Warp Factor Two, Mr. Sulu...

Good afternoon, thinkers.

One particular issue has been nagging at me lately, on the subject of physics. Albert Einstein determined that nothing can move faster than the speed of light, or about 300 million meters per second. He also determined, by way of his Theory of General Relativity, that as an object approaches the speed of light, time begins to affect it less: in effect, time slows down in relation to that object. For the sake of argument and the future salvation of humankind, let's assume that he was mistaken, and that it is possible to surpass the speed of light (It's only logical, isn't it? I mean, why should 300 million m/s be the cap on the speed scale? In a total vacuum, the size of the object really should not affect its velocity: it just seems so arbitrary, or even naive to assume that nothing can go as fast as light. But I digress.).

As one approaches the speed of light, time slows. Logic would dictate that as the speed of light is reached, time halts completely (no?). Assuming this is the case, what happens as the speed of light is surpassed? Does time stay at a standstill, or does it reverse?

If this is the case, it would start by going slowly in a backwards direction, and as the object reaches Warp 2 (or twice the speed of light, using vocabulary from Star Trek) it would proceed backwards at "normal" speed, or the relative speed to someone standing still on Earth. But then, what would happen as Warp 3 is reached, or Warp 4? Does time reverse again to it's accustomed direction, or does it increase flow in it's opposite direction? If this is the case, then paradoxes would pop up everywhere, because the object would reach point B before it left point A, once Warp 2 is surpassed. The Laws of Conservation of Mass and Energy would have temper tantrums, and the Universe would collapse. *sigh.*

Alternatively, when the speed of light is reached, time ceases to flow around that object, and as the speed of light is surpassed, it stays paused until the object drops below 300 million m/s once again. This would mean that the object would reach it's destination in zero time plus the time needed to accelerate to and slow down from light speed. For the sake of future space travel, I sincerely hope that this is the case.

And finally, a simple question: why is the speed of light so tightly linked to time flow? Is it simply the fact that light is the fastest moving natural phenomenon? I think that is the answer.

Please present your opinions on this subject: I really want to know about this.

Peace,
DJ