10 Principles for the investigation (Investigation into stardates)
Description
This article is from the Stardates in Star Trek FAQ, by Andrew Main zefram@dcs.warwick.ac.uk with numerous contributions by others.
10 Principles for the investigation (Investigation into stardates)
Since there must be some basis for a system, the following will be assumed, in
decreasing order of importance:
1. Nothing will be arbitrary, unless it is unavoidable. The idea is that
anyone working from the same data, using the same principles, will come to the
same conclusion.
2. Stardates occur in the `right' order. That is, the stardate will always
increase numerically in the direction of advancing time. From time to time it
will be necessary for the stardate to be reset to zero, but only on a finite
set of occasions. On the principle that the system be as simple as possible,
this set should be as small as possible.
3. Stardates will, in general, increase at a constant rate relative to the
Federation Timebase. From time to time this rate may vary, but only on a
finite set of occasions. On the principle that the system be as simple as
possible, this set should be as small as possible.
4. Stardate rates will be round numbers relative to Terran phenomena such as
days or years.
Given the above assumptions -- and working by the principle that the system
should be as simple as possible -- what follows is the investigation of the
stardate system. ST:TOS stardates will be discussed first; the ST:TNG
stardates can be added to the system later (and relatively easily). Note:
unless otherwise stated, all stardates specified are exact. As discussed in
the previous section, Terran times given are necessarily approximate.
The system worked out below does not attempt to explain known writing errors.
Just as Data's remark in "Encounter at Farpoint" ("Starfleet class of '78...")
is commonly ignored, errors of stardate such as those in "Dark Page" are
ignored here. Verbal bloopers are also ignored, naturally. Also, because of
their irreconcilable inconsistency, stardates other than the main one for each
episode must be ignored.
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