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===Technical data===
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[[File:Security force field, 2364.jpg|thumb|A security force field]]
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A '''force field''' is an [[energy]] barrier with many applications and varying degrees of strength. Although force fields had been in use for many years, [[Starfleet]] did not begin research on such a device until [[2147]], then referred to by [[Malcolm Reed]] as a "stable EM barrier." He made use of such a barrier to save several crewmembers, including [[Jonathan Archer]]. ({{ENT|Vox Sola}}) By the [[24th century]], [[Starfleet|Federation Starfleet]] force fields were commonplace and were rated by intensity, ranging in strength from level 1-10. A level 10 force field is the strongest and would be used, for example, during a scientific experiment of which the outcome was unknown, or known to be explosive in nature. Applications range from creating [[hologram]]s to sealing a [[hull breach]] to personal force fields designed to keep potential assailants at bay. ({{TNG|Realm of Fear|The Most Toys}}; {{film|7}}; {{film|9}}; {{DS9|Playing God|Starship Down}}; {{VOY|State of Flux|Course: Oblivion}})
   
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A '''Force field''' is an [[energy]] barrier. The [[Starfleet (Earth)|Earth Starfleet]] began research on force fields in [[2147]]. ([[ENT]]: "[[Vox Sola]]")
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{{bginfo|During preproduction of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', a type of device called a "landing envelope" would have placed "a protective power field envelope around a person or [[landing party]], allowing [[away team]]s to visit planets with much more hostile environments than was possible in the past.''" The [[reference works|reference book]] ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation 365]]'' (p. 004) hypothesizes that the exclusion of this concept from the series may have been due to the strain it would have put on both the effects budget and, by lowering the amount of peril typically encountered on [[away mission]]s, the writing staff. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation 365]]'', p. 004)}}
   
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:''This episode marks the first time an [[Earth]] [[starship]] possesses the technology to produce a force field.''
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[[File:Sisko forcefield.jpg|thumb|left|[[Joran Dax]] in control of [[Benjamin Sisko]] bangs his head against a force field]]
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The effects of a force field on its surroundings vary greatly. Contact with a force field may cause anything from a slight tingle to [[death]]. Most force fields are non-lethal, although some civilizations such as the [[Dominion]] prefer the lethal variety. If a force field is active, an object or [[transporter]] beam generally cannot pass through it, although this is not always the case. The [[Borg]] are known to not be hindered by most force fields; they can adapt and simply walk through the field. However, a [[Borg drone]] can be cut off from the [[Borg Collective]] if it is surrounded by a [[Starfleet]] level 10 force field. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar}}; {{TNG|I Borg}})
   
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Force fields can be produced with a strength ranging from level 1 to level 10.
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Force fields could be activated from various locations. On Starfleet [[starship]]s there were emitter points at almost every junction along every [[corridor]]. The [[computer]] could be programmed to run a series of force field activations and deactivations within the ship, effectively creating a protected corridor which could follow a person. [[Commander]] [[Data]] used this technique with great control when he commandeered the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} on [[stardate]] 44085.7. He also demonstrated another technique involving instructing the computer to implement a scan-series of force field activations, activated by his movements along a short distance of corridor, thus forcing the security team to back away from him. ({{TNG|Brothers}})
   
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A level 10 force field is the strongest and is mainly used when maximum protection is required. This type of force field would be used, for example, during a scientific experiment from which the outcome is unknown, or known to be explosive in nature. ([[TNG]]:"[[Realm of Fear]]")
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[[File:Soran's forcefield, Veridian III.jpg|thumb|[[Tolian Soran]]'s large force field active on [[Veridian III]]]]
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If part of a [[humanoid]] body is caught in a force field while it is activated, the person may suffer second-degree burns on the affected area. ({{DS9|Civil Defense}})
   
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[[Image:Security Officers against Forcefield.jpg|thumb| Security officers run into a force field that [[Data]] created.]]
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[[Tolian Soran]]'s force field on [[Veridian III]] generated an output of fifty [[gigawatt]]s. ({{film|7}})
   
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If a force field is active, an object or a [[transporter]] beam cannot pass through it. Although this is the expected standard behavior of a force field, this is not always the case. The [[Borg]] are known to not be hindered by force fields; they can adapt and simply walk through the field. However, a [[Borg drone]] can be cut off from the [[Borg Collective]] if it is surrounded by a [[Starfleet]] Level 10 force field. ([[TNG]]:"[[I, Borg]]").
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When various security measures left over from the [[Cardassian]] occupation came on-line on [[Deep Space 9]], [[Elim Garak]] was recognized as a person of sufficient importance by the computer to have the force fields dividing the station drop when he approached. ({{DS9|Civil Defense}})
   
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Force fields can be activated from various locations. On Starfleet [[starship]]s there are emitter points at almost every junction along every corridor. The [[computer]] can be programmed to run a series of force field activations and de-activations within the ship, effectively creating a protected corridor which can follow a person. [[Commander]] [[Data]] used this technique with great control when he commandeered the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise-D'']] on [[stardate]] 44085.7. He also demonstrated another technique involving instructing the computer to implement a scan-series of force field activations, activated by his movements along a short distance of corridor, thus forcing the security team to back away from him. ([[TNG]]: "[[Brothers]]").
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If necessary, a [[transporter platform]] can be completely enclosed within a force field, to, for example, contain an [[alien]] subject or prisoner during transport. ({{TNG|The Hunted|Realm of Fear}}; {{VOY|Death Wish|Demon}})
   
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If necessary, a [[transporter platform]] can be completely enclosed within a force field, to, for example, contain an alien subject, or prisioner during tranport. ([[TNG]]:"[[Realm of Fear]]")
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Force fields are also capable of selective positioning, allowing the majority of it to cover a secure location, while a smaller portion is deactivated to allow transport of food, drinks, and other items; particularly used when it would be considered dangerous to deactivate the entire force field. ({{VOY|Repentance}})
   
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:''Presumably, to be cut in half by a force field is extremely dangerous, because [[Worf|Lt. Worf]] warned the rest of the team to stay back as the field approached.''
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=== Cadderon force field ===
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[[File:Cadderon force field.jpg|thumb|A cadderon force field]]
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In [[2369]] [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] created cadderon force fields to arrest the [[Klaestron]]s who kidnapped [[Jadzia Dax]] and secured the [[airlock]] to their [[Klaestron starship|starship]]. [[Ilon Tandro]] was able to override the system and deactivate the cadderon force field. ({{DS9|Dax}})
   
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===Containment field===
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=== Containment field ===
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A containment field is essentially a force field used to prevent the escape of [[matter]] or [[antimatter]].
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[[File:Sovereign Engineering.jpg|thumb|The warp core force field]]
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A containment field is essentially a force field used to prevent the escape of [[matter]] or [[antimatter]].
   
