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star trek - How old was Porthos when Scotty killed him?



In Star Trek 2009, we meet Montgomery Scott in exile on Delta Vega. Scotty says his exile happened because he caused Admiral Jonathan Archer's dog Porthos to disappear during a test of an early prototype of Scotty's transwarp transporter.


We all remember Porthos as the beagle that Archer cared for in Star Trek Enterprise. Dogs today tend not to live more than 15 or 20 years. This implies that Star Trek 2009 was set only a few years after Archer saved Earth from the Xindi in Star Trek Enterprise. Unless future medicine causes dogs to live 50 years.


Can someone connect the timeline elements together, so that we can see how old Porthos was when Scotty killed him?



Answer



Is the dog Porthos?


I include this section because I didn't initially believe it could be the same dog, but research proved me wrong.


Robert Orci, one of the writers of Star Trek (2009), answered this question in a 2009 Q&A on TrekMovie.com1:



QUESTION: Forget with it was Admiral Jon Archer (as it obviously was!): is the beagle mentioned Porthos? Has veterinary science advanced so much? (Please say yes!)


Orci: YES!




So shut me up.


How old would Porthos be?


We don't know exactly when Archer first got Porthos, although we know he's had him from a puppy. "Broken Bow", the first episode of Enterprise, is established as taking place in 2151:



Archer: Enterprise starlog, Captain Jonathan Archer. April 16, 2151.


Star Trek Enterprise Season 1 Episode 1: "Broken Bow"



So Porthos has been around at least since April 2151.


Meanwhile, in Star Trek (2009), Spock gives the stardate after taking command of the Enterprise:




[T]he Enterprise BLASTS AWAY -- in the distance, THE ENTIRE PLANET OF VULCAN SWALLOWS INTO ITSELF -- A TERRIFYING, UNIMAGINABLE IMPLOSION -- UNTIL NOTHING IS THERE BUT DARKNESS. Over this, we HEAR:


SPOCK (V.O.): Acting Captain's log. Stardate 2256.42: I have assumed command of the Enterprise


Star Trek (2009) - 2007 draft



According to Izkata's answer to this question, that stardate corresponds to February 11, 2256.


Later dialogue from Scotty indicated that he made Porthos disappear six months prior:



Starfleet Officer (cont'd): Six months I've been living on nothing but Starfleet Protein Nibs and the promise of a real food delivery!


[...]



Scotty: I told my instructor I could not only beam a bird from one planet to an adjacent planet in the same system -- which is no big deal anyway -- but if I were so inclined I could actually do it with a lifeform! So I tested it on Admiral Archer's prize beagle. Which... was a mistake


Star Trek (2009) - 2007 draft



Six months before the above date puts us around August 2255.


So Porthos was at least 104 years old.



1 The questions are asked and answered in the comments under the blog post. I've tried to permalink to Orci's reply, but may not have succeeded


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