Watching the Clock is a Star Trek novel by Christopher L. Bennett, published by Pocket Books in 2011. The novel is the first in the Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations series.
Description
- There's likely no more of a thankless job in the Federation than temporal investigation. While starship explorers get to live the human adventure of traveling to other times and realities, it's up to the dedicated agents of the Federation Department of Temporal Investigations to deal with the consequences to the timestream that the rest of the Galaxy has to live with day by day. But when history as we know it could be wiped out at any moment by time warriors from the future, misused relics of ancient races, or accident-prone starships, only the most disciplined, obsessive, and unimaginative government employees have what it takes to face the existential uncertainty of it all on a daily basis . . . and still stay sane enough to complete their assignments.
- That's where Agents Lucsly and Dulmur come in—stalwart and unflappable, these men are the Federation's unsung anchors in a chaotic universe. Together with their colleagues in the DTI—and with the help and sometimes hindrance of Starfleet's finest—they do what they can to keep the timestream, or at least the paperwork, as neat and orderly as they are. But when a series of escalating temporal incursions threatens to open a new front of the history-spanning Temporal Cold War in the twenty-fourth century, Agents Lucsly and Dulmur will need all their investigative skill and unbending determination to stop those who wish to rewrite the past for their own advantage, and to keep the present and the future from devolving into the kind of chaos they really, really hate.
Summary
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I
- Stardate 58188.4 - 58193.8
At the San Francisco branch of the Department of Temporal Investigations, Special Agent George Faunt suffers a breakdown, and holds researcher Rani Mohindra hostage, a situation resolved by Special Agents Marion Dulmur and Gariff Lucsly.
The USS Everett arrives in the Regulus System to rendezvous with the Verity, a civilian transport ship that had arrived in the present, having unwillingly travelled fifteen years into its future. During their investigation, Dulmur and Lucsly discover that upon discovering the devastation of the previous Borg attack (ST novel: Lost Souls), the crew and passengers decided to travel back to their original time, in an effort to warn the Federation of the attack. Teresa Garcia is beaten by the others in an attempt to sabotage the return journey, being the only one onboard who voted against it. Adding to damage the Verity had already sustained during its intial time-travel, Garcia was successful, and the ship and those on board remain in their future.
II
- Stardate 41697.9 - 41906.7
Dulmur, working as a detective for the Chandra Detective Agency on the Nehru Colony, is thwarted in his efforts to catch a thief named Daisen Hamor by the effects of a temporal experiment by Dr. Paul Manheim, and as a result was fired by Chandra. Dulmur sets out to find Manheim and ensure he is brought to justice, but he is intercepted by DTI agents Borvala and Lucsly. When Dulmur learned of the DTI's mission, he expresses his interest in joining.
III
- Stardate 58281.1 - 58365.9
Clare Raymond, works as a counselor for DTI's Temporal Displacement Division. As someone displaced from her original time, this makes her ideal for the job. She and Teresa Garcia are discussing their experiences.
Garcia is now a recruit training to join DTI. She is taking classes with other recruits at DTI's headquarters located at Greenwich, UK, at the Royal Observatory.
After a period of time, other recruits have dropped out, but Garcia remains. Apparently humans are a minority in DTI. Her training covers temporal physics, investigative techniques and combat. The Temporal Cold War is touched upon as well.
IV
- Stardate 42692.8 - 42704.5
Dulmur now a junior agent is paired with Lucsly to investigate an incident at Warlock Station.
The station experienced a temporal event and later was destroyed. It was located in the sector with a singularity called the 'Black Star' which is suspected as the cause for multiple temporal events in the past. The station's purpose was to monitor the anomaly.
The incident that happened at Warlock Station, also happened to the USS Enterprise-D in the past.
Later on they find a way to predict when another of the temporal event will happen. Dulmur realizes the common connection. The Enterprise was involved in the temporal event caused by Paul Manheim and his temporal experiments. That experiment and the later incident affecting the Enterprise, both Manheim and Picard reported a consciousness of some kind.
Dulmur thinks that Manheim's dislike for certain people was 'impressed' onto whatever consciousness his mind was touched by during his experiment.
And this consciousness has now being attacking those people. Dulmur is proved right.
