Understanding the Quantum Split in Star Trek: Voyager’s Deadlock

When discussing the episode Deadlock from Star Trek: Voyager, there is often confusion around which ship was the original and which was a copy. This confusion is understandable, as the series does not explicitly state which ship is the original. However, it can be explained that both Voyager ships are, in fact, the original from a quantum perspective.

Key Points of Confusion

One of the major points of confusion is the idea that one ship is a copy of the other. This is a common misunderstanding that stems from a lack of clear explanation in the episode. Let’s clarify the situation.

Quantum Split Theory

The episode involves a space wimmey thing that splits the Voyager at the quantum level. This means every particle on the ship is duplicated, creating two identical Voyager ships, except for one crucial detail: the antimatter. The antimatter could not be duplicated, so it remains on both ships but in a quantum flux. This flux ties the two ships together, making them dependent on each other until the antimatter is removed from the flux. Thus, neither ship can function independently until the flux is resolved.

In essence, because every particle of both ships was split, and the antimatter is the only particle not duplicated, both ships remain the original from a quantum perspective. This is why neither ship can be considered a copy of the other.

Unofficial Clues and Bayesian Thinking

While the episode does not definitively state which ship is the original, there are some clues that suggest the first Voyager seen might be the original. The damaged Voyager is shown for several minutes before the second one is seen. This could imply that the first ship is the one that sustained damage after being assaulted, and the second ship is a fresh and intact one. However, this is not a definitive proof, as the shows' writers might have intentionally left this ambiguous for deeper thematic reasons.

Character Replacements and Survival

According to in-universe events, both ships were attacked, and the crew of the second ship (Voyager 2) survived, replacing the crew of the first ship (Voyager 1) that perished. This includes Ensign Kim and Naomi Wildman, who are seen as replacements for their counterparts who died in the first ship. The exact timeline and cause of death for these characters are as follows:

Ensign Kim from the first ship was sucked out into space. Naomi Wildman from the first ship died due to pregnancy complications.

These events further complicate the narrative about which ship is the original, as the surviving crew members from the second ship are recast into the role of the original crew after their counterparts died.

Conclusion

While the concept of a quantum split might seem complex, the core idea is that both ships are equally original from a quantum perspective, with the only difference being the trapped antimatter flux. Additionally, the event sequences and character replacements in the episode indicate that while the second ship is seen as the more intact one, it is not necessarily the original in the strictest sense.

Understanding these nuances helps to appreciate the depth of the storytelling in Deadlock, as it invites viewers to engage with the episode on a more philosophical and quantum level.