Several films and episodes of the
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
franchise ''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...
'' are set in distinct
astrographical regions of
space
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider ...
. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones under various fictional political accords.
This list describes some of the more significant settings for ''Star Trek'' films or story arcs over multiple television episodes.
Badlands
The Badlands comprise an area of space that appears (or is referenced) in episodes of ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' and ''
Star Trek: Voyager''.
Located in ''Star Trek''s Alpha Quadrant, the Badlands are characterized by constant
plasma
Plasma or plasm may refer to:
Science
* Plasma (physics), one of the four fundamental states of matter
* Plasma (mineral), a green translucent silica mineral
* Quark–gluon plasma, a state of matter in quantum chromodynamics
Biology
* Blood pla ...
storms and
funnel cloud
A funnel cloud is a funnel-shaped cloud of condensed water droplets, associated with a rotating column of wind and extending from the base of a cloud (usually a cumulonimbus or towering cumulus cloud) but not reaching the ground or a water su ...
s.
The
Maquis
Maquis may refer to:
Resistance groups
* Maquis (World War II), predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance
* Spanish Maquis, guerrillas who fought against Francoist Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War
* The network ...
use it in several episodes as a meeting or hiding place because of its treacherous navigation.
It is also known to harbor some planets hidden within the clouds and nebulae.
In "
Caretaker
Caretaker may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''The Caretaker'' (film), a 1963 adaptation of the play ''The Caretaker''
* '' The Caretakers'', a 1963 American film set in a mental hospital
* Caretaker, a character in the 1974 film '' ...
", the pilot episode of ''Star Trek: Voyager'', the
titular starship pursues a Maquis ship into the Badlands before being pushed by an energy wave to the
Delta Quadrant
Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek'' are set in distinct astrographical regions of space. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones ...
.
The Badlands are also mentioned in the computer game ''
Star Trek: Armada II,'' where the
Borg
The Borg are an alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe. The Borg are Cyborg, cybernetic organisms (cyborgs) linked in a Group mind (science fiction), hive mind called "the Collective". The Borg ...
build up forces in that area close to the
Federation
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
.
Bajoran wormhole
In the fictional ''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...
'' universe, the Bajoran
wormhole
A wormhole (Einstein-Rosen bridge) is a hypothetical structure connecting disparate points in spacetime, and is based on a special Solutions of the Einstein field equations, solution of the Einstein field equations.
A wormhole can be visualize ...
is a
spatial anomaly
Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek'' are set in distinct astrographical regions of space. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones ...
located within (''
DS9'' S1Ep2: "
Emissary (Part 2)") of the planet
Bajor
The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , ) are a fictional species in the science-fiction '' Star Trek'' franchise. They are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor, who have a long-standing enmity with the Cardassians, o ...
. It appears as an aperture of swirling golden-white light surrounded by blue clouds, which appears whenever a vessel approaches or exits from it and disappears again afterwards. The wormhole can only be traversed by ships traveling at impulse (sub-light speed) velocities.
The Bajoran wormhole is discovered in the
first episode
A series premiere is the first aired installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. In the United States, many series premieres are aired in the fall time or, for mid-season replacements, either in the spring or ...
of ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. It is found to connect the Bajor-B'Hava'el system in the
Alpha Quadrant
Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek'' are set in distinct astrographical regions of space. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones ...
to the Idran system in the
Gamma Quadrant
Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek'' are set in distinct astrographical regions of space. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones ...
, which are seventy thousand
light-year
A light-year, alternatively spelled light year, is a large unit of length used to express astronomical distances and is equivalent to about 9.46 trillion kilometers (), or 5.88 trillion miles ().One trillion here is taken to be 1012 ...
s apart. Due to the strategic importance of such a phenomenon, the
Deep Space Nine space station is moved out of
Bajor
The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , ) are a fictional species in the science-fiction '' Star Trek'' franchise. They are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor, who have a long-standing enmity with the Cardassians, o ...
's orbit and repositioned from the wormhole, where it acts as a gateway.
Starfleet
Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduc ...
Commander
Benjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise portrayed by Avery Brooks. He first appeared in the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') and became prominent on the TV show in the United ...
and Lieutenant
Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, is a fictional character from the science-fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''.
Jadzia Dax is a joined Trill. Though she appears to be a young woman, Jadzia lives in symbiosis with a lo ...
are the first people to make contact with the wormhole's mysterious creators, who dwell inside it. Though these incorporeal beings are simply referred to as "wormhole aliens" by the
Federation
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
, they are revered as
Prophets
In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the su ...
in the Bajoran religion, and the wormhole itself is referred to as the "Celestial Temple". It is these "Prophets" who provided the Orb-like energy artifacts (or "
Tears of the Prophets
"Tears of the Prophets" is the 26th and final episode of the sixth season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 150th episode overall. It was first broadcast in broadcast syndication in the Unit ...
