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|datestatus =2371
 
|datestatus =2371
 
|died =[[2371]]
 
|died =[[2371]]
|marital_status =Widower
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|marital_status =Widowed
 
|actor =[[Malcolm McDowell]]
 
|actor =[[Malcolm McDowell]]
 
}}
 
}}
:''"Time is the fire in which we burn." ''
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{{aquote|They say time is the fire in which we burn.|Tolian Soran|2371|7}}
 
[[Doctor]] '''Tolian Soran''' was an [[El-Aurian]] [[scientist]] who, in the [[24th century]], attempted to destroy two [[star]]s and [[Veridian IV|an inhabited planet]] in an effort to gain entrance to the [[Nexus]], an extradimensional realm in which all one's desires are transformed into reality. He is also indirectly responsible for the death of [[James T. Kirk]].
::- '''Tolian Soran''', [[2371]]
 
   
  +
==Life before the Nexus==
[[Doctor]] '''Tolian Soran''' was an [[El-Aurian]] [[scientist]] who, in the [[24th century]], attempted to destroy two [[star]]s and [[Veridian IV|an inhabited planet]] in an effort to gain entrance to the [[Nexus]], an extradimensional realm in which all one's desires are transformed into reality.
 
  +
Soran was born more than three hundred years before 2371. His world was destroyed by the [[Borg]] in the latter half of the [[23rd century]], which led to the death of his entire family, including his wife and children. Soran, however, escaped aboard the {{SS|Lakul}} along with a handful other survivors. These refugees were to be transported to [[Earth]].
   
 
However, shortly before reaching Earth in [[2293]], the ship and its companion the {{SS|Robert Fox}} became trapped in an extremely intense [[gravimetric distortion]] trailing from an [[energy]] ribbon which acted as an entrance to the Nexus. While trapped in the distortion, Soran and the other passengers experienced brief moments in the Nexus, where Soran was able to live a life in which the Borg had not killed his family. Soran's experiences in the Nexus were short-lived, however, as he and the others were [[beam]]ed away to the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-B|-B}}, which had responded to a [[distress call]]. Upon finding himself in the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[sickbay]], Soran began ranting, demanding to be returned, forcing [[Commander]] [[Pavel Chekov]] to sedate him. Soran subsequently became obsessed with returning to the Nexus and dedicated the next 78 years of his life to discovering a means by which to do so.
==23rd century==
 
  +
{{bginfo|It was not explicitly said that Soran's homeworld was in fact the El-Aurian homeworld, although from dialog in {{e|Q Who}} the attack did seem to be limited to [[El-Aurian system|their system]].}}
In the [[23rd century]], Soran was one of the few survivors of a [[Borg]] attack on [[El-Aurian homeworld|his homeworld]], which resulted in the deaths of his wife and children. In [[2293]], Soran became a passenger on a [[transport vessel]], the {{SS|Lakul}}, when it became trapped in an extremely intense [[gravimetric distortion]] trailing from an [[energy]] ribbon which acted as an entrance to the Nexus. While trapped in the distortion, Soran and the other passengers experienced brief moments in the Nexus, where Soran was able to live a life where the Borg had not killed his family. Soran's experiences in the Nexus were short-lived, however, as he and the others were [[beam]]ed away to the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-B|-B}}, which had responded to a [[distress call]]. Upon finding himself in the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s [[sickbay]], Soran began ranting, demanding to be returned, forcing [[Commander]] [[Pavel Chekov]] to sedate him. Soran subsequently became obsessed with returning to the Nexus and dedicated the next 78 years of his life to discovering a means by which to do so.
 
   
 
==24th century==
 
==24th century==
 
[[File:Soran and B'Etor.jpg|thumb|left|Soran and [[B'Etor]]]]
 
