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Talos IV was the fourth planet in the Talosian planetary system. This system was located in the Talos star group. Located three astronomical units from the binary stars Talos A and Talos B, Talos IV had a highly inclined orbit that brought it close to the orbit of Talos V. Classified as M-class, this inhabited planet had an atmosphere of oxygen-nitrogen and a gravity that was 0.9 of Earth standard. After thousands of years had passed since war had devastated the planet, Talos IV was beginning to support life again in the mid-23rd century.

This planet was inhabited by the Talosians, an old and weakened species with enormous mental powers, who lived deep underground. In 2254, the planet was visited by the Federation starship USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike after receiving a distress call from the SS Columbia, which crash-landed there in 2236. However, the only survivor of this crash was Vina, a female Human. (TOS: "The Cage")

Afterward, the Federation imposed General Order 7 on Talos IV, preventing anyone from approaching or making contact with the planet, under penalty of death. (TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I")

In 2267, Talos IV was revisited by the Enterprise while commandeered by Spock, in order to drop Captain Pike there. Pike had been crippled by delta rays but was able to live a normal life on the planet together with Vina. (TOS: "The Menagerie, Part II")

Background

Behind the Scenes

In the original story outline for "The Cage" (as fully reprinted in the reference book The Making of Star Trek, pp. 47-65), Talos IV was named Sirius IV and was inhabited by crab-like aliens who kidnapped Captain Robert April. The outline additionally describes the surface of Sirius IV as "arid, rocky" and "the arid waste."

The Talos IV set was designed by art directors Franz Bachelin and Pato Guzman. The set included a massive painted backdrop that greatly enlarged the set's apparent size. Although the sky pictured in the backdrop was a cloudy gray, Director of Photography William E. Snyder and the production crew gave the sky a slight greenish tint using colored lights, thereby making the planetscape seem more alien. ("The Menagerie, Part II" text commentary, TOS Season 1 DVD) The Talosian elevator created as part of the set was built on a platform, allowing the lift to descend without necessitating excavation below the soundstage's floor. ("The Menagerie, Part I" text commentary, TOS Season 1 DVD)

The 2006 remastered versions of "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II", as well as the 2008 remastered version of "The Cage", feature several updated, CG shots of Talos IV.

"The Explored Galaxy"

This chart was first seen, chronologically, in 2293. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) This chart was also seen in several Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes set in the 24th century, from the year 2364 to 2370. These were: TNG: "Conspiracy", "The Measure Of A Man", "The Emissary", "The Mind's Eye", "The Game" and DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets", "Cardassians".

Star Trek: Star Charts

Talo IV was located in the Alpha Quadrant. This M-class world was non-aligned, and contact with this planet was prohibited by General Order 7. This planet's dominant species was the Talosians. The Talosians became warp capable circa 500,000 years ago. In 2236, first contact was made by the SS Columbia. Information on the planetary government, its planetary capital, and the population were not available in 2378. (Pg. 34, "United Federation of Planets III")

External link

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