") to the Bajorans, and these mystical artifacts are the basis of Bajoran religion. Via one of the Orbs, the wormhole is closed by one of the
Pah Wraiths
The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , ) are a fictional species in the science-fiction ''Star Trek'' franchise. They are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor, who have a long-standing enmity with the Cardassians, owi ...
, malevolent non-corporeal beings who are enemies of the Prophets. The wormhole is later restored via an additional Orb discovered by Sisko, who is prophesied to be the Prophets' Emissary.
The Briar Patch
Regions called the ''Briar Patch'' feature in more than one series.
Briar Patch in ''Star Trek: Insurrection''
The Briar Patch is a
nebula
A nebula ('cloud' or 'fog' in Latin; pl. nebulae, nebulæ or nebulas) is a distinct luminescent part of interstellar medium, which can consist of ionized, neutral or molecular hydrogen and also cosmic dust. Nebulae are often star-forming regio ...
in sector 441 in the ''Star Trek'' universe. It was first introduced in the 1998 film ''
Star Trek: Insurrection''. While the nebula's visual characteristics are reminiscent of astronomical photographs, many of its more interesting properties were invented to support the film's storyline.
Located in
Federation
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
territory, the Briar Patch is a region of space that starships usually avoid; various radiation sources and energy fluctuations impair communications systems, making it difficult for vessels inside the nebula to make contact with those outside the nebula. Cloud pockets of "metreon gas", a highly volatile substance of unknown composition, make travel through the nebula difficult as well;
warp drives cannot be used, and even
impulse drive
Impulse or Impulsive may refer to:
Science
* Impulse (physics), in mechanics, the change of momentum of an object; the integral of a force with respect to time
* Impulse noise (disambiguation)
* Specific impulse, the change in momentum per un ...
s are undermined.
The planet featured in ''
Star Trek: Insurrection'' is a class-M world; it is unusual for its possession of an intricate planetary ring system. The
Ba'ku have established a colony on the surface, where the colonists rejected most forms of advanced technology and attempted to create a
utopia
A utopia ( ) typically describes an imaginary community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members. It was coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book ''Utopia (book), Utopia'', describing a fictional ...
n society. Some time after their arrival, the colonists discovered that "metaphasic radiation" from the Briar Patch has become concentrated in the planet's rings, continually rejuvenating their genetic structure; unbeknownst to the outside universe, the Ba'ku planet is effectively a fountain of youth.
Briar Patch in ''Star Trek: Enterprise''
The Klingon system ''Klach D'Kel Brakt'' is also given the designation "Briar Patch" by Dr
Arik Soong
This is a list of recurring characters from the live-action science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', which originally aired on UPN between 2001 and 2005. The television show takes place in the 22nd century of the ''Star Trek' ...
in the ''
Star Trek: Enterprise
''Star Trek: Enterprise'', titled simply ''Enterprise'' for its first two seasons, is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It originally aired from September 26, 2001, to May 13, 2005 on Uni ...
'' episode "
The Augments
"The Augments" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', the eighty-second episode overall. It is the last of a three-story episode arc, preceded by " Borderland", and ...
". At least two inhabitable planets exist there; Soong and his band of Augments attempt to reach the system and use it as a hideout. In 2272, it was also the site of a dramatic
Romulan
The Romulans () are an extraterrestrial race in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They first appeared in the series ''Star Trek'' (1966–1969). They have appeared in most subsequent ''Star Trek'' releases, including '' The A ...
/
Klingon
The Klingons ( ; Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original ''Star Trek'' (''TOS'') series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids c ...
confrontation, which was led on the Klingon side by the future Dahar Master
Kor, who frequently re-enacts the battle with his fellow veterans and Dahar Masters,
Koloth and
Kang.
Delphic Expanse
The Delphic Expanse, commonly abbreviated as "the Expanse", is the setting for the entire
third season of ''Star Trek: Enterprise,'' first aired in 2003 and 2004.
The Expanse is about 2000 light years across, surrounded by thick
thermobaric
A thermobaric weapon, also called an aerosol bomb, a vacuum bomb or a fuel air explosive (FAE), is a type of explosive that uses oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion. The fuel–air explosive is one of the be ...
cloud
In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space. Water or various other chemicals may co ...
s. Its edge is located about 50
light-year
A light-year, alternatively spelled light year, is a large unit of length used to express astronomical distances and is equivalent to about 9.46 trillion kilometers (), or 5.88 trillion miles ().One trillion here is taken to be 1012 ...
s from
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
. It is the home of the previously unknown hostile races collectively known as the
Xindi, but the crew of the ''
Enterprise (NX-01)
''Enterprise NX-01'' is a fictional spaceship that appears in the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise''. It had the in-universe registration of NX-01 and appeared earlier in the franchise timeline than any other ...
'' discovers that the Xindi are being manipulated into their enmity by other forces with vested interests in the region.
Intense
gravitation
In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the stron ...
al distortions, similar to
quantum singularities, make travel through the Expanse extremely difficult, as it seems that space does not obey the known laws of
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
in this region. Travelers risk injury, disfigurement, and death if their vessels are not lined with the protective metal
Trellium-D
"Impulse" is the fifty-seventh episode of the American science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', the fifth episode of season three. The episode was written by story editor Jonathan Fernandez from a ...
