"Travelers" is a 2016 television sci-fi show based on the premise of time travelers returning to the early 21st century to curb events that ultimately led to a future where humans are on the brink of extinction. The show utilizes the plot device of a highly advanced AI supercomputer located in the future, that uses a compiled archive of all the available information during the 21st century to locate events that are required to be stopped for the betterment of the future. In this universe, time travel occurs through a process by which a future consciousness is uploaded, sent through space-time, and downloaded within the brain of a candidate; replacing that candidate's mind with the one of a traveler. The AI, also known as the Director, is programmed not to take a life, forcing this process to require an event known as a T.E.L.L. (Time, Elevation, Latitude, and Longitude). T.E.L.L.s are accurate information that records the known point of historical death for a time travel candidate, thus allowing the Director to transfer the consciousness of a traveler into a host's brain moments before their recorded death.
Traveler teams usually consist of 5 members: the team leader, historian, tactician, medic, and engineer. Each of these roles serves a different purpose; the historian raised since birth to retain large amounts of information pertaining to 21st-century events, including investments, T.E.L.L.s, etc, the engineer creates technology for the team from the future which is needed for missions, the tactician is trained in a wide range of combat/military techniques and serves as the tactical planner for the team, the team leader (the role which I will assume) and medic roles are rather self-explanatory. These traveler teams are expected to follow and stay loyal to the Grand Plan, the Director's plan to fix the future; the missions the travelers receive from the future on the deep web. Along with the Grand Plan, the Travelers are expected to follow 6 protocols:
- Protocol 1: The mission comes first.
- Protocol 2: Never jeopardize your cover.
- Protocol 3: Donât take a life; donât save a life, unless otherwise directed. Do not interfere.
- Protocol 4: Do not reproduce.
- Protocol 5: In the absence of direction, maintain your hostâs life.
- Protocol 6: No inter-team/deep web communication except in extreme emergencies or when sanctioned.
However, these protocols are often broken to advance the character developed and your personal character's story. There are a few extra protocols such as Protocol Alpha which requires all Travelers to do whatever it takes to resolve the issue at hand, and Protocol Omega the Director will no longer be intervening in this timeline (either the team has successes or the future can not be saved).
Messengers are a vital part of the story, they serve as temporary hosts for the Director for the quick delivery of messages outside of the deep web. Adults cannot be used as messengers in the story; a fully developed adult brain is not able to withstand the shock of having a consciousness temporarily embedded into it, ultimately ending in the death of the messenger. The Director will typically use children as messengers, as their brains are malleable enough to be able to withstand the shock.