Classification of Wormholes

Information Compiled by: First Lieutenant Jen Lee

Base Information: Lieutenant Ikuru Vectra

Medical Information: Ensign Cailet Rille

Engineering Information: Lieutenant Antonia Kincaid and Lieutenant Colonel Liam Kincaid

Master Proofreader: Lieutenant Junior Grade Sarah Silberman

The definition of a wormhole is a space-time distortion as predicted by general relativity. A wormhole connects two points in space with a tunnel through the structure of space. There are many different manifestations of just such occurrences, which has caused us to develop a way to classify the different types of wormholes which we encounter. The following is a list of the different classifications of wormholes, and the characteristics of such. Included in each classification is the physical makeup of the wormhole, methods of creation of such wormholes (where known), possible side effects for any crew traveling through the wormhole, and any possible structural or engineering damage caused to a ship by flying through said wormhole. As examples of each type are documented and studied, they will be added as examples for the type to which they belong.

Wormhole Type Basics

Class One

A stable wormhole suitable for travel by a starship over a large distance, including inter-quadrant travel. A type one poses a minimal risk to a starship and its crew. Class One A is an unnaturally occurring wormhole of this type (i.e., manmade).

Medical precautions: None

Engineering precautions: Shields at minimal. There may be a few power spikes, but no major damage.

Class Two

A stable wormhole, safe for starships and their crews to travel through for short distances, usually inter-grid or intersystem travel. A Class Two A is a short range stable wormhole created by unnatural means.

Medical precautions: None

Engineering precautions: Shields at minimal. There may be a few power spikes, but no major damage.

Class Three

A stable wormhole that allows a ship and its crew to travel long distances instantly. However, unlike a Class One, these wormholes may produce low amounts of radiation, safe for most life forms to travel through. Unlike Classes One and Two, Class Three wormholes are generally produced unnaturally, though for continuity, Class Three are naturally occurring wormholes. A Class Three A is a wormhole that is unnaturally occurring, of this type.

Medical precautions: Raise shielding to prevent radiation from leaking into the ship. If raising the shields is not feasible, then a basic anti-radiation inoculation is in order for the entire crew.

Engineering precautions: Shields should be raised to full power. No major damage is anticipated.

Class Four

A semi-stable wormhole that is suitable for short range travel only. The Class Four emits low levels of theta radiation that may lead to radiation sickness for crew members with low tolerances for radiation. This wormhole is otherwise similar to a Class Two.

Medical precautions: Raise shielding to prevent radiation from leaking into the ship. If raising the shields is not feasible, then a basic anti-radiation inoculation is in order for the entire crew.

Engineering precautions: Problems to bio neural gel packs. Minor hull cracks could be widened into fissures. No other major damage.

Class Five

A semi-stable, naturally occurring wormhole ranging in distance (entrance to exit) from a sector to intergalactic. The Class Five is a medium radiation wormhole. Many crew members will need to be given injections and some may need to be put in stasis. The Class Five is the only known navigable intergalactic wormhole. A Class Five A is an unnaturally occurring wormhole of this type, though there are none known as of yet to be in existence.

Medical precautions: Daily midrange doses of 25-hypo-diethalymite for the entire crew.

Engineering precautions: Bio neural gel packs may need to be taken offline and possible damage to Optical Data Network (ODN) lines and file transfers.

Class Six

A semi-unstable wormhole suitable for travel by a ship and its crew over medium long distances. An example would be a wormhole from the Terran system to Deep Space 9. The wormhole would emit hazardous levels of gamma and theta radiation. To prevent damage to the crew, the entire crew would have to spend at least twelve out of every twenty-four hours in stasis. The other hours (recommended eight maximum) should be spent on duty. Crew members not on duty should remain in stasis for the entire day. There is no known way to create a Class Six A wormhole. Experiments to do so have resulted in subspace instabilities and fissures.