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Containment fields are usually raised when [[cargo bay]] or [[shuttlebay]] doors are opened to keep them pressurised although the containment field is partially disengaged when a [[shuttlecraft]] passes through it. Unfortunately, eighteen [[engineer]]s from the crew of the ''[[USS Yamato]]'' were killed when the containment field in one of the shuttlebays failed after the ship was infected with an [[Iconian software transmission]]. ([[TNG]]: "[[Contagion]]") A containment field can be manually activated and deactivated should the need arise. ([[TNG]]: "[[Disaster]]")
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Containment fields were usually raised when [[cargo bay]] or [[shuttlebay]] doors were opened to keep them pressurized, although the containment field was partially disengaged when a [[shuttlecraft]] passed through it. Unfortunately, eighteen [[engineer]]s from the crew of the {{USS|Yamato}} were killed when the containment fields in a shuttlebay failed after the ship was infected with an [[Iconian software transmission]]. ({{TNG|Contagion}}) A containment field could be manually activated and deactivated should the need arise. ({{TNG|Disaster}}) Containment fields would be used by Starfleet personnel to isolate an area for investigation, such as using a field to isolate a [[transporter room]] pad to beam aboard a sample of an object. ({{VOY|Death Wish}})
   
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Containment fields can also be used to reinforce [[antimatter containment]] although they cannot prevent an impending [[warp core breach]]. Lt Cmdr Data raised a Level 3 containment field around the [[warp core]] of the ''Enterprise''-D in [[2369]] when the ship was facing destruction by a core breach. ([[TNG]]: "[[Timescape]]") By [[2379]], it was a standard proceedure on the ''[[Enterprise-E]]'' for the warp core to be reinforced by a high-level force field before engaging in battle. (''"[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]"'')
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Containment fields could also be used to reinforce [[antimatter containment]], although they could not prevent an impending [[warp core breach]]. [[Lieutenant Commander]] Data raised a level 3 containment field around the [[warp core]] of the ''Enterprise''-D in [[2369]] when the ship was facing destruction by a core breach. ({{TNG|Timescape}}) By [[2379]], it was a standard procedure on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E}} for the warp core to be reinforced by a high-level force field before engaging in battle. ({{film|10}})
   
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===Inertial dampers, structural integrity and emergency force fields===
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''In an [[alternate timeline]] [[Miles O'Brien]] tried to create a sort of a containment field in [[sickbay]] to retain [[Benjamin Sisko]] on the station. He was unable to and Sisko went into the [[temporal displacement]] again.'' ({{DS9|The Visitor}})
   
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The structural integrity of a [[starship|ship]] or [[starbase]] can be enhanced by force fields. This way the [[hull]] can absorb more mechanical stresses.
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=== Structural integrity and emergency force fields ===
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[[File:Voyager shields.jpg|thumb|left|An example of defensive force field shielding]]
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[[File:Containment field.jpg|thumb|An emergency force field]]
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The [[structural integrity]] of a [[starbase]], [[starship]], or [[shuttlecraft]] could be enhanced by force fields. This way the [[hull]] could absorb more mechanical stress.
   
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The [[inertial damper|Inertial dampning systems]] consist of a network of force fields that continually adapt and compensate for the inertial effects of interstellar travel. They are almost entirely controlled by the ship's computer, which allows for instant fine adjustment of these fields' geometries, and to even anticipate resultant forces from the engines.
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In the event of an outer [[hull breach]], emergency force fields were automatically deployed to protect the damaged part from the influences of [[space]]; at the same time they prevented decompression of the entire [[deck]] by keeping the [[atmosphere]] in. During critical situations, such as ship-to-ship battles, if the main defensive force field was ruptured and a section of the ship was destroyed, it took longer for the computer to re-establish the [[structural integrity field]] than usual because of the large energy demands already placed on the vessel. In this short space of time, sections of a vessel could indeed be exposed to the vacuum of [[space]]. [[Captain]] [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] was lost to the vacuum of space in this way, in [[2293]], when the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-B|-B}} was struck by the [[nexus]] energy ribbon. ({{film|7}})
   
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[[Image:Voyager shields.jpg|thumb|An example of defensive force field shielding]]
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A [[lieutenant]] aboard the ''Enterprise''-E was blown out into space in [[2379]] before an emergency force field could be activated when the [[bridge]] front wall and [[viewscreen]] were destroyed by the [[Reman]] warbird ''[[Scimitar]]''. ({{film|10}}) A similar incident happened during the "Year of Hell" when an alien ship was disabled by the Krenim timeship's conventional weapons, and collided with the almost-already-crippled USS ''Voyager''{{'}}s bridge front/viewscreen and portions of her decks. Fortunately, Captain Janeway was not blown out into space, due to the quick activation of the emergency atmospheric force fields. ({{VOY|Year of Hell, Part II}})
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[[File:Jadzia Dax walks across force field.jpg|thumb|Jadzia Daz walks across an emergency force field]]
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A plasma leak caused by an explosion on the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} was covered by a level 8 force field, which [[Jadzia Dax]] then walked across in order to tend to Dr. [[Lenara Kahn]]. ({{DS9|Rejoined}})
   
