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For other uses, see Gateway.

Gateway (also known as Forever World, the Time Planet or the Rock of Ages) was a planet, an L class world located somewhere in the space of the galaxy's Beta Quadrant. In orbit of the Alpha Zeta star system, at coordinates 4.02S 2.22W, this world was found to be the home of the Guardian of Forever time portal. In the 23rd century, Gateway was under full quarantine by Starfleet, home to a research outpost that maintained complete secrecy regarding activities therein. (TNG - Strange New Worlds 9 short story: "Orphans"; FASA RPG module: The Federation; TNG novel: Imzadi)

The Guardian's planet had no moons. (TAS - Log One novelization: Yesteryear)

Gateway was an "empty death of a world" located at the rim of the galaxy, too far from the dying red sun that it orbited to naturally generate a life-sustaining atmosphere. The "city" of Oyya remained due to the time vortex converging on the planet. (TOS - Harlan Ellison's The City on the Edge of Forever comic: "Issue 1")

History and specifics[]

The Guardian was constructed on the planet around 5 billion years ago by an unknown race, but it was not until a few hundred thousand years that Gateway gave rise to its own intelligent species, who would become known as the Originators. They constructed large cities all over the surface of the planet. One of the largest cities was named Oyya, which spanned over 2,000 square kilometers, and was constructed around the Guardian.

Eventually, the Originators disappeared and their cities turned to ruins, yet the Guardian still continued to exist at the center of the ruins, and awaited to be asked a question again. (TAS novelization: Yesteryear; TOS novel: Yesterday's Son)

It is possible that the Originators were meant to be the initial builders of the Guardian, however, statements from TOS episode: "The City on the Edge of Forever" and other sources indicate that this can't be possible because the Guardian has existed for billions of years.

In 2267, the USS Enterprise was passing near Gateway when they detected temporal waves emanating out across the sector. After three days charting their way through the waves, the Enterprise reached the planet. Following an incident aboard ship, Captain James T. Kirk led a landing party down to the surface and discovered the Guardian. (TOS episode: "The City on the Edge of Forever")

Following the Enterprise's discovery of the Guardian, Gateway was declared a Federation Protectorate and all information about Gateway and the Guardian was classified and on a need-to-know basis. In addition the sector was continuously patrolled by a starship, but the crew had no idea what they were defending. The Ellison Research Outpost was also established on the planet to study the Guardian, however the research teams had fairly sporadic success with getting the Guardian to answer their questions. (TOS novel: Yesterday's Son)

In 2269, the Enterprise returned to Gateway with Dr. Grey and her associate, Aleek-Om, in an attempt to communicate with the Guardian and allow them to observe Orion history through the Guardian. (TAS novelization: Yesteryear)

In 2270, Captain Kirk, Commander Spock and Dr. McCoy returned to Gateway so that they could travel to Sarpeidon around 5,000 years previously and rescue Spock's son, Zar.

A few months later, a Romulan invasion force attacked Gateway. While the Enterprise and the USS Lexington kept the bulk of the forces at bay, Tal and his advanced guard were stopped from destroying the Guardian by Kirk, Spock and Zar. (TOS novel: Yesterday's Son)

Note: The planet that the Guardian of Forever is located on has different names in different books, Forever World in TNG novel: Imzadi for example. This may be due to the fact the existence of the Guardian is a highly classified secret, and so the planet doesn't have an official designation.

Captain Kirk returned to Gateway again in 2293, shortly before the commissioning ceremony for the USS Enterprise-B. During this visit he had a momentary encounter with the Guardian, which showed him some of the history of Zefram Cochrane and the Third World War. (ST novel: Federation)

In 2374, Dominion forces captured the Gateway planet and stationed Jem'Hadar troops to guard it. However, the Jem'Hadar were unable to activate the Guardian as it did not recognize their altered DNA. Soon after this, Section 31 sent Admiral Erik Pressman and Doctor Julian Bashir to recruit super-soldiers from Angosia III, to aid them in recapturing the planet. After reaching the Guardian, Roga Danar asked the Guardian what it desired. When it said it wanted freedom, Roga granted it permission to leave the Gateway planet; which it then did. (TNG short story: "Orphans")

At certain times, however, the Guardian appeared to have returned to the planet.

At the turn of the 2410s decade, Klingon ambassador B'vat used it to take Lieutenant Miral Paris back in time to the 23rd century. A Starfleet crew then followed the two through the portal and rescued Paris. (STO video game: Star Trek Online: City on the Edge of Never)

This mission was removed during STO's season ten update, and as such may no longer represent the current continuity of that timeline.