[[File:Soran and B'Etor.jpg|thumb|left|Soran and [[B'Etor]]]]
By the year [[2371]], Soran had developed a plan whereby he would destroy two [[star]]s, thereby altering the [[gravitational]] forces near the energy ribbon, altering its course and bringing it to planet [[Veridian III]], where Soran would be waiting for it. To accomplish his goal, Soran entered into an alliance with the [[Duras sisters]], who agreed to secure [[trilithium]], a [[nuclear inhibitor]] with which Soran would destroy the stars, in exchange for research allowing the sisters to develop a trilithium-based weapon. As Soran prepared to fire a [[solar probe]] equipped with trilithium into the [[Amargosa]] star from the [[Amargosa observatory]], the outpost came under attack by [[Romulan]]s, who were attempting to retrieve the trilithium which the Duras sisters had stolen from them. Soran was rescued by the crew of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, and was later able to return to the observatory and launch the probe, destroying the star. As the ''Enterprise'' crew attempted to rescue an [[away team]] from the observatory before the resultant [[shock wave]] arrived, Soran was retrieved by the Duras sisters, and subsequently traveled to the [[Veridian system]], where he intended to destroy the [[Veridian]] star.
+
By the year [[2371]], Soran had developed a plan whereby he would destroy two [[star]]s, thereby altering the [[gravitational]] forces near the energy ribbon, altering its course and bringing it to the planet [[Veridian III]], where Soran would be waiting for it. To accomplish his goal, Soran entered into an alliance with the [[Duras sisters]], who agreed to secure [[trilithium]], a [[nuclear inhibitor]] with which Soran would destroy the stars, in exchange for research allowing the sisters to develop a trilithium-based weapon. As Soran prepared to fire a [[solar probe]] equipped with trilithium into the [[Amargosa]] star from the [[Amargosa observatory]], the outpost came under attack by [[Romulan]]s who were attempting to retrieve the trilithium which the Duras sisters had stolen from them. Soran was rescued by the crew of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, and was later able to return to the observatory and launch the probe, destroying the star. As the ''Enterprise'' crew attempted to rescue an [[away team]] from the observatory before the resultant [[shock wave]] arrived, Soran was retrieved by the Duras sisters and subsequently traveled to the [[Veridian system]], where he intended to destroy the [[Veridian]] star.
   
The ''Enterprise'' crew ultimately uncovered Soran's plot, realizing that Soran intended to destroy the Veridian star despite the fact that it would destroy all planets in the system, including [[Veridian IV]], which supported a [[humanoid]] society of 230 million individuals. The ''Enterprise'' arrived at Veridian III, where [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] beamed to the surface in an attempt to reason with Soran. Picard was ultimately unsuccessful, however, failing both to appeal to Soran's reasoning- Soran grimly stating that everyone died and he was no longer concerned about preserving life- and in his subsequent attempt to penetrate the force field around Soran's equipment and stop him from launching the probe into the star. As the star was destroyed, the energy ribbon was diverted to the surface where it transported both Soran and Picard into the Nexus, immediately before the destruction of all of the planets in the system, and the ''Enterprise''.
+
The ''Enterprise'' crew ultimately uncovered Soran's plot, realizing that Soran intended to destroy the Veridian star despite the fact that it would destroy all planets in the system, including [[Veridian IV]], which supported a [[humanoid]] society of 230 million individuals. The ''Enterprise'' arrived at Veridian III, where [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] beamed to the surface in an attempt to reason with Soran. Picard was ultimately unsuccessful, however, failing both to appeal to Soran's reasoning – Soran grimly stating that everyone was fated to die and that he was no longer concerned about preserving life – and in his subsequent attempt to penetrate the force field around Soran's equipment and stop him from launching the probe into the star. As the star was destroyed, the energy ribbon was diverted to the surface where it transported both Soran and Picard into the Nexus, immediately before the destruction of all of the planets in the system and the ''Enterprise ''itself''.''
   
 
[[File:Soran's death.jpg|thumb|Soran is killed in the launcher's explosion]]
 
[[File:Soran's death.jpg|thumb|Soran is killed in the launcher's explosion]]
 
Inside the Nexus, however, Picard was able to make contact with [[James T. Kirk]], who had been pulled in during the ''Enterprise''-B's encounter with the ribbon. Picard was able to convince Kirk to leave the Nexus with him, [[time travel|traveling back in time]] to a point before Soran had launched the probe. As Picard attempted to [[sabotage]] Soran's launcher, Kirk fought Soran, a confrontation which ultimately led to Kirk's death when he fell off the scaffolding holding Soran's equipment while trying to recover the remote control for the launcher. Kirk's sacrifice, however, allowed Picard to successfully disable Soran's launcher. As Soran returned to the probe, he found that Picard had engaged the [[locking clamp]]s, destroying the launcher and killing Soran in a massive explosion. In the aftermath, Picard reflected that he disagreed with Soran's perception of time as a predator, preferring to see it as a teacher that encouraged him to treasure every moment as it would never come again. ({{film|7}})
 