V
- Stardate 58699.8 - 58738.9
VI
- Stardate 58699.8 - 58738.9
VII
- Stardate 43731.5 - 43738.6
VIII-IX
- Stardate 58746.7 - 58806.9
X
- Stardate 45703.8 - 46008.2
XI-XII
- Stardate 58923.8 - 59046.6
XIII-XIV
- Stardate 49572.0 - 50912.6
XV
- Stardate 59061.4 - 59087.2
XVI
- Stardate 55049.0 - 55089.5
XVIII-XXIV
- Stardate 59087.2 - 59155.0
Epilogue
- Undisclosed date
Lucsly meets with agents from the temporal agencies of the Typhon Pact, Klingon Empire, Vomnin, Sheliak and Regnancy of the Carnelian Throne in secret. Dulmur has by this point been promoted to a desk job. At the meeting, Lucsly notes that the attendees are unimportant - they are not starship captains, presidents or heroes; they are middle-men, and so will be mostly ignored by history. This puts them in a perfect position to create and deliver a massive project - the Temporal Defense Grid - entirely in secret. It will be the work of decades if not generations he notes, but says that it can be accomplished - and kept out of the history books - by those who take a sufficiently long view of time.
References
Characters
- Ajur • Loom Aleek-Om • Alenar • Claudia Alisov • Laarin Andos • Avel • B'etath • Nanietta Bacco • Rif jav Balkar • Sagar bav Balkar • Morgan Bateson • Lloyd Boen • I'stel Borah • Boratus • Borvala • Chall • Chandra • Jasminder Choudhury • Cohen • Damyz • Daniels • Falvin Dor • Drash • Juel Ducane • Marion Dulmur • Megumi Dulmur • Rodal Eight • Dina Elfiki • George Faunt • Felbog Bu-Tsop-Vee • Forzrat • Emro Ganazeel • Teresa Garcia • Ghretch • Farimah Hamidi • Daisen Hamor • Hariin • Dennis Harmon • Jamran Harnoth • Kathryn Janeway • Mara Kadray • Virum Kalnota • Kelia • Vorlis Klega • Korath • Gelim Kreinns • Ellec Krotine • Lirahn • Gariff Lucsly • Alan Manheim • Erika Manheim • Paul Manheim • M'grash • Meneth • Yvette Michael • Mogon • Rani Mohindra • Naadri • Riroa Nadamé • Nart • Nijen • Cyral Nine • Jena Noi • Ojav • Oydia • Melora Pazlar • Stewart Peart • Joaquin Perez • Heather Petersen • Jean-Luc Picard • Preston • Ian Purvis • Meyo Ranjea • Ranz • Clare Raymond • Louise Cara Raymond • Revad • William T. Riker • Rodda • Ronarek • Sanioth • Shelan • Shelithan ch'Riin • Shiiem • Siemaszko • Vennor Sikran • Sonaj • Sornek • T'Pan • Wataru Takizawa • Temarel • Teyak • T'Manis • T'Viss • Deanna Troi • Vard • Vard (alternate) • Vikei • Steven Wexler • Parvana Whitcomb • Worf • Stijen Yol • Zane
- Referenced only
- Akorem Laan • Jonathan Archer • Isaac Asimov • Braxton • Shaun Geoffrey Christopher • Wang Chunxi • Samuel Clemens • Sonny Clemonds • Zefram Cochrane • Kal Dano • Arne Darvin • Skrain Dukat • Albert Einstein • Samuel Estragon • Endora • Peya Fell • Sigmund Freud • Guardian of Forever • Guinan • Vasily Hunyadi • James T. Kirk • Kira Nerys • Miliani Langford • Lant • Vaacith sh'Lesinas • Abraham Lincoln • Lee Majors • Adrienne Markham • Faith Martinez • Monak • Nog • Miles O'Brien • Odo • Ralph Offenhouse • Piccolo • Esperanza Piñiero • Quark • Telek R'Mor • Berlinghoff Rasmussen • Darrell Raymond • Donald Raymond • Eddie Raymond • Jonathan Raymond • Mary Raymond • Thomas Raymond • Khan Noonien Singh • Rom • Gary Seven • Benjamin Sisko • Spock • T'Lem • Gillian Taylor • Metta Tharys • James Thornhill • V'Ger • H. G. Wells • Jamshid Whitcomb • Christopher Wren • Min Zife
Locations
- Aldebaran III • Anchar sector • Arsia Mons • Axis Hub Station • Axis of Time • Bezorek Station • Black Star • Canary Wharf • Château Thelian • Ealing • Earth • Endicor • Epsilon Ceti • Eridian Vault • Eris • Eternal Love Hospice • European Alliance • Feathers Place • Galartha Sector • Great Britain • Greenwich • Greenwich Park • Gum Nebula • Ilia Memorial Spaceport • Indianapolis • Indira City • Kaferia • Kemrel Municipality • Kuiper Belt • Loire Valley • London • McKinley Station • Motilal City • Nehru Colony • Nivoch • Norym District • Painted Hall • Paris • Park Vista • Pyrellia • Regulus sector • Rellon Station • Rellon Ta • Risa • River Thames • Robinson Township • Royal Observatory • Sadvis • Sagittarius Reach • San Francisco • Sector 006 • Selakar-Era Axis Outpost • Siraven Resort • Tandar Prime • Tandar sector • Tau Ceti III • Tharsis • Vandor system • Vandor IV • Vulcan Science Council Research Station 1 • Warlock Station • Yeshel Outpost • Yongam Island • Yongam Museum
