Changes: SS Beagle

Revision as of 01:50, 29 December 2014

The SS Beagle was a 23rd century Federation Class 4 survey vessel operated by the Merchant Service. The Beagle had a crew of forty-seven and was commanded by R.M. Merik; his flight officer was William B. Harrison.

In 2262, the Beagle was badly damaged by a meteor in the 892 system. Captain Merik and a landing party beamed down to the star's fourth planet to obtain iridium ore for repairs.

While on the planet, they were met by the local inhabitants, led by Proconsul Claudius Marcus. The Proconsul believed it would be unfair, even ruinous, to his highly conservative society if word of its existence should be carried elsewhere. Merik, convinced that this fine world should not be contaminated, had the remainder of his crew beam down. Some of the crew took to their new home and became citizens, but the others, who refused to adopt the ways of this society, were thrown in prison. Regarded as captured barbarians, they were forced to fight as gladiators.

Abandoned, the wreck of the Beagle drifted for six years before it was found, approximately 1/16th of a parsec away from 892. Its debris field included portions of its antimatter nacelles and the personal effects – but not the bodies – of the crew.

The USS Enterprise came to 892-IV to discover their fate. Merik for one had done very well for himself, having secured a high place in imperial politics. As for his crew, Merik told the Starfleet landing party that "those who were able to adapt are still alive". Kirk and Spock, however, witnessing the death of Harrison on Roman television, had heard him sports-commentated as "the last of the barbarians". Were there other Earthmen, unknown to the gladiatorial audience? Or was Merik speaking ironically, considering himself to be the only one "able to adapt"? Kirk did not press him.

Merik would have been removed from the planet to face charges of violating the Prime Directive had he not died saving the Enterprise landing party from Marcus and his machine-gun-toting police. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")

An early draft of the script named this vessel the USS Lord Nelson. ^{(citation needed • edit)}

The name Beagle is probably referenced in honor of the ship used on an expedition to the coast of South America between 1831-1836. Notable scientist Charles Darwin was one of the scientists on board the HMS Beagle. He pioneered the idea of biological adaptation, or speciation, and is also associated with the phrase "survival of the fittest".

Wreckage from the Beagle was seen briefly in the remastered episode.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{sidebar starship
-The S.S. ''Beagle'' was a [[Class IV stardrive vessel]], a small survey ship, serving the [[Federation merchant service]] during the 2260s. The ''Beagle'' had a crew of forty-seven and was commanded by [[Captain R.M. Merik]]; her flight officer was [[William B. Harrison]].
+|image      =
+|Name       = SS ''Beagle''
+|Class      = [[Class 4 stardrive vessel]]
+|Registry   =
+|owner      = {{Federation}}
+|operator   = [[Merchant Service]]
+|Status     = Destroyed
+|Datestatus = 2262
+}}
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:SS ''Beagle''}}
+The '''SS ''Beagle''''' was a [[23rd century]] [[Federation]] [[Class 4 stardrive vessel|Class 4]] [[survey vessel]] operated by the [[Merchant Service]]. The ''Beagle'' had a crew of forty-seven and was commanded by [[R.M. Merik]]; his [[flight officer]] was [[William B. Harrison]].
+In [[2262]], the ''Beagle'' was badly damaged by a [[meteor]] in the [[892 system]]. Captain Merik and a [[landing party]] [[beam]]ed down to the star's [[892-IV|fourth planet]] to obtain [[iridium]] [[ore]] for repairs.
-The ''Beagle'' was the first ship to survey the star sector where [[Star System 892]] is located when it disappeared in [[2261]]. During its mission, the Beagle suffered meteor damage and Captain Merik went ashore [[Planet 892-IV]] with a landing party to look for [[iridium ore]] for repairs. While ashore they were met by the local inhabitants lead by [[Proconsul]] [[Claudius Marcus]]. The Proconsul convinced Merik that it would be unfair to his world to carry word of their existence elsewhere and convinced Merik to beam down the remainder of his crew to the surface and the ''Beagle'' was left to be deserted. The ''Beagles'' crew was captured by the planet’s inhabitants and forced to fight as [[Roman gladiators]]. The abandoned ''Beagle'' drifted away from 892-IV approximately 1/16th of a parsec (0.2 l/y) before it was destroyed, leaving behind in its debris portions of its antimatter nacelles and personal belongings. Merik, who later became known as [[Merikus]], survives by becoming a strongman in local politics for the next 6 years, until [[2267]].
+While on the planet, they were met by the local inhabitants, led by [[Proconsul]] [[Claudius Marcus]]. The Proconsul believed it would be unfair, even ruinous, to his highly conservative society if word of its existence should be carried elsewhere. Merik, convinced that this fine world should not be contaminated, had the remainder of his crew beam down. Some of the crew took to their new home and became citizens, but the others, who refused to adopt the ways of this society, were thrown in prison. Regarded as captured barbarians, they were forced to fight as [[gladiator]]s.
-On [[Stardate 4040.7]] the starship ''Enterprise'' located the debris of the ''Beagle'' only to find that all of its crew had been killed on Planet 892-IV.  Once the crew of the Enterprise located Merik, they arrested him for violating the [[Prime Directive]]. ([[TOS]]: "[[Bread and Circuses]]")
+Abandoned, the wreck of the ''Beagle'' drifted for six years before it was found, approximately 1/16th of a [[parsec]] away from 892. Its debris field included portions of its [[antimatter]] [[nacelle]]s and the personal effects &ndash; but not the bodies &ndash; of the crew.
+The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} came to [[892-IV]] to discover their fate. Merik for one had done very well for himself, having secured a high place in imperial politics. As for his crew, Merik told the [[Starfleet]] [[landing party]] that "those who were able to adapt are still alive". Kirk and Spock, however, witnessing the death of [[William B. Harrison|Harrison]] on {{dis|Roman|892-IV}} television, had heard him sports-commentated as "the last of the barbarians". Were there other Earthmen, unknown to the gladiatorial audience? Or was Merik speaking ironically, considering himself to be the only one "able to adapt"? Kirk did not press him.
+Merik would have been removed from the planet to face charges of violating the [[Prime Directive]] had he not died saving the ''Enterprise'' landing party from Marcus and his machine-gun-toting police. ({{TOS|Bread and Circuses}})
+{{bginfo|An early draft of the script named this vessel the USS ''Lord Nelson''.{{incite}}|The name ''Beagle'' is probably referenced in honor of the ship used on an expedition to the coast of South America between 1831-1836. Notable scientist [[Charles Darwin]] was one of the scientists on board the {{HMS|Beagle}}. He pioneered the idea of biological adaptation, or speciation, and is also associated with the phrase "survival of the fittest".|Wreckage from the ''Beagle'' was seen briefly in the remastered episode.}}
+[[de:SS Beagle]]
+[[fr:SS Beagle]]
+[[Category:Federation starships|Beagle]]