Obal DaKar, a research scientist is born on Trill. He will be Dakar's second host, providing a witty and somewhat acerbic aspect to DaKar's personality.
Verbal account given by Jodell DaKar. During a zhian'tara ritual, Obal was "played" by Ulysses Murdock, being rather reminiscent of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor Who. ("The Six of Me") MM
1938
November 1. Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems is incorporated in Grover's Mill, New Jersey, United States of America. This rather oddball, iconoclastic company is actually composed of some of the finest scientific minds of the Free World and will, in the coming decades, be responsible for great advances in space flight technology, far outstripping the efforts of both the Soviet Union and the United States. Ironically, its incorporation comes one day after Orson Welles' groundbreaking and frightening radio play The War of the Worlds.
Yeah, yeah, I know. This is directly lifted from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension. However, there is background for this: in "Up The Long Ladder" the computer record listing the Mariposa says that it is a DY-500 type and built by Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems. Keep reading; I do have an end in mind. Trust me. MM
1945
Kenji Onada, a flier in the Imperial Japanese Navy, volunteers to be a suicidal "kamikaze" pilot, as the war against the United States grows increasingly desperate. Kenji, however, fails to die on his run, and manages to swim to a deserted island, where he lives for the next thirty years, hiding from the world to conceal his shame. An American traveler, however, comes upon him and convinces him to return home, regardless of the result. Finding his eldest brother, now the Master of Onada, Kenji asks his forgiveness. The Master absolves his brother and welcomes him back home. In time, Kenji succeeds his brother as Master of Onada.
From the history of the House of Onada, in a verbal account by Francisco Cumberland. ("Space Case") MM
1957
The future Ulysses Murdock adopts the identity of a television writer. He creates a science-fiction television series called The Scourge of the Spaceways. He describes it as "an interesting lark."
"Journal" Verbal account, although some video records of The Scourge of the Spaceways survive into the twenty-fourth century. It was "brought to you by Blue Hunkies," and featured the adventures of Captain John Sterling in his battles against the evil Galactic Overlord. No, I don't know if there are t-shirts or technical manuals. MM
1976
July 20. The Viking I lander successfully touches down on the Martian surface in the southern portion of the Chryse Planetia. For the next 20 years, its findings on the absence of life on Mars would be taken as fact.
Historical accounts.
1977
Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems finishes its reusable orbiting spacecraft, several years ahead of the United States' space shuttle. The orbiter is able to convey commercial satellites and even a few private passengers into space. Several large corporations and even a few motion picture studios pay large licensing fees for use of the orbiter, making Yoyodyne the first non-governmental entity to profit from space, and incidentally push back the frontiers of the universe.
Date is conjecture. I picked it because this was the year Star Wars was released but it does make sense that as the U.S. government had severely cut back its space program in the 1970s, someone had to take up the slack, else a DY-100 spacecraft could not have been launched in 1996. MM
1988
July 12. The probe Phobos 2 is launched from the Soviet Union. Its mission is to gather information on the Martian moon, Phobos. It is lost in March of 1989 near that moon.
Historical accounts
1989
"World War III." United States Army Colonel Jacob Caffey is ordered to investigate the disappearance of a U.S. National Guard patrol that was on training maneuvers in Alaska. Upon further investigation, his unit discovers a Soviet Desaunt [Pathfinder] Unit sent there to destroy a section of the Alaskan oil pipeline by launching floatation charges into it from a pumping station.
Caffey, along with the few guardsmen from the original training unit that were left, was able to stop the Desaunt unit at the pumping station. Caffey attempted to call a truce with the Soviet commander on the grounds that this was not their fight, but that of their respective governments at home. The Russian colonel eventually ‘surrendered’, but unfortunately was killed along with Colonel Caffey, and almost everyone else, when a hand-grenade was tossed into the room by the Russian commander's adjutant who wanted nothing more than to win… at any cost.
