M | N | O | P | Q | R

Maneuvering thrusters
Thrusters are used for maneuvering a starship at sub-warp speed, and for precision positional and attitude control.

Maquis Resistance
Organization consisting of people from colonies along the Federation border, affected by the Federation-Cardassian treaty in 2370. When the Cardassian tried to force them from their colonies many colonists felt that Federation no longer protected their rights and they started the Maquis Resistance. Chakotay, Tom Paris and many other Federation officers left Federation and joined the Maquis instead. Tom Paris was caught after a week with the resistance and was sent to a Federation Penal colony. Other known Maquis members are B'Elanna Torres, Lon Suder, Kurt Bendera, Kenneth Dalby, Mariah Henley, Ensign Ayala, Lt Hogan, Seska, Gerron, Jarvin and Chell.

Matter (1)
When matter, also known as deuterium, reacts with anti-matter (anti-deuterium) in the warp core, it starts a process that creates enough energy to power a starship. Deuterium is, according to physics, a stable isotope of hydrogen which contains one proton and one neutron.

Matter (2)
Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Matter can be seen because it gives off light or reflects light given off by another object. See also Dark Matter.

M-class planet
The surface of these planets are covered with more than 80 percent water or ice and hosts extensive vegetation and animal life. These planets are suitable for humanoids and has an atmosphere based on Nitrogen, Oxygen and trace elements. Earth, Vulcan and Cardassia Prime are all M-class planets.

Messhall, Main
The main messhall is where the crew gather to eat, as well as where Neelix's galley is situated. The galley was once the Captain's private dining room but it was rebuilt to a galley to preserve replicator energy (a galley requires less energy than the replicators). The ship's reserves would soon be depleted if the crew would eat only replicated food.

Milky Way, The
One of billions of systems (galaxies), each a giant collection of gas, dust, and millions or billions of stars

Mobile Emitter
A piece of 29th century equipment that the doctor acquired by Henry Starling in episode Future's end. The mobile emitter is a small holo-emitter allowing the EMH to leave sickbay and enter areas without holo-emitters. The doctor's program can be transferred to the emitter from Voyager's computer. The emitter then generates the photons and forcefields necessary to allow him to interact with the environment in the same way normal stationary holo emitters do. The emitter is composed of an unknown 29th century poly-deutonic alloy. Lieutenant Torres is responsible for the EMH and the mobile emitter and knows more about it than any one.

Nacelles
Parts of a Starfleet vessel that hold the warp drive. Voyager's nacelles fold up into a higher position during warp and fold down again when travelling at impulse speed.

Nanoprobes
Nanoprobes are used to assimilate humanoids and help to turn them into Borg drones. Nanoprobes attack on a cellular level and rewrite the DNA. Additional cybernetic implants can then be added.

N-Class Planet
The greenhouse effect has created a very high surface temperature with water present only as vapour on these planets. The atmosphere is extremely dense and filled with carbon dioxide and sulfides. Venus is an N-class planet.

Nebula
A cloud of hydrogen gas and dust. Plural of nebula: nebulae.

Nekrit Expanse
A region of dense dust clouds, gases and plasma lightning thousands of light-years wide; it is too large and unstable to have been charted.

Neuro Chemical Imbalance
Vulcans experiencing the Pon Farr is subjected to a neuro chemical imbalance that drives them to return to Vulcan and find a mate.

Neutron Star
Compact objects that are created in the core of a star during supernova explosions. The core of the star collapses, and crushes together every proton with a corresponding electron turning each electron-proton pair into a neutron. The neutrons can often stop the collapse and remain as a neutron star.

Nutritional Supplement 14-beta-7
A beverage Seven of Nine replicated in i.e. episode "one"

Oblissian cabbage
A vegetable that Kes grew in the airponics bay on Voyager. Mostly used in different kinds of sallad.

Omega
The Omega molecule can damage subspace and make warp drive impossible since all warp driven vessels depend on subspace to go to warp.

