Difference between revisions of "Temporal mechanics"

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{{Update Science}}
 
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<blockquote>"''I hate temporal mechanics!''"
 
<blockquote>"''I hate temporal mechanics!''"
 
: - '''Miles O'Brien''', past and future copies </blockquote>
 
: - '''Miles O'Brien''', past and future copies </blockquote>
  
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'''Temporal mechanics''' is the study of the workings of [[time]] and its effects on the [[space-time continuum]], and is particularly relevant when dealing with time travel. As late as [[2154]], time travel was deemed impossible by the [[Vulcan Science Directorate]].
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'''Temporal mechanics''' is the study of the workings of [[time]] and its effects on the [[space-time continuum]], and is particularly relevant when dealing with time travel. As late as [[2154]], time travel was deemed impossible by the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Vulcan_Science_Directorate Vulcan Science Directorate].
  
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The [[United Federation of Planets]] has had some form of time travel ability since at least [[2268]]. It is possible that at least some of the current and future regulations regarding time travel can trace their origins back to this date. However, capability at this point was most likely inaccurate, making any attempt at time travel experimental and dangerous.
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The [[United Federation of Planets]] has had some form of time travel ability since at least [[2268]]. It is possible that at least some of the current and future regulations regarding time travel can trace their origins back to this date. However, capability at this point was most likely inaccurate, making any attempt at time travel experimental and dangerous. Temporal mechanics is taught at [[Star Fleet Academy]].  
  
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Temporal mechanics is taught at [[Star Fleet Academy]]. [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Julian_Bashir Julian Bashir] took the class, where he learned about [[predestination paradox]]es, as did [[Miles O'Brien]].Both [[Kathryn Janeway]] and [[B'Elanna Torres]] knew the 'finer points' of temporal mechanics.
 
  
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==History==
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==Documented Time Travel==
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As of [[2378]], at least 40 different instances of some form of time travel had been noted in Federation records. Technologically speaking, the Federation's capabilities concerning time travel have for the most part remained unclear.  
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* As of [[2378]], at least 40 different instances of some form of time travel had been noted in Federation records. Technologically speaking, the Federation's capabilities concerning time travel have remained unclear.  
  
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The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} first experienced time travel in [[2266]] when an emergency cold starting of its warp drive slingshot the ship and crew 71 hours into the past.  
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* The [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(NCC-1701) USS Enterprise] under Captain Kirk first experienced time travel in [[2266]] when an emergency cold starting of its warp drive slingshot the ship and crew 71 hours into the past. In [[2267]], after an encounter with a [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Black_star black star], the ''Enterprise'' was hurled 300 years into the past. Eventually, the ''Enterprise'''s science officer [[Spock]] devised a method for returning the ''Enterprise'' back to its original period. Though other instances of time travel had been noted, this appears to be the first instance of controlled time travel by the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]].  Later that year, officers [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]], [[Spock]] and [[Leonard McCoy|McCoy]] traveled to [[Earth]]'s early [[20th century]] and back via the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Guardian_of_Forever Guardian of Forever]. Sometime in [[2268]] the same ''Enterprise'' traveled back in time, using the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Slingshot_effect light-speed breakaway factor], to [[1968]] on a historical research mission.  
  
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In [[2267]], after an encounter with a [[black star]], the ''Enterprise'' was hurled 300 years into the past. Eventually, the ''Enterprise'''s science officer [[Spock]] devised a method for returning the ''Enterprise'' back to its original period.  
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* In [[2286]], [[Admiral]] James T. Kirk and his senior staff took a stolen [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] back in time to the year [[1986]] to retrieve a pair of then-extinct humpback whales to save Earth from destruction by an alien probe.  
  
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Though other instances of time travel had been noted, this appears to be the first instance of controlled time travel by the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]].  Later that year, officers [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]], [[Spock]] and [[Leonard McCoy|McCoy]] traveled to [[Earth]]'s early [[20th century]] and back via the [[Guardian of Forever]].  
+
* In [[2371]], Captains [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jean-Luc_Picard Jean-Luc Picard] and [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/James_T._Kirk James T. Kirk] use the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Nexus Nexus] as a means of controlled time travel. They worked against Doctor [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Tolian_Soran Soran], who wanted to destroy the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Veridian Veridian] star, and harness its power.  
  