.
Species native to the Expanse include the
Loque'eque, the
Skagarans, the Triannon, and the Xindi.
Featured locations of the Expanse include
Azati Prime
"Azati Prime" is the eighteenth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', the 70th overall. The episode was written by Manny Coto from a story developed by Coto, Rick Berman and Bran ...
, the Calindra system, Oran'taku, Triannon, and
Xindus.
History of the Expanse
Thousands of years ago, a number of
cloaked spheres the size of small moons were constructed throughout the Expanse by trans-dimensional beings as a prelude to invasion; their purpose was to alter the fabric of space in the region, to make it habitable for the
Sphere Builder
''Star Trek'' is a science fiction media franchise that began with Gene Roddenberry's launch of the original ''Star Trek'' television series in 1966. Its success led to decades of films, novels, comics, and spinoff series. A major motif of the ...
s. One area of the Expanse, 700 million kilometers wide and centrally located within a group of spheres, has already been distorted into a bubbling particle soup with an organic appearance. The spheres use
artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech re ...
and operate as a network, with several providing command functions.
Because the spheres are cloaked, their exact number is unknown. Triannons believe that there are thousands of spheres.
Xindi scientists, including
Degra
This is a list of recurring characters from the live-action science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', which originally aired on UPN between 2001 and 2005. The television show takes place in the 22nd century of the ''Star Trek' ...
, determined that there were at least 78 spheres.
The Triannons call the Expanse the "
Chosen Realm
"Chosen Realm" is the 12th episode from the third season of the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise''. The series's 64th episode, it first aired on January 14, 2004. ''Enterprise'' is taken over by a group of religious zealot ...
", and formed a
religion
Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...
around the spheres and the
mythology
Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...
of their creation.
In 2037, a temporally divergent
starship
A starship, starcraft, or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for interstellar travel, traveling between planetary systems.
The term is mostly found in science fiction. Reference to a "star-ship" appears as early as 188 ...
''
Enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterprise ...
'' from 2154 becomes stranded in the Expanse; it becomes a
generational ship
A generation ship, or generation starship, is a hypothetical type of interstellar ark starship that travels at sub-speed of light, light speed. Since such a ship might require hundreds to thousands of years to reach nearby stars, the original occ ...
, dedicated to countering the Xindi threat destined to arise in the 2150s.
In about 2133, a group of
Klingon
The Klingons ( ; Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original ''Star Trek'' (''TOS'') series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids c ...
s enter the Expanse, but return anatomically inverted (and still alive). Unsuccessful attempts to explore the region are also made by the
Vulcan
Vulcan may refer to:
Mythology
* Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...
ships ''
Seleya'' and ''
Vaankara''. The ''Seleya'' is later discovered with its crew driven mad due to exposure to
Trellium-D
"Impulse" is the fifty-seventh episode of the American science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', the fifth episode of season three. The episode was written by story editor Jonathan Fernandez from a ...
, and subsequently destroyed.
In about June 2153, the Earth
Starfleet
Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduc ...
ship
''Enterprise'' (NX-01) enters the Expanse to locate the Xindi. It is followed later in the year by the
Andorian
Andorians are a fictional race of humanoid extraterrestrials in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They were created by writer D. C. Fontana. Within the ''Star Trek'' narrative, they are native to the blue icy Class M moon, ...
ship ''Kumari''.
On February 13, 2154, the ''Enterprise'' destroys the network of Spheres, reverting the distorted space to its natural form, and gradually dissipating the thermobaric cloud barrier. The Expanse thus ceases to exist, becoming a normal, unthreatening region of space.
Although the ''Enterprise''
's Captain Jonathan Archer
Jonathan Archer is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. He is the protagonist of the television series ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', where he is portrayed by Scott Bakula.
Archer is the commanding officer of the first starship ' ...
is shown a possible timeline in which the Expanse becomes a major threat to the future
United Federation of Planets
In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'' the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly refe ...
, this eventuality appears to be eliminated by the successful destruction of the Spheres.
Galactic Barrier and Great Barrier
In the ''Star Trek'' universe, the Galactic Barrier (also referred to as the Great Barrier or Energy Barrier) is an energy field that surrounds the
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that includes our Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye ...
Galaxy. The field completely encompasses the galactic disk, preventing a conventional
starship
A starship, starcraft, or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for interstellar travel, traveling between planetary systems.
The term is mostly found in science fiction. Reference to a "star-ship" appears as early as 188 ...
from traveling beyond the edge of the galaxy. It is not clear whether the energy barrier is a natural or artificially created phenomenon.
