One challenge in writing for Star Trek is that when a piece of futuristic technology is "invented," later stories need to reflect that invention. In The Original Series, Gene Roddenberry "invented" the transporter, which not only looked cool, but it saved a lot of time and money. Years later, Star Trek: Insurrection writer Michael Piller realized that the invention of the transporter made it difficult for the Enterprise crew and the Bak'u villagers to escape from the Son'a. After all, if they fled into the hills, the Son'a could simply beam them up. Accordingly, Piller "invented" these transport inhibitors, even though they weren't entirely successful.