The world was guarded by Horta from 2464, and was later visited by Q after humans ascended to the Q Continuum. The Horta repelled an invasion by the Borg. (ST short story: "Guardians")

After many factions tried to use the Guardian of Forever to destroy their enemies during the Temporal Wars of the 30th century, the Guardian left Gateway and relocated to Dannus V. (DSC episode: "Terra Firma, Part 2")

Alternate realities[]

In an alternate 2408, Admiral William T. Riker visited Forever World, and used the Guardian to travel back to 2368, saving the life of Deanna Troi. (TNG novel: Imzadi)

In one frame of reference, there were six Guardians of Forever instead of a singular one. The Guardians of Forever lived in the crystalline city of Oyya, remaining due to the time vortex converging on the planet. When the crew of the USS Enterprise arrived on the planet, the Guardians displayed their time portals, one of which the unscrupulous Beckwith made use of to escape to the 1930s, changing time. After Kirk and Spock had restored history, the Enterprise crew left the planet. (TOS - Harlan Ellison's The City on the Edge of Forever comic: "Issue 1")

Appendices[]

Connections[]

Pi Canis sector block
Hromi Cluster (Gamma Hromi, Gamma Hromi II)
Hromi sector Gateway (Alpha Zeta, UFC 465537) system (Gateway) • JFS47 system • Kalferi system (Kalferi II) • Korvat system (KorvatKorvat IKorvat IIKorvat III) • Maiewski system (Maiewski Prime) • Veyga (Eta Veyga) system (Veyga IV)
Mempa sector Beta Thoridor system (Beta Thoridor planet) • Ceron system • Da'Kel system (Da'Kel IDa'Kel II, GionDa'Kel III) • Eriksson system • H'atoria system (H'atoria) • Lilitu system • Mempa system (Mempa IIMempa IVMempa VMempa VIIMempa VIIIMempa IX) • M'rade system • Vesper system (Vesper II) • Vor system (Vor II)
Xarantine sector Danteri system (Danter) • Honod system • Kern system (Kern III) • Laurentian system • Seedea system • Trimble system (Trimble) • Xarantine system (Xarantine VI)
planets visited by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) during Captain Kirk's initial five-year mission (2265-2270)
various CaporyCygnet IVGarrusRheelTriangularis III
2265 EarthYkoDraxis IITallyKarabos IIGamma Alpha VPollux IIStarbase 8 planetSector Vega 6 planetM-155Archernar IVDimorusMandylion VTendar IVMestikoAlpha Ortelina VIIArronus VIIAldebaran IIIDelta Vega IStarbase 12VelluriusEarthGlobular planetNorusJunkyard planetPalnak's planetSantarNova XIIIZeltokKorakthe Traveler's homeworldDukarOrthooAlgenib II
2266 Crucial-3VultraRobots' planetAngomaMantis planetNuofoStaiVrexBalant planetGalaxy T-21 planetZargotColtacRigel XIIAlfa 177M-113Psi 2000Tlaoli IVSkurSelkyeTaragonAlpha 332Ynobe IIEcnalRayloNorigaAlpha Proxima IIKynardiArgylusOminnusEarthK-GNekrosSeggorForniaAngiraBeta IINeesanKujalRazlakLunaBwujaFayoHerculaEarthKibo/NdoraNrakaSacroAlpha 23-COordonMobitaJodarrQuodarZartaFloe IMetamorphaInicrustMortiTerrellian IIVoodoo planetRiza homeworldMila XaKrugar III remnantQuaraxusArimaMazdaNumero UnoBeta CarinaeExo III1324-IV7348-IITantalus VMiri's homeworldPlanet QBeneciaZorat planet
2267 Taurus IIMakus IIIXimega IIHydra Epsilon IIIPerseus Arm planetoidYkoTenkaraSalvumGrotusVaranu planetYkoTalos IVTektonRifas-LAmusement Park planetHeitius VIIPlanet of FireIce PlanetCentaurus VFomalhaut VEmben IIICynur IVTyrtaeus IIGothosBeta VITheta VIIRamedes IIICestus IIIMetron planetAlvaLazarus's planetGalaxy Zekbran planetCygnet XIVEarthCanaraBeta IIIDraqqanaIach'tu PrimeEminiar VIICeti Alpha VGamma 400VartaxDak-AlphaTharkMorkolTimshelOmicron Ceti IIIJanus VI7348-IIChandra IVOrganiaAngrenaYkoEarth Colony IIGatewayEarthDenevaJanvarZentarZettinDiad II • "the Frontier" • ModalaLadoGamma XaridianElsinor