View source for U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656 (Columbia)

{{DISPLAYTITLE:U.S.S. ''Voyager'' NCC-74656 (Columbia)}}
{{MyriadUSSVoyager74656}}
{{ImageInfoBox2|name=U.S.S. ''Voyager''|file=voyager_74656-voy-101.jpg|caption=U.S.S. ''Voyager'' ({{VOY101}})}}
{{Registry|NCC-74656}}
{{Class|{{link|Columbia|Intrepid class||''Intrepid''}}}}
{{Commissioned|{{date|Columbia|2370}}}}
{{FirstData|VOY101|1995|1|16}}
{{Ad|AmazonVOYDVD}}
|}</div>
{{banner|Columbia}}
The {{link|Columbia|United Federation of Planets||Federation}} Starship ''Voyager,'' an {{link|Columbia|Intrepid class||''Intrepid'' class}} vessel, was launched in {{link|Columbia|2370}} under the command of {{link|Columbia|Starfleet Captain||Captain}} {{link|Columbia|Kathryn Janeway}}, and was stranded in the {{link|Columbia|Delta Quadrant}}&mdash;some 70,000 {{link|Columbia|light years}} from {{link|Columbia|Earth}}&mdash;by an entity known as the {{link|Columbia|Caretaker (Nacene)||Caretaker}} on {{SD|Columbia|2370|SD48316|48316.1}}. Captain Janeway invited the similarly stranded crew of a destroyed {{link|Columbia|Maquis}} {{link|Columbia|Val Jean||vessel}}&mdash;which ''Voyager'' was pursuing when it was pulled across the galaxy&mdash;to join the crew, and asked the Maquis commander, {{link|Columbia|Chakotay}}, to serve as her {{link|Columbia|first officer}}, succeeding the late {{link|Columbia|Starfleet Lieutenant Commander||Lieutenant Commander}} {{link|Columbia|Cavit}}, who died in the violent transgalactic transit, while other members of the Maquis crew filled the positions of other ''Voyager'' crew members who had perished,<ref name="VOY101"/> including {{link|Columbia|B'Elanna Torres}}, who took over as ''Voyager's'' chief engineer.<ref name="VOY103"/>

==Construction==
{{ImageBox2|float=left|file=intrepid_class-voy107.jpg|caption=U.S.S. ''Voyager'' ({{VOY107}})}}
''Voyager's'' {{link|Columbia|computer core}} installation took place on {{SD|Columbia|2370|SD47833|47833.9}}; it was fast-tracked to follow the {{link|Columbia|U.S.S. Intrepid NCC-74600||U.S.S. ''Intrepid'' NCC-74600}} and the {{link|Columbia|U.S.S. Bellerophon NCC-74705||U.S.S. ''Bellerophon'' NCC-74705}} by only three months. With assembly and internal systems checks completed, the official launching occurred at {{link|Columbia|Earth Station McKinley}} on {{SD|Columbia|2370|SD48039|48039.7}},<ref name="STMag309"/> though primary construction was completed at {{link|Columbia|Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards}}.<ref name="VOY218"/> A 15-day series of impulse tests, which verified the integrity of the vessel and systems operation at sublight velocities, culminated in ''Voyager'' accelerating to {{link|Columbia|warp drive||Warp}} 1.03 with the {{link|Columbia|U.S.S. Hauck||U.S.S. ''Hauck''}} flying formation for engineering support and emergency backup. Three weeks of warp flight tests added to the ''Intrepid'' class knowledge base and insured that ''Voyager's'' computer cores and {{link|Columbia|bio-neural gel packs}} could receive operational programming loads for deployment in the {{link|Columbia|Alpha Quadrant}}. ''Voyager'' received her first patrol assignment on {{SD|Columbia|2370|SD48184|48184.4}}. All in-flight systems data continued to be transmitted to {{link|Columbia|Starfleet Command}} for evaluation, along a range of velocities from inertial stop to Warp 9.986 for distances up to 45 {{link|Columbia|light years}}, with {{link|Columbia|subspace com relays}} handling the encrypted telemetry loop. Subsequent operational missions validated the effectiveness of the class design and upgrades from previous {{link|Columbia|Starfleet}} vessels. ''Voyager'' would provide only a few months of usable data before its disappearance in the {{link|Columbia|Delta Quadrant}}. However, the stored information and lessons learned by its crew proved invaluable upon her return, a testament to the designers and engineers who stood upon the shoulders of giants to build her.<ref name="STMag309"/>