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Sometime in [[2268]] the ''Enterprise'' traveled back in time, using the [[light-speed breakaway factor]], to [[1968]] on a historical research mission.  
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* In [[2373]] the [[USS Defiant|USS ''Defiant'']], commanded by [[Captain]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] traveled back in time to [[2268]] via the [[Bajoran]] [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Orb_of_Time Orb of Time], by an attempt by Klingon spy [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Arne_Darvin Arne Darvin] to kill Captain Kirk and change the timeline. The crew of the ''Defiant'' stopped Darvin without any notable damage.  
  
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In [[2286]], [[Admiral]] James T. Kirk and his senior staff took a stolen [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] back in time to the year [[1986]] to retrieve a pair of then (2286)-extinct [[humpback whale]]s to save Earth from destruction by an alien probe.  
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* Also in 2373, an encounter with the [[29th century]] [[timeship]] ''[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Aeon Aeon]'' threw ''Voyager'' back to an alternate [[1996]]. History was set right when Captain Janeway destroyed the timeship before it could travel to the future and accidentally cause a [[temporal explosion]]. ''Voyager'' was returned to the correct time by an alternate version of the ''Aeon'' from the correct timeline.  
  
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In [[2371]], Captains [[Jean-Luc Picard]] and James T. Kirk use the [[Nexus]] as a means of controlled time travel, going to just before the destruction of the [[Veridian]] star, which Picard intended to save. (Picard arrived at the Nexus from just after the destruction of said star, whereas Kirk arrived from some 78 years before.
 
  
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At least once, [[Q]] took Captain Jean-Luc Picard back in time to the beginning of life on [[Earth]].  It is unknown if Q actually willed himself and Picard to the beginning of life on earth or if it was just an illusion.
 
  
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[[Quinn]] took {{USS|Voyager}} back in time to the [[Big Bang]] to hide from [[Q]].
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==Temporal Cold War==
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The events of the [[Temporal Cold War]] further complicate the understanding of Federation time travel capabilities.
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In the [[25th century]], time travel is mostly possible but risky.
 
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In [[2373]] the [[USS Defiant|USS ''Defiant'']], commanded by [[Captain]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] traveled back in time to [[2268]] via the [[Bajoran]] [[Orb of Time]], by an attempt by [[Arne Darvin]] to kill Captain James T. Kirk and change the timeline. The crew of the ''Defiant'' stopped Darvin without any notable damage.  
 
  
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Also in 2373, an encounter with the [[29th century]] [[timeship]] ''{{MA|Aeon|Aeon}}'' threw ''Voyager'' back to an alternate [[1996]]. History was set right when Captain Janeway destroyed the timeship before it could travel to the future and accidentally cause a [[temporal explosion]]. ''Voyager'' was returned to the correct time by an alternate version of the ''Aeon'' from the correct timeline.
 
  
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An alternate future version of Captain Janeway (from [[2404]]) traveled back to [[2378]] to bring ''Voyager'' home from the [[Delta Quadrant]] 16 years earlier then it had arrived in that alternate future. This future Janeway was killed in the attempt but succeeded in returning ''Voyager'' home and even delivered a crippling if not fatal blow to the [[Borg]].  
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As early as the [[26th century]], historians and anthropologists used "Time-travel pods" to travel through time to observe historical events. [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Daniels_(Crewman) Crewman Daniels], an alleged time traveler from the [[31st century]], used a Time Travel pod to show [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jonathan_Archer Jonathan Archer] a group of time-traveling anthropologists from [[2769]] observing the building of the pyramids of Giza. As of the [[29th century]], a time traveling faction represented by a "mysterious individual" could only communicate and exchange information and technologies through time, appearing as a non-corporeal entities. By the [[31st century]], this technology was perfected to allow physical travel.
  
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===Temporal Cold War===
 
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The events of the [[Temporal Cold War]] further complicate the understanding of Federation time travel capabilities.
 
