1:[3,#B],7:[2,#I],35:[1,#I],67:[2,#I],70:[1,#I],83:[2,#I],119:[1,#I],171:[2,#I],191:[21,#I]@1“The Changeling” (TOS)@2Stardate 3451.9. The U.S.S. Enterprise investigates the recent unexplained attack on the Malurian system, and discovers the cause of the destruction to be an ancient space probe. The probe, known as Nomad, had been launched from Earth in the early 21st century on a mission to search for extraterrestrial life. It is determined that a freak accident involving an alien space probe called Tan Ru caused Nomad to execute a mission of “sterilizing” all life-forms. It is believed that Tan Ru had been programmed to sterilize soil samples, possibly as a prelude to colonization, and that the control programs of the two probes had somehow merged in the collision. Kirk succeeds in destroying the errant Nomad with a minimum of further damage to the ship.
• Planet Ceti Alpha VI explodes, disrupting the orbit of Ceti Alpha V. The resulting climatic changes are devastating to the colony there, headed by Khan Noonien Singh. Starfleet remains unaware of the explosion and of its consequences until 2285, when the Starship Reliant investigates the planet as a possible site for Project Genesis testing.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Exact date is conjecture, but Khan said Ceti Alpha VI had exploded six months after the events in “Space Seed” (TOS).
~1:[3,#B],7:[1,#I],83:[1,#I],100:[1,#I]@1“The Apple” (TOS)@2Stardate 3715.3. The Enterprise conducts a routine survey of planet Gamma Trianguli VI. Survey party reports discovery of a primitive humanoid culture, but further investigation yields evidence of an immensely powerful and ancient computer system that controls the planet’s climate. It is determined that the computer, known to the planet’s inhabitants as Vaal, has become the central object of the planet’s religion, as the native civilization apparently exists primarily to provide fuel for the computer system. Upon detection of Enterprise personnel on the planet, Vaal attempts to discourage the investigation by causing the death of two Enterprise crew members and attempting to destroy the starship in orbit. Arguing that Vaal has served to stagnate the planet’s culture, Kirk orders ship’s phasers to destroy the computer, thus permitting the inhabitants of Gamma Trianguli VI to return to a normal course of cultural development.
~1:[3,#B],8:[1,#I],40:[1,#I],157:[2,#I],233:[24,#I],271:[11,#I],290:[6,#I]@1“Mirror, Mirror” (TOS)@2(No stardate given.) The Enterprise is on a diplomatic mission to the Halkan system to secure dilithium mining rights. The assignment is impeded by a severe ion storm that nearly results in the loss of the Enterprise landing party due to the storm’s disruption of transporter functions. It is later learned that transport disruption resulted in exchange of landing party members with corresponding individuals from a parallel dimension, and both parties are returned to their original universes.
Upon their return, landing party members report the alternate universe to be remarkably similar to their own, but much more violent, controlled by a repressive empire. They also report that the alternate Spock, understanding the inevitability of change and the accompanying potential for loss of life, may be willing to help guide his society in a more humane direction.
• In the mirror universe, the mirror Spock replaces the mirror James Kirk as captain of the I.S.S. Enterprise. Using the starship as his initial power base, Spock rises to commander in chief of the Terran Empire, bringing about a remarkable turnaround by preaching the radical concepts of peace and disarmament. Unfortunately, Spock’s reforms leave the empire defenseless, and they are later conquered by an alliance of the Klingons and the Cardassians. Shortly thereafter, the Bajoran government joins the Alliance. Terrans suffer greatly in this new order, becoming slave workers under Alliance rule.
“Crossover” (DS9). These events in the mirror universe happened after “Mirror, Mirror” (TOS). They did not necessarily happen immediately afterward, but occurred before 2370.
• Starfleet loses contact with Federation cultural observer John Gill, stationed on planet Ekos.
About six months prior to “Patterns of Force” (TOS).
U.S.S. Enterprise assigned to transport Commodore Stocker to Starbase 10.
Just before “The Deadly Years” (TOS).
~1:[4,#B],7:[2,#I],50:[1,#I],78:[1,#I],119:[2,#I],133:[7,#I]@1“The Deadly Years” (TOS)@2Stardate 3478.2. U.S.S. Enterprise on resupply mission to Gamma Hydra IV research colony. Landing party reports all colonists dead or dying, victims of an unusual hyperaccelerated aging disease. Shortly thereafter, nearly all landing party personnel are discovered to have similar symptoms. Commodore Stocker orders the Enterprise on a direct course to Starbase 10 so that the starbase’s medical facilities can be employed to help cure the hyper aging disease. The course takes the Enterprise across the Romulan Neutral Zone, resulting in a confrontation with a Romulan spacecraft. Medical Officer McCoy develops a cure for the disease, based on old adrenaline-based therapies for radiation exposure.