Inside the Nexus, however, Picard was able to make contact with [[James T. Kirk]], who had been pulled in during the ''Enterprise''-B's encounter with the ribbon. Picard was able to convince Kirk to leave the Nexus with him, [[time travel|traveling back in time]] to a point before Soran had launched the probe. As Picard attempted to [[sabotage]] Soran's launcher, Kirk fought Soran, a confrontation which ultimately led to Kirk's death when he fell off the scaffolding holding Soran's equipment while trying to recover the remote control for the launcher. Kirk's sacrifice, however, allowed Picard to successfully disable Soran's launcher. As Soran returned to the probe, he found that Picard had engaged the [[locking clamp]]s, destroying the launcher and killing Soran in a massive explosion. In the aftermath, Picard reflected that he disagreed with Soran's perception of time as a predator, preferring to see it as a teacher that encouraged him to treasure every moment as it would never come again. ({{film|7}})
  +
 
==Alternate timeline==
 
In an [[alternate timeline]], Soran had originally succeeded in reaching the Nexus. Since Soran's plan initially worked, it is suggested that Soran is in fact still in the Nexus, since time has ''no meaning'' there. ({{film|7}})
  +
  +
== Quotes ==
  +
{{Aquote|Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with eternity and I don't want to be late.|Soran to Picard about the Nexus on Veridian III|2371|7}}
   
 
== Appendices ==
 
== Appendices ==
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At least two different versions of Soran's death were written for the script of ''Star Trek Generations''. Additionally, two versions of Kirk's death were shot. The first involved Soran directly killing Kirk with a disruptor bolt, shooting him in the back. This version proved unpopular at early screenings so an alternate death (the scaffold bridge death) for Kirk was filmed and used in the theatrical release.
 
At least two different versions of Soran's death were written for the script of ''Star Trek Generations''. Additionally, two versions of Kirk's death were shot. The first involved Soran directly killing Kirk with a disruptor bolt, shooting him in the back. This version proved unpopular at early screenings so an alternate death (the scaffold bridge death) for Kirk was filmed and used in the theatrical release.
 
==Alternate timelines==
 
In an alternate timeline, Soran had originally succeeded in reaching the Nexus. Since Soran's plan initially worked, it is suggested that that Soran is in fact still in the Nexus, since time has ''no meaning'' there.
 
   
 
=== Apocrypha ===
 
=== Apocrypha ===
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=== External links ===
 
=== External links ===
 
* {{startrek.com|soran}}
 
* {{startrek.com|soran}}
* {{NCwiki}}
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* {{mbeta}}
   
 
[[de:Tolian Soran]]
 
[[de:Tolian Soran]]

Revision as of 10:18, 2 October 2015

AT: "xx"

"They say time is the fire in which we burn."
– Tolian Soran, 2371 (Star Trek Generations)

Doctor Tolian Soran was an El-Aurian scientist who, in the 24th century, attempted to destroy two stars and an inhabited planet in an effort to gain entrance to the Nexus, an extradimensional realm in which all one's desires are transformed into reality. He is also indirectly responsible for the death of James T. Kirk.

Life before the Nexus

Soran was born more than three hundred years before 2371. His world was destroyed by the Borg in the latter half of the 23rd century, which led to the death of his entire family, including his wife and children. Soran, however, escaped aboard the SS Lakul along with a handful other survivors. These refugees were to be transported to Earth.

However, shortly before reaching Earth in 2293, the ship and its companion the SS Robert Fox became trapped in an extremely intense gravimetric distortion trailing from an energy ribbon which acted as an entrance to the Nexus. While trapped in the distortion, Soran and the other passengers experienced brief moments in the Nexus, where Soran was able to live a life in which the Borg had not killed his family. Soran's experiences in the Nexus were short-lived, however, as he and the others were beamed away to the USS Enterprise-B, which had responded to a distress call. Upon finding himself in the Enterprise's sickbay, Soran began ranting, demanding to be returned, forcing Commander Pavel Chekov to sedate him. Soran subsequently became obsessed with returning to the Nexus and dedicated the next 78 years of his life to discovering a means by which to do so.