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Starships and starbases are often equipped with external force field emmitters, which, when activated, produce a 'bubble' around itself, known as [[shield|defensive shields]]. These shields are variable, and can even be extended to encompass a nearby vessel or object. ([[TNG]]: "[[The Defector]]"). Defensive force fields can be penetrated in two ways. The most conventional method involves firing energy weapons at the shielded object, which weakens the field. The other method is acheived by matching the frequency of the shield to the weapon used. ([[Star Trek: Generations]]). [[Chroniton torpedo]]s cannot be stopped by normal shielding but require some kind of [[temporal shield|temporal shielding]]. ([[VOY]]: "[[Year of Hell, Part I]]").
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On stardate 49263.5, the {{USS|Defiant|2370}}, under the command of Captain [[Benjamin Sisko]], descended into the [[atmosphere]] of a [[Class J planet|Class-J]] [[gas giant]] with 10,000 kilometer per hour wind speeds. The emergency force field that was erected to save the ship from decompression due to a hull breach was not able to withstand the pressure for more than a few minutes. ({{DS9|Starship Down}})
   
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In the event of outer [[hull breach]], force fields are automatically deployed to protect the damaged part from the influences of [[space]]; at the same time it prevents decompression of the entire deck by keeping the [[atmosphere]] in. During critical situations ,such as ship-to-ship battles, if the main defensive force field is ruptured, and a section of the ship is destroyed, it takes longer for the computer to re-establish the structural integrity field than usual because of the large energy demands already placed on the vessel. In this short space of time, sections of a vessel can indeed be exposed to the vacuum of [[space]]. [[James T Kirk|Captain Kirk]] was lost to the vacuum of space in this way, in [[2293]], when the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)|Enterprise B]] was struck by the [[nexus]] energy ribbon. ([[Star Trek: Generations]]). A [[lieutenant]] aboard the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E)|Enterprise-E]], in [[2379]], was sucked out into space before an emergency force field could be activated, when the bridge front wall and [[viewscreen]] were destroyed by the [[Reman]] warbird, [[Scimitar]]. ([[Star Trek: Nemesis]])
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=== Defensive shielding ===
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Starbases, starships, shuttlecraft, and even advanced weaponry ({{VOY|Dreadnought|Warhead}}) were often equipped with external force field emitters, which, when activated, produced a "bubble" around the generating object, known as [[deflector shield|defensive shields]]. These shields were variable, and could even be extended to encompass a nearby vessel or object. ({{TNG|The Defector}}) Defensive force fields could be penetrated in two ways. The most conventional method involved firing energy weapons at the shielded object, which weakened the field. The other method was achieved by matching the frequency of the shield to the weapon used. ({{film|7}}; {{VOY|Equinox, Part II}}) [[Chroniton torpedo]]es could not be stopped by normal shielding but require modifications to enable [[temporal shield]]ing. ({{VOY|Year of Hell}})
   
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On stardate 49263.5, the [[USS Defiant (NX-74205)|USS Defiant]], under the command of [[Benjamin Sisko|Captain Sisko]], decended into the atmosphere of a [[Class J planet|Class-J]] gas giant, with 10,000kmph wind speeds. The emergency force field that was erected to save the ship from decompression due to a hull breach was not able to withstand the pressure for more than a few minutes. ([[DS9]]: "[[Starship Down]]")
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=== Examples of other Federation force field applications ===
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[[File: EMHMarkI.jpg|thumb|The EMH Mark I]]
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[[File:Spacehatch force field.jpg|thumb|A force field closing a hatch]]
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On [[holodeck]]s, force fields were used to give objects substance so people could manipulate them like in real life. These force fields had no substance outside the holodeck. They could be configured to either allow passage of "real" matter, or appear solid.
   
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:''In essence all force fields are the same - the function they perform depends on their strength. A transporter can still beam something inside a containment field but not through a defensive shield, although this might have something to do with the procedures crewmembers have to follow when preforming a certain task.''
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In [[sickbay]], a force field could be used to separate a patient from the rest of the crew when a contagious [[disease]] was diagnosed or when a patient needed a specific environment to stay alive. ({{TNG|Brothers}}; {{VOY|Demon|Threshold}})
   
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===Examples of other federation force field applications===
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The [[Emergency Medical Hologram]] and other variants ([[Emergency Command Hologram]] and the slave Mark I) used force fields to mimic solidity and to allow the manipulation of tools, manual computer access, and for social interaction.
   
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[[Image: EMHMarkI.jpg|thumb|The EMH Mark I]]
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Force fields were used to contain prisoners inside the holding cells of various races, including [[Human]]s, [[Klingon]]s, and Cardassians. Cardassian technology was able to create a tubular force field from the ceiling to the floor in order to encompass an intruder; however, during [[First Contact]] with the Dominion, [[Jem'Hadar]] such as [[Talak'talan]] could walk right through them. The Federation had adapted similar technology by [[2366]], and it was in use on the bridge of the ''Enterprise''-D as well. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar}}; {{TNG|Allegiance}})
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On [[holodeck]]s, force fields are used to give objects substance so people can manipulate them like in real life. These forcefields have no substance outside the holodeck. They can be configured to either allow passage of 'real' matter, or appear solid.
  