During this encounter, the United States and Soviet Union were on the brink of escalating a minor territorial conflict into full thermonuclear war. Fortunately, the war never happened, the Desaunt unit was allowed to return home, and no mention of the ‘incident’ was ever made to the public.
Colonel Caffey was survived by his daughters, Lori and Denise, and his son John [Jake Caffey's great-great-great grandfather]. This story became somewhat of a legend with the Caffey family, and Jake Caffey always wished, [and sometimes still does], that he could have known that man of long ago. He always tries to pattern his life the way he believes his great-great-great-great grandfather used to be.
Biography of Jake Caffey. Dates are conjectural.
Note: This is taken from the Universal Television mini-series "World War III," first broadcast in 1982 on NBC. It was directed by David Greene & Boris Sagal and written by Robert L. Joseph. It starred David Soul as Colonel Caffey and Rock Hudson as the President. This just goes to show that good characters can come from anywhere. SPS
1990
Yoyodyne begins work on the DY-100, the first true interplanetary spacecraft. Perhaps out of spite, the major world governments express no interest and offer no help in the development of what could be one of man's greatest achievements. However, several corporations contribute efforts toward cryogenically suspending the crew of the spacecraft, to facilitate travel to the outer planets.
Date is conjecture, but it would make sense to have a six-year head start on the launch of the Botany Bay. MM
1992
September 25. The probe Mars Observer, is launched from the United States. It is lost just before Mars arrival on August 21, 1993. This is another devastating blow to NASA's efforts to mount a manned Mars mission.
Historical accounts
1994
The extraterrestrial-trained human known as Gary Seven is reassigned possibly due to his advanced age. Gary Seven is replaced by Operative 609 code-named Harry Steen, whose cover is that of a deputy director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Steen eventually recruits a special agent named Samuel Edward Makin, whom he knows to be the quasi-immortal son of Ahkarin. The two successfully complete a number of assignments that ultimately benefit mankind and enable it to fulfill its potential.
"Journal" although Steen actually makes his first appearance in "Time Seed," where, in retrospect, "Makin" is conspicuous by his absence. Was Steen keeping our boy out of the picture, knowing that he would be a Starfleet captain four centuries down the line? Could be... In any case, the date of Seven's reassignment is meant to coincide with the death of actor Robert Lansing, who played Seven in "Assignment Earth [TOS]. MM
1996
NASA confirms that they have found a meteorite from Mars that may contain microbes from that planet. This will rekindle the flame to explore the Red Planet.
Historical accounts
Soon after the end of the Eugenics Wars, eighty-four of the genetically-enhanced "supermen," having been soundly defeated by their enemies and deposed from ruling various Third-World countries, are secretly captured by Harry Steen. He has an idea of getting them off Earth, but lacks the resources to transport so many of them covertly. Fortuitously, the Federation starship Intrepid II arrives from the twenty-third century due to a freak temporal anomaly.
Despite initial mutual suspicions and acrimony, Steen and the Starfleet officers are able to spirit the "supermen," led by Khan Noonien Singh, onto an experimental DY-100 interplanetary ship, the Botany Bay, which had been outfitted as a "sleeper" ship, and launch the vessel into space. (Due to Steen's advanced neurotechnology, Khan and his followers would subsequently believe that the escape route was entirely their idea, and would have no recollection of any outside aid.) After helping the Intrepid crew return to their own time, Steen buries all records of the Botany Bay's launch. This enables the human race to move past the recent tragedy of the Eugenics War.
"Time Seed." This effectively functions as the backstory for "Space Seed" MM
September 12. The Mars Pathfinder mission is launched. It lands on July 4, 1997 in Ares Vallis. Its rover, Sojourner will send back a wealth of information on the Red Planet until we lose contact with it on October 7, 1997 due to the cold Martian nights.
Historical accounts. More unmanned missions will be launched through 2005 and more data will be gathered. SPS
The 20th Century
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