==Adaptations==
Stranded in the Delta Quadrant, away from all the support facilities that Starfleet would have provided, ''Voyager's'' the crew was, by necessity, forced to make alterations to their vessel. These changes were designed to make the ship as self-sufficient as possible and to make it a suitable home for the journey back to the Alpha Quadrant, which was expected to last decades. Their problems were compounded because, unlike a {{link|Columbia|Galaxy class||''Galaxy'' class}} starship, ''Voyager'' was not designed for extended missions.<ref name="VOY105"/>

Shortly after its arrival in the Delta Quadrant, ''Voyager's'' engine efficiency began to decrease because of all the added demands being made upon the systems. {{link|Columbia|Starfleet Lieutenant||Lieutenant}} Torres was able to realign the lateral plasma conduit without causing an overload, and this helped, but the engineering staff's attempts to convert power from the {{link|Columbia|holodeck||holodecks'}} independent reactors were unsuccessful. To conserve power, all security personnel on Deck 9 were relocated to Deck 7 and the power to Deck 9 was rerouted to propulsion. Lieutenant {{link|Columbia|Tuvok}} admitted that this was inconvenient, but it was obvious that certain compromises had to be made. Other unused areas of the ship were also put on power conservation mode.<ref name="VOY103"/>

{{ImageBox2|file=voyager_74656_galley-voy-105.jpg|caption=U.S.S. ''Voyager'' galley ({{VOY105}})}}
Usage of all non-essential systems was minimized and, where possible, supplemented with power-efficient alternatives. Most significantly, Captain Janeway initiated a system of {{link|Columbia|replicator}} rations. This necessitated the construction of a hydroponics garden in Cargo Bay 2, on Deck 8. The garden was initially supervised by {{link|Columbia|Kes}}, who had previously grown plants in an artificially-sustained environment in the {{link|Columbia|Ocampa}} city. Cargo Bay 2 was the ideal location for a hydroponics garden, since it was designed for organic storage and had an adjustable environment, which could be controlled to generate a variety of growing conditions. Kes set the garden up, and succeeded in growing a number of vegetables which supplemented replicated food.<ref name="VOY103"/> Another cargo bay pulled double duty as a drill hall.<ref name="VOY116"/> Restricting the use of the replicators also required modifications to the mess hall on Deck 2, where a galley was constructed from the captain's private dining room; modifying the galley was a complex process and required completely rerouting the mess hall power supply.<ref name="VOY105"/>

{{ImageBox2|float=left|file=intrepid-2_class_sickbay-voy-105.jpg|caption=U.S.S. ''Voyager'' sickbay ({{VOY105}})}}
Because ''Voyager's'' entire medical staff was killed, the {{link|Columbia|The Doctor||Emergency Medical Hologram}} (EMH) was activated permanently, and eventually gained sentience. The Doctor's {{link|Columbia|holography||holographic}} nature, however, had several serious drawbacks. Most importantly, he was not designed to leave {{link|Columbia|sickbay}}.<ref name="VOY101"/> Attempts were made to install holographic projectors in essential locations around the ship, such as engineering and the main bridge, but these were unsuccessful; significantly, Lieutenant Torres and {{link|Columbia|Starfleet Ensign||Ensign}} {{link|Columbia|Harry Kim}} had trouble ensuring that the Doctor materialized at full size.<ref name="VOY106"/> However, on a trip to {{link|Columbia|1996||the 20th century}}, the Doctor acquired a 29th-century {{link|Columbia|portable holoemitter}}, which enabled his program to be activated away from the ship.<ref name="VOY151"/> The EMH was only designed for emergency use, and further modifications were made to the Doctor's program to enable it to function indefinitely. After the program had been active for more than two years, it was merged with the {{link|Columbia|EMH Diagnostic Program}} to extend its capactiy to absorb information and evolve a personality.<ref name="VOY106"/>

