- For other uses, see Pe.
Pergium (symbol Pe) is a chemical element, atomic number 111 on the periodic table used in and around the Federation in the 23rd century. In other periodic tables, an alternate name "Roentgenium" (Rg) had been adopted by Human science.
History and specifics[]
In its most stable form, this element has an atomic mass of 292. Pergium's existence was discovered by Humans for the first time on planet Mercury around reference stardate 2023. This metal is part of the trans-uranic series of heavy elements. (ST reference: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual)
Pergium is typically used in energy production and life support systems by thousands of planets, making it a valuable commodity. One of the Federation's largest sources of pergium in the 23rd century was the mining colony on planet Janus VI, where it was eventually extracted through the joint efforts of the native Horta and Human colonists. (TOS episode: "The Devil in the Dark")
In 2274, mining rights for pergium were being negotiated between the Federation and the planet Hephaestus. (TOS comic: "All the Infinite Ways")
In 2297, advances in life support technology made pergium unnecessary. (ST - Strange New Worlds VII short story: "Guardians")
In 2370, Horta miners discovered pergium on Baraddo, one of Bajor's moons. (DS9 novel: Devil in the Sky)
Pergium is a good signal when mining for latinum crystals as they typically form near deposits of the substance. (DS9 novel: Devil in the Sky)
Yanas Tigan and her family owned an operated a pergium facility on Sappora VII. It was once the fifth largest in the sector, until the Ferengi discovered a larger quantity on Timor II and established their own mining concern. (DS9 episode: "Prodigal Daughter")
Appendices[]
Background[]
In real-life science, element 111 has only recently been discovered, and named "roentgenium" (Rg). Some models of theoretical science have stated that heavy elements on this scale cannot exist in nature. Subspace science mentioned in Star Trek may account for the contradiction of this being a resource on other worlds. Although not referenced as such in any valid source, it could be supposed that pergium is an isotope of roentgenium, accounting for the difference in name and perhaps also the unique quantity of existing in an non-synthesized form.
References[]
- TOS episode: "The Devil in the Dark"
- ST references: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual, The Worlds of the Federation, Science Logs
- DS9 novel: Devil in the Sky
- DS9 episode: "Prodigal Daughter"
- TOS novels: The Case of the Colonist's Corpse, Cast No Shadow
- DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Cathedral
- TLE novel: Serpents Among the Ruins
- ST - Vulcan's Soul novel: Exiles
- DS9 - The Lives of Dax short story: "Second Star to the Right..."
- TOS comic: "All the Infinite Ways"
- MU - Obsidian Alliances novella: Saturn's Children
- ST - New Worlds, New Civilizations short story: "Mother's Day"
- DS9 - Ultimate Annual comic: "No Time Like the Present"
- TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea
- ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- STO novel: The Needs of the Many
- VAN novel: What Judgments Come
- VAN - Declassified short story: "Almost Tomorrow"
- ST - Strange New Worlds VII short story: "Guardians"
External links[]
- Pergium article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Roentgenium article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.