Otto was a genetically-engineered Augment from Earth's 20th century, a follower of Khan Noonien Singh, and a survivor of the Eugenics Wars. Otto escaped Earth aboard the SS Botany Bay.

In 2267, the Botany Bay was discovered by the USS Enterprise, where he was one of the 42 surviving male members of Khan's original group of 84. (TOS: "Space Seed")