Without access to starbases or other Federation facilities, ''Voyager'' was forced to develop services that would normally have been provided elsewhere. The crew began work on several engine design and modification projects, and the holodecks were used for extensive flight simulations, vital to the development of the groundbreaking {{link|Columbia|transwarp drive||transwarp}} engines fitted to the {{link|Columbia|Shuttlecraft Cochrane NCC-74656/4||Shuttlecraft ''Cochrane''}}.<ref name="VOY132"/> They were also used in training exercises for some of the Maquis crew members who were not accustomed to Starfleet procedures.<ref name="VOY116"/> And, with little chance of extended shore leave, it became common practice for large numbers of crew members share pleasurable holodeck environments such as {{link|Columbia|Chez Sandrine}}<ref name="VOY119"/> and the {{link|Columbia|Paxau resort}}.<ref name="VOY152"/>

Unlike other Starfleet ships, such as the {{link|Columbia|U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D||U.S.S. ''Enterprise'' NCC-1701-D}}, which were equipped for long-range missions, ''Voyager'' was never intended to be a family ship. There were no facilities specifically designed for married couples, and the ship was not designed to house children. But with the prospect of such a long journey, the crew's quarters were restructured to provide for those crew members who had married and had children.<ref name="VOY180"/>

The {{link|Columbia|Borg}} also made significant upgrades to the ship when it passed through their space.<ref name="VOY169"/> Many of these upgrades were designed to help the ship fight {{link|Columbia|Species 8472}}, and most were later removed.<ref name="VOY170"/> However, Cargo Bay 2 contained Borg equipment for several years thereafter, and {{link|Columbia|Seven of Nine}} and Ensign Kim merged Borg and Starfleet technologies to enhance ''Voyager's'' astrometrics lab&mdash;a sophisticated navigational tool that was instrumental in plotting a shorter journey back to the Federation. The modified systems were ten times more accurate than the technology originally fitted to ''Voyager.'' The new astrometric sensors used the stars to navigate by measuring the radiative flux of up to three billion stars simultaneously, and the computer then calculated ''Voyager's'' position relative to the center of the galaxy. The upgraded system allowed the crew to plot a course for home that took five years off their original projected journey back to the Alpha Quadrant. The main screen could display everything from an overview of the entire galaxy to a specific region of a planet. These displays could be overlaid with charts, labels, and grids to show ''Voyager's'' most recent or projected course.<ref name="VOY176"/> It could also be used as a conventional viewscreen to establish face-to-face communications.<ref name="VOY181"/>

==Return Home==
In {{link|Columbia|2377}}, ''Voyager'' finally returned home, thanks to intervention from an {{link|Prime|V271 Timeline||alternate future}} version of Captain {{link|V271|Kathryn Janeway|Janeway}} and a Borg {{link|Columbia|transwarp hub}}.<ref name="VOY271"/> Following ''Voyager's'' return, Janeway was promoted to {{link|Columbia|Starfleet Vice Admiral||admiral}},<ref name="ST10"/> and the ship was decommissioned and converted into a museum.<ref name="LDS31"/>

{{ShipsVoyager}}
{{ClassIntrepid}}
{{References}}
<references>
<ref name="VOY101">{{RefVOY101}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY103">{{RefVOY103}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY105">{{RefVOY105}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY106">{{RefVOY106}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY116">{{RefVOY116}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY119">{{RefVOY119}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY132">{{RefVOY132}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY151">{{RefVOY151}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY152">{{RefVOY152}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY169">{{RefVOY169}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY170">{{RefVOY170}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY176">{{RefVOY176}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY180">{{RefVOY180}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY181">{{RefVOY181}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY218">{{RefVOY218}}</ref>
<ref name="VOY271">{{RefVOY271}}</ref>
<ref name="STMag309">{{RefSTMag309Voyager}}</ref>
<ref name="ST10">{{RefST10}}</ref>
<ref name="LDS31">{{RefLDS31}}</ref>
</references>
{{DEFAULTSORT|Voyager, U.S.S. NCC-74656 (Columbia)}}
[[Category:Library]]
[[Category:Ships & Vehicles]]
[[Category:Federation]]
[[Category:Starfleet Vessels]]
[[Category:Ships by Registry|74656, Voyager, U.S.S. (Columbia)]]
[[Category:VOY]]
[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:Columbia Timeline]]