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[[Image:Intrepid class saucer section (2).jpg|thumb|Crewmembers installing an ablative armor hull generator on ''Voyager'']]
 
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[[File:SC4-ablative armor.jpg|thumb|The [[SC-4]] with armor deployed]]
The '''ablative armor hull generator''' was a futuristic [[Starfleet]] technology from the early [[25th century]]. It was designed to protect [[starship]]s by generating an [[ablative armor hull]] which could withstand [[Klingon]] [[Negh'Var type|''Negh'Var''-class]] ship attacks and even multiple [[Borg cube]] attacks. In order to protect the ship, the ablative armor must expand across the ship's [[hull]], except around the [[phaser]]s, [[torpedo launcher]]s, and [[warp engines]] from external generators mounted on the ship. The generators utilize [[replicator]] technology to create the plates for the ablative armor. ({{VOY|Endgame}})
 
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'''Ablative generators''' were an advanced armor technology used by [[Starfleet]]. [[Shield emitter]]s generated a nearly-impenetrable layer of [[armor]] around the [[hull]] of a ship so equipped. This defensive technology was acquired by the crew of {{USS|Voyager}} in [[2378]] from [[Admiral]] [[Kathryn Janeway]] of an [[alternate timeline]]. ({{VOY|Endgame}})
   
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{{bginfo|According to a production sketch by [[Rick Sternbach]], dated 02-01, the armor was [[Nanotechnology|nanotech]] [[Molecule|molecular]] [[Hull plating|armor plating]]. ''[http://www.neutralzone.de/database/Federation/Shuttle/_Type18HShuttleUprated.gif]}}
== Background ==
 
Here, this technology is labeled as ''"ablative armor hull generator"'' to differentiate from the [[ablative armor]] on the {{ShipClass|Defiant}} and {{ShipClass|Prometheus}} starships. There was no explicit verbal differentiation between the two technologies mentioned on "Endgame". It could therefore be speculated that the technology mentioned in "Endgame"' is an outgrowth of the ablative armor seen on these classes of vessels.
 
   
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==History==
The episode never explained what happened to the ablative armor hull generator after ''Voyager'' returned to Earth. Since the presence of the technology violates the [[Temporal Prime Directive]], the most likely explanation is that Starfleet classified it and destroyed the generator and any information about it. This is most likely the same fate of the transphasic torpedoes. However, it might also have been saved and reintroduced later when the technology reaches the appropriate time on the preferred timeline since it was introduced in the early 25th century in another timeline.
 
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''In the alternate timeline, ablative generators were developed as an anti-[[Borg]] technology by [[Captain]] Janeway. Invented some time after they encountered the [[transwarp hub]] hidden inside a [[nebula]] in 2378, but chose not to investigate it further. She used the technology to protect ''Voyager'' against the Borg on their voyage back to [[Earth]]. By [[2404]], ablative generators had not yet become standard equipment on Starfleet vessels. Ships like the {{USS|Rhode Island}} were not equipped with them. Also, the [[Klingon]]s did not yet possess ablative generators.''
   
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''During that year, Admiral Janeway embarked on an illegal mission to change history by [[time travel|traveling back in time]] to help secure ''Voyager''{{'}}s safe return to the [[Alpha Quadrant]] sixteen years early. Janeway utilized a [[Starfleet Command]] [[shuttlecraft]], the [[SC-4]], equipped with ablative generators when meeting with [[Korath]], a [[Klingon]] scientist, who had developed the [[chrono deflector]], a device capable of generating [[temporal rift]]s for time travel. Janeway stole the chrono deflector and used the ablative armor to defend the shuttle against [[nadion]] discharges fired by Korath's {{Class|Negh'Var}} [[warship]] in a retaliatory attack.''
== See also ==
 
* [[Ablative armor]]
 
* [[Ablative armor hull]]
 
