Quote:
Originally Posted by pseudoreality
There was a plot-line in late TNG episodes about warp drive damaging space. Did they fix that somehow with non-damaging engines? I don't remember. If not, that could be motivation for someone to blow-up dilithium and ships travelling at warp.
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Intrepid class ships debuted variable geometry nacelles (they sort of fold up right before warp) which allowed them to travel without damaging subspace so much. I think they eventually figured out how to clean up the warp bubble without the shifty nacelles by the time Sovereigns were on active duty.
I still think it's weird that dilithium becoming unavailable completely halted the UFP's ability to travel. alternatives like Romulan artificial singularities might not be as reliable (you might attract non-corporeal aliens looking for a nursery) but you'd think they'd try one of those out. the Burn happened so far in the future from regular Star Trek, you'd think the UFP would have observed or discovered even more different methods of FTL with their own power options.