Protomatter

A storage container of protomatter.

Protomatter was a biogenetic material which was controversial due to its unstable nature. The substance was so unstable that the Federation scientific establishment for the most part eschewed its use.

History

The Romulan Star Empire had the means to produce protomatter as far back as 2159 and traded it with the rogue Vulcan scientist T'Uerell in exchange for her help in developing a metagenic virus for use against Earth. (ST video game: Legacy)

Circa 2255, the Federation's Hanson Project began research into protomatter. It was seen as a way to interface biological and duotronic components in the Daystrom 500J organic computer. Starfleet Command scientists also saw potential uses in photon torpedo guidance systems. The Hanson Project first created protomatter circa 2270, on reference stardate 2/1203.23. Project scientists insisted it was stable, but independent tests at the Vulcan Science Academy found the compound had non-uniform growth rates.

The next year, on reference stardate 2/1312.2, hyperactive growth led protomatter aboard the USS Amsterdam to burst out of containment, killing eight crewmembers and injuring more than 30 others when it interacted with their bodily germs. Later, guidance system torpedo tests badly damaged a R1 Investigator-class space station laboratory and killed 43 people, including lead researcher Randolph Hanson. Surviving researchers admitted that unresolved defects remained in the protomatter matrix, and the Federation Science Council banned further research or use of the substance on reference stardate 2/1403.22. (Stardate Magazine vol. 3, Issue 4: "Protomatter: Overview and The Banning Question")

Protomatter was one of the substances used by Doctor David Marcus and the Project Genesis team in the creation of the Genesis Device. Shortly after the device was completed, Khan Noonien Singh stole the device and eventually detonated it inside the Mutara Nebula. Because protomatter was used, and because the device was used in a manner different than originally intended, the resulting planet was unstable and exploded a few weeks after it was created. (TOS movies: The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock)

In the wake of the Genesis incident, Shivak summarized the history of protomatter for the Vulcan Science Academy Review, concluding that it was one of the deadliest materials created in the previous half century. (Stardate Magazine vol. 3, Issue 4: "Protomatter: Overview and The Banning Question")

Between 2290 and 2293, Starfleet and Thevosian scientists led by Commodore Gracie Hirosaki and Dr. Azark tested a protomatter based shockwave weapon. The development took about 10 years. Its testbed USS Pacific was captured by rebels and later destroyed by the USS Enterprise. The project was cancelled afterwards. (TOS comic: "The Peacekeeper")

The terraformer Professor Gideon Seyetik used protomatter to reignite the star Epsilon 119, which by all appearances was successful - even though it cost Seyetik his life in the process. (DS9 episode: "Second Sight") The Starfleet Corps of Engineers later used protomatter in a similar device designed to ignite gas giants into stars. (SCE eBook: Wildfire, Book 1)

Protomatter could also be an extremely dangerous weapon. The Maquis once incorporated protomatter into an implosion device designed to overload the fusion drive of the Cardassian vessel Bok'Nor, which exploded right after leaving Deep Space 9. (DS9 episode: "The Maquis, Part I")

Then in 2373, a changeling who was impersonating Deep Space 9's Dr. Bashir built a weapon in the station's industrial replicator that was composed of protomatter, trilithium, and tekasite in an attempt to destroy the Bajoran sun. This would have had the effect of destroying not only the Bajoran system, but the allied fleets gathered there as well, crippling the major Alpha Quadrant powers. Fortunately, the changeling was discovered and the runabout carrying the weapon was destroyed before it could be used in Bajor's sun, Bajor-B'hava'el. (DS9 episode: "By Inferno's Light")

The USS Voyager attempted to use protomatter as a power source on one occasion. In 2374 the ship encountered a nebula that contained high concentrations of protomatter. Neelix had experience working with protomatter, and volunteered to collect some for study. However, he died when the protomatter underwent a reaction after being transported into a canister which Neelix had the misfortune of holding at the time. Luckily, Neelix was brought back to life using Borg technology, but the entire experience traumatized him to the point that he considered committing suicide. (VOY episode: "Mortal Coil")

The Null, a Subspace lifeform composed largely of protomatter, had been slipping through into normal space for several centuries as of 2381, via tears in space generated by the FTL drives employed by the Sentries. Due to its protomatter structure, the Null had trouble existing fully in real space. Part of it had to remain in subspace. The Null threatened to envelop the Sentries' system and subsequently, other systems. The Sentries had devoted their entire existence to stopping the Null. When the Starship Titan encountered the Sentries' system, they were able to help end the threat of the Null once and for all, by severing its connection to subspace. (TTN novel: Synthesis)

Traces of protomatter were found in the Hobus system, providing evidence that protomatter was used in the destruction of the Hobus star. (STO mission: "Ground Zero")

Applications

• Daystrom 500J
• Genesis Device
• protomatter bomb

Appendices

References

• DS9 comic: "Turn of the Tide"

External link

• Protomatter article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.