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| Description: | A Delphic Expanse sphere |
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| Description: | Map of the spheres |
The Delphic Expanse spheres (or simply spheres) were artificial objects the size of a small moon that were scattered around the Delphic Expanse. First detected by Captain Jonathan Archer and the crew of the Enterprise NX-01 in 2153, these machines were responsible for various spatial anomalies throughout the Expanse and even for the existence of the thermobaric clouds that defined the edge of the Expanse. According to the Xindi, there were 78 spheres.
The spheres functioned by generating waves of gravimetric energy. Where waves from different spheres intersected, spatial anomalies were formed. These anomalies usually took the form of "ripples" in space that caused damage to mechanical systems and created localized distortions in gravity. Spheres were also surrounded by cloaking barriers that rendered them invisible to the outside world. (ENT: "Anomaly", "Exile")
The spheres were controlled by a network of artificial intelligence that was housed in a redundant memory core. The spheres' exhaust was funneled out of a conduit whose opening on the outer hull was holographically disguised as another piece of the hull. To protect their internal structures, the inside of the spheres possessed gigantic claws with the ability to disintegrate intruders. (ENT: "The Council") The spheres were connected by a subspace energy grid. (ENT: "The Forgotten") Four of the spheres were integral to this connection, as they contained the interspatial manifolds that allowed the spheres to tie into one another. Sphere 41 was such a sphere. (ENT: "Countdown")
The Triannons, a species inhabiting the Delphic Expanse, believed that the spheres were created by their gods (the "Makers"), who were supposedly using the anomalies (the "Makers' Breath") to create a paradise (the "Chosen Realm") for their eventual return. (ENT: "Chosen Realm") According to Daniels, this was not far from the truth. The spheres were built by a race of transdimensional aliens trying to adapt the Milky Way Galaxy to their own needs about a thousand years ago. In one possible future that was shown to Archer by Daniels, these aliens succeeded and had huge parts of the galaxy adapted in the 26th century (see Battle of Procyon V). (ENT: "Harbinger", "Azati Prime") The Triannons were not correct about all aspects of the spheres, however – they believed there were thousands of spheres, when T'Pol asserted there were 59.
Spheres encountered by Enterprise
Numbered
- Sphere 1. This sphere, encountered in September of 2153, was being used by Osaarian raiders as a base. It was located in the Orassin distortion field. (ENT: "The Xindi", "Anomaly")
- Sphere 2. Sub-Commander T'Pol theorized the existence of this sphere, located not far from Tarquin's planet, and turned out to be correct. Its level of gravimetric energy was much higher than that of Sphere 1. Captain Archer and Commander Charles Tucker took detailed measurements of this sphere in a trellium-lined shuttlepod, as Enterprise could not get close to it. These measurements allowed T'Pol to calculate that there must have been at least fifty spheres in the Expanse. (ENT: "Exile")
- 12th Sphere (Triannon designation). This sphere was 6.3 light years from the Triannon homeworld. D'Jamat's ship had been on a pilgrimage there for several months when discovered by Enterprise. (ENT: "Chosen Realm")
- Sphere 41. T'Pol determined that this sphere was a key to the sphere network's energy grid, and with Commander Tucker developed a means of destroying it using Enterprise's navigational deflector array. This plan was successful, and triggered a chain reaction, destroying all of the spheres within the Expanse. The destruction of the spheres returned the Expanse to normal space, devoid of anomalies. (ENT: "Countdown", "Zero Hour")
Unnumbered
- Enterprise rendezvoused with Degra's shuttle behind the cloaking barrier of a sphere so that Captain Archer could show Degra and Jannar evidence of the Guardians' duplicity. It was not far from the Azati Prime system and about a dozen light years from the Xindi Council planet. (ENT: "The Forgotten")
- A sphere just outside the solar system containing the Xindi Council planet. An Enterprise team went inside it to steal its redundant memory core. Corporal F. Hawkins was vaporized on the mission. (ENT: "The Council")
- The Sphere Builders used a sphere to generate anomalies to protect the Xindi superweapon from an attack by the Arboreals, Primates, and Aquatics. (ENT: "Countdown")