Where did Travis' Trading vessel Trade?/ Why is the Enterprise wandering aimlessly?

[Dave]

Before watching 'Broken Bow' Neo wrote:

I've been thinking (a rare event, but there you go !) If the Enterprise will be set around the beginning of the 22nd century - around the colonisation of Mars (2103) and setting up of world government (2113) then for me that poses 2 problems - first, Travis Mayweather, the new helmsman, is supposed to have graduated to the Enterprise from a background in interstellar cargo haulage. In fact it states on the character file that he has more interstellar experience than Archer. If the only colony is on Mars, where would he have to haul from? A more likely timeframe would be around 2155 - by that time more colonys would have been set up - also allowing for more varied storylines - aliens ravaging new colonies, mining disputes etc. This would also solve the next prob - If a world government isn't set up until 2113, then a ship before that would have to be American, right? (I'm English but I have to accept this!) then how come there is both a fellow Englishmen and a Japanese ensign on board? Again, this ties in with the series being set around 2155 - also agreeing with the fairly reliable source who has read the script.

But more than that, after 'Terra Nova' I wrote:

Enterprise takes place 88 years after First Contact (2151). And 70 years after the attempt to colonize Terra Nova. Before Terra Nova, we are told in this episode, humans built a colony, New Berlin, on the Moon and, Utopia Planitia, on Mars. Take a look at the people of Earth in First Contact; did they look like they could have those colonies up and running in less than 18 years? "Zephram Cochrane of Alpha Centauri" moved to Alpha Centauri in his old age, after the events in 'First Contact'. But now the first, and closest, colony outside Earth's solar system, according to this episode was Terra Nova, about four times farther from Earth than Alpha Centauri.

This version of history is now obviously falling apart and just not worth discussion. The question I want to ask is the one that Neo, briefly covered -- where did Travis' ship haul from?

We have a colony on the Moon, a colony on Mars, a lost colony on Terra Nova, and a possible colony on Alpha Centauri. We also have a few alien planets that the Vulcan's know about, but which Travis has never visited. And we have numerous missing ships from the plots of TOS and TNG episodes.

So how did his parents make money? Which planets did they fly cargo ships between? They went on long journeys, Travis was born and grew up on a ship, we are not talking Earth-Moon-Mars, he always wanted to go to some of these places he visits now.

One more bugbear. If you were Starfleet, sending out a new fast ship, after the initial trip to Qo' nos with the Klingon, where would you send her next?

Would you let her flit about abandoned vessels, and planets of slugs, or would you send her to investigate all the lost colonies, and colonies that could do with new technology and information from Earth? Would you not send them to investigate the disappearence of the SS Valiant, the Mariposa and even Zephram Cochrane himself?

 

[Neo]

A new mystery of the world ????????????

 

[Dave]

I can answer one of my own questions after watching 'Fortunate Son' ENT. His Parents are on the 'Horizon' working the Draylax -> Vega run. These freighters can apparently reach Warp 3, so they are not that slow.

 

[Neo]

mmmm i have heard they have already written a new enterprise tech book which will be out in time for season 2...