Medical precautions: Hourly midrange doses of the aforementioned radiation inhibitor, added to the stasis. Dosages only for those crew members not in stasis. Careful monitoring of the crew's health, definitely.

Engineering precautions: Damage to computer system, delays in transfers. Shields should be at maximum. Hull damage may occur. Possible instabilities in the warp core/field.

Class Seven

A Class Seven wormhole is a long range one. All Class Sevens have two defining characteristics: They have one end fixed, and the other moves from point to point. The Class Sevens usually only move a matter of ten to one-hundred light-years on the unstable end, and move slow enough for a ship to enter using thrusters. The event horizon emits very high levels of radiation that penetrate the entire wormhole. A Class Seven is normally a natural structure that has been opened by a man made structure. A starship's warp field will open such a wormhole. A Class Seven A is impossible to create with current technological means due to the conditions existing at the entrance and exit.

Medical precautions: Stasis is preferred for all crew members, with daily revivals for anti-radiation inoculation. For those personnel needed to be active, radiation suits are a must, as well as radiation inoculation every 45 minutes. Minimal work loads are recommended as well.

Engineering precautions: Damage to the Hull is likely. Power drains are possible. Could have problems with impulse drive and with fusion generators. Violent currents may require more power to be diverted to the Internal Damping Field (IDF) system and possibly the Structural Integrity Field (SIF) System.

Class Eight

A wormhole much like the Class Seven, but both ends of the wormhole are in motion. The ends can swing faster than a ship can move with thrusters, and the radiation levels are almost doubled throughout the wormhole. The theta, gamma, and x-ray radiation is such that direct exposure to organic materials will result in burning and after one to two minutes of exposure, death may occur. A Class Eight should only be traveled when necessary and the ship should be set on automatic navigation. In the event that a ship enters a Class Eight wormhole, portable holo-emitters are to be installed in all important areas of the ship and the EMH or other holographic Starfleet operatives holograms will be in command of the ship until conditions are deemed safe for organic life.

Medical precautions: Not recommended for travel. Radiation inhibitors do not work well in this case, and even if the crew could get into stasis before being in the wormhole for two minutes, the crew would most likely have severe radiation poisoning, and most would die by the end of the trip.

Engineering precautions: Definite damage to the hull, possible life support malfunction. Power drains are likely. Violent currents abound that would require more power to be diverted to the IDF system and the SIF system.

Class Nine

Class Nine wormholes are unsafe for travel. A temporal distortion of days to decades is a major factor in classifying a wormhole as Class Nine. Both ends of the wormhole are fixed. However, due to the Prime Directive, technology should not be sent through a Class Nine. Class Nine wormholes also throw a large amount of radiation as far as 0.5 light-years away. Crews should be given the proper injections before hand, and be prepared to back away at any given time.

Medical precautions: Anti-radiation inoculations and extreme caution.

Engineering precautions: Effects of this type of wormhole are unknown. Possible effects could include but aren't limited to hull breaches, complete power loss, life support failure and very violent currents.

Class Ten

A completely unstable wormhole. It may change shape and size at random. It may throw a multitude of different radiation levels as far as one light year. Danger zones may be reached as close as 0.75 light years. Ships should not enter the one light year radius knowingly. A probe should be launched to gather data, proper injections are to be given, and the crew should be ready to back away at warp speeds. Stasis lock and decontamination will be necessary for any crew entering the field of 0.75 light years. During the detox, the ship should remain a minimum of five light years from the wormhole, and the crew should remain in stasis for two to five days. All ships encountering a Class Ten wormhole should stay at least 1.25 light years away, and inform Starfleet Command and proceed as ordered. Any unauthorized entry into the one light year radius is subject to a Court Marital.

Medical precautions: Anti-radiation inoculations and extreme caution.

Engineering precautions: The effects of this type of wormhole are unknown. Possible effects could include but are not limited to hull breaches, complete power loss, and extremely violent currents.

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