Although numerous attempts to travel outside the galaxy are made, with various degrees of success, the barrier usually damages or destroys ships that try to pass through it. It also has psychoactive effects; some personnel gain powerful
telekinetic
Psychokinesis (from grc, ψυχή, , soul and grc, κίνησις, , movement, label=ㅤ), or telekinesis (from grc, τηλε, , far off and grc, κίνησις, , movement, label=ㅤ), is a hypothetical psychic ability allowing a person ...
and
telepathic
Telepathy () is the purported vicarious transmission of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was first coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic ...
abilities when traveling near the barrier (as seen in "
Where No Man Has Gone Before
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" is the third episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series, ''Star Trek''. Written by Samuel A. Peeples and directed by James Goldstone, it first aired on September 22, 1966.
In t ...
").
The barrier appears as a pink band of light and, upon entering it, a ship is surrounded by dazzling clouds of colorful energy. Inside the barrier, a ship's engines shut down and navigational systems become erratic.
The Galactic Barrier makes its first appearance in the original series episode "
Where No Man Has Gone Before
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" is the third episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series, ''Star Trek''. Written by Samuel A. Peeples and directed by James Goldstone, it first aired on September 22, 1966.
In t ...
", in which the crew of the
USS ''Enterprise'' must deal with those affected by the psychic powers of the field—as did the crew of the ill-fated SS ''Valiant,'' which encountered the same barrier two centuries earlier.
The barrier is encountered again in the episode "
Is There in Truth No Beauty?
"Is There in Truth No Beauty?" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek''. Written by Jean Lisette Aroeste and directed by Ralph Senensky, it was first broadcast on October 18, 1968. ...
", where the ''Enterprise'' becomes lost within the barrier and is saved by the astounding navigational skills of an alien passenger.
The barrier had also damaged an alien ship from outside the galaxy, as explained in the episode "
By Any Other Name
"By Any Other Name" is the 22nd episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by D.C. Fontana and Jerome Bixby (based on Bixby's story) and directed by Marc Daniels, it was first broadcast ...
", stranding the aliens until they try to steal the ''Enterprise'' and return to their home galaxy,
Andromeda.
A second barrier at the core of the Milky Way is first revealed in the motion picture ''
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier''. Being the only encounter ever shown, the only known reference is the "Great Barrier". This energy barrier at the core is thought to be impenetrable like the one at the edge of the galaxy; however, it is revealed that only mankind's natural fear of the unknown is keeping mankind from entering it.
;Non-canonical explanations
Various books try to explain the existence of the galactic barrier, although none of these are
canonical
The adjective canonical is applied in many contexts to mean "according to the canon" the standard, rule or primary source that is accepted as authoritative for the body of knowledge or literature in that context. In mathematics, "canonical example ...
:
* The series of novels known as ''
Star Trek: The Q Continuum'' explain the two barriers, stating that they were created by the Continuum 600,000 years ago, to keep one omnipotent being (known as "The One", which is the same alien encountered in ''Star Trek V: The Final Frontier'') sealed away at the center of the Galaxy, and to keep another (known as "0", whose powers can rival even the Q) locked out of the galaxy forever; this is due to both aliens' previous destructive rampages.
* In
William Shatner
William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1965 debut as the captain of the starship USS Enterpri ...
's novel ''Captain's Glory,'' Picard mentions the events of the ''Q Continuum'' trilogy, but states that the barrier was built by the proto-humanoids shown in "
The Chase" 4 billion years ago, to protect their "children" (the races they seeded across the galaxy) from a dark matter entity known as the Totality.
* The novel ''
Q-Squared
''Q-Squared'' (full title '' Star Trek: The Next Generation – Q-Squared'') is a non-canon '' Star Trek'' novel by Peter David. It spent five weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 1994.http://www.hawes.com/1994/1994-07-24.pdf
''Q- ...
'' reveals the Galactic Barrier to be
Q himself, in a time-tossed and temporally discorporated state.
Galactic quadrants
![Galactic Quadrant Star Trek](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Galactic_Quadrant_Star_Trek.png)
In the original ''Star Trek'', "quadrant" is used interchangeably with "sector". However, beginning with ''
Star Trek: The Next Generation'', the term refers to a
galactic coordinate system
The galactic coordinate system is a celestial coordinate system in spherical coordinates, with the Sun as its center, the primary direction aligned with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy, and the fundamental plane parallel to an ap ...
.
Galactic quadrants within ''Star Trek'' are based around a meridian that runs from the center of the galaxy through Earth's
Solar System
The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar S ...
,
which is not unlike the
system of quadrants used by non-fictional astronomers. However, rather than have the
perpendicular
In elementary geometry, two geometric objects are perpendicular if they intersect at a right angle (90 degrees or π/2 radians). The condition of perpendicularity may be represented graphically using the ''perpendicular symbol'', ⟂. It can ...
axis
An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to:
Mathematics
* Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis
*Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinate ...
run through the Sun, as is done in astronomy, the ''Star Trek'' version runs the axis through the
Galactic Center
The Galactic Center or Galactic Centre is the rotational center, the barycenter, of the Milky Way galaxy. Its central massive object is a supermassive black hole of about 4 million solar masses, which is called Sagittarius A*, a compact rad ...