  
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As early as the [[26th century]], [[history|historians]] and [[anthropology|anthropologists]] used [[Time-travel pod]]s to travel through time to observe historical events. [[Crewman]] [[Daniels (Crewman)|Daniels]], an alleged time traveler from the [[31st century]], showed [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jonathan_Archer Jonathan Archer] a group of time-traveling anthropologists from [[2769]] observing the building of the [[pyramid]]s of [[Giza]].
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According to Daniels, all time travelers were bound by the observance of strict procedures set forth in the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_Accord Temporal Accords].  Daniels stated that the Temporal Accords were enacted after time travel was developed by all time travel–capable species to prevent catastrophic tampering with the [[timeline]].
  
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As of the [[29th century]], a time traveling faction represented by a [[Future Guy|mysterious individual]], could only communicate and exchange information and technologies through time, appearing as a non-corporeal entities. By the [[31st century]], this technology was perfected to allow physical travel.
 
  
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According to Daniels, all time travelers were bound by the observance of strict procedures set forth in the [[Temporal Accords]].  Daniels stated that the Temporal Accords were enacted after time travel was developed by all time travel–capable species to prevent catastrophic tampering with the [[timeline]].
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By [[2153]], the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Unnamed_Sphere-Builders Sphere Builders], a group previously thought to possess the ability to examine alternate timelines, sent [[Xindi-Reptilian]]s back to 21st century Detroit to develop a bioweapon to destroy the [[Human]] race.  
  
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By [[2153]], the [[Sphere Builder]]s, a group previously thought to possess the ability only to examine alternate timelines, sent [[Xindi-Reptilian]]s back to 21st century Detroit to develop a [[Xindi bioweapon|bioweapon]] to destroy the [[Human]] race.  
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Ultimately, the war ended when the [[Na'kuhl]] returned from an alternate [[1944]] (created by their very actions) and caused the Cold War to go hot with time-travelers changing time as they liked. Daniels brought ''Enterprise'' and Archer back to 1944 to stop [[Vosk]], leader of the Nak'uhl, from returning to the future. With the help of a member of another faction of the Temporal Cold War, Archer shut off Vosk's compound's shields, allowing ''Enterprise'' to destroy it and thus destroying the [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_conduit temporal conduit] and killing Vosk just as he was about to travel back to the future.
  
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Ultimately the war ended when the [[Na'kuhl]] returned from an alternate [[1944]] (created by their very actions) and caused the Cold War to go hot with time-travelers changing time as they liked. Daniels brought ''Enterprise'' and Archer back to 1944 to stop [[Vosk]], leader of the Nak'uhl, from returning to the future. With the help of [[Silik]], a member of another faction of the Temporal Cold War, Archer shut off Vosk's compound's [[shields]], allowing ''Enterprise'' to destroy it and thus destroying the [[temporal conduit]] and killing Vosk just as he was about to travel back to the future. Daniels pulled Archer to a place where they watched the [[time stream]] as all of the events that occurred when the Temporal Cold War went hot were undone and time reset itself to normal. Archer refused to have anything to do anymore with Daniels' "damn Temporal Cold War" and Daniels agreed, claiming it was finally coming to an end thanks to Archer's actions.
 
  
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==Methods==
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==Known Methods==
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*[[Black hole]] created by [[red matter]]
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*[[Black hole]] created by [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Red_matter red matter]
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*[[Light-speed breakaway factor]] (Slingshot effect)
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Slingshot_effect Light-speed breakaway factor] ("Slingshot effect")
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*[[Nexus]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Nexus Nexus]
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*[[Orb of Time]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Orb_of_Time Orb of Time]
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*[[Q]] powers
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Q_Continuum Q-Continuum] powers
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*[[Temporal causality loop]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_causality_loop Temporal causality loop]
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*[[Temporal conduit]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_conduit Temporal conduit]
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*[[Temporal transporter]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_transporter Temporal transporter]
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*[[Temporal vortex]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_vortex Temporal vortex]
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*[[Time portal]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Time_portal Time portal]
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*[[Timeship]]s
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Timeship Timeships]
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*[[Wormhole]]s
 
  
 
==Paradoxes==
 
==Paradoxes==
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*[[Dali Paradox]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Dali_paradox Dali Paradox]
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*[[Grandfather paradox]]
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*[https://www.space.com/grandfather-paradox.html Grandfather paradox]
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*[[Pogo Paradox]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Pogo_paradox Pogo Paradox]
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*[[Predestination paradox]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Predestination_paradox Predestination paradox]
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==Examples==
 