• Crew member Norman, recently assigned to duty aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, evades several attempts by Dr. McCoy to schedule a routine physical examination.
Three days prior to “I, Mudd” (TOS).
~1:[3,#B],7:[2,#I],16:[1,#I],60:[1,#I],101:[2,#I],129:[8,#I],138:[4,#B],145:[1,#I],244:[25,#I]@1“I, Mudd” (TOS)@2Stardate 4513.3. The U.S.S. Enterprise is hijacked by an android masquerading as Enterprise crew member Norman, who takes the ship to a previously unknown Class-K planetoid. The perpetrator of the hijacking is discovered to be known criminal Harcourt Fenton Mudd. The android population of the planet, which attempts to assume control of both Mudd and the Enterprise, is disabled by Kirk and his staff. It is learned that the androids were originally from the Andromeda galaxy and had been stranded when their home sun went nova. Mudd is released into custody of the android population.
• The U.S.S. Enterprise is summoned to Deep Space Station K-7 by a Priority-1 distress call, indicating near or total disaster. Accordingly, the entire quadrant is placed on defense alert.
Just prior to “The Trouble with Tribbles” (TOS).
“The Trouble with Tribbles” (TOS). Stardate 4523.3. The Enterprise, at Deep Space Station K-7, determines Priority 1 distress call was initiated to protect agricultural supplies of quadrotriticale, a special hybrid wheat deemed strategically essential to the development of Sherman’s Planet. The planet had been claimed by both the Federation and the Klingon Empire. The concern for security is proven justified when a Klingon operative attempts to sabotage the Federation development claim by poisoning supplies of quadrotriticale. The sabotage is accidentally discovered when some pet tribbles are learned to have been poisoned by the tainted grain. Klingon captain Koloth nevertheless threatens to file a protest with Federation authorities.
Editors’ Note: Koloth, played by William Campbell, reappeared in “Blood Oath” (DS9), which establishes that Koloth later became a tough negotiator for the Klingon Empire.
~1:[4,#B],8:[1,#I],14:[1,#I],27:[1,#I],91:[7,#I],99:[73,#I],174:[2,#I],194:[22,#I],235:[7,#I]@1“Bread and Circuses” (TOS)@2Stardate 4040.7. The Enterprise discovers wreckage of space vehicle Beagle on planet 892-IV, reported missing in the area some six years ago. Enterprise landing party, investigating the wreckage, is captured by planet’s inhabitants. Engineering Officer Scott is successful in rescuing the landing party without violating Prime Directive protection of indigenous life-forms by causing a brief failure of local power utilities.
Postmission analysis suggests a variation of Earth’s Christian religion may be evolving on planet 892-IV, potentially reforming the planet’s Roman culture into a more humane form.
Editors’ Note: Kirk said he had known Beagle captain R. M. Merrick at Starfleet Academy, noting that Merrick had been dropped in his fifth year after failing a psycho-simulator test. This would seem to contradict other references which establish Starfleet Academy to be a four-year institution. On the other hand, “The First Duty” (TNG) establishes that Wesley Crusher will have to repeat his sophomore year (meaning it will take him five years to graduate) and perhaps something similar happened to Merrick.
• The Starship Enterprise picks up 114 Federation dignitaries, including 32 ambassadors, for transport to a conference on the neutral planetoid Babel.
About two weeks prior to “Journey to Babel” (TOS). McCoy complained that the dignitaries had been on the ship for that long.
• Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan suffers a mild heart attack, his second. Benjasidrine medication is prescribed for the condition.
Shortly prior to “Journey to Babel” (TOS).
~1:[4,#B],8:[2,#I],105:[36,#I],143:[8,#I],163:[18,#I]@1“Journey to Babel” (TOS)@2Stardate 3842.3. The U.S.S. Enterprise is en route to planetoid Babel, providing transport of dignitaries for talks to consider the question of planet Coridan’s admission to the Federation. The conference is disrupted by apparent Andorian terrorism, later discovered to be the work of the Orion government, which opposes Coridan’s admission.
