"Star Trek Enterprise" is officially authorized by the studio that it is canon (of which I agree with). However, I also believe "Enterprise" broke previous Trek canon, though. Now, whether you agree with me or not, I personally think that you would have to take previous Trek series episodes out of their original context or meaning (when they first aired) in order for Enterprise to fit normally within the Prime Universe or the Core Star Trek Time Line (Please check out the link at the bottom of this post for a further explanation).
However, lucky for me there is enough bread crumbs sprinkled about within "Enterprise" and the film "First Contact" to explain Enterprise as some kind of Unexplained First Contact Time Line and or Temporal Cold War Time Line.
Here is a list that I came up with...
Reasons why I think Enterprise is an Alternate Time Line:
1. Regeneration & Picard & Crew's Influence in First Contact:
In ENT's "Regeneration", after a bit of research, Archer tells T'Pol that Dr. Zefram Cochrane spoke of a group of cybernetic creatures from the future who had intended to "enslave the Human race" during his first warp test flight. These creatures had tried to prevent the flight, but were stopped by a group of Humans, who were also from the future. In other words, this episode makes it is very clear that Star Trek: Enterprise is clearly a First Contact Time Line.
Now, in the movie "First Contact" - Cochran's and Lily's view of themselves has been changed when Picard and crew show them future technology and tell them of a future in which they live in. This would in effect: change both of the decisions Lily and Cochrane normally would have made in the original time line (that was not altered yet). In fact, I theorize that the very changes within this new altered time line (on Enterprise) is that Lily and Cochran both pushed for advancements in cutting edge technology and space travel. Which would in effect be the very reason why we see phase pistols (phasers) and photonic cannons and not nuclear missiles on starships. Even the MACO's could have came about because of Lily, too. She now knew of the harsh dangers such as the Borg and could have very well influenced the military into creating a special elite group that could assist Starfleet (in dire or desperate situations).
The question remains is: do you believe that the various series and films you seen prior before the film "First Contact" to be an already previously Altered First Contact TIme Line, or was it the Original Time Line that had not been altered yet?
It depends on your interpretation or your belief on time travel of course.
However, seeing there were some serious canonical differences or questions that were raised between Enterprise and the other Trek series (which happened later); it is pretty safe to assume that the events we see before First Contact the film was within the Original Core Trek Time Line (that had
not been altered, influenced, and or changed yet).
2. Temporal Cold War:
The Temporal Cold War was established on day one on "Star Trek: Enterprise" and it was a long drawn out story arc that was stretched out through out the bulk of the series. Granted, nothing was ever explained properly about the Temporal Cold War or what it was about in any real detail; however, it existed within the series none the less.
In fact, there are some that believe that the Temporal Cold War had later seized to exist and didn't have any real effect on the time line. However, if you were to look at the episodes, "Carpenter Street", "Storm Front Part 2", and "Home" we discover that the time line of Enterprise was indeed changed or effected in some way. We learn from Daniels that the Xindi attack on Earth was
not supposed to have happened in the first place. Yet, after the Temporal Cold War was coming to an end, we learn that: Archer, his crew, and the entire planet of Earth had still been effected and retained knowledge of the Xindi attack. In other words, this would suggest that the events we see in Enterprise's 4th Season are events that still took place within the wake of the Temporal Cold War (or altered time line).
Furthermore, although this is not concrete proof: the fact that the Xindi Attack had never been mentioned before in any of the other previous Trek series is also an indication that Enterprise is not really a part of the Core Trek Time Line, but an altered time line.
3. Series looks like it is in the 24th Century and not the 22nd Century:
JJ Abram's film did a great job in showing us that his time line took place within the 23rd Century. However, on "Star: Enterprise" (which took place in the 22nd Century): things looked too similar to the 24th Century. I mean, just look at the technology of how it progresses within our world. Our technology has continued to make incredible leaps and so far it has only taken decades and not centuries to do so. Granted, there could be a reason for the stagnation of technology between the 22nd and 23rd centuries, but we should be told about such a thing (or an event) if such a thing happened (Please check out the link at the bottom of this post for a further explanation).
4. Canon is either broken or put into serious question or debate:
Enterprise was not guilty of minor throw away lines or some play on words involving warp drive like other Trek series. Enterprise put into question very serious issues with the Star Trek Universe that rocked the very foundation of what this series was trying to be (which was a prequel series). Essentially, these violations put into question on whether or not Enterprise fit within the Core Trek Time Line. For a complete list of canon violations, (please check out the link at the bottom of this post).
5. These Are The Voyages:
"These Are The Voyages" appeared to be an attempt at inserting "Star Trek: Enterprise" into the Core Trek Time Line. However, things went horribly wrong and "These are the Voyages" and "Pegasus" doesn't match up at all. In fact, there are quite a few scenes that provide evidence to this. However, the big one is that at the end of TATV, we see Riker is ready to talk with Captain Picard after his little holodeck lesson. Where as in TNG's "Pegasus", we see that Riker was only influenced to reveal the truth to Picard after the Romulans had put the ship in danger.
Anyways, if you are interested in checking out my list of canon violations on Enterprise and other related thoughts about the show. Please click here...
http://trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=3997372&postcount=224
Thank you.
Side Note:
Oh, and I am not interested in getting into a great taste / less filling type debate over this either. If you feel I have made an error and can convince me of it, please by all means tell me intelligently and with kindness and respect. Also, if you don't explain yourself properly, or misunderstand me (constantly), or have no interest in backing up your debate with searchable sources, please don't reply or know that I might put my "
shields up and ignore all hails" function on you.
Sources:
http://www.mjyoung.net/time/stcontac.html