   
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In [[sickbay]] a force field can be used to separate a patient from the rest of the crew when a contagious disease is diagnosed or when that patient needs a specific environment to stay alive. ([[TNG]]: "[[Brothers]]", [[VOY]]: "[[Demon]]")
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Most Federation [[penal colony|penal colonies]] had force fields to prevent escape. Examples included [[Elba II asylum]] and the [[Tantalus colony]]. ({{TOS|Whom Gods Destroy|Dagger of the Mind}})
   
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The [[EMH]] and other variants ([[ECH]], slave Mark Is) use force fields to mimic substantiality and to allow manipulation of tools, manual computer access, and for the instruction of social interaction.
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During emergencies in a Starfleet [[holodeck]], a holographic force field can be created during a simulation. ({{VOY|Twisted}})
   
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Force fields are used to contain prisoners inside the holding cells of various races, including [[Human]]s, [[Klingon]]s and [[Cardassian]]s. ''See also: [[brig]].'' By [[2366]], force field technology had advanced sufficiently to allow a tubular force field to be projected from the ceiling to the floor, to encompass an alien intruder. This was acheived on the [[bridge]] of the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|Enterprise-D]]. ([[TNG]]: "[[Allegiance]]")
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In [[2369]], [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] used a force field to prevent [[Chief]] [[Miles O'Brien]] and [[Commander]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] from beaming onto the [[Valerian transport]]. ({{DS9|Dramatis Personae}})
   
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Most [[Federation]] [[penal colony|penal colonies]] have force fields to prevent escape. Examples include [[Elba II]], and [[Tantalus Penal Colony]]. ([[TOS]]: "[[Whom Gods Destroy]]", "[[Dagger of the Mind]]")
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The same year, the [[Bajoran]] [[engineer]] [[Neela]] created the program [[ANA]], which granted her access through the security fields on Deep Space 9 after she attempted to [[assassination|assassinate]] [[Vedek]] [[Bareil Antos]]. O'Brien found this computer program in a [[security field subsystem]] during maintenance work. ({{DS9|In the Hands of the Prophets}})
   
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Onboard the [[USS Defiant (NX-74205)]], by [[2373]], a holo-projection system had been installed on the bridge, linked up to the [[communications]] system. In this way, a person could 'appear' and speak to one another. However, this form of holoprojection had no cohesion, and so they could not interact directly. ''See also: [[holo-communicator]].'' ([[DS9]]: "[[For the Uniform]]")
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In [[2372]], [[Admiral]] [[Leyton]] told [[President of the United Federation of Planets|Federation President]] [[Jaresh-Inyo]] that [[Starfleet Security]] had been stockpiling personal force fields on Earth in case of a planet-wide emergency. ({{DS9|Homefront}})
   
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During the late [[2260]]s and early [[2270]]s, a device known as a [[life support belt]] was used onboard Starfleet vessels. This was a type of personal force field that supplies the wearer with the appropriate atmosphere and protects them from the vacuum of space. ([[TAS]]: "[[Beyond the Farthest Star]]", "[[The Slaver Weapon]]") This type of technology has only been seen in one other application. In [[2369]], [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Picard]], [[Data|Commander Data]], [[Deanna Troi]], and [[Geordi La Forge]] used [[subspace isolation field]]s, projected from modified [[emergency transporter armband]]s, that enveloped each of them in their own pocket of [[subspace]]. This isolated them from the effects of the [[temporal fragment]] that affected the Enterprise-D. This is an example of a 'skin-tight' force field, rather than the conventional bubble geometry. ([[TNG]]: "[[Timescape]]")
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By [[2373]], a holo-projection system had been installed on the bridge of the USS ''Defiant'', linked up to the [[communications]] system. In this way, a person could 'appear' and speak to others. However, this form of holoprojection had no cohesion, and so people could not interact directly with the hologram. ({{DS9|For the Uniform}}) Holoprojectors of this type were also seen in the captain's office adjacent to [[Operations center|Ops]] aboard [[space station]] Deep Space 9. ({{DS9|Doctor Bashir, I Presume}})
   
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===Examples of non-starfleet force field applications===
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[[Jean-Luc Picard]] demonstrated to [[Lily Sloane]] a force field closing a hatch to space aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}} when Lily spotted no [[glass]]. ({{film|8}})
   
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In [[2154]], the [[Enterprise (NX-01)]] encountered an [[Illyrian]] ship in the vicinity of the [[Azati Prime]] system in the [[Delphic Expanse]]. This small ship had a force field surrounding its warp core, which prevented [[Charles Tucker III|Commander Tucker]] from removing it easily. ([[ENT]]: "[[Damage]]")
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During the late [[2260s]] and early [[2270s]], a device known as a [[life support belt]] was used on board Starfleet vessels. This was a type of personal force field that supplied the wearer with the appropriate atmosphere and protected them from the vacuum of space. ({{TAS|Beyond the Farthest Star|The Slaver Weapon}}) This type of technology has only been seen in one other application. In [[2369]], Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]], Commander Data, [[Deanna Troi]], and [[Geordi La Forge]] used [[subspace isolation field]]s, projected from modified [[emergency transporter armband]]s, that enveloped each of them in their own pocket of [[subspace]]. This isolated them from the effects of the [[temporal fragment]] that affected the ''Enterprise''-D. This is an example of a "skin-tight" force field, rather than the conventional bubble geometry. ({{TNG|Timescape}})
   
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In [[2267]], [[Apollo]], from [[Pollux IV]] used advanced force field technologies to create a gigantic [[Apollo's hand|hand]] to hold the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)]] in space. This force field could be penetrated by [[M-rays]] at carefully calculated frequencies. ([[TOS]]: "[[Who Mourns for Adonais?]]")
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=== Examples of non-Starfleet force field applications ===
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In [[2154]], the {{EnterpriseNX}} encountered an [[Illyrian]] ship in the vicinity of the [[Azati Prime system]] in the [[Delphic Expanse]]. This small ship had a force field surrounding its warp coil, which prevented Commander [[Charles Tucker III|Trip Tucker]] from removing it easily. ({{ENT|Damage}})
   
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In [[2346]], the [[Khitomer]] [[colony]] had a force field to help protect itself from attacks. The [[Khitomer Massacre]] could have been averted, if the [[Klingon]] traitor [[Ja'rod]] had not given the [[Romulans]] the codes to the force field surrounding the colony. ([[TNG]]: "[[Sins of the Father]]")
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In [[2267]], [[Apollo]], from [[Pollux IV]] used advanced force field technologies to create a gigantic [[Apollo|hand]] to hold the ''Enterprise'' in space. This force field could be penetrated by [[M-ray]]s at carefully calculated frequencies. ({{TOS|Who Mourns for Adonais?}})
   