- Referenced only
- Africa • Aldebaran • Asia • Bajoran wormhole • Benecia • Cambra • Camus II •Carrea • Carreon • Centauri VII • Coridan III • Deep Space 4 • Deep Space 9 • Delphic Expanse • Denobula • Dysnomia • Ford's Theatre • Gaia • Golana • Gum Nebula • Hugora Nebula • Jalbador • Kalandra sector • Kantare • Montana • New Jersey • New Mexico • Niburon IV • Norkan • Orisha • Pacifica • Palais de la Concorde • Paraagan II • Regulus A • Regulus III • Regulus VI • Rhaandarel • Roswell • Saturn • Secaucus • Sector 006 • Starfleet Headquarters • Tesnia • Tiananmen Square • Typhon Expanse • Vega • Vulcan • Wolf 359 • Wolf 1246
Starships and vehicles
- USS Asimov (Nova-class) • USS Bozeman (Soyuz-class) • Brin (runabout) • USS Capitoline (Vesta-class) • Cincinnatus (shuttlecraft) • Deutsch (shuttlecraft) • USS Enterprise (Sovereign-class) • USS Everett (Nova-class) • USS Titan (Luna-class) • Verity (transport) • USS Voyager (Intrepid-class) • in-system courier
- Referenced only
- USS Aquaria • USS Atlas • Cyrus • USS Defiant • Enterprise (NX-01) (NX-class) • USS Enterprise (Starliner) • USS Enterprise (Constitution-class) • USS Enterprise (Galaxy-class) • ECS Horizon • USS Kyushu • Quark's Treasure
Races and cultures
- Aurelian • Andorian • Androssi • Benzite • Betazoid • Betelgeusian • Bolian • Boslic • Caitian • Caratu • Cardassian • Catullan • Chandir • Chelon • Chenar • Choblik • Cygnian • D'drauk'k • Deltan • Denevan • Denobulan • Draylaxian • Elaysian • Farian • Ferengi • Gororm • Human • Ithenite • Kaferian • Kantare • Klingon • Kreetassan • Na'kuhl • Orion • Pa'haquel • Pahkwa-thanh • Pandrilite • Paraagan • Rhaandarite • Romulan • Selakar • Selenean • Sentry • Sheliak • Shirna • Siri • Suliban • Talich • Tandaran • Tellarite • Tholian • Trill • Vomnin • Vorgon • Vulcan • Yeshel • Zakdorn • Zcham
- Referenced only
- Acamarian • Argelian • Augment • Bajoran • Borg • Breen • Caeliar • Devidian • El-Aurian • Founder • Iconian • Ky'rha • Ocampa • Pak'shree • Prophet • Q • Sargonian • Sarpeidon • Selkie • Shenchorig • Sphere Builders • Talosian • Trinni/ek • Tzenkethi • Xindi
States and organizations
- Arret Empire • Axis Council • Vomnin Bureau for Historical Resource Development • Chandra Detective Agency • Tholian Chronological Defense Corps • Clan Ru • Colloquium of Progress • Corps of Engineers • Department of Temporal Investigations • DTI Academy • European Alliance • Federation News Service • Federation Science Council • Federation Temporal Agency • First Federation • Imperial Romulan State • Indiana State University • Klingon High Council • Klingon Time Defense Authority • Obsidian Order • Orion Syndicate • Paraagan Science Council • Planetary Security • Regnancy of the Carnelian Throne • Regulus III Science Academy • Regulus Passenger Lines • Starfleet • Tandaran Empire • Temporal Agents • Romulan Temporal Assessment Group • Temporal Displacement Division • Temporal Integrity Commission • Temporal Oversight Administration • Temporal Warfare Division • Typhon Pact • United Federation of Planets • University of Greenwich • Vomnin Confederacy • Vulcan Science Directorate
- Referenced only
- Aegis • British Empire • Bureau of Standards • Central Command • Commercial Science Institute • Coridan Engineering Institute • Counter Strike • Detapa Council • Dominion • Empire of Orion • Imperial Romulan Institute of Research • Klingon Science Institute • Old Royal Naval College • Order of Omega • Pike City Pioneers • Romulan Star Empire • Selakar Empire • Sheliak Corporate • Suliban Cabal • Vulcan-Andorian Empire
Ranks and titles