It was not explicitly said that Soran's homeworld was in fact the El-Aurian homeworld, although from dialog in "Q Who" the attack did seem to be limited to their system.

24th century

Soran and B'Etor

Soran and B'Etor

By the year 2371, Soran had developed a plan whereby he would destroy two stars, thereby altering the gravitational forces near the energy ribbon, altering its course and bringing it to the planet Veridian III, where Soran would be waiting for it. To accomplish his goal, Soran entered into an alliance with the Duras sisters, who agreed to secure trilithium, a nuclear inhibitor with which Soran would destroy the stars, in exchange for research allowing the sisters to develop a trilithium-based weapon. As Soran prepared to fire a solar probe equipped with trilithium into the Amargosa star from the Amargosa observatory, the outpost came under attack by Romulans who were attempting to retrieve the trilithium which the Duras sisters had stolen from them. Soran was rescued by the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, and was later able to return to the observatory and launch the probe, destroying the star. As the Enterprise crew attempted to rescue an away team from the observatory before the resultant shock wave arrived, Soran was retrieved by the Duras sisters and subsequently traveled to the Veridian system, where he intended to destroy the Veridian star.

The Enterprise crew ultimately uncovered Soran's plot, realizing that Soran intended to destroy the Veridian star despite the fact that it would destroy all planets in the system, including Veridian IV, which supported a humanoid society of 230 million individuals. The Enterprise arrived at Veridian III, where Captain Picard beamed to the surface in an attempt to reason with Soran. Picard was ultimately unsuccessful, however, failing both to appeal to Soran's reasoning – Soran grimly stating that everyone was fated to die and that he was no longer concerned about preserving life – and in his subsequent attempt to penetrate the force field around Soran's equipment and stop him from launching the probe into the star. As the star was destroyed, the energy ribbon was diverted to the surface where it transported both Soran and Picard into the Nexus, immediately before the destruction of all of the planets in the system and the Enterprise itself.

Soran's death

Soran is killed in the launcher's explosion

Inside the Nexus, however, Picard was able to make contact with James T. Kirk, who had been pulled in during the Enterprise-B's encounter with the ribbon. Picard was able to convince Kirk to leave the Nexus with him, traveling back in time to a point before Soran had launched the probe. As Picard attempted to sabotage Soran's launcher, Kirk fought Soran, a confrontation which ultimately led to Kirk's death when he fell off the scaffolding holding Soran's equipment while trying to recover the remote control for the launcher. Kirk's sacrifice, however, allowed Picard to successfully disable Soran's launcher. As Soran returned to the probe, he found that Picard had engaged the locking clamps, destroying the launcher and killing Soran in a massive explosion. In the aftermath, Picard reflected that he disagreed with Soran's perception of time as a predator, preferring to see it as a teacher that encouraged him to treasure every moment as it would never come again. (Star Trek Generations)

Alternate timeline

In an alternate timeline, Soran had originally succeeded in reaching the Nexus. Since Soran's plan initially worked, it is suggested that Soran is in fact still in the Nexus, since time has no meaning there. (Star Trek Generations)

Quotes

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with eternity and I don't want to be late."
– Soran to Picard about the Nexus on Veridian III, 2371 (Star Trek Generations)

Appendices

Background

Soran was played by actor Malcolm McDowell.

At least two different versions of Soran's death were written for the script of Star Trek Generations. Additionally, two versions of Kirk's death were shot. The first involved Soran directly killing Kirk with a disruptor bolt, shooting him in the back. This version proved unpopular at early screenings so an alternate death (the scaffold bridge death) for Kirk was filmed and used in the theatrical release.

Apocrypha

The early edition of the novelization for Star Trek Generations featured one of the alternate death scenes for Soran. In this version, Picard succeeds in disarming Soran's probe, preventing its launch and the destruction of the star, and allowing the ribbon to pass the planet by. Soran charges at Picard in a fury, who snatches up Soran's disruptor and shoots him dead in the chest.

The novelization gives the name of Soran's deceased wife as Leandra. It also notes that Soran was aware of Picard's trip into the Nexus due to the lack of alternative explanations for Kirk's presence, increasing Soran's rage at Picard for depriving him of his wife again.

External links