Temporal Efficiency as a First Principle: Why Photons Propagate

We propose temporal efficiency as a first principle, deriving special relativity and a bridge to quantum mechanics from a conserved partition of temporal drive. This framework explains photon propagation as perfect coupling to the forward temporal gradient in the TSFT scalar potential Θ. Mass emerges as resistance to temporal advance, and the invariant speed c as the signature of perfect efficiency. Predictions include GNSS clock modulations, accelerator phase drifts, and lensing asymmetries, consistent with prior TSFT empirical tests (3; 2).