The History Of Star Trek’s Mysterious Department Of Temporal Investigations
By JOSHUA MEYER
The Department of Temporal Investigations (DTI) in “Star Trek” has appeared in many novels, but perhaps its best-known appearance is in an acclaimed episode of “Deep Space Nine.”
A DTI agent also appears in “Strange New Worlds” and identifies the organization as “a division of the Federation that investigates and repairs damage to the timeline.”
In “Deep Space Nine” Season 5, Episode 6, DTI agents interview Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) about his misadventures in time, and the no-nonsense agents appear in the frame story.
However, the episode mostly unfolds in flashbacks as Sisko describes how his USS Defiant crew was sent over 100 years back in time to the 23rd-century era of “The Original Series.”
When the DTI learns that Sisko visited the first Enterprise, an agent notes that James T. Kirk (William Shatner) has “17 separate temporal violations, the biggest file on record.”
Later, this same agent cites regulations to Sisko about how “Starfleet Officers shall take all necessary precautions to minimize any participation in historical events.”
The comparatively nicer DTI agent in Season 2, Episode 3 of “Strange New Worlds” tells La'an (Christina Chong), “You haven't heard of us because we don't exist yet.”
In the “Deep Space Nine” episode, the presence of the DTI can be felt, as Sisko tells his crew to be careful about “raising suspicion or altering the timeline.”
Sisko cautions his USS Defiant crew about disrupting the timeline because the last thing he wants is a “visit from Temporal Investigations when we get home.”