Ambassador Sarek suffers another heart attack, and is treated by Dr. Leonard McCoy, using blood donated by Commander Spock. The operation is a success, although Sarek’s wife, Amanda, opposes the procedure on the grounds of risk to both patients. This is McCoy’s first actual surgical experience with a Vulcan patient.
Editors’ Note: Although Spock’s parents had been referred to in previous episodes, “Journey to Babel” (TOS) is the first time they were seen and referred to by name. Sarek and Amanda became recurring characters in the Star Trek features, and Sarek even made two appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Coridan is admitted to the Federation.
After “Journey to Babel” (TOS). The episode “Sarek” establishes that the issue was decided in favor of admission.
~1:[5,#B],9:[1,#I],92:[32,#I],126:[2,#I],146:[8,#I],199:[17,#I]@1“A Private Little War” (TOS)@2Stardate 4211.4. An Enterprise landing party conducts botanical study of a technologically unsophisticated Class-M planet, but becomes embroiled in a local dispute. Spock is seriously injured in this dispute, exposing evidence that the indigenous population has been provided access to relatively advanced weaponry. Further investigation reveals Klingon operatives to be responsible for this cultural contamination. Captain Kirk, who had surveyed the planet some 13 years ago, determines measured provision of similar weaponry to all local groups to be the only means of maintaining survival of all.
Editors’ Note: Dr. M’Benga, who cared for Spock after his injury on the planet’s surface, is established as having interned in a Vulcan ward. M’Benga appeared again in “That Which Survives” (TOS).
• The U.S.S. Enterprise is assigned to perform a routine check of the automated communications and astrogation facilities on planetoid Gamma II.
Just prior to “The Gamesters of Triskelion” (TOS).
• The Romulan, Klingon, and Federation governments, in a joint venture, establish a colony on planet Nimbus III, dubbing it the Planet of Galactic Peace. The experiment is a failure, although the colony survives for at least 20 years.
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Romulan ambassador Caithlin Dar said the settlement had been established 20 years prior to the film (2287).
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~1:[5,#B],9:[2,#I],84:[1,#I],97:[2,#I],121:[19,#I]@1“The Gamesters of Triskelion” (TOS)@2Stardate 3211.7. The U.S.S. Enterprise at planet Gamma II for routine inspection of automatic communications and astrogation equipment. During beam-down, landing party personnel are abducted by a previously unknown, technically advanced civilization of planet Triskelion in the M24 Alpha system. Captain Kirk learns the inhabitants of Triskelion practice a form of slavery, using captured beings known as “thralls” as expendable participants in athletic competition. Faced with an untenable situation, Kirk successfully gambles and wins freedom for both the Enterprise crew and the thralls.
• Starfleet Command receives a message from the U.S.S. Horizon, lost a century ago. The message, sent via conventional radio, suggests the ship had caused cultural contamination at planet Sigma Iotia II.
“A Piece of the Action” (TOS). Kirk noted the message had been received a month prior to the episode.
~1:[2,#B],6:[2,#I],18:[2,#I],27:[1,#I],52:[2,#I],58:[2,#I],66:[1,#I],81:[23,#I],105:[10,#I]@1“Obsession” (TOS)@2Stardate 3619.2. The U.S.S. Enterprise encounters a cloud creature believed responsible for deaths aboard the Starship Farragut eleven years ago. The creature kills two Enterprise crew members. Kirk pursues the creature back to its home planet, Tycho IV, where it is killed by a small antimatter charge.
• The U.S.S. Enterprise proceeds to rendezvous with U.S.S. Yorktown for transfer of vaccines, which the Enterprise then transports to the colony on planet Theta VII, where they are urgently needed.
After “Obsession” (TOS). This is somewhat conjectural, but McCoy and Spock reminded Kirk of the critical situation on Theta VII, suggesting that the Enterprise would deal with the crisis immediately after leaving Tycho IV.
~1:[4,#B],7:[2,#I],35:[2,#I],102:[2,#I]@1“The Immunity Syndrome” (TOS)@2Stardate 4307.1. U.S.S. Enterprise on course to Starbase 6 for R&R, receives orders to divert for priority rescue mission to Gamma 7A system. En route, it is learned that the Starship Intrepid has been destroyed, and that the same agency has apparently attacked the Gamma 7A system, killing billions of people there. Investigation reveals the destruction to have been caused by a vast spaceborne organism that creates negative particles and consumes energy from planetary systems and space vehicles. Although nonsentient, the creature is deemed a serious threat to the galaxy and is destroyed.
