Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Prodigy episode 3 - "Starstruck".
The USS Protostar introduced in Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). However, the Protostar obviously contains many secrets, including the fact that it may be the new fastest ship in Star Trek's 24th century.
Ever since the original NX-01 Enterprise commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) launched as the first Starfleet ship that could achieve speeds up to warp 5, Star Trek's ships have only gotten faster and more powerful. In the 23rd century, the USS Excelsior was deemed "the Great Experiment" because it had a transwarp drive, which could far exceed a standard warp drive's velocities. However, the Excelsior's transwarp drive wasn't widely implemented throughout Starfleet. Traditional warp drives using dilithium-powered antimatter cores remained the norm in Starfleet, even into the 32nd-century of Star Trek: Discovery season 3. But Star Trek: Prodigy's USS Protostar appears to be a breakthrough in warp technology.
In Star Trek: Prodigy episode 3, "Starstruck," Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas) and Zero explored the USS Protostar's Engineering section and they were shocked to discover their stolen starship has two warp cores and, in between, was a mysterious device they couldn't identify. Star Trek fans online who have taken screenshots of the Protostar's display s speculate that the unknown tech is actually a third warp core, dubbed the Proto Engine, which, in turn, is powered by a Proto Core. While this hasn't been referenced on the show as of yet, if the Trekkers are correct, it could mean the Protostar may indeed be the fastest starship ever built within Star Trek: Prodigy's canonical timeframe of 2383. The Protostar potentially boasting three engines is also unheard of in Star Trek.
The Protostar's possible triple warp cores could explain how the starship ended up in the Delta Quadrant, to begin with. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Dominion War.
In Star Trek: Prodigy's late 24th century, warp drive is still the optimum means of intergalactic travel. As the USS Protostar's mysteries are unlocked, the rationale for why it has two warp cores and possibly a Proto Engine will be fascinating to learn, along with the truth of how the sleek Starfleet vessel crashed in the Delta Quadrant and why the evil Diviner (John Noble) desperately wants to possess it. If Star Trek: Prodigy's USS Protostar does have three powerful warp cores, it may just be Starfleet's new standard for warp speed in 2383.
Star Trek: Prodigy streams Thursdays on Paramount+.