   
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After successfully traveling back in time to 2378, Admiral Janeway assisted ''Voyager''{{'}}s crew in manufacturing and installing the advanced armor technology aboard the ship. The crew used the armor to defend themselves against Borg attacks while attempting to access the transwarp hub located in [[grid 986]]. When the [[Borg Queen]] assimilated Admiral Janeway, she also assimilated knowledge of how to construct the armor technology, but was killed by the [[neurolytic pathogen]] Janeway was infected with. Eventually ''Voyager''{{'}}s armor integrity was depleted down to to six percent by a pursuing [[Borg sphere]] and the crew had to allow the ship to be captured. They were, however, able to use [[transphasic torpedo]]es to destroy the sphere upon exiting the [[transwarp conduit]] near Earth. ({{VOY|Endgame}})
[[Category:Technology]]
 
   
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<gallery>
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File:USS Voyager during ablative generator installation.jpg|Installation of ablative generators on {{USS|Voyager}}
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File:USS Voyager deploying hull armor 1.jpg|Ablative generators activate
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File:USS Voyager deploying hull armor 2.jpg|Armor deploys starting at the bow
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File:Borg cubes fail to destroy USS Voyager.jpg|The ship remains protected against Borg weapons
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</gallery>
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== Background information ==
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The look of the ablative armor in "Endgame" was developed by [[Foundation Imaging]]. [[Russ Isler]], a visual effects artist at Foundation, was instrumental in working out the effect. At [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], Visual Effects Supervisor [[Mitch Suskin]] and Supervising Producer [[Peter Lauritson]] were relatively happy with the effect, soon after Foundation submitted it for their appraisal. "''I think Mitch had asked for a slight color change; I think I had chosen orange, but the blue ended up looking a lot better,''" reckoned Foundation's Visual Effects Supervisor [[Robert Bonchune]]. "''So it was a good call on Mitch Suskin's part.''" ({{STM|82}}, pp. 16 & 18)
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After its critical role in "Endgame", the armor was not shown to be deployed on Federation starships in any subsequent ''Star Trek'' production, such as the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}} seen in {{film|10}} or the ''[[Jellyfish (ship)|Jellyfish]]'' in {{film|11}}. This armor technology should not be confused with the [[ablative armor]] that was already used on [[Borg sphere]]s, the {{USS|Defiant|2370}}, and {{USS|Prometheus|Prometheus class}} starships.
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According to ''[[Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise]]'' (page 14), the [[deflector shield]]s of the refit-{{Class|Constitution}} were a similar technology, while only the [[defense field]]s protecting the top decks were traditional force fields. The main shield grid was a massive [[replicator]] system, projecting an invisible hull layer, molecularly identical to the [[diburnium]]-[[osmium]] alloy used to build the [[Kalandan outpost]].
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In fact, shield impacts from Klingon [[photon torpedo]]es were shown to hit the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}} at the armor plating level in {{film|6}} leaving some scorch marks from the detonation and small electric arcs, instead of impacting a "shield bubble" such as the shield effect had been established in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', which was in production of [[TNG Season 5|season 5]] at the time of the film's release.
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==Apocrypha==
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The ablative generators were mentioned in the ''[[Star Trek: Destiny]]'' trilogy of novels: they were initially examined by Starfleet as a part of Project Full Circle but were abandoned as anti-Borg technology because the Borg Queen had assimilated this technology from Admiral Janeway.
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The ablative generator technology appears on the ''Intrepid''-class retrofit available to players of ''[[Star Trek Online]]''.
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[[cs:Ablativní pancéřování]]
 
[[de:Ablativgenerator]]
 
[[de:Ablativgenerator]]
 
[[Category:Technology]]
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[[Category:Shield technology]]

Revision as of 12:49, 3 September 2014

AT: "xx"