The crew of the U.S.S. Intrepid had been entirely composed of individuals native to the planet Vulcan.
~1:[6,#B],11:[2,#I],29:[2,#I]@1“A Piece of the Action” (TOS)@2(No stardate given.) The U.S.S. Enterprise makes a follow-up visit to planet Sigma Iotia II (previously visited a century ago by the Starship Horizon), and discovers severe cultural contamination caused by a single book left behind by the previous expedition. In an effort to minimize further cultural damage, Kirk assists local leaders in unifying the planet under a common government.
~1:[5,#B],9:[2,#I],145:[14,#I]@1“By Any Other Name” (TOS)@2Stardate 4657.5. The U.S.S. Enterprise answers a distress call, and a landing party is captured by aliens later learned to be advance agents for the Kelvan Empire in the Andromeda galaxy. It is learned that the Kelvan hope to establish a colony in this galaxy and that they believe invasion is the only means by which this can be accomplished.
Captain Kirk negotiates an agreement with the Kelvans whereby a suitable planet can be peaceably set aside for their use. A messenger drone is sent to the Kelvan Empire to inform them of the agreement.
• A Federation research station is established on planet Minara II to study a nearby star predicted to go nova in about six months. Among the station personnel are Drs. Linke and Ozaba. The star had exhibited signs of imminent collapse for some time.
“The Empath” (TOS). The station had been established six months prior to the episode.
~1:[4,#B],8:[2,#I]@1“Return to Tomorrow” (TOS)@2Stardate 4768.3. The Starship Enterprise, venturing light-years beyond explored territory, uncovers evidence of a catastrophic war a half million years ago on a previously uncharted planet. Further investigation results in discovery of canisters containing the intellects of three surviving members of the now-dead civilization. An attempt is made to provide these survivors with android bodies, but one survivor, Henoch, is destroyed when he tries to steal a living body. The remaining two survivors, Sargon and Thalassa, choose to “depart into oblivion.”
~1:[4,#B],9:[2,#I]@1“Patterns of Force” (TOS)@2(No stardate given.) The U.S.S. Enterprise investigates apparent disappearance of cultural observer John Gill, stationed on planet Ekos. During orbital approach the ship is attacked by a thermonuclear weapon, the first of several discoveries that suggest severe cultural contamination. Investigation reveals that Gill, acting in violation of the Prime Directive, had engaged in a cultural experiment attempting to eliminate the planet’s dangerous anarchy by imposing a government modeled after old Earth’s Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, in imposing the efficiency of the Nazis, Gill created an environment in which the abuse of power also flourished. Kirk assists local inhabitants in overthrowing the Nazi government.
~1:[4,#B],8:[2,#I],49:[2,#I],54:[1,#I],65:[2,#I],108:[18,#I],130:[7,#I]@1“The Ultimate Computer” (TOS)@2Stardate 4729.4. The U.S.S. Enterprise is assigned to perform field testing of the experimental M-5 multitronic computer designed by Dr. Richard Daystrom. Although initial exercises are very promising, later tests in simulated combat reveal M-5 to be unpredictable, resulting in the destruction of the Starship Excalibur and its crew.
Enterprise captain Kirk and task force commander Commodore Wesley aboard the U.S.S. Lexington are credited with quick thinking, allowing disconnection of the M-5 unit before further deaths can result. Postmission analysis suggests that despite the M-5’s design goal of rendering human participation unnecessary in space exploration, it was human thinking that saved the situation.
Editors’ Note: Commodore Bob Wesley was named for the pseudonym that Gene Roddenberry used when he wrote for Have Gun, Will Travel, while still working as a police officer.
~1:[4,#B],9:[2,#I],13:[2,#I],67:[1,#I],105:[1,#I]@1“The Omega Glory” (TOS)@2(No stardate given.) The U.S.S. Enterprise discovers the Starship Exeter floating derelict in orbit at planet Omega IV, all crew personnel dead. The boarding party discovers deaths to have been caused by exposure to an alien biologic agent, apparently brought to the ship from the planet surface. Evidence suggests the planet also contains biologic agents that provide immunity to the disease, so Enterprise boarding party personnel are transported to the surface.
Investigation on the surface of Omega IV suggests both the disease and the population’s immunity are results of ancient bacteriologic warfare, perhaps over a millennium ago. Also discovered is Exeter captain Ronald Tracey, who survived the disease by chance because he had remained on the surface of the planet. Tracey is found to have interfered in local government, in violation of the Prime Directive, and is taken into custody.
