Ion storm An ion storm ( also called an ionic storm or ionic front ) was a type of magnetic storm which contained ion ically charged particle s , traveling at thousands of kilometer s an hour . Both planet ary and space borne ion disturbances could intensify to the point where navigation was dangerous , and transporter use all but impossible . At higher levels ion storms could damage or destroy spacecraft . In 2129 , an ion storm overloaded the plasma conduit s on a Kantare supply ship , causing it to crash land on an unidentified planet . ( ) An ion storm was on a course between and a planet with a nitrogen sulfide atmosphere in 2151 , but Captain Archer elected to weather it rather than change course . ( ) In 2154 , Phlox likened placing " Enterprise " ' s crew into protective coma s to shutting down the ship ' s main computer to protect it from an ion storm . ( ) Ion storms were prevalent in the Denorios belt and had been since at least the 22nd century . In the Bajoran year 9174 , Akorem Laan ' s lightship was caught in an ion storm there and was severely damaged . ( ) The Kalandra star system had many ion storms . In 2375 , Captain Benjamin Sisko and General Martok expressed their concerns the storms would reveal the Federation Alliance starship s to the Dominion . ( ) The Panora system also has constant ion storms . ( ) In the 23rd century , starships were equipped with an ion pod , allowing the starship s to acquire data in conditions that defeated their conventional sensor platforms . Starships traversing ion storms were buffeted by the storms " weather " effects and subjected to tremendous hull pressures and stress . Starfleet used the measurement of a storm ' s relative effect on the ship as a supplementary data point to judge the intensity of an ion storm , and hazards it posed . Minor but noticeable " natural vibrations " were labeled Force - 2 on an incremental scale . Above Force - 7 , the starship was at increased risk and subject to the captain ' s call for red alert status . ( ) The quasar - like electromagnetic phenomenon Murasaki 312 ionized an entire sector , including four solar systems in 2267 . ( ) Later that year , an ion storm near the Halkan homeworld resulted in a power surge in the " Enterprise " ' s transporter , causing momentary interdimensional contact with a parallel universe . Captain Kirk , Doctor McCoy , Commander Scott , and Lieutenant Uhura , who were beaming up to the " Enterprise " at the time , materialized in the other universe , transposing with their counterparts from that universe , who experienced an identical accident at the same time . Later , after reviewing the events which led up to the accident , the " Enterprise " crewmembers were able to recreate the power surge using energy tapped from the ship ' s engine s , and return to their own universe . ( ) The surface of Mab - Bu VI was ravaged by ionic cyclones and electromagnetic storm s . ( ) In 2351 , an ion storm struck an area on Invernia II . Richard and Julian Bashir sought shelter from it . ( ) In late - 2371 , when the was preparing to enter the Bajoran Wormhole against orders from Admiral Toddman , the Admiral contacted them and repeated his orders to not enter the Gamma Quadrant . Captain Benjamin Sisko and Major Kira Nerys pretended that his transmission was being garbled by an ion storm , and proceeded anyway . ( ) In 2374 , Morn faked his death in an ion storm . His cargo ship was supposedly caught in one . ( ) Ionic storms above level 8 were a threat to " Intrepid " - class starships . The encountered level 7 and level 8 storms in the Delta Quadrant in 2375 . ( ) A Borg sphere was heavily damaged by an ion storm in 2375 . As a result , it was chosen by the " Voyager " crew to be the target of a raid to steal a transwarp coil . ( ) Not long after , Chakotay asked Janeway whether the turbulence of chaotic space was an ion storm . ( ) A Druoda series 5 long - range tactical armor unit was capable of flying through an ion storm and still reaching its eventual target . ( ) Late in 2375 , Janeway told Rudolph Ransom that ion storms were one of the problems " Voyager " had had to face over the past five years in the Delta Quadrant . ( ) In 2376 , Neelix claimed that he " " always enjoyed a good ion storm " " on Talax . ( ) In 2379 , Captain Picard used a nearby ion storm as an excuse to take the shuttle " Argo " to the surface of Kolarus III in search of positronic net signals . ( )