Changes: R.M. Merik

Revision as of 16:04, 22 April 2013

Captain R.M. Merik was the commanding officer of the Federation Merchant Marines survey vessel SS Beagle.

In his youth he attended Starfleet Academy at the same time as James T. Kirk, but was dropped in his fifth year because he failed a psycho-simulator test. After this he joined the Merchant Marines.

As Starfleet Academy usually only took four years, it appears that either Merik had to repeat one total year or that he took a program that necessitated a fifth (or more) year.'

In 2262, the Beagle became disabled near the 892 system, when it suffered damage from a meteor storm. Merik and a landing party beamed down to the fourth planet of the system to look for iridium ore for repairs.

While on the planet, Merik was met by the local inhabitants lead by Proconsul Claudius Marcus. The Proconsul convinced Merik that it would be unfair to 892-IV's highly traditional society to carry the word of their existence elsewhere. Persuaded, Merik had the remainder of his crew beam down to the surface, where they were regarded as barbarians by the inhabitants and forced to fight as gladiators. Merik became Merikus, the First Citizen and Lord of the Games.

Merik died in 2268, helping the Enterprise crew escape. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")

Merik was played by actor William Smithers.

Despite the fact that his name was clearly spelled out in the episode's end credits, the spellings for his character have inconsistently been referenced as both "Merik" and "Merrick". "Merik" is the spelling in the Star Trek Concordance, whereas the spelling "Merrick" is used in the Star Trek Encyclopedia (and related publications authored by Mike and Denise Okuda), as well as the character biography and episode summary on StarTrek.com, and additionally, in the English subtitles on the TOS Season 2 DVD.

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+{{sidebar individual
-[[Image:RM Merik.jpg|thumb|[[Captain]] '''R.M. Merik''']]
+|image=RM Merik.jpg
-[[Captain]] '''R.M. Merik''' was the [[commanding officer]] of the [[Federation]] [[Merchant Marines]] [[survey vessel]] [[SS Beagle|SS ''Beagle'']].
+|imagecap=R.M. Merik ([[2268]])
+|gender=Male
+|species=[[Human]]
+|occupation=[[Commanding officer]] of the {{SS|Beagle}}.
+|status=Deceased
+|datestatus=2268
+|died=[[2268]]
+|actor=[[William Smithers]]
+}}
+[[Captain]] '''R.M. Merik''' was the [[commanding officer]] of the [[Federation]] [[Merchant Marine]]s [[survey vessel]] {{SS|Beagle}}.
-In [[2261]], the ''Beagle'' became disabled near the [[892 system]], when it suffered damage from a [[meteor]] storm. Merik and a [[landing party]] [[beam]]ed down to the [[892-IV|fourth planet]] of the system to look for [[iridium]] [[ore]] for repairs.
+In his youth he attended [[Starfleet Academy]] at the same time as [[James T. Kirk]], but was dropped in his fifth year because he failed a psycho-simulator test. After this he joined the Merchant Marines.
-Whilst on the [[planet]], Merik was met by the local inhabitants lead by [[Proconsul]] [[Claudius Marcus]]. The Proconsul convinced Merik that it would be unfair to Merik to carry the word of their existence elsewhere and pursuaded Merik to beam down the remainder of his crew to the surface, who were captured by the planet's inhabitants and forced to fight as [[gladiator]]s, while Merik became the [[First Citizen]] and Lord of the Games.
+{{bginfo|As Starfleet Academy usually only took four years, it appears that either Merik had to repeat one total year or that he took a program that necessitated a fifth (or more) year.'}}
-Merik died in [[2267]], helping the [[USS Enterprise NCC-1701 |''Enterprise'']] crew escape. ([[TOS]]: "[[Bread and Circuses]]")
+In [[2262]], the ''Beagle'' became disabled near the [[892 system]], when it suffered damage from a [[meteor]] storm. Merik and a [[landing party]] [[beam]]ed down to the [[892-IV|fourth planet]] of the system to look for [[iridium]] [[ore]] for repairs.
-==Background==
-Played by actor [[William Smithers]], the spellings of his character have inconsistanty been referenced as both "Merik" and "Merrick". "Merik" is the spelling in the ''[[Star Trek Concordance]]'', as well as the [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/episode/68746.html episode summary] on [http://www.startrek.com StarTrek.com], whereas the spelling "Merrick" is used in the ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' (and related publications authored by [[Mike Okuda|Mike]] and [[Denise Okuda]]), as well as the [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/character/bio/1116949.html character biography] on StarTrek.com. In the end credits the character is spelled "Merik", which is the spelling used for this article.
+While on the [[planet]], Merik was met by the local inhabitants lead by [[Proconsul]] [[Claudius Marcus]]. The Proconsul convinced Merik that it would be unfair to 892-IV's highly traditional society to carry the word of their existence elsewhere. Persuaded, Merik had the remainder of his crew beam down to the surface, where they were regarded as barbarians by the inhabitants and forced to fight as [[gladiator]]s. Merik became Merikus, the [[First Citizen]] and [[Lord of the Games]].
-Kirk knew Merik at [[Starfleet Academy]], stating in this episode that Merik was "dropped in his fifth year" and entered the merchant service.
+Merik died in [[2268]], helping the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|''Enterprise'']] crew escape. ({{TOS|Bread and Circuses}})
+{{bginfo|Merik was played by actor [[William Smithers]].|Despite the fact that his name was clearly spelled out in the episode's end credits, the spellings for his character have inconsistently been referenced as both "Merik" and "Merrick". "Merik" is the spelling in the ''[[Star Trek Concordance]]'', whereas the spelling "Merrick" is used in the ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' (and related publications authored by [[Mike Okuda|Mike]] and [[Denise Okuda]]), as well as the {{st.com|merrick|character biography}} and {{st.com|bread-and-circuses|episode summary}} on [[StarTrek.com]], and additionally, in the English subtitles on the [[TOS Season 2 DVD]].}}
+[[de:R.M. Merik]]
 [[Category:Humans|Merik, R.M.]]
 [[Category:Starfleet personnel|Merik, R.M.]]