Quantum slipstream drive The quantum slipstream drive was an advanced form of propulsion technology , first encountered by the in the Delta Quadrant , which had the capability of exceeding a starship ' s maximum warp factor by an unprecedented degree . Similar in principle to the transwarp technology utilized by the Borg , it was originally developed by a Delta Quadrant race designated by the Borg as " Species 116 . " ( ) Technical data . The quantum slipstream drive operated by routing energy through the vessel ' s main deflector , which then focused a quantum field , allowing the vessel to penetrate the quantum barrier . In order to maintain the slipstream , the phase variance of the quantum field had to be constantly adjusted , or the slipstream would collapse , violently throwing the ship back into normal space . ( ) History . The " Voyager " crew first encountered slipstream technology in 2374 , when they discovered the , a vessel ostensibly sent by Starfleet to transport them back to the Alpha Quadrant . It was subsequently discovered , however , that the vessel was an elaborate ruse by an alien named Arturis , who was seeking revenge on Captain Janeway for what he saw as her complicity in the assimilation of his species by the Borg . Planning to use the " Dauntless " to transport the " Voyager " crew back to his Borg - conquered homeworld for assimilation , Arturis settled for Janeway and Seven of Nine when his plot was discovered . Arturis was pursued in the slipstream by " Voyager " , which had been outfitted with the same technology . Lieutenant Commander Tuvok managed to breach the " Dauntless " shields with a photon torpedo , allowing them to rescue Janeway and Seven . Commander Chakotay subsequently ordered their slipstream altered in order to avoid Borg space , leaving Arturis to be assimilated . " Voyager " remained in the slipstream for an hour before it collapsed , traversing three hundred light year s , although their diagnostics concluded that they could not risk using the technology again . ( ) The next year , the " Voyager " crew constructed their own quantum slipstream drive using benamite crystals , overcoming some difficulties in their first attempt . Despite promising potential results , Tom Paris discovered a phase variance in the slipstream threshold , threatening to overload the drive ' s quantum matrix and destroy the ship . Harry Kim realized that the smaller size of a piloted shuttle leading " Voyager " could allow early phase variance detection of the complex , dynamic slipstream threshold for the larger ship . These advanced data and corrections would help " Voyager " safely navigate the quantum slipstream . During the test flight , with Chakotay piloting the " Delta Flyer " , Kim sent wrong correction values to " Voyager " , causing the slipstream to unexpectedly collapse ten light years from the Alpha Quadrant . " Voyager " crashed on an class L planet in the Takara sector , killing all hands – however , ahead of " Voyager " in the stable " Delta Flyer " slipstream , Kim and Chakotay survived the disastrous test and returned to Earth , filled with guilt . Fifteen years later , the pair acquired a stolen Borg temporal transmitter and recovered The Doctor ' s program from " Voyager " s debris , and attempted to change history by allowing " Voyager " to stay in the slipstream . With The Doctor ' s expertise of Seven of Nine ' s physiology , Kim and Chakotay used the Borg technology to transmit a time index and new phase corrections back in time to Seven of Nine ' s interplexing beacon . The initial corrections did not work – with no chance to correct their mistake , The Doctor convinced Kim to give up on the Alpha Quadrant and at least avert the disaster by transmitting information which would end the flight rather than prolong it . As Seven implemented these new corrections , the slipstream dispersed and returned " Voyager " safely to normal space – eliminating approximately ten years from their journey to the Alpha Quadrant . ( ) The Think Tank requested quantum slipstream technology as part of the payment for solving the " Hazari paradox . " Captain Janeway warned Kurros that they never managed to get the technology to work reliably . Kurros commented that it was still intriguing , " theoretically . " ( ) Appendices . Background information . The quantum slipstream core prop is made up of a novelty and " bubble tubes " , available from most joke / gadget shops . ( " " , p . 248 ) The drive was discussed in detail in the " Briefing : Propulsion Systems " article in . The slipstream drive became a more prominently featured method of FTL propulsion in Gene Roddenberry ' s " Andromeda " sci - fi series that premiered in . Based on the three hundred light year trip in " Hope and Fear " , the average speed of a quantum slipstream drive calculates out to 2 . 63 times the speed of light . At that speed , " Voyager " could traverse its original stranding of 75 , 000 light - years in as little as 10 . 4 days , assuming it didn ' t require significant shutdown time for maintenance or refueling . Apocrypha . The " " trilogy introduced the " Vesta " - class starships , a test - bed for a Federation quantum slipstream drive , along with numerous other technologies . In " A Singular Destiny " , Starfleet began to install quantum slipstream drives on its vessels in 2381 . Due to the nature of the technology , not all ships were compatible with the upgrade . An upgraded version of the technology proved to be successful , and in the novel " Full Circle " , Starfleet mounted an expedition to the Delta Quadrant by outfitting " Voyager " and several other starships with a fully - functional version of the drive . In the " " novel " Zero Sum Game " , set in 2382 , the Breen sent an operative to Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards to capture data pertaining to the Federation quantum slipstream drive , regarding it as a potential Federation weapon that would allow them to deliver a decisive first strike in any war between the Breen and their new allies in the , including the Romulan s , the Gorn , the Tzenkethi , the , and the Tholian s . The Breen were then contracted to build the first Typhon Pact prototype slipstream vessel . The lead researcher of the project , Thot Keer , intentionally withheld information from the other members relating to the drives development , in order to promote the Breen to a level of Pact authority equal to the Romulans . Shortly before the initial trials , the prototype , its designer , and all information relating to the project were destroyed . In " Plagues of Night " , set in 2383 , various members of the Pact , led by Sela , attempted to travel to the Gamma Quadrant to obtain Jem ' Hadar technology to perfect the drive . They believed that Jem ' Hadar ships possessed the right structure to cope with the stresses of slipstream . The attempt resulted in the destruction of Deep Space 9 , when bombs planted to cause a diversion while they used the Bajoran wormhole caused more damage than was intended . Further attempts to develop the drive came to an end in " Raise the Dawn " , when the Romulan Praetor officially denounced the Pact ' s attempt to build a drive , noting that attempts to do so have caused more problems with the Federation than the original existence of the drive , ending their attempts for the time being . In " Star Trek Online " , players are also able to use slipstream drives for brief periods after reaching Vice Admiral rank in order to travel faster between star systems . Two ships use advanced slipstream drives : The " Odyssey " - class allows for extended usage while the Multi - Mission Explorer series of ships , when two special devices are used , grants this the fastest warp drive level , reaching a theoretical Warp 25 without modifications and a maximum of Warp 67 . 56 utilizing bonuses and special items . The 2014 Risian Summer Event added in the Risian Luxury Cruiser , which gave it the Solar Sail Quantum Slipstream Drive , which made it faster than a ship ' s natural Quantum Slipstream , but was slower than the special slipstreams used by the " Odyssey " and Multi - Mission Explorer series .