. Also, rather than ordinals, quadrants are designated by the
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
letters
Alpha
Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , whic ...
,
Beta
Beta (, ; uppercase , lowercase , or cursive ; grc, βῆτα, bē̂ta or ell, βήτα, víta) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 2. In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labiod ...
,
Gamma
Gamma (uppercase , lowercase ; ''gámma'') is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. In Ancient Greek, the letter gamma represented a voiced velar stop . In Modern Greek, this letter re ...
, and
Delta
Delta commonly refers to:
* Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet
* River delta, at a river mouth
* D ( NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta")
* Delta Air Lines, US
* Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19
Delta may also ...
.
According to StarTrek.com, "if the great plane of the galaxy is viewed as a clock face and the 6 o'clock position bisects the Sol system" (when viewed from the galactic north pole), then the four fictional quadrants are as follows:
*Alpha Quadrant is the quarter appearing between 6 and 9 o'clock.
*Beta Quadrant is the quarter appearing between 3 and 6 o'clock.
*Gamma Quadrant is the quarter appearing between 9 and 12 o'clock.
*Delta Quadrant is the quarter appearing between 12 and 3 o'clock.
Alpha and Beta Quadrants
The Alpha Quadrant and the nearby areas of the Beta Quadrant comprise the primary setting of ''
Star Trek: The Original Series
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship and its crew. It later acquired the retronym of ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' (''TOS'') to distinguis ...
'', ''
Star Trek: The Next Generation'', ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', and ''
Star Trek: Enterprise
''Star Trek: Enterprise'', titled simply ''Enterprise'' for its first two seasons, is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It originally aired from September 26, 2001, to May 13, 2005 on Uni ...
''. According to the ''Encyclopedia'', the Federation is largely on the Alpha Quadrant side, but with parts in the Beta Quadrant, whereas the
Klingon
The Klingons ( ; Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original ''Star Trek'' (''TOS'') series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids c ...
and
Romulan
The Romulans () are an extraterrestrial race in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They first appeared in the series ''Star Trek'' (1966–1969). They have appeared in most subsequent ''Star Trek'' releases, including '' The A ...
Empires are mainly in the Beta Quadrant but extend in part into the Alpha Quadrant.
The ''Star Trek Star Charts'' have the Romulans and Klingons entirely within the Beta Quadrant, as well as the
Gorn Hegemony, the
Son'a Solidarity, and the
Metron Consortium. The ''Star Trek Star Charts'' further locate in the Alpha Quadrant the
First Federation,
Breen,
Ferengi
The Ferengi () are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They were devised in 1987 for the series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', played a prominent role in the following series '' St ...
,
Tzenkethi,
Cardassian
The Cardassians () are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the American science fiction franchise '' Star Trek''. They were devised in 1991 for the series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' before being used in the subsequent series '' S ...
s,
Bajoran
The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , ) are a fictional species in the science-fiction ''Star Trek'' franchise. They are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor, who have a long-standing enmity with the Cardassians, owi ...
s,
Talarian
Talarian was a provider of real-time infrastructure software. Now part of TIBCO, it was a veteran provider of message-oriented middleware.
Talarian was a member of the Business Integration Group (BIG), the Internet Protocol Multicast Initiative ( ...
s, and
Tholians.
''
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'' implies that the Alpha/Beta border runs through, or is relatively close to,
Federation
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
space. The ''
Star Trek Encyclopedia
''The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future'' is a 1994 encyclopedia of in-universe information from the ''Star Trek'' television series and films. It was written by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda, who were production staff on ...
'' attributes this decision to rationalize a line in ''
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'', in which
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius Kirk is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Originally played by Canadian actor William Shatner, Kirk first appeared in ''Star Trek'' serving aboard the starship USS ''Enterprise'' as captain. Kirk leads ...
claims that the ''Enterprise'' is the only Federation ship in the quadrant.
Maps produced by the art staff for the series show that the Alpha/Beta border runs through the Solar System.
The ''Star Trek Star Charts'' claim that the Beta Quadrant contains the core worlds
Vulcan
Vulcan may refer to:
Mythology
* Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...
(
40 Eridani),
Andoria
"Kir'Shara" is the ninth episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Enterprise''. It was writer Michael Sussman's third episode of the season, while it was director David Livingston's second. T ...
(
Procyon
Procyon () is the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Minor and usually the eighth-brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent visual magnitude of 0.34. It has the Bayer designation α Canis Minoris, which is Latinize ...
),
Risa Risa may refer to:
* Risa (given name), a feminine given name
* Risa (Star Trek), a fictional planet
* Radioiodinated serum albumin
* Recording Industry of South Africa
* Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer analysis
See also
*
*
* Rise (disambiguation) ...
, and the Rigel (
Beta Orionis
Rigel is a blue supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. It has the Bayer designation β Orionis, which is Latinized to Beta Orionis and abbreviated Beta Ori or β Ori. Rigel is the brightest and most massive componentand ...
