Altair IV was a class M planet, the fourth planet of the Altair star system located inside Federation space in the Alpha Quadrant of the galaxy.
History and specifics
Altair IV is homeworld to the Palkeo Est civilization. Although these humanoids can blend in well with Terrans, differences in their biology and physiology preclude the possibility of genetic hybrids from the two species. (TOS - Fortunes of War novel: Dreadnought!)
Archaeology on Altair VI has revealed the sister world to Altair IV was once home to an ancient civilization, the Krell, that also once colonized Altair IV. (FASA RPG module: The Federation; ST reference: Star Trek Maps)
The Altair IV plague is well known in the 23rd century Federation as being an example of a virulence that could wipe a world clean of lifeforms. (TOS novel: Perry's Planet)
- It was not revealed whether the ancient Altairian civilization had any relation to the Palkeo. The two sources that establish these two facts were published from two different creative perspectives, but from the POV of the Star Trek universe, two possibilities are that the ancient Altarians did die out completely and were followed by the unrelated Palkeo, or that the Palkeo are descendants of the survivors of that ancient death.
After the Human industrialist Micah Brack disappeared from Earth at the end of the 21st century, he was rumored to be setting up a new life for himself on Altair IV. (TOS novel: Federation)
This world had became home to a Human colony by the 22nd century, having been settled by colonists from Altair VI. Altair VI continued to govern Altair IV, under the auspices of the Altair Quadrant state. (TOS - Fortunes of War novel: Dreadnought!; FASA RPG module: The Federation)
The political situation in the Altair system was tenuous at the time of the 23rd century, with Federation diplomacy trying very carefully to keep fighting to a minimum between the inhabited worlds of this system. There was a long sustained conflict between Altair VI and Altair III that renewed itself around the year 2244, and would continue until the 2260s. Altair IV eventually declared independence from Altair VI in 2267, which sparked an escalation of fighting in the system. Federation peacekeeping forces eventually interceded, and Altair IV was returned to the governance of Altair VI after Federation diplomats called for a cease-fire between all combatants, which was celebrated with much pomp and circumstance. When a new president of Altair IV was inaugurated at the end of the conflict, Starfleet placed the greatest emphasis on showing support by assigning three Constitution-class starships to observe the proceedings. (Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook; FASA RPG module: The Federation; TOS episode & Star Trek 3 novelization: Amok Time)
The year 2270 saw construction finished on the Federation Central Hospital on this world. (Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook)
Michael Thomas Paris was born in May of 2271 in the Hume Township on Altair IV. (ST novel: Excelsior: Forged in Fire)
In 2285, the government on Altair VI continued to govern both worlds pending a resolution from the Federation Diplomatic Corps. (FASA RPG module: The Federation)
In the early 24th century, medical file MM-378-5 records Darien Wallace as having been born on this world on stardate 48991.3. (TNG episode: "Eye of the Beholder")
In 2371, the renowned Central Hospital of Altair IV was host to that year's Carrington Award winner, Doctor Henri Roget. (DS9 episode: "Prophet Motive"; ST website: StarTrek.com)
Astronomical Data
Location
Appendices
Connections
| Altair system |
|---|
| Altair: Altair III • Altair IV • Altair VI • Altair VII |
| Planets visited by ships named | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(space shuttle) |
Earth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USS Endeavour (Columbia-class) |
Cheron IV • Altair VI • Kemsar Colony • Iota Pegasi asteroid • Beta Rigel III • Beta Rigel IV • Beta Rigel V • Beta Rigel VII • Babel • | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USS Endeavour (Icarus-class) |
Donatu V | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USS Endeavour (Constitution-class) |
Altair IV • Golmira • Certoss Ajahlan • Jupiter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USS Endeavour (Kelvin timeline) |
Outpost Armstrong • Quirina VI • Romulus • Babel • New Vulcan • Senydra VII • Antos IV • Elba II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
Altair IV was the name of the titular world in the film Forbidden Planet, a work that shares many similarities with Star Trek. In particular, the suggestion that Altair IV was previously inhabited by an advanced culture and then decimated of all life matches the plot of this film.
References
External link
- Altair IV article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.