worth sending an armada in at slower than light.

[@user-gu4ot2by5v]

Just a question how do you make your windows glow in your Star Trek online scenes with the uss voyager

[@richardlahan7068]

Seven undoubtedly knew all about Starfleet's Omega Directive due to all of the Starfleet captains that had been assimilated as well as Starfleet computer systems that were accessed by the Borg.

[@derrickdixon1966]

It's reason, like this I love being a geek.

[@RockRedGenesis]

Read the first book in the Star Trek Section 31 series, it documents the events of the Lantaru Starbase and the sector and the experiments conducted by Ketteract and the S31 involvement in the experiment. It's a good read.

[@AudioAndroid]

Cool

[@danielcooke9974]

it must go deeper, if the federation will go to such lengths even far away from their home. well any ways we need to go back to the star trek that is not discovery so many story lines to develop series. my favourite idea the federation at real risk of division and in fact a separate faction forming and the true extent of red squadron coming to light.

[@robsalvv5853]

What a coincidence, I just re-watched that episode of Voyager a couple of days ago and this pops up. A couple of thing don't make sense to me in that Voyager episode. Voyager's sensors detected an Omega particle explosion and the crew ultimately find a totally decimated facility. How was it that there was still a viable part of the facility with a whole bunch of Omega particles intact, contained and stable despite an explosion equivalent to a warp core breach? And how did Voyager warp away at the end of the episode if subspace was supposed to be ruined for light years in every direction as a result of an Omega particle explosion? Yeh, ok, so it's not a real thing, but still, it does seem like an inconsistency / logic flaw in the story line.

[@3Rayfire]

The particles may have been protected or simply not triggered by the other explosion. There also may have been numerous particles destroyed before they could affect subspace. We also don't know what materials the facility was constructed of. Omega ruining subspace seems to have a propagation effect , not an instantaneous one. Remember, in Star Trek space as always, is an ocean. The annihilation of subspace would still have to travel out, like a wave to actually wreck everything. If the expanding zone of destroyed subspace is slower than Warp 9.975, then Voyager can outrun it.

[@Stormkrow280]

As the universe is much larger than the Milky Way galaxy (were the series as a whole is set) I’m betting there are alien races that have developed the Omega particle successfully outside the galaxy