) systems; the Alpha Quadrant contains
Tellar (
61 Cygni
61 Cygni is a binary star system in the constellation Cygnus, consisting of a pair of K-type dwarf stars that orbit each other in a period of about 659 years. Of apparent magnitude 5.20 and 6.05, respectively, they can be seen ...
),
Trill
TRILL (Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links) is an Internet Standard implemented by devices called TRILL switches. TRILL combines techniques from bridging and routing, and is the application of link-state routing to the VLAN-aware custom ...
, and
Betazed
''Star Trek'' is a science fiction media franchise that began with Gene Roddenberry's launch of the Star Trek: The Original Series, original ''Star Trek'' television series in 1966. Its success led to decades of films, novels, comics, and spinof ...
.
Gamma Quadrant
The
Dominion
The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire.
"Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...
, which is one of the most aggressive
antagonists
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist.
Etymology
The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, riv ...
in the ''Deep Space Nine '' TV series, control a large portion of the Gamma Quadrant. The Alpha Quadrant comes in contact with the Dominion through the
Bajoran wormhole, which is the setting and primary source of conflict in the series.
Delta Quadrant
Most of the information about the Delta Quadrant and its inhabitants comes from the series ''
Star Trek: Voyager''. This quadrant is largely unexplored by the
United Federation of Planets
In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'' the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly refe ...
, apart from the return voyage of the
USS ''Voyager'', the USS ''Equinox'', the
USS ''Raven'', briefly the
USS ''Enterprise''-D, and the Federation citizens assimilated into or de-assimilated from the Borg. The Delta Quadrant is home to the
Borg Collective
The Borg are an alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the '' Star Trek'' fictional universe. The Borg are cybernetic organisms (cyborgs) linked in a hive mind called "the Collective". The Borg co-opt the technology and knowled ...
,
the
Kazon
The Kazon () are a fictional alien race in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. Developed by '' Star Trek: Voyager'' series' co-creators Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor, the Kazon serve as the primary antagonists during the show's firs ...
, the
Vidiian
The Vidiians are a fictional alien race in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. Developed by '' Star Trek: Voyager'' series' co-creators Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor, they serve as recurring antagonists during the show's first two season ...
s, the Talaxians, the
Ocampa, the
Hirogen
''Star Trek'' is a science fiction media franchise that began with Gene Roddenberry's launch of the original ''Star Trek'' television series in 1966. Its success led to decades of films, novels, comics, and spinoff series. A major motif of the ...
, and the Malon.
Galactic Core
On some ''Star Trek'' maps of the center of the galaxy, the galactic core is regarded as its own area, not part of any of the four Quadrants. The Cytherians, from the ''Next Generation'' episode "
The Nth Degree," are located near this area. In ''
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier'', a "God"-being is encountered from within what is called the "
Great Barrier".
Nekrit Expanse
The Nekrit Expanse is a vast unpopulated
nebula
A nebula ('cloud' or 'fog' in Latin; pl. nebulae, nebulæ or nebulas) is a distinct luminescent part of interstellar medium, which can consist of ionized, neutral or molecular hydrogen and also cosmic dust. Nebulae are often star-forming regio ...
r region in the
Delta Quadrant
Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek'' are set in distinct astrographical regions of space. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones ...
, several thousand light years across. It is impossible to chart due to its constantly changing structure. As a result of its size, the Expanse functions as a natural barrier, limiting contact between species on either side of the cloud. The
USS ''Voyager'' enters the expanse in 2373.
Neutral Zone
In the ''Star Trek''
universe
The universe is all of space and time and their contents, including planets, stars, galaxies, and all other forms of matter and energy. The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological description of the development of the universe. Acc ...
, a neutral zone is a sort of "
buffer zone
A buffer zone is a neutral zonal area that lies between two or more bodies of land, usually pertaining to countries. Depending on the type of buffer zone, it may serve to separate regions or conjoin them.
Common types of buffer zones are demil ...
" between the territories of two different powers; if either party enters a neutral zone, it is considered an aggressive move (usually an act of
war
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
). In the course of the various series, the
Federation
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
develops two neutral zones: One with the
Klingon
The Klingons ( ; Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original ''Star Trek'' (''TOS'') series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids c ...
Empire and one with the
Romulan
The Romulans () are an extraterrestrial race in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They first appeared in the series ''Star Trek'' (1966–1969). They have appeared in most subsequent ''Star Trek'' releases, including '' The A ...
Star Empire; the generic term "the Neutral Zone" usually refers to the Romulan Neutral Zone. Also, a neutral zone in all but name exists between the Federation and the Cardassians.
Cardassian Demilitarized Zone
There is a Federation-
Cardassian
The Cardassians () are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the American science fiction franchise '' Star Trek''. They were devised in 1991 for the series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' before being used in the subsequent series '' S ...
demilitarized zone
A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or bounda ...
created at the end of hostilities between the two powers in the mid-24th century. The peace treaty ending the war and subsequent border adjustments result in several Federation worlds within the zone being ceded to the Cardassians. Militant Federation colonists called the ''
Maquis
Maquis may refer to:
Resistance groups
* Maquis (World War II), predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance
* Spanish Maquis, guerrillas who fought against Francoist Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War
* The network ...
