Gothos was an artificial class R planet created by Trelane within a star desert in the galaxy's Alpha or Beta Quadrant.
History and specifics[]
Gothos had a variable atmosphere and geologically active surface. (ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation)
It was a rogue planet not requiring a star for energy. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
It was located 900 light years from Earth and eight days from Beta VI at the outer edge of quadrant 904. Its size was coded magnitude 1-E. It was previously uncharted and a natural radio source, producing strong interference with subspace communications. It was iron-silicate-based with constant volcanic activity. Its toxic atmosphere and hostile, hot climate were prone to tornadoes, with a pressure similar to Earth, but respirators were required as it lacked oxygen.
Gothos was fabricated by Trelane, and his parents allowed him to keep the world. Trelane produced an Earth-like oasis on the surface with fresh air, a forest of trees and flowering vines.
In 2267, the Federation starship USS Enterprise discovered the planet while traveling through the star desert at warp three en route to Beta VI. Trelane played cat-and-mouse games with the starship, at one point propelling the planet at high sublight velocities. (TOS episode & Star Trek 11 novelization: The Squire of Gothos)
At one point, the planet was located in the general vicinity of Beta Portolan. (ST board game: "Star Trek: Catan")
For at least a month in 2269, Trelane relocated Gothos near the Delphi system in sector 01379, where he proceeded to capture the crews of the SS Mniki'rr, SS Shinobi, and USS Zimbabwe for his World War I fantasy warplay. When the USS Enterprise was sent to investigate, "Baron" Trelane shot at them with a space-faring replica Fokker DR-1 triplane, then transported James T. Kirk, Spock, and Leonard McCoy to Gothos. This time he simulated his interpretation of that war, including a trench warfare scene with a lone wounded soldier. A nearby town featured an armory, shoppe, school, and tavern — missing ships' personnel were compelled to portray town residents. Trelane kept his triplane in a hanger, and stored the missing starships as miniatures in bottles in his castle. (TOS video game: Judgment Rites mission: No Man's Land)
After "running away" from home, Trelane masked Gothos by placing its atmosphere and crust in a state of flux while he played out a 23rd century war fantasy, forcing starship crews to fight each other while operating duplicates of their own vessels. (TOS board game: "The Enterprise4 Encounter")
Its last known position was at coordinates -132.6, -125.7, -114.3 in the general vicinity of Daran and Memory Alpha within treaty boundary quadrant 3. (ST reference: Star Trek Maps)
Notable residents[]
Appendices[]
Images[]
Connections[]
Appearances[]
- TOS episode & Star Trek 11 novelization: The Squire of Gothos
- TOS board game: "The Enterprise4 Encounter"
- TOS video game: Judgment Rites mission: No Man's Land
References[]
- ST reference: Star Trek Maps
- ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation
- TOS novel: Spock, Messiah!
- FASA RPG module: Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual
- LUG RPG module: Star Trek: The Original Series Core Game Book
- TNG novel: Q-Squared
- Decipher RPG module: Worlds
- Star Trek: The Magazine vol. 3, Issue 7: "Trelane"
- ST board game: Star Trek: Catan
External links[]
- Gothos article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.