Force of Nature

The Enterprise is searching the Hekaras Corridor for the missing medical ship USS Fleming when it finds a disabled Ferengi vessel, apparently crippled by a mine disguised as a signal buoy. The culprits are two Hekaran scientists, the siblings Rabal and Serova, who claim that repeated warp travel through the corridor is damaging the fabric of space and threatens their homeworld. They have resorted to sabotage because no one would listen. Data finds their research credible but urges more study. Unwilling to wait, Serova deliberately causes a warp core breach in her own ship, killing herself and opening a rift in space that proves her point and traps the Fleming. The Enterprise rescues the Fleming by riding the waves of the disruption without using warp. Afterwards, the Federation imposes a warp five speed limit except in emergencies and warns other powers of the danger.