Editing D'deridex Class (section)

==Propulsion systems==

[[Image:D'deridex-engine core.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A D'deridex class vessel's engine core]] 
 
Warbirds utilized a forced quantum singularity as a power source. If that system was not functioning perfectly, or was damaged even slightly, it might have shown through the cloak as a magnetic disturbance of some kind. The destruction of the engine core of a D'deridex-class Warbird usually led to the complete destruction of the entire ship. 

In order for a Warbird to remain undetected while under cloak, the radiative emissions from the warp engines had to be precisely balanced. A slight misalignment in any of the Warbirds' [[Nullifier Core]]s would create a small magnetic disturbance in space whenever the ship was in motion. This could make the ship detectable while cloaked. The effect of this disturbance, when it occurred, appeared intermittently as a polarized magnetic distortion. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy") 

The use of the confined singularity limited the Warbird's overall maximum speed. For a Warbird to match the maximum speed of a Galaxy-class starship, it needed to exceed its engine output by 30%. Doing this would typically cause the Warbird's [[Warp Drive]] to sustain irreparable damage. (TNG: "Tin Man") 

The confined singularity could occasionally cause time shifts into the future. This occurred to Miles O'Brien for a brief period. By having this ability, he was able to prevent an attack on Deep Space 9 by a [[Romulan]] Warbird. Also, if the singularity signature was carefully scanned, it could be monitored through the cloak. (DS9: "Visionary")