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In [[2364]], the crew of the Enteprise-D encountered the [[Echo Papa 607]] weapon, on [[Minos]]. One of the weapon's special features is the ability to encase a target in a bubble force field. ([[TNG]]: "[[The Arsenal of Freedom]]") Earlier that year, the entity known as [[Q]] used an immensely powerful force field to block the Enterprise's passage. ([[TNG]]: "[[Hide and Q]]")
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In [[2346]], the [[Khitomer]] [[colony]] had a force field to help protect itself from attacks. The [[Khitomer Massacre]] could have been averted if the [[Klingon]] traitor [[Ja'rod]] had not given the [[Romulan]]s the codes to the force field surrounding the colony. ({{TNG|Sins of the Father}})
   
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In the same year, the Enterprise-D re-discovered the planet [[Aldea]]. The [[Aldean]]s hid their planet behind a very powerful planet-wide [[cloaking device|cloak]] and a defensive shield. ([[TNG]]: "[[When the Bough Breaks]]")
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In [[2364]], the entity known as [[Q]] used an immensely powerful force field to block the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s passage. ({{TNG|Hide and Q}})
   
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In [[2367]], Captain Picard, [[Wesley Crusher|Ensign Crusher]], along with a civilian shuttle captain [[Dirgo]], discovered a fountain of water surrounded by a force field, on [[Lambda Paz]]. ([[TNG]]: "[[Final Mission]]")
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Also in 2364, The ''Enterprise''-D rediscovered the planet [[Aldea]]. The [[Aldean]]s hid their planet behind a very powerful planet-wide [[cloaking device|cloak]] and a defensive shield. ({{TNG|When The Bough Breaks}})
   
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[[Tolian Soran|Dr Soran]] used a high-power force field (rated in gigawatts) to protect himself and his star-destroying weapon from [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Picard]] in [[2371]]. ([[Star Trek: Generations]])
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In the same year the crew of the ''Enterprise''-D encountered the [[Echo Papa 607]] weapon, on [[Minos]]. One of the weapon's special features is the ability to encase a target in a bubble force field. ({{TNG|The Arsenal of Freedom}})
   
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By [[2373]], the [[Breen]] had developed a hand-held weapon (the [[CRM 114]]), which can penetrate force fields of upto 4.6 gigajoules. ([[DS9]]: "[[Business as Usual]]")
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[[File:Quark Sisko and Eris.jpg|thumb|Quark, Sisko and [[Eris]] inside a Dominion force field]]
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In [[2367]], Captain Picard, [[Ensign]] [[Wesley Crusher]], and a civilian shuttle captain, [[Dirgo]], discovered a fountain of water surrounded by a force field on [[Lambda Paz]]. ({{TNG|Final Mission}})
   
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===References===
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The [[storage locker]]s in the [[assay office]] aboard Deep Space 9 were secured by individual force fields. ({{DS9|Q-Less}})
   
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*[[ENT]]: "[[Vox Sola]]"
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Dr. [[Tolian Soran]] used a high-power force field (rated in [[watt|gigawatts]]) to protect himself and his star-destroying weapon from Captain Picard in [[2371]]. ({{film|7}})
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*[[TOS]]: "[[Dagger of the Mind]]"
  
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*[[TOS]]: "[[Who Mourns for Adonais?]]"
  
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*[[TAS]]: "[[Beyond the Farthest Star]]"
  
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*[[TAS]]: "[[The Slaver Weapon]]"
 
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*[[TNG]]: "[[Heart of Glory]]"
  
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*[[TNG]]: "[[We'll Always Have Paris]]"
  
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*[[TNG]]: "[[Brothers]]"
  
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*[[TNG]]: "[[Emergence]]"
  
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*[[TNG]]: "[[Timescape]]"
  
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*[[DS9]]: "[[Second Skin]]"
  
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*[[DS9]]: "[[The Die is Cast]]"
  
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*[[DS9]]: "[[What You Leave Behind]]"
  
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*[[VOY]]: "[[Year of Hell, Part I]]"
  
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*[[VOY]]: "[[Pathfinder]]"
  
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*[[VOY]]: "[[Faces]]"
  
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*[[VOY]]: "[[Initiations]]"
  
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*[[VOY]]: "[[Equinox, Part II]]"
  
−
*[[VOY]]: "[[Drone (episode)]]"
  
−
*[[Star Trek: Generations]]
  