'' form a
guerrilla militia to oppose the treaty and their new Cardassian administrators; they receive assistance from sympathetic Federation citizens, including several Starfleet officers, and from
Bajoran
The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , ) are a fictional species in the science-fiction ''Star Trek'' franchise. They are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor, who have a long-standing enmity with the Cardassians, owi ...
veterans of the long Cardassian occupation of Bajor. The DMZ ceases to exist at the outbreak of the
Dominion War
The Dominion War is an extended plot concept developed in several story arcs of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', an American science-fiction television series produced by Paramount Pictures. In the fictional ''Star Trek'' universe, the Dominion War ...
in 2373; the Maquis are subsequently eliminated as a functional resistance group by a joint Cardassian-Dominion task force.
Klingon Neutral Zone
The Klingon Neutral Zone, sometimes known as the
Organian
''Star Trek'' is a science fiction media franchise that began with Gene Roddenberry's launch of the original ''Star Trek'' television series in 1966. Its success led to decades of films, novels, comics, and spinoff series. A major motif of the ...
Neutral Zone, appears to be set up during the time of the ''
Star Trek: The Original Series
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship and its crew. It later acquired the retronym of ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' (''TOS'') to distinguis ...
''. Unlike the Romulan Neutral Zone, the Klingon Neutral Zone appears to have some commercial traffic crossing it.
The Organians are non-corporeal beings from the planet Organia IV, which is strategically situated between the Klingon Empire and the Federation. When both parties, thinking the Organians are a pre-industrial people, attempt to occupy their world, the Organians reveal their
posthuman
Posthuman or post-human is a concept originating in the fields of science fiction, futurology, contemporary art, and philosophy that means a person or entity that exists in a state beyond being human. The concept aims at addressing a variety of ...
nature and impose the Neutral Zone and a peace treaty between the two powers. In
Klingon
The Klingons ( ; Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original ''Star Trek'' (''TOS'') series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids c ...
, this treaty is known as ''orghenya' rojmab'' (
Organian Peace Treaty).
The zone is the site of the ''
Kobayashi Maru
The ''Kobayashi Maru'' is a training exercise in the ''Star Trek'' franchise designed to test the character of Starfleet Academy cadets in a no-win scenario. The ''Kobayashi Maru'' test was first depicted in the 1982 film '' Star Trek II: The W ...
'' scenario in the film ''
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan''.
The Klingon Neutral Zone is abolished by the
Khitomer Accords
''Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'' is a 1991 American science fiction film directed by Nicholas Meyer, who directed the second ''Star Trek'' film, ''Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Wrath of Khan''. It is the sixth feature film based ...
in 2293.
In ''
Star Trek Into Darkness
''Star Trek Into Darkness'' is a 2013 American science fiction action film directed by J. J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof. It is the 12th installment in the ''Star Trek'' franchise and the sequel to the 2 ...
'', set in an alternate reality, the USS ''Enterprise'' violates the Neutral Zone to capture
Khan Noonien Singh
Khan Noonien Singh is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' science fiction franchise, who first appeared as the main antagonist in the ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' episode "Space Seed" (1967), and was portrayed by Ricardo Montalbán ...
.
Romulan Neutral Zone
The Romulan Neutral Zone is established around 2160 or 2161 by the treaty of Algeron which ends the
Earth-Romulan War, and is still in effect at the end of ''
Star Trek Nemesis
''Star Trek: Nemesis'' is a 2002 American science fiction film directed by Stuart Baird. It is the tenth film in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, as well as the fourth and final film to star the cast of '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. It was wr ...
''. In the 2009 film
''Star Trek'' (specifically the events depicted in the year 2387),
Romulus
Romulus () was the legendary foundation of Rome, founder and King of Rome, first king of Ancient Rome, Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus ...
is destroyed when its star goes supernova. Like the Klingon Neutral Zone, any entry into the region by either party is considered an act of war; this is not violated until 2266, when the Romulans cross it, but a war is avoided nevertheless. The
''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701) crosses the Neutral Zone three times: Once to get to a
starbase quickly when the crew is suffering accelerated aging, once when it is commandeered by a group of disestablishmentarians in their quest for
paradise
In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...
, and once more when the Federation attempts to steal a Romulan
cloaking device
A cloaking device is a hypothetical or fictional stealth technology that can cause objects, such as spaceships or individuals, to be partially or wholly invisible to parts of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Fictional cloaking devices have bee ...
.
The Neutral Zone remains uncrossed during a period of extended Romulan
isolationism
Isolationism is a political philosophy advocating a national foreign policy that opposes involvement in the political affairs, and especially the wars, of other countries. Thus, isolationism fundamentally advocates neutrality and opposes entang ...
