FusionRuhnHISTORIAN'S TIMELINE

2061 Zefram Cochrane returns to Earth's solar system
after the first successful faster-than-light voyage
to Alpha Centauri.

2079 Earth endures the Post-Atomic Horror as it recov-
ers from World War III.

2117 At the age of 87, Zefram Cochrane leaves his home
in the Alpha Centauri system and disappears in
space.

2161 In the aftermath of the Romulan Wars, the Federa-
tion is incorporated and Starfleet is chartered.

2267 In the second year of Captain James T. Kirk's first
five-year mission aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise
NCC-1701, Kirk and his crew discover the Guard-
ian of Forever. In the third year, Kirk, Spock, Dr.
McCoy, and Federation Commissioner Nancy Hed-
ford encounter Zefram Cochrane and the Compan-
ion. Later that year, Ambassador Sarek comes
aboard for passage to the Babel Conference.

2269-70 Following the completion of the first five-year mis-
sion, Kirk is promoted to admiral; Dr. McCoy and
Spock retire from Starfleet.

2295 The Excelsior-class U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-
1701-B is launched from spacedock on its maiden
voyage.

2366 In the third year of Captain Jean-Luc Picard's
ongoing mission aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise
NCC-1701-D, Ambassador Sarek comes aboard
for passage to Legara IV. Several weeks later, the
Borg attack Federation territory for the first time.

2371 Captain Picard returns to Earth's solar system
following the incident at Veridian III.

Rest enough for the individual man, too much and too
soon, and we call it death. But for man, no rest and no
ending. He must go on, conquest beyond conquest.
First this little planet and all its winds and ways, and
then all the laws of mind and matter that restrain him.
Then the planets about him, and, at last, out across
immensities to the stars. And when he has conquered
all the deep space, and all the myswries of time, still he
will be beginning.

--H. G. Wells
Things to Come
1936




PROLOGUE

ON THE EDGE OF
FOREVER



ELLISON RESEARCH OUTPOST
Stardate 9910.1
Earth Standard: Late September 2295