   
−
{{featured}}
 +
[[File:ParisCannotStop7of9.jpg|thumb|[[Seven of Nine]] protected by her personal shield]]
  +
[[File:Shield_Modulation.jpg|thumb|A [[Borg]] force field could be bypassed by [[shield frequency|remodulating]] a personal bio-dampener]]
  +
The [[Borg]] utilized personal defensive force fields. The force field was sufficient to allow survival in space without a [[spacesuit]]. When in combat, Borg drones could be killed by [[phaser]]s but only for the first several shots. The phaser became ineffective if used at the same setting after multiple shots. The phaser's effectiveness could be extended though by adding a frequency modulation chip, but drones would eventually adapt to this as well. Borg drone shields appeared to be less resilient to [[projectile weapon]]s; when the Borg attempted to assimilate the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}} in [[2063]], [[Jean-Luc Picard]] lured two drones into the [[holodeck]] and used a holographic [[Thompson submachine gun]] to kill the two drones. ({{TNG|Q Who|The Best of Both Worlds|The Best of Both Worlds, Part II}}; {{film|8}}; {{VOY|Drone}})
  +
  +
The Cardassians utilized force fields in their [[labor camp]]s to maintain the populace. The [[Hutet labor camp]] utilized such force fields. ({{DS9|The Homecoming}})
  +
  +
Contact with Dominion force fields is always lethal and they are even harder to see than those of the Federation, which are visible to the careful eye. Captain Sisko and [[Quark]] were held in a Dominion force field when they were kidnapped while on a [[camping]] trip with [[Jake Sisko|Jake]] and [[Nog]]. A similar force field was used to hold [[Chief]] [[Miles O'Brien|O'Brien]] and Doctor [[Julian Bashir|Bashir]] hostage when they were taken prisoner by a rogue group of Jem'Hadar. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar|Hippocratic Oath}})
  +
  +
In [[2371]], the crew of the {{USS|Voyager}} encountered the [[Vidiian]]s, who made extensive use of force fields to conceal their underground bases from intruders. These force fields could be configured to produce the illusion of solid rock, which could fool [[tricorder]]s and the naked eye. ({{VOY|Phage|Faces}})
  +
  +
When the Cardassian [[Silaran Prin]] held [[Kira Nerys]] prisoner for a brief time, he enclosed her in a personal force field of sorts that prevented her from moving. ({{DS9|The Darkness and the Light}})
  +
  +
By [[2373]], the [[Breen]] had developed a hand-held weapon, the [[CRM 114]], which could penetrate force fields of up to 4.6 [[joule|gigajoules]]. ({{DS9|Business as Usual}})
  +
  +
=== Other references ===
  +
<div class="appear">
  +
*{{ENT}}
  +
**{{e|Vox Sola}}
  +
**{{e|The Shipment}}
  +
*{{TOS}}
  +
**{{e|Dagger of the Mind}}
  +
**{{e|Who Mourns for Adonais?}}
  +
*{{TAS}}
  +
**{{e|Beyond the Farthest Star}}
  +
**{{e|The Slaver Weapon}}
  +
*{{TNG}}
  +
**{{e|Heart of Glory}}
  +
**{{e|We'll Always Have Paris}}
  +
**{{e|Brothers}}
  +
**{{e|Timescape}}
  +
**{{e|Emergence}}
  +
*{{DS9}}
  +
**{{e|Second Skin}}
  +
**{{e|The Die is Cast}}
  +
**{{e|What You Leave Behind}}
  +
*{{VOY}}
  +
**{{e|Initiations}}
  +
**{{e|Year of Hell}}
  +
**{{e|Drone}}
  +
**{{e|Equinox, Part II}}
  +
**{{e|Pathfinder}}
  +
</div>
  +
  +
== See also ==
  +
* [[Annular confinement beam]]
  +
* [[Arresting field]]
  +
* [[Brig]]
  +
* [[Confinement field]]
  +
* [[Deflector shield]]
  +
* [[Holding cell]]
  +
* [[Hologram]]
  +
* [[Holocommunicator]]
  +
* [[Ionic field]]
  +
* [[Regenerative force field]]
  +
* [[Subspace force field]]
  +
  +
==External link==
  +
* {{wikipedia}}
  +
  +
{{featured|date=June 2005|id=105530}}
  +
  +
[[fr:Champ de force]]
  +
[[de:Kraftfeld]]
  +
[[ja:フォース・フィールド]]
  +
[[Category:Shield technology]]

Latest revision as of 08:39, April 20, 2013

Security force field, 2364
A security force field

A force field is an energy barrier with many applications and varying degrees of strength. Although force fields had been in use for many years, Starfleet did not begin research on such a device until 2147, then referred to by Malcolm Reed as a "stable EM barrier." He made use of such a barrier to save several crewmembers, including Jonathan Archer. (ENT: "Vox Sola") By the 24th century, Federation Starfleet force fields were commonplace and were rated by intensity, ranging in strength from level 1-10. A level 10 force field is the strongest and would be used, for example, during a scientific experiment of which the outcome was unknown, or known to be explosive in nature. Applications range from creating holograms to sealing a hull breach to personal force fields designed to keep potential assailants at bay. (TNG: "Realm of Fear", "The Most Toys"; Star Trek Generations; Star Trek: Insurrection; DS9: "Playing God", "Starship Down"; VOY: "State of Flux", "Course: Oblivion")

During preproduction of Star Trek: The Next Generation, a type of device called a "landing envelope" would have placed "a protective power field envelope around a person or landing party, allowing away teams to visit planets with much more hostile environments than was possible in the past." The reference book Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 (p. 004) hypothesizes that the exclusion of this concept from the series may have been due to the strain it would have put on both the effects budget and, by lowering the amount of peril typically encountered on away missions, the writing staff. (Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 004)
Sisko forcefield
Joran Dax in control of Benjamin Sisko bangs his head against a force field

The effects of a force field on its surroundings vary greatly. Contact with a force field may cause anything from a slight tingle to death. Most force fields are non-lethal, although some civilizations such as the Dominion prefer the lethal variety. If a force field is active, an object or transporter beam generally cannot pass through it, although this is not always the case. The Borg are known to not be hindered by most force fields; they can adapt and simply walk through the field. However, a Borg drone can be cut off from the Borg Collective if it is surrounded by a Starfleet level 10 force field. (DS9: "The Jem'Hadar"; TNG: "I Borg")

Force fields could be activated from various locations. On Starfleet starships there were emitter points at almost every junction along every corridor. The computer could be programmed to run a series of force field activations and deactivations within the ship, effectively creating a protected corridor which could follow a person. Commander Data used this technique with great control when he commandeered the USS Enterprise-D on stardate 44085.7. He also demonstrated another technique involving instructing the computer to implement a scan-series of force field activations, activated by his movements along a short distance of corridor, thus forcing the security team to back away from him. (TNG: "Brothers")

Soran's forcefield, Veridian III
Tolian Soran's large force field active on Veridian III

If part of a humanoid body is caught in a force field while it is activated, the person may suffer second-degree burns on the affected area. (DS9: "Civil Defense")

Tolian Soran's force field on Veridian III generated an output of fifty gigawatts. (Star Trek Generations)

When various security measures left over from the Cardassian occupation came on-line on Deep Space 9, Elim Garak was recognized as a person of sufficient importance by the computer to have the force fields dividing the station drop when he approached. (DS9: "Civil Defense")

If necessary, a transporter platform can be completely enclosed within a force field, to, for example, contain an alien subject or prisoner during transport. (TNG: "The Hunted", "Realm of Fear"; VOY: "Death Wish", "Demon")

Force fields are also capable of selective positioning, allowing the majority of it to cover a secure location, while a smaller portion is deactivated to allow transport of food, drinks, and other items; particularly used when it would be considered dangerous to deactivate the entire force field. (VOY: "Repentance")

Contents

Cadderon force field Edit

Cadderon force field
A cadderon force field

In 2369 Major Kira Nerys created cadderon force fields to arrest the Klaestrons who kidnapped Jadzia Dax and secured the airlock to their starship. Ilon Tandro was able to override the system and deactivate the cadderon force field. (DS9: "Dax")

Containment field Edit

Sovereign Engineering
The warp core force field

A containment field is essentially a force field used to prevent the escape of matter or antimatter.

