Unveiling the Mystery: Mind-Blowing Updates on Star Trek's Original Pilot and the Enigma of Planet Rigel 7!

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds titled "Among the Lotus Eaters." This episode serves as a continuation of the unaired pilot of Star Trek: The Original Series and delves deeper into the planet Rigel VII, its inhabitants, and Captain Christopher Pike's ill-fated initial mission. The USS Enterprise is sent back to Rigel VII to investigate the lingering cultural impact of their previous visit, forcing Pike to confront the