The Need for Speed: Unraveling Starfleet's Fastest Ship

In the Star Trek universe, starship power is determined by various factors such as size, manpower, and stealth technology. However, one of the most crucial factors to consider is speed. The ability of a ship to move quickly allows it to explore new worlds and encounter new forms of life in the vast galaxy.

Among all the Starfleet crafts, there is only one ship that stands out as the fastest: the USS Prometheus. This remarkable vessel made its first appearance in the series Star Trek: Voyager, specifically in the episode titled "Message in a Bottle" from season 4. Despite its limited screen time, the USS Prometheus is still highly regarded as one of the most groundbreaking and innovative starships in the entire galaxy. For fans of the franchise, here are some important details to know about this extraordinary ship.

What Is the Fastest Ship in Starfleet?

The USS Prometheus (NX-59650), the second ship to bear this name, is a Prometheus-class starship. It was constructed at Beta Antares Shipyards and was launched on stardate 50749.5, sometime in late 2373. With dimensions of 415 meters in length, 170 meters in width, and 113 meters in height, it boasts a total of 15 decks and can accommodate approximately 141 crew members.

While warp factors of 10 and above are generally considered unsafe, many Starfleet ships, including the Enterprise-D, attempt to operate at higher velocities without success. In contrast, the Prometheus is capable of sustaining a velocity of Warp 9 and has a maximum speed of warp 9.9, making it the fastest vessel ever operated by Starfleet.

It is an experimental prototype designed for deep space tactical missions. The Prometheus was primarily developed in response to the threat of the Dominion, making it heavily equipped and one of the most advanced ships during the late 24th and early 25th centuries. Even in an alternate timeline, at the Battle of Procyon V in the 26th century, the Prometheus remains active.

Prometheus' Features

The long-range starship was highly classified upon its introduction, with only four individuals in Starfleet being trained to operate it. Access to most onboard systems is limited, including the ship's communication system, which requires a minimum of level four clearance. This heightened security is a result of the ship being equipped with advanced and state-of-the-art systems such as regenerative and metaphasic shields, as well as ablative hull armor that vaporizes when under fire to protect the ship's interior. Additionally, holo-emitters have been strategically placed throughout the Prometheus, allowing the holographic doctor, the EMH Mark II, to move beyond the confines of the sickbay that also incorporates cutting-edge medical technology.

Despite its impressive array of features, the ship's standout capability lies in its multi-vector assault mode. Through sophisticated compartmentalization and automation systems, the Prometheus can divide into three autonomous spacecrafts, each armed with phaser arrays, torpedo launchers, and various other devices and weapons. This enables the ship to launch coordinated and full-scale attacks during combat situations. The main ship's tactical computer has the ability to remotely control all components, and depending on their distance from each other, they can swiftly reintegrate together.

The Prometheus is a Starfleet vessel that is dispatched in 2378 to counter a potential Borg assault, as depicted in Voyager season 7, episode 25, "Endgame." In this episode, the long-lost USS Voyager is ensnared within a Borg sphere but manages to obliterate it internally. Subsequently, the Prometheus undertakes the responsibility of accompanying Voyager back to Earth.

Hijacked by Romulans & Used To Save Voyager

Sometime after stardate 51462 (in 2374), the Romulans, a humanoid race from the planet Romulus, successfully breached the security systems of the Prometheus during a test flight and hijacked the vessel. In the aftermath of the attack, the USS Bonchune, which had been dispatched to pursue the Prometheus, was disabled by the enemy ship. Although the Romulan agents were the first to activate the multi-vector assault mode, the Prometheus aptly demonstrated its capabilities during the ensuing conflict.

The Voyager, stranded in the Delta Quadrant over 60,000 light years away, coincidentally sent a subspace transmission to the captured Prometheus. This transmission contained the EMH Mark I (or The Doctor) who sought information from the wounded chief petty officer of the operations division regarding the events that had unfolded. Unfortunately, the officer passed away without revealing any details about the Romulans, just like the rest of the crew of the Prometheus. The identities of those on board were not disclosed as the ship's mission information was classified prior to the attack.

To avoid any confrontation with the attackers, The Doctor assumed the role of the Prometheus' EMH and presented himself as a neutral party. He then activated the EMH Mark II and together, they strategically released neurozine gas into the ventilation system, incapacitating all 27 Romulans on board. They also managed to overpower the Romulan warbird of the D'deridex-class by utilizing the ship's multi-vector assault mode, all the while evading the Starfleet ships pursuing them (two Defiant-class and one Akira-class starships), who were unaware that the Prometheus was no longer under Romulan control.

The Federation reclaimed the ship and the Doctor informed Starfleet Headquarters about the Voyager, previously thought to be lost forever. This led to Starfleet prioritizing the search for the Voyager, while the Doctor returned to his ship to inform the rest of the crew about their upcoming rescue.