Containment fields were usually raised when cargo bay or shuttlebay doors were opened to keep them pressurized, although the containment field was partially disengaged when a shuttlecraft passed through it. Unfortunately, eighteen engineers from the crew of the USS Yamato were killed when the containment fields in a shuttlebay failed after the ship was infected with an Iconian software transmission. (TNG: "Contagion") A containment field could be manually activated and deactivated should the need arise. (TNG: "Disaster") Containment fields would be used by Starfleet personnel to isolate an area for investigation, such as using a field to isolate a transporter room pad to beam aboard a sample of an object. (VOY: "Death Wish")

Containment fields could also be used to reinforce antimatter containment, although they could not prevent an impending warp core breach. Lieutenant Commander Data raised a level 3 containment field around the warp core of the Enterprise-D in 2369 when the ship was facing destruction by a core breach. (TNG: "Timescape") By 2379, it was a standard procedure on the USS Enterprise for the warp core to be reinforced by a high-level force field before engaging in battle. (Star Trek Nemesis)

In an alternate timeline Miles O'Brien tried to create a sort of a containment field in sickbay to retain Benjamin Sisko on the station. He was unable to and Sisko went into the temporal displacement again. (DS9: "The Visitor")

Structural integrity and emergency force fields Edit

Voyager shields
An example of defensive force field shielding
Containment field
An emergency force field

The structural integrity of a starbase, starship, or shuttlecraft could be enhanced by force fields. This way the hull could absorb more mechanical stress.

In the event of an outer hull breach, emergency force fields were automatically deployed to protect the damaged part from the influences of space; at the same time they prevented decompression of the entire deck by keeping the atmosphere in. During critical situations, such as ship-to-ship battles, if the main defensive force field was ruptured and a section of the ship was destroyed, it took longer for the computer to re-establish the structural integrity field than usual because of the large energy demands already placed on the vessel. In this short space of time, sections of a vessel could indeed be exposed to the vacuum of space. Captain Kirk was lost to the vacuum of space in this way, in 2293, when the USS Enterprise-B was struck by the nexus energy ribbon. (Star Trek Generations)

A lieutenant aboard the Enterprise-E was blown out into space in 2379 before an emergency force field could be activated when the bridge front wall and viewscreen were destroyed by the Reman warbird Scimitar. (Star Trek Nemesis) A similar incident happened during the "Year of Hell" when an alien ship was disabled by the Krenim timeship's conventional weapons, and collided with the almost-already-crippled USS Voyager's bridge front/viewscreen and portions of her decks. Fortunately, Captain Janeway was not blown out into space, due to the quick activation of the emergency atmospheric force fields. (VOY: "Year of Hell, Part II")

Jadzia Dax walks across force field
Jadzia Daz walks across an emergency force field

A plasma leak caused by an explosion on the USS Defiant was covered by a level 8 force field, which Jadzia Dax then walked across in order to tend to Dr. Lenara Kahn. (DS9: "Rejoined")

On stardate 49263.5, the USS Defiant, under the command of Captain Benjamin Sisko, descended into the atmosphere of a Class-J gas giant with 10,000 kilometer per hour wind speeds. The emergency force field that was erected to save the ship from decompression due to a hull breach was not able to withstand the pressure for more than a few minutes. (DS9: "Starship Down")

Defensive shielding Edit

Starbases, starships, shuttlecraft, and even advanced weaponry (VOY: "Dreadnought", "Warhead") were often equipped with external force field emitters, which, when activated, produced a "bubble" around the generating object, known as defensive shields. These shields were variable, and could even be extended to encompass a nearby vessel or object. (TNG: "The Defector") Defensive force fields could be penetrated in two ways. The most conventional method involved firing energy weapons at the shielded object, which weakened the field. The other method was achieved by matching the frequency of the shield to the weapon used. (Star Trek Generations; VOY: "Equinox, Part II") Chroniton torpedoes could not be stopped by normal shielding but require modifications to enable temporal shielding. (VOY: "Year of Hell")

Examples of other Federation force field applications Edit

EMHMarkI
The EMH Mark I
Spacehatch force field
A force field closing a hatch

On holodecks, force fields were used to give objects substance so people could manipulate them like in real life. These force fields had no substance outside the holodeck. They could be configured to either allow passage of "real" matter, or appear solid.

In sickbay, a force field could be used to separate a patient from the rest of the crew when a contagious disease was diagnosed or when a patient needed a specific environment to stay alive. (TNG: "Brothers"; VOY: "Demon", "Threshold")

The Emergency Medical Hologram and other variants (Emergency Command Hologram and the slave Mark I) used force fields to mimic solidity and to allow the manipulation of tools, manual computer access, and for social interaction.