File:SC4-ablative armor.jpg

The SC-4 with armor deployed

Ablative generators were an advanced armor technology used by Starfleet. Shield emitters generated a nearly-impenetrable layer of armor around the hull of a ship so equipped. This defensive technology was acquired by the crew of USS Voyager in 2378 from Admiral Kathryn Janeway of an alternate timeline. (VOY: "Endgame")

According to a production sketch by Rick Sternbach, dated 02-01, the armor was nanotech molecular armor plating. [1]

History

In the alternate timeline, ablative generators were developed as an anti-Borg technology by Captain Janeway. Invented some time after they encountered the transwarp hub hidden inside a nebula in 2378, but chose not to investigate it further. She used the technology to protect Voyager against the Borg on their voyage back to Earth. By 2404, ablative generators had not yet become standard equipment on Starfleet vessels. Ships like the USS Rhode Island were not equipped with them. Also, the Klingons did not yet possess ablative generators.

During that year, Admiral Janeway embarked on an illegal mission to change history by traveling back in time to help secure Voyager's safe return to the Alpha Quadrant sixteen years early. Janeway utilized a Starfleet Command shuttlecraft, the SC-4, equipped with ablative generators when meeting with Korath, a Klingon scientist, who had developed the chrono deflector, a device capable of generating temporal rifts for time travel. Janeway stole the chrono deflector and used the ablative armor to defend the shuttle against nadion discharges fired by Korath's Negh'Var-class warship in a retaliatory attack.

After successfully traveling back in time to 2378, Admiral Janeway assisted Voyager's crew in manufacturing and installing the advanced armor technology aboard the ship. The crew used the armor to defend themselves against Borg attacks while attempting to access the transwarp hub located in grid 986. When the Borg Queen assimilated Admiral Janeway, she also assimilated knowledge of how to construct the armor technology, but was killed by the neurolytic pathogen Janeway was infected with. Eventually Voyager's armor integrity was depleted down to to six percent by a pursuing Borg sphere and the crew had to allow the ship to be captured. They were, however, able to use transphasic torpedoes to destroy the sphere upon exiting the transwarp conduit near Earth. (VOY: "Endgame")

Background information

The look of the ablative armor in "Endgame" was developed by Foundation Imaging. Russ Isler, a visual effects artist at Foundation, was instrumental in working out the effect. At Paramount, Visual Effects Supervisor Mitch Suskin and Supervising Producer Peter Lauritson were relatively happy with the effect, soon after Foundation submitted it for their appraisal. "I think Mitch had asked for a slight color change; I think I had chosen orange, but the blue ended up looking a lot better," reckoned Foundation's Visual Effects Supervisor Robert Bonchune. "So it was a good call on Mitch Suskin's part." (Star Trek Monthly issue 82, pp. 16 & 18)

After its critical role in "Endgame", the armor was not shown to be deployed on Federation starships in any subsequent Star Trek production, such as the USS Enterprise-E seen in Star Trek Nemesis or the Jellyfish in Star Trek. This armor technology should not be confused with the ablative armor that was already used on Borg spheres, the USS Defiant, and USS Prometheus starships.

According to Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise (page 14), the deflector shields of the refit-Constitution-class were a similar technology, while only the defense fields protecting the top decks were traditional force fields. The main shield grid was a massive replicator system, projecting an invisible hull layer, molecularly identical to the diburnium-osmium alloy used to build the Kalandan outpost.

In fact, shield impacts from Klingon photon torpedoes were shown to hit the USS Enterprise-A at the armor plating level in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country leaving some scorch marks from the detonation and small electric arcs, instead of impacting a "shield bubble" such as the shield effect had been established in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which was in production of season 5 at the time of the film's release.

Apocrypha

The ablative generators were mentioned in the Star Trek: Destiny trilogy of novels: they were initially examined by Starfleet as a part of Project Full Circle but were abandoned as anti-Borg technology because the Borg Queen had assimilated this technology from Admiral Janeway.

The ablative generator technology appears on the Intrepid-class retrofit available to players of Star Trek Online.