. In 2364, several Federation and Romulan outposts along their respective sides of the Neutral Zone are destroyed by unknown forces. The
''Enterprise''-D is ordered to investigate. While visiting some of the Federation sites, Captain Picard encounters a Romulan ship that has crossed the Neutral Zone. Each side suspects the other of being responsible for the attacks. This encounter between representatives of the Federation and the Romulan Empire—the first in over 60 years—ends peacefully. (These events occur in ''The Next Generation'' first-season episode "
The Neutral Zone".) It is determined several months later that the destruction was caused by the
Borg
The Borg are an alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe. The Borg are Cyborg, cybernetic organisms (cyborgs) linked in a Group mind (science fiction), hive mind called "the Collective". The Borg ...
. The following year, the USS ''Yamato'' crosses into the Neutral Zone to prevent the Romulans from finding the Iconian home world, an abandoned planet that contains highly advanced
technology
Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, science, ...
. In 2366, the Romulan scout ship ''Pi'' crashes just inside of Federation space, and a Romulan ship crosses over to recover survivors. Finally, in the same year, a Romulan defects to the Federation, breaching the Neutral Zone, warning of a secret plan to attack the Federation; the ''Enterprise''-D, along with three Klingon warships, in turn, cross the Neutral Zone to investigate the claim.
Subsequent covert incursions of the Neutral Zone include the Romulans' plan to invade
Vulcan
Vulcan may refer to:
Mythology
* Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...
using disguised Vulcan ships. An overt but lawful entry into the Neutral Zone occurs when the USS ''Bellerophon'' participates in a Federation–Romulan conference on Romulus during the
Dominion War
The Dominion War is an extended plot concept developed in several story arcs of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', an American science-fiction television series produced by Paramount Pictures. In the fictional ''Star Trek'' universe, the Dominion War ...
.
In ''
Star Trek Nemesis
''Star Trek: Nemesis'' is a 2002 American science fiction film directed by Stuart Baird. It is the tenth film in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, as well as the fourth and final film to star the cast of '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. It was wr ...
'', Shinzon lies that he wishes to take down the zone as part of his ultimately failed plot to destroy Earth and the rest of the Federation.
Following the destruction of Romulus in 2387, the Romulan Empire collapsed. With no formal government to enforce the treaty, the Romulan Neutral Zone ceased to exist.
Stardust City Rag (Star Trek: Picard)
in the Internet Movie Database
IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...
Sector 001
Sector 001 is the Federation designation for the area of space that contains the Solar System
The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar S ...
. The term "Sector 001" is used in the ''Next Generation'' episode " The Best of Both Worlds".
Spatial anomaly
In ''Star Trek'' and other science fiction, a spatial anomaly (or, often, a sub-space anomaly) is a broad term for any sort of extraordinary disruption in the space-time continuum
In physics, spacetime is a mathematical model that combines the three dimensions of space and one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional manifold. Spacetime diagrams can be used to visualize relativistic effects, such as why differ ...
. It may take the form of irregularities in gravity
In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the stro ...
, ripples in space
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider ...
that can damage equipment
Equipment most commonly refers to a set of tools or other objects commonly used to achieve a particular objective. Different job
Work or labor (or labour in British English) is intentional activity people perform to support the needs and ...
and personnel
Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any othe ...
, alterations in the laws of physics
Scientific laws or laws of science are statements, based on repeated experiments or observations, that describe or predict a range of natural phenomena. The term ''law'' has diverse usage in many cases (approximate, accurate, broad, or narrow) a ...
, and areas of disruption inimical to the human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...
brain.
The Delphic Expanse
Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek'' are set in distinct astrographical regions of space. Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones ...
was rife with such distortions generated by spheres which reconfigured space to resemble the Sphere Builders' transdimensional realm.
Other episodes featuring spatial anomalies are "Disaster
A disaster is a serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources ...
", which features two quantum filaments that temporarily cripple the ''Enterprise'', the series finale
A series finale is the final installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. It may also refer to a final theatrical sequel, the last part of a television miniseries, the last installment of a literary series, or ...
of '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (in which the USS ''Enterprise''-D encounters a "multiphasic temporal convergence in the spacetime continuum
In physics, spacetime is a mathematical model that combines the three dimensions of space and one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional manifold. Spacetime diagrams can be used to visualize relativistic effects, such as why diffe ...
", caused by "an eruption of anti-time"), and " One Small Step" (in which the USS ''Voyager'' discovers a rare "graviton
In theories of quantum gravity, the graviton is the hypothetical quantum of gravity, an elementary particle that mediates the force of gravitational interaction. There is no complete quantum field theory of gravitons due to an outstanding mathem ...
ellipse
In mathematics, an ellipse is a plane curve surrounding two focus (geometry), focal points, such that for all points on the curve, the sum of the two distances to the focal points is a constant. It generalizes a circle, which is the special ty ...
").
References
{{Star Trek
Regions of space
Regions of space
Fictional astronomical locations
Fictional regions
Star Trek regions of Space