Alpha III

Alpha III
Alternate name(s):	Kericindal
Classification:	Class M
Affiliation:	United Federation of Planets
Location:	Alpha Canaris system
Moon(s):	Seven
Dominant species:	Human
Warp capable:	Not applicable
Gravity:	1.2 g
Diameter:	10,200 kilometers
Equatorial circumference:	36,800 kilometers
Length of day:	22 hours
Land mass percentage:	40%

Alpha III, or Kericindal, was the third planet in the Alpha Canaris system located inside Federation space. (FASA RPG module: The Federation)

The ST reference: Star Trek Maps assigned the name "Alpha III" to the star system containing this world, while ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation (which follows Star Trek Maps) placed Alpha III in a star system called simply "Alpha". FASA RPG module: The Federation lists Alpha III as the fourth planet of its system, likely in error.

History

Alpha III was originally home to a technologically advanced civilization that called their world Kericindal. These people never left their planet and eventually died out under unknown circumstances thousands of years ago. Traces of this civilization were not immediately evident when humans colonized Alpha III, but became known after a series of archaeological excavations. (ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation)

Terra Four was a Human colony founded on Alpha III sometime in the 22nd century. The Statutes of Alpha III was considered among the most important political documents ever written. (TOS episode: "Court Martial", ST references: Star Trek Maps, The Worlds of the Federation, FASA RPG module: The Federation)

Politics

Alpha III was a full-status Federation member world. (ST reference: Star Trek Maps, FASA RPG module: The Federation) By the 2270s, the planet was a member of the Federation Security Council, and still held that status by the mid-2360s. (ST references: Star Trek Maps, The Worlds of the Federation) Its ambassador to the Federation in the mid-2360s was James Kara. (ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation)

The Federation Tribunal, the Federation's highest court, was based on Alpha III. (FASA RPG module: The Federation)

This is likely the same as the "tribunal of Alpha III" mentioned in the TOS episode: "Court Martial".

Society

The world had a population of 170 million in circa 2270. (ST reference: Star Trek Maps) By reference stardate 2/2306.1 (circa 2287), this had risen to 6.56 billion people, predominantly human. (FASA RPG module: The Federation)

There is a huge discrepancy between 170 million and 6.56 billion (6560 million) in only ≈17 years. As the FASA RPG follows much of Star Trek Maps, this may be in error.

It was a major cultural and administrative center of the United Federation of Planets, and concerned primarily with culture, industry and trade. (FASA RPG module: The Federation)

In the late 23rd century, Alpha III had a technological/sociopolitical index of 885753-88 and a planetary trade profile of BCBDBBC/C (B). (FASA RPG module: The Federation) In the 2270s, it had only class 2 facilities for starship support. (ST reference: Star Trek Maps)

Planetary Information

Alpha III was a Class L planet, similar to Earth but geologically inactive. (ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation)

Alpha III has seven moons. (FASA RPG module: The Federation)

The ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation shows no moons around Alpha III. It is possible that these moons are very small.

It had a total surface area of 370,000,000 square kilometers and, with 40% land mass, a total land area of 148,000,000 square kilometers. It had a gravity of 1.2 g, a diameter of 10,200 kilometers and an equatorial circumference of 36,800 kilometers. About 70% of its makeup was normal metals, 20% was radioactive elements, 5% was gemstones, and it had trace deposits industrial crystals and special minerals. (FASA RPG module: The Federation)

Natural History

The dominant animal on Alpha III was a docile, reptilian biped which was typically 0.94 meters tall, weighed 30 kilograms, and had a lifespan of 23 years. They had limited intelligence but displayed a strong sense of loyalty uncommon in animals. As they quickly developed attachments to people, these reptiles were commonly found as pets of the colonists. (ST reference: The Worlds of the Federation)

External links

• Alpha III article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.