Omega Directive
The Federation has implemented The Omega Directive to protect subspace from the Omega molecule. Only Starship Captains and higher-ranking officers is allowed access to the directive. This directive allows Starfleet captains to overlook the prime directive, and destroy the molecules, to preserve warp civilisations.

Omicron Particles
Radio-active particles which can be used to produce anti-matter.

Operations Officer
Ensign Kim is the senior Operations Officer (Ops for short). The Ops officer on duty is responsible for co-ordinating USS Voyager's officers and departments. He or she works from the Operations workstation on the bridge.

Padd
Short for Personal Access Display Device which is a portable handheld information database used by Starfleet crewmembers.

Pain Sticks
Pain Sticks were used in B'Elanna's Day of Honor ritual; She was supposed to endure the ritual of 20 pain Sticks, but she decided not to go through with it.

Phage
An illness that causes Vidiian organs to breakdown. Symptoms of the early stages of the Phage are dementia resulting in hallucinations. Klingon DNA is coded to produce anti-bodies (vaccine) against the Phage but can't cure a person already infected with the decease.

Photon
Photons are electromagnetic energy, which are used to project holographic people or scenarios. Voyager's EMH consists of photons and force fields.

Planetoid
Large asteriods that are too small to be planets but too large to be asteroids.

Plasma
Electrically conductive ionized gas used to power the different parts of the ship as well as impulse and warp drive. The plasma passes through magnetic EPS conduits throughout the ship. A plasma fire will form if an EPS conduit ruptures. Michael Jonas was vaporized in a matter of seconds when he fell into a plasma fire (Investigations).

Pon Farr, The
The Vulcan mating period, also known as Blood Fever, which occurs every seventh year in every adult Vulcan's life. The Pon Farr is a state of neuro chemical imbalance where instinct and emotion dominate over reason. Vulcans do not share the details of it as it is highly illogical. A telepathic mating bond can transfer The Pon Farr to another person without his or her consent. This happened to B'Elanna in episode Blood Fever when Vorik went through his first Pon Farr. When Pon Farr occurs, the Vulcan must meditate intensely, find a mate or declare the ritual combat where you fight for your mate. These actions purge the Pon Farr and the Vulcan goes back to his or her logical state of mind again. The Pon Farr can be fatal if not purged in time.

Positron Particle
Similar to the negatively charged electron but it has a positive charge.

Prime Directive
All Starfleet officers are taught to follow the cardinal rule called The Prime Directive. There are a number of other directives but this is the most important one. The Prime Directive dictates that members of the Federation must not give away technology or interfere with the natural development of less advanced or pre-warp civilizations. The directive also states that Federation members must not interfere in the internal affairs of other species. Federation members must make any sacrifice to protect less advanced cultures from contamination, even if it means sacrificing their own lives. This directive was created to protect a culture's right to develop on its own. See also the Temporal Prime Directive.

Prixin
A Talaxian holiday that celebrate the importance of family bonds. This is Neelix's favourite holiday.

Protostar
A protostar is a star that is still forming.

Pulsar
It is a small spinning magnetized neutron star. It emits very short electromagnetic pulses at regular intervals of about one second.

Quantum Singularity
A quantum singularity (or a black hole) is a star which has collapsed in on itself. Because this dying star has such huge mass, it becomes too strong for even neutrons to resist. It eventually collapses down to one incredibly dense point, called a singularity. This singularity is surrounded by an event horizon in which the gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.

Ration Cubes
Neelix's emergency rations which he calls "Elixir of Endurance". It contains amino acids, carbohydrates and nutrients humanoids need to stay alive.

Replicator
A device invented in the 24th century that uses the same technology as transporters. It breaks matter apart and then put it together in another form. You can i.e. put your dirty dishes in the replicator which transforms them into energy. The replicator uses this energy to produce anything within the parameters of the replicators programming. The replicator is often used for replicating food.

River of Blood, The
Kahless was a great warrior who freed his people from tyrannical rule. He led a small army more than ten times smaller than the enemy into a battle by the river. The blood of his enemies flowed so freely into the river that it was named The River of Blood. In Klingon myth, the warrior must travel on The River of Blood to reach StoVoKor or Grethor.