The United Earth ship Enterprise NX-01 enters the Delphic Expanse in 2153.
The Delphic Expanse was an area of space in the Alpha Quadrant that was surrounded by thermobaric clouds. It was approximately 50 light years from the Sol system and was estimated to be around 2,000 light years across. (ENT: "The Expanse")
Numerous vessels were lost within the Expanse and the subspace anomalies that plagued the Expanse made it a hazard, which most species tried to avoid. (ENT: "The Exapanse", "Impulse")
Following the Xindi attack on Earth during the 22nd century it was discovered by the Enterprise (NX-01) that the Expanse was not a natural phenomenon rather that it existed due to a complex network of spheres created by the Sphere builders, an extra-dimensional species, to match an environment that was more suited to them. The network was created as part of their plans to invade the Milky Way Galaxy and that for a thousand years the expanse had expanded and if left unchecked would eventually encompass the entire galaxy. (ENT: "Anomaly", "Zero Hour")
The Enterprise destroyed a crucial sphere in the network in 2154, which caused a chain reaction throughout the network, destroying it. With the network no longer active the Delphic Expanse was returned to its natural state. (ENT: "Zero Hour")
Native species
External links
- Delphic Expanse article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Delphic Expanse article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.