Department of Temporal Investigations Report: "A Matter of Time"

Temporal Investigations
Incursion Report
Filed Stardate 45409.4
Commander L. Keith Marcus, DTI Analyst
Transmitted over secured channel Beta 367 Alpha 

I. SUMMARY OF INCURSION

On stardate 43549.1 while enroute to Penthara IV to render assistance after an asteroid impact the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D detected a small one man craft of unknown design directly in their flight path.  After receiving a brief text only message from the craft the Enterprise was boarded by the occupant, a male human identifying himself as Professor Berlinghoff Rasmussen, a historian from the 26th century.  He further claimed to be doing research on events in the 24th century.  While the Enterprise tended to the situation on Penthara IV Professor Rasmussen interviewed the senior officers and had them complete questionnaires.  As a guest Rasmussen had full general access to the ship, including the bridge, sickbay and engineering.  Following the resolution of the Penthara crisis Professor Rasmussen stated that it was time for him to return to his own time.  Having noticed a series of items going missing over the past few days the senior officers met Rasmussen in the shuttlebay to confront him and search his ship (which they could not access without his fingerprint).  Resistant Rasmussen agreed to allow only Lieutenant Commander Data to enter the ship with him.  Once inside Rasmussen attempted to incapacitate Data, who had confirmed that all of the missing items were present on the ship.  According to Rasmussen the ship was indeed from the 26th century, however he himself was in fact from the 22nd century, and had stolen the ship from a time travelling historian from the 26th century.  Rasmussen and the stolen items were removed from the pod, moments before the pod disappeared, apparently having automatically returned to the 22nd century.  Rasmussen was taken into custody and later transferred to Starbase 90 for prosecution.

Temporal Displacement: Berlinghoff Rasmussen: approximately 203 years (2165-2368), Time Pod approximately 450 years (late 26th century - 2165), approximately 203 years (2165-2368)

II. VIOLATIONS

Following interviews with the Enterprise-D senior officers and Berlinghoff Rasmussen as well as a review of log entries it has been determined that the following violations of the Temporal Prime Directive occurred:

Berlinghoff Rasmussen

Attempting to alter history by exposing a past (subjectively) timeframe, the 22nd century to future (24th century) technology

III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Potential contamination/damage to the timeline: none

It is the opinion of the Department of Temporal Investigations that Berlinghoff Rasmussen's disappearance from Earth in 2165 is of no real consequence to the timeline.  Given his exposure to the 24th century at this point, returning him to the 22nd century is inadvisable.

It is the recommendation of the Department of Temporal Investigations that in addition to his existing charges of theft Berlinghoff Rasmussen be given an additional charge of conspiracy to violate the Temporal Prime Directive.  Although it is understood that the Temporal Prime Directive did not exist in Rasmussen's native time, his intent to transport technology from the 24th century to a past timeframe (the 22nd century) and the changes to the timeline that would result justify the charge. 

This report is final.

ADDENDUM:

A team from the Department of Temporal Investigations has searched the former residence of Berlinghoff Rasmussen in Newark, New Jersey on Earth and found no sign of the time pod.  It is theorized that at some point after returning to the 22nd century the vessel automatically returned to its native century.  In the absence of the time