In Voyager’s transporter room, there is an alcove on the side, and embedded in the wall is what appears to be a small transporter pad. I don’t believe anyone is ever shown interacting with this, so there’s no definitive explanation for what it is. Assuming it is what it appears to be, what would be the purpose of a very small transporter like this?
It’s a replicator. The transporter waveguides at the back are common in Intrepid-class replicators. You can see a smaller one in Janeway’s quarters.
Under the replicator is supposed to be an equipment storage locker (according to the Star Trek Fact Files and the USS Voyager Illustrated Handbook), so it’s likely for creating extra away team equipment. It may also be for food - we see a food dispensing slot in the USS Enterprise transporter room in TOS: “Tomorrow is Yesterday”.
I’m struggling for a non shitpost response to be perfectly honest. Voyager was a science vessel… so Perhaps some sample return with quarantine?
That’s exactly the thought I had about it. (The sample return part.)
Perhaps also with a small containment field with its own power supply? Thus the smaller size would allow for more efficient use of such a field, whether by allowing it to be more secure while using the same power as a larger field or to sustain a smaller field for a longer time in cases of general power failure?
You could also safely hold a sample without stranding the away team in the event containment had to activate.
That’s actually not a bad thought. Some kind of special sample transporter is certainly a possibility. It would be easier to set up a containment field around the smaller platform.
it’s the pattern buffer. Neelix tries to touch it in some very early episode, and Tuvok intimates that doing so might kill him in some terrible way. it’s not unusual to see technicians fiddling with it while in the background of scenes.