Force fields were used to contain prisoners inside the holding cells of various races, including Humans, Klingons, and Cardassians. Cardassian technology was able to create a tubular force field from the ceiling to the floor in order to encompass an intruder; however, during First Contact with the Dominion, Jem'Hadar such as Talak'talan could walk right through them. The Federation had adapted similar technology by 2366, and it was in use on the bridge of the Enterprise-D as well. (DS9: "The Jem'Hadar"; TNG: "Allegiance")

Most Federation penal colonies had force fields to prevent escape. Examples included Elba II asylum and the Tantalus colony. (TOS: "Whom Gods Destroy", "Dagger of the Mind")

During emergencies in a Starfleet holodeck, a holographic force field can be created during a simulation. (VOY: "Twisted")

In 2369, Major Kira Nerys used a force field to prevent Chief Miles O'Brien and Commander Benjamin Sisko from beaming onto the Valerian transport. (DS9: "Dramatis Personae")

The same year, the Bajoran engineer Neela created the program ANA, which granted her access through the security fields on Deep Space 9 after she attempted to assassinate Vedek Bareil Antos. O'Brien found this computer program in a security field subsystem during maintenance work. (DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets")

In 2372, Admiral Leyton told Federation President Jaresh-Inyo that Starfleet Security had been stockpiling personal force fields on Earth in case of a planet-wide emergency. (DS9: "Homefront")

By 2373, a holo-projection system had been installed on the bridge of the USS Defiant, linked up to the communications system. In this way, a person could 'appear' and speak to others. However, this form of holoprojection had no cohesion, and so people could not interact directly with the hologram. (DS9: "For the Uniform") Holoprojectors of this type were also seen in the captain's office adjacent to Ops aboard space station Deep Space 9. (DS9: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume")

Jean-Luc Picard demonstrated to Lily Sloane a force field closing a hatch to space aboard the USS Enterprise-E when Lily spotted no glass. (Star Trek: First Contact)

During the late 2260s and early 2270s, a device known as a life support belt was used on board Starfleet vessels. This was a type of personal force field that supplied the wearer with the appropriate atmosphere and protected them from the vacuum of space. (TAS: "Beyond the Farthest Star", "The Slaver Weapon") This type of technology has only been seen in one other application. In 2369, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander Data, Deanna Troi, and Geordi La Forge used subspace isolation fields, projected from modified emergency transporter armbands, that enveloped each of them in their own pocket of subspace. This isolated them from the effects of the temporal fragment that affected the Enterprise-D. This is an example of a "skin-tight" force field, rather than the conventional bubble geometry. (TNG: "Timescape")

Examples of non-Starfleet force field applications Edit

In 2154, the Enterprise NX-01 encountered an Illyrian ship in the vicinity of the Azati Prime system in the Delphic Expanse. This small ship had a force field surrounding its warp coil, which prevented Commander Trip Tucker from removing it easily. (ENT: "Damage")

In 2267, Apollo, from Pollux IV used advanced force field technologies to create a gigantic hand to hold the Enterprise in space. This force field could be penetrated by M-rays at carefully calculated frequencies. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?")

In 2346, the Khitomer colony had a force field to help protect itself from attacks. The Khitomer Massacre could have been averted if the Klingon traitor Ja'rod had not given the Romulans the codes to the force field surrounding the colony. (TNG: "Sins of the Father")

In 2364, the entity known as Q used an immensely powerful force field to block the Enterprise's passage. (TNG: "Hide and Q")

Also in 2364, The Enterprise-D rediscovered the planet Aldea. The Aldeans hid their planet behind a very powerful planet-wide cloak and a defensive shield. (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks")

In the same year the crew of the Enterprise-D encountered the Echo Papa 607 weapon, on Minos. One of the weapon's special features is the ability to encase a target in a bubble force field. (TNG: "The Arsenal of Freedom")

Quark Sisko and Eris
Quark, Sisko and Eris inside a Dominion force field

In 2367, Captain Picard, Ensign Wesley Crusher, and a civilian shuttle captain, Dirgo, discovered a fountain of water surrounded by a force field on Lambda Paz. (TNG: "Final Mission")

The storage lockers in the assay office aboard Deep Space 9 were secured by individual force fields. (DS9: "Q-Less")

Dr. Tolian Soran used a high-power force field (rated in gigawatts) to protect himself and his star-destroying weapon from Captain Picard in 2371. (Star Trek Generations)

ParisCannotStop7of9
Seven of Nine protected by her personal shield
Shield Modulation
A Borg force field could be bypassed by remodulating a personal bio-dampener

The Borg utilized personal defensive force fields. The force field was sufficient to allow survival in space without a spacesuit. When in combat, Borg drones could be killed by phasers but only for the first several shots. The phaser became ineffective if used at the same setting after multiple shots. The phaser's effectiveness could be extended though by adding a frequency modulation chip, but drones would eventually adapt to this as well. Borg drone shields appeared to be less resilient to projectile weapons; when the Borg attempted to assimilate the USS Enterprise-E in 2063, Jean-Luc Picard lured two drones into the holodeck and used a holographic Thompson submachine gun to kill the two drones. (TNG: "Q Who", "The Best of Both Worlds", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"; Star Trek: First Contact; VOY: "Drone")

The Cardassians utilized force fields in their labor camps to maintain the populace. The Hutet labor camp utilized such force fields. (DS9: "The Homecoming")

Contact with Dominion force fields is always lethal and they are even harder to see than those of the Federation, which are visible to the careful eye. Captain Sisko and Quark were held in a Dominion force field when they were kidnapped while on a camping trip with Jake and Nog. A similar force field was used to hold Chief O'Brien and Doctor Bashir hostage when they were taken prisoner by a rogue group of Jem'Hadar. (DS9: "The Jem'Hadar", "Hippocratic Oath")

In 2371, the crew of the USS Voyager encountered the Vidiians, who made extensive use of force fields to conceal their underground bases from intruders. These force fields could be configured to produce the illusion of solid rock, which could fool tricorders and the naked eye. (VOY: "Phage", "Faces")

When the Cardassian Silaran Prin held Kira Nerys prisoner for a brief time, he enclosed her in a personal force field of sorts that prevented her from moving. (DS9: "The Darkness and the Light")

By 2373, the Breen had developed a hand-held weapon, the CRM 114, which could penetrate force fields of up to 4.6 gigajoules. (DS9: "Business as Usual")

Other references Edit

See also Edit

External linkEdit

This is a featured article. At the time it was featured (June 2005) it was considered one of the best examples of the Memory Alpha community's work. Even so, if you see a way this page can be improved even further, we invite you to contribute. Please also check the links below to see how the article has changed since it was featured more than two years ago.
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Retrieved from "http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Force_field?oldid=1496802"

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