Since Enterprise deals with a currently unknown bad guy from the distant future and he has changed many things in the past, have the events of Enterprise altered the current Trek universe (ie. events up to Star Trek: Nemesis) as we know it? If so, I have to assume that would mean Enterprise is an alternate universe.
If that attack on Earth was the result of some kind of temporal interference, then the future had to be changed. 4 million humans were killed. Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway's families had to be affected some how.
I think the parallel universe idea is a good and plausible one but it's quite risky toying with it. If that was true, then the implication is that the events that we've witnessed from Kirk up to Janeway, throughout every format (ie. films, tv, comics, etc) may have no relevance to the present Enterprise storyline. To me, in order to preserve the franchise's integrity, it's imperative that continuity is preserved right from the very beginning, in order to enhance its plausibility, authenticity and appeal.
One way for them to preserve continuity is to utilise the old trick in the realm of temporal anomalies - that if you destroy the original time-traveller and his device, then events would revert to their original time just before the time-traveller entered the time frame where the event took place. I believe Voyager had a similar predicament - the episode was called 'Year of Hell (parts 1 & 2)'. There was a time-traveller who was intent on destroying billions of lives in the universe in order to change history pertaining to his life, and eventually Janeway sacrificed herself to kill him. But after that, everything reverted to their original positions before the time-traveller used his time-ship. This could be how the present Enterprise storyline concludes.
The_Rebel
"The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant" - Plato
Once again Rebel, hitting a bullseye. Like once 'Future Guy' is killed, the entire alternate past would revert back to normal. But wouldn't that make the Enterprise saga up until then a farce? Would that taint the series? I remember Year Of Hell and I felt a little gipped.
I know what you mean, Heck. Temporal anomaly storylines tend to be very manipulative and usually end up testing the patience of viewers to their utmost limits. But then again, like some people, I can't help but be gripped by time-travelling themes. I'm a sucker for movies like Frequency which deals primarily with the time-travelling paradox.
The_Rebel
"The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant" - Plato
I totally dig time travel stories! My favorite TNG episode was 'Yesterday's Enterprise'.
It's kind of off-topic, but Rebel have you ever read a book called 'Replay' by Ken Grimwood? The premise is simple: what would you do if you could live your life over again...and again, and again, and again... It is hands down my favorite book. It has such an awesome following. If you like time travel, give it a chance.
HECK said this in post #3 : Once again Rebel, hitting a bullseye.
Yeah, you summed it up Rebel. I think they are all in the same timeline from Enterprise up to Voyager, just to keep the flow of the story.
If you want to dig deeper, they are all in another timeline though, at least from us, because we have gone through the 1990's and we did not get to see the rise of the Eugenics Wars or the overthrow of Khan. Just messing around, I am a Trekkie, but not enough of one to think that it's really real......