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*[[Time travel episodes|List of time travel episodes]]
 
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*[[Alternate timeline]]s
 
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*[[Temporal Cold War]]
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[Department of Temporal Investigations]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Department_of_Temporal_Investigations Department of Temporal Investigations]
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*[[Janeway Factor]]
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*The [https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Janeway_Factor Janeway Factor] (Timeline "meddling")
 
*[[Timeline]]
 
*[[Timeline]]
 
*[[Temporal anomaly]]
 
*[[Temporal anomaly]]
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*[[Temporal Integrity Commission]]
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*[https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Temporal_Integrity_Commission Temporal Integrity Commission]
 
*[[Temporal Prime Directive]]
 
*[[Temporal Prime Directive]]

Revision as of 14:21, 6 July 2021

"I hate temporal mechanics!"

- Miles O'Brien, past and future copies

Temporal mechanics is the study of the workings of time and its effects on the space-time continuum, and is particularly relevant when dealing with time travel. As late as 2154, time travel was deemed impossible by the Vulcan Science Directorate.

The United Federation of Planets has had some form of time travel ability since at least 2268. It is possible that at least some of the current and future regulations regarding time travel can trace their origins back to this date. However, capability at this point was most likely inaccurate, making any attempt at time travel experimental and dangerous. Temporal mechanics is taught at Star Fleet Academy.


Documented Time Travel

  • As of 2378, at least 40 different instances of some form of time travel had been noted in Federation records. Technologically speaking, the Federation's capabilities concerning time travel have remained unclear.
  • The USS Enterprise under Captain Kirk first experienced time travel in 2266 when an emergency cold starting of its warp drive slingshot the ship and crew 71 hours into the past. In 2267, after an encounter with a black star, the Enterprise was hurled 300 years into the past. Eventually, the Enterprise's science officer Spock devised a method for returning the Enterprise back to its original period. Though other instances of time travel had been noted, this appears to be the first instance of controlled time travel by the Federation. Later that year, officers Kirk, Spock and McCoy traveled to Earth's early 20th century and back via the Guardian of Forever. Sometime in 2268 the same Enterprise traveled back in time, using the light-speed breakaway factor, to 1968 on a historical research mission.
  • In 2286, Admiral James T. Kirk and his senior staff took a stolen Klingon Bird-of-Prey back in time to the year 1986 to retrieve a pair of then-extinct humpback whales to save Earth from destruction by an alien probe.
  • Also in 2373, an encounter with the 29th century timeship Aeon threw Voyager back to an alternate 1996. History was set right when Captain Janeway destroyed the timeship before it could travel to the future and accidentally cause a temporal explosion. Voyager was returned to the correct time by an alternate version of the Aeon from the correct timeline.


Temporal Cold War

The events of the Temporal Cold War further complicate the understanding of Federation time travel capabilities.


As early as the 26th century, historians and anthropologists used "Time-travel pods" to travel through time to observe historical events. Crewman Daniels, an alleged time traveler from the 31st century, used a Time Travel pod to show Jonathan Archer a group of time-traveling anthropologists from 2769 observing the building of the pyramids of Giza. As of the 29th century, a time traveling faction represented by a "mysterious individual" could only communicate and exchange information and technologies through time, appearing as a non-corporeal entities. By the 31st century, this technology was perfected to allow physical travel.


According to Daniels, all time travelers were bound by the observance of strict procedures set forth in the Temporal Accords. Daniels stated that the Temporal Accords were enacted after time travel was developed by all time travel–capable species to prevent catastrophic tampering with the timeline.


By 2153, the Sphere Builders, a group previously thought to possess the ability to examine alternate timelines, sent Xindi-Reptilians back to 21st century Detroit to develop a bioweapon to destroy the Human race.

Ultimately, the war ended when the Na'kuhl returned from an alternate 1944 (created by their very actions) and caused the Cold War to go hot with time-travelers changing time as they liked. Daniels brought Enterprise and Archer back to 1944 to stop Vosk, leader of the Nak'uhl, from returning to the future. With the help of a member of another faction of the Temporal Cold War, Archer shut off Vosk's compound's shields, allowing Enterprise to destroy it and thus destroying the temporal conduit and killing Vosk just as he was about to travel back to the future.


Known Methods

Paradoxes

See also

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