Bersallis III was a planet, the third planet in the Bersallis system, located near the Cardassian Union and Bajoran space in the galaxy's Alpha or Beta Quadrants. It was the site of a Federation research colony.
Specifics[]
The hot, arid desert surface lacked water, but had plentiful mineral deposits. It featured a thin atmosphere and inhospitable temperatures at the equator. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
No multicellular life evolved, but it did develop bacteria as well as airborne flora, single-celled lichen, and simple scrub plants. This planet cycled through six and a half years of good times separated by firestorms that enveloped the planet. These firestorms got over three hundred degrees centigrade with winds of over three hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. (ST - New Worlds, New Civilizations short story: "Ashes, Ashes")
The scathing storms accelerated geologic aging, triggering significant earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that annually formed new mountains, though peaks eroded within decades.
History[]
In the 23rd century, long-range survey probes revealed the planet's mineral wealth. The crew of the Federation starship USS Republic gave it a cursory examination, but did not detect the firestorm activity.
A team from the Cardassian Union undertook the world's first mining survey. After it was lost to a firestorm, Cardassia withdrew all interest in the world. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
In the 24th century, the colony became home to six hundred colonists of twenty-eight species, including the Pandrilites. This colony was used to study the effects of high-atmosphere plasma on airborne flora. This was also the first place to synthesize diberylium and identify seven varieties of bad bacteria. Red and silver flakes of tridianite and sorbomite were also found here. (ST - New Worlds, New Civilizations short story: "Ashes, Ashes")
In 2369, when firestorms of double the usual strength ignited months ahead of schedule, Nella Daren suggested protecting the facility with a shield grid made by cross-connecting several thermal deflector units. The USS Enterprise-D successfully evacuated the colonists, but eight crewmen died and the compound was destroyed. (TNG episode: "Lessons", Decipher RPG module: Narrator's Guide)
The station was subsequently rebuilt, and in the 2370s Bersallis III also may have hosted a hidden Maquis or pirate base of operations. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
In 2376, Lorraine Laxer gave birth to twin girls three days before the next cycle of firestorms began to form on Bersallis. A Federation correspondent visiting the colony witnessed the storm as deflector shields erected by Anton Bass and his team diverted it at the last minute. (ST - New Worlds, New Civilizations short story: "Ashes, Ashes")
Notable residents[]
Points of interest[]
Geography[]
- Coal Dust Plains
- Diamond Valley
- Eastface Mountains
- Equatorial Trench
- Fiveshield Mountains
- Funnel Mountains
- Granite Hills
- Highguard Mountains
- Northbrand Mountains
- South Plateau
- Southrange Mountains
- The Wall
- Vargas Desert
- Westface Mountains
Settlements[]
- Aral Co. Mining Camp
- Bersallis III research colony
- Drangar Mining Consortium site
- Tarhill Dilithium Mine
Appendices[]
Connections[]
Appearances and references[]
Appearances[]
References[]
External link[]
- Bersallis III article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.