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The Burn

Federation starships exploding.

The Burn[1] was a 31st century galaxy-wide disaster that rendered dilithium inert[2], allowing antimatter containment to fail instantaneously. The Burn occurred on stardate 81986-mark-272129[3] in the year 3069[2]. Countless ships exploded and millions of people were killed. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1")

History[]

Before the Burn[]

Spock envisions the Burn

Spock's vision of the Burn.

In 2270, Aegis operative Gary Seven gave Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise a temporary vision of future events. One of these visions included the moment of the Burn, with ships across the galaxy exploding. (TOS - Year Five - Experienced in Loss comic: "Issue 23")

Before the event, the stability of the Federation had already been strained due to the Temporal Wars, which led to the devastation and abandonment of several Federation members. (DSC novel: Wonderlands)

Consequences[]

The Federation was unable to ascertain as to what caused the cataclysmic event, nor were they able to prove that it would not occur again. By 3188, the Federation had virtually collapsed as a galactic power. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1")

Fearing that Earth would be a target in the wake of the Burn, the Federation and Starfleet moved their respective headquarters off-world. Earth withdrew from the Federation after the Burn, with United Earth becoming a sovereign nation once again. (DSC episode: "People of Earth")

The Burn decimated the Trill population, forcing the survivors to withdraw from the Federation. By the late 32nd century Trill society was on the edge of collapse with there no longer being enough suitable hosts for the Trill symbionts. The revelation that the Tal symbiont had joined with the human Adira gave the Trill hope that a solution to their crisis was at hand. (DSC episode: "Forget Me Not")

The Federation world Kaminar was unable to maintain regular contact with the rest of the Federation after the Burn, but was believed by Starfleet to be unharmed and in status quo in 3189. (DSC episode: "Die Trying")

Cause[]

In that year, the cause of the Burn was found. The Kelpien starship KSF Khi'eth, sent to investigate a dilithium-rich planet in the Verubin Nebula, crashed on the planet. Doctor Issa, a member of the ship's crew, was pregnant at the time, and later gave birth to a son, Su'Kal. (DSC episode: "Su'Kal")

However, radiation sickness soon took Issa's life; young Su'Kal was so traumatized at watching his mother die that he unleashed a powerful psychic shockwave, causing all dilithium within range to become inert, and thus accidentally causing the Burn. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 2")

Known casualties[]

31st century Starfleet

31st century Starfleet.

Numerous unnamed Federation starships of different classes exploded simultaneously across the Milky Way Galaxy when the Burn occurred. In 3188, acting communications chief Aditya Sahil of Spaceport Devaloka showed Commander Michael Burnham a graphic representation of these ships. (DSC episode: "People of Earth")

Appendices[]

References[]

External link[]

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