Forgotten Phlebotinum: Difference between revisions

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** Q Jr, depowered, retains enough Q knowledge to use the Delta Flyer's [insert [[Techno Babble]] here] to create portals, without any unpleasant [[Star Trek Shake]]-inducing side-effects that we saw. The crew could have done whatever it was that they did and gotten home via a series of portals, or at least - as was often the case with ''Voyager'''s non-deadly shortcuts - shaved a decade or two off their trip before the [[Applied Phlebotinum]] gave out.

** Borg warp coils, in a season-five episode, allowed the crew to jump hundreds of thousands of light years, cutting several years off the journey. For the rest of the series, however, the crew never bother to get any of these warp coils, despite coming across several opportunities to obtain some (most notably in an episode where the crew come across an entire graveyard of half-destroyed Borg ships).

** In "Threshold", where the otherwise successful test of an experimental transwarp engine turns Janeway and Paris into newts. An imposing side-effect, to be sure, but one which they have cured by episode's end, leaving them in possession of a magic new transportation technology which could get them back to Earth almost immediately, '''and''' a cure for its inevitable side-effect. So rather than using it to return to Earth, or even send a ''message'' back to the Federation (this was before the Federation discovered that ''Voyager'' and her crew had survived), they roll end credits and never mention it again. [[Canon ~~Dis Continuity~~|Even the producers try to forget that episode]], so it's no surprise the characters forget it too.

** In "Threshold", where the otherwise successful test of an experimental transwarp engine turns Janeway and Paris into newts. An imposing side-effect, to be sure, but one which they have cured by episode's end, leaving them in possession of a magic new transportation technology which could get them back to Earth almost immediately, '''and''' a cure for its inevitable side-effect. So rather than using it to return to Earth, or even send a ''message'' back to the Federation (this was before the Federation discovered that ''Voyager'' and her crew had survived), they roll end credits and never mention it again. [[Canon Discontinuity|Even the producers try to forget that episode]], so it's no surprise the characters forget it too.

*** Even ignoring the lizard-fication, "Threshold" mentions that the experimental shuttle's computers were jam-packed with helpful navigation aids and maps-- which are never mentioned up again.

** Seven of Nine once brought Neelix back from the freakin' dead after ''several hours'' via (what else?) nanoprobes. Apparently, the technology must only work on main cast members. And even then, only that one time...

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* ''[[Freelancer]]'', period. "Cloaking ships? What do you mean they were mounted on fighters during the Alliance/Coalition war centuries ago? They take more power than a battleship can provide! Besides, what war are you talking about? I've never heard of it before."

** They also forgot the fighter-sized warp drives. They used 'em about the same time as the fighter-sized cloaking devices. Those Libertonians really ought to pack some Phlebotinum next time they go somewhere.

* In ''[[The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim]]'' many guards tell you [[Memetic Mutation|"I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the Knee."]] but in a world of [[Heal Thyself|Magic healing spells]] and [[Healing Potion|instant health potions]] you would not think such a minor injury would be so debilitating.

* In ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim]]'' many guards tell you [[Memetic Mutation|"I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the Knee."]] but in a world of [[Heal Thyself|Magic healing spells]] and [[Healing Potion|instant health potions]] you would not think such a minor injury would be so debilitating.

* The [[Wave Motion Gun|Phase Transit Cannon]] from ''Wing Commander II'' is never mentioned again outside of a brief note in the manual for the ''Kilrathi Saga'' compilation mentioning that it was discontinued due to technical problems, and the [[Kill It with Fire|flash-packs]] from ''Wing Commander IV'' isn't mentioned anywhere at all in later ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]'' games, as if the tech has vanished.

* ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' could be said to have this. When questing it is not uncommon to be given an incredibly powerful item to help with the quest, for example a crystal that can fire a beam to shrink down giants, making them much easier to fight, to never be used again.