H-25Starbase 10 planetBeta Mariotia IIIVega IIITondusTekkorCarnakPyris VIIEarthPentam VGamma Canaris NVandros VIINukoleeStyraLurotaOorego IVGiant Brain asteroidOtari IIGatewayIsis IIINot EdenMaaba S'JaCapella IVPollux IVVulcanMestikoCJ-884 planetNadorTactis IIBeta Nirobi IIPhygma IVOutpost Omega-70Tau Gamma IVM-370Argelius IIMerope IVMalurEulusDonico IIGamma Trianguli VITyrtaeus IIHalkaIxtoldeGamma Hydra IVLevinius VCalydonStarbase 10 planetTuran Tot Narut's planetGamma Canaris NTaunusPlanet 656Beton IIISklurrKarrGraktanPlixesAndriusDenevaMuddEarthAneher IIWezonvuNalaingMagna RomaBavaryaNeolithiaMythraRimilliaBabelGamma Canaris NVulcanNisusCertaxNarnel's WorldNGC 667Neural
2268 Fornax IIGamma IITriskelionRudimonArgus XTycho IVTheta VIICentaurusUsildeSigni BetaTautee systemPrometheus IVSyngrealGlisten IVBillybobGamma Hydra GammaMiloThrintThrockmortonUrf DurfalOrgoneVulcanBeta Canzandia IIIAlpha Maluria VIRariar IIIKarxen VDekian IIMevinnaSigma Iotia IIXanviaXoxxaInquisitor planetBeta ReticuliDelta VegaNalogen IVDelta VegaDelta Canaris IVAlnath IIAmmdonArretMu Arigulon VEkosEeiauoSivaoAprilia IIIKahlessOmega IVEarthTheta Kiokis IIElasTroyiusElethiaAlsandKosTau Delta IXKroy's planetAmerindStarbase 14 planetAndru 4/6Tranquility VIIMinos VEarthExo IIIT'nufoMinos VEando 375Starbase 10 planetWrigley's Pleasure PlanetExo IIITortuga VITaos IVTriacusMarcos XIIWokkle IIICawley IVMakon IIIKalaLowariaDreamers' planetSigma Draconis VIDireidiMedusaIolos VIGiermosPersis NovaMidgwisMinara IIGamma VIOctavius IVBeta Cabrini colonyPegasus IVCareta IVBeta XII-APlatoniusEarthScalosM-317Beta Aurigae IIISanoora host planetRhinegeltKalandan outpostDistrelPrastorYork IIITttnicktttnorAriannusCheronElba IISanctuaryGideonKolyaTau Omega IVTau Omega IIITareel III
2269 RontelmMemory AlphaArdanaMerak IIPollux VBeta Myamid VIIIAvalonChameleonZamphorAlpha Proxima IIIBalkos IIIGothosOnyius IINova Atar IIIMasabaLekythosShroud IVSigma Iotia IITarnak IIVesbiusJanus VIBeta Niobe IIITree of Life planetoidGamma Cygnet planetoidCentaurusRaga's PlanetEdenTheta Tau VHolberg 917GLothorTau Beta IVExcalbiaSarpeidonFeudal planetCamus IIDuwamishEphrata IVSigma Niobe IIGatewayKrasni's FollyVestalanMaltos IVOrganiaKyrosNestaAnomalyAcademyYkoArachnaeBabelEpsilon Delta IVHeartlandGothosCherelaStarbase 8 planetSyhaar PrimeThe StrandAarak IIIPhi XIUr homeworldVidenGobi IIIPacificaDolysiaGralafiLoren VGelladorn/R-775 IDengella IILloyd Zeta IXSigma Iotia IIHesperides ITombstoneWaycrossPerry's planetDelta Gamma IVTrefolgTrellisaneHoloxBoaco VIJuram VVancadiaVeletus VPollux IILeora IVPatria IMemory PrimeTalin IVI'QosCirce VGatewayMantillesMoauvPomplanceRibol IIMarpapluValeriaTaurus IIKinshasa
2270 Janus VIPhylos IIAmusement Park planetMotherlodeRock creature planetDarius IVMegas-TuTerratinVerdanisSherman's PlanetArgoDeneb VVedala asteroidDramiaDramia IIArretLactra VIIBoqu IIDelta Theta IIIPandroDengella IIBriamosFinder's planetProcrustean planetYkoBelarius IVDT-262KwettirWaasertlaMygdalus IIIArtemys 314Velat Nol/R-836 IIPillagra (R-855 III) • Polymax VIIICenotaphEmilla IIVehtora IVAnabarra colonyHollow PlanetN'caiMuldoonCoridan IIIAkladiMuddKubanSaraiCJ-884 planetStella Mudd's planetMuddTaygeta VOkeanosBeta Omicron Delta IIIZeta GibraltarYoondriEarth (alternate)Vrotii outpost planetSycoraxBaldur IIIBira IIINjuraOmne's planetVoranRazarMercanStarbase 9 planetYalboAritaniVulcanHoshan planetsTanisStarbase 9 planetAragos planetAleph PrimeAleph IIIAntos IVTakoi homeworldJinks' planetGatewayAndrosYusubEarthDenebiaVeneu IIGribbin IIKlondike VIIsitra ZeroGatewayAleriadAndoriaProxima CentauriVulcanEarthPelosTalos IVGatewayEarthStarbase 12Tomarii

External link[]

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