- ambassador • archaeologist • captain • chief engineer • chief medical officer • chief of operations • Chief Overseer of the Temporal Oversight Administration • chief science officer • commander • detective • Director of the Department of Temporal Investigations • Doctor • first officer • inspector • lieutenant • lieutenant commander • nurse • petty officer • physicist • pilot • President of the United Federation of Planets • professor • Secretary of Commerce • Secretary of Technology • Secretary of Transportation • science officer • Shah of Iran • special agent • special agent-in-charge • subdirector • tactical officer
Other references
- Agrahayana • apple danish • astronomical unit • Batman • Battle of Wolf 359 • benamite • Bewitched • Blitz • Borg Invasion of 2381 • bourbon • bridge • Caban • Casimir Effect • Chicchan • chroniton • chroniton torpedo • chrono-deflector • clock • communicator • Cygnian flu • day • decade • dermal regenerator • DNA • Dominion War • entropy • et'Khior • Eugenics Wars • Feynman curve • Genesis Wave • Great Psionic War • Greenwich Mean Time • Gregorian calendar • Guardian of Forever • Hawking radiation • holo-emitter • holosuite • hoverbus • hovercar • Iconian gateway • Indian National calendar • jamaharon • Julian calendar • Kankin • Kartika • Kerr loop • Ky'rha Artifacts • light-day • Lissepian Lottery • Lost in Space • Mac • Manheim Event • March • Mayan calendar • Megaptera novaeangliae • Men • mind meld • minute • multiverse • neuron • Nexus • Norkan Massacre • nuclear weapon • Null • oath of celibacy • Official Secrets Act • Ongilian caviar • orange juice • Orb of Time • Orishan • padd • phase discriminator • phaser • physics • plasma injector • poker • Prime Meridian • Project Chrysalis • protoplaser • quantum lock • quantum phase inhibitor • Regulan flag • Regulus Control • replicator • Risan calendar • Roladan wild draw • sausage • second • Second Romulan War • sensor • Shepherd Gate Clock • slipstream drive • sonic shower • strawberry • subspace radio • Tandaran calendar • Temporal Accords • Temporal Cold War • temporal disruptor • Temporal Prime Directive • temporal psychosis • The Dead Past • The End of Eternity • The Invaders • The Light of Other Days • time perceptor • time portal • Tox Uthat • track-jumper • tribble • tricorder • tritanium • TV Guide • Vomnin calendar • Voyager 6 • Vulcan calendar • Vulcanoid • waffle • warp core • warp drive • white dwarf • World War II • World War III • year • yogurt
Appendices
Timeline
| Chronological Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous adventure: Not yet placed |
Memory Beta Chronology | Next adventure: Not yet placed |
Production history
| Published Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous novel: None |
Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations | Next novel: Forgotten History |
| Previous story: Over a Torrent Sea |
Stories by: Christopher L. Bennett |
Next story: The Struggle Within |
Background
An early cover for Watching the Clock.
- The book was first announced by the author in March 2010 with the working title Star Trek: DTI [1]. The full title was announced in Star Trek Magazine #154; Bennett elaborated on his blog that he considered Star Trek: DTI on its own too vague and giving the full title Star Trek DTI: Department of Temporal Investigations - Watching the Clock too unwieldy, so went with the acronym and subtitle combination as comfortable compromise[2]. Despite that, the first cover released for the book did indeed sport the expanded title Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations - Watching the Clock[3].
- Bennett's aims with the novel included generating a unified theory to explain the various ways time travel has been portrayed in Star Trek. To that end he researched every instance of time travel in Star Trek and the use of time travel in other fiction.[4]
- The characters of Zane, Cohen, and Siemaszko are named for Billy Zane, J.J. Cohen, and Casey Siemaszko, the actors who played Biff's gang in the Back to the Future films
External link
- Christopher L. Bennet's website with detailed annotations of much of his work.
- Watching the Clock article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.