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Later that year, the Enterprise left the galaxy when [[Larry Marvick]], driven mad by the sight of [[Ambassador]] [[Kollos]], sought to escape his tormenting visions. During that excursion, no one was affected in the same manner as Mitchell just three years earlier; presumably, improvements in shielding technology prevented a repeat of that tragedy. ([[TOS]]: "[[Is There in Truth No Beauty?]]") |
Later that year, the Enterprise left the galaxy when [[Larry Marvick]], driven mad by the sight of [[Ambassador]] [[Kollos]], sought to escape his tormenting visions. During that excursion, no one was affected in the same manner as Mitchell just three years earlier; presumably, improvements in shielding technology prevented a repeat of that tragedy. ([[TOS]]: "[[Is There in Truth No Beauty?]]") |
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| + | ==See also== |
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| + | *[[Beyond the Galactic Edge, Humanity's Quest for Infinity]] |
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Revision as of 14:53, 4 November 2005
USS Enterprise approaches the galactic barrier.
The Galactic barrier is an energy field that surrounds the Milky Way Galaxy. Appearing as a purple/pink band of energy, the barrier has been encountered on several occasions by Earth and Starfleet vessels.
The barrier was first encountered in 2065 by the SS Valiant, when that ship was swept off course and into the barrier by a magnetic storm. Subsequent events resulted in the destruction of the Valiant and the loss of all hands, leaving the barrier's formal discovery to wait two hundred more years.
In 2265, the USS Enterprise under command of Captain Kirk discovered the recorder-marker ejected by the Valiant. Decoding its message, they retraced the Valiant's path and were almost destroyed. The barrier was found to have a negative density, negative radiation, and negative energy. It did not register at all on the Enterprise's sensors, although the ship's deflectors did react to it.
Entering the barrier was extremely hazardous. Shields could not block all of the energies of the barrier; the leakage was sufficient to damage systems (warp drive was particularly vulnerable) and cause physiological changes in certain individuals, typically those with high esper ratings. Most of these die of brain damage, but individuals with the very highest potential can survive, and are altered. They develop psionic powers, and in at least one case, a "god complex"; their perspective is either altered by the radiation, or by their power. They view their former friends and ship-mates as lower life forms. This transformation is known to have happened at least three times, with the best known example being Gary Mitchell. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")
In 2268, Kelvans from the Andromeda Galaxy entered the galaxy. Their ship was damaged by the barrier despite their extremely advanced technology. (TOS: "By Any Other Name")
Later that year, the Enterprise left the galaxy when Larry Marvick, driven mad by the sight of Ambassador Kollos, sought to escape his tormenting visions. During that excursion, no one was affected in the same manner as Mitchell just three years earlier; presumably, improvements in shielding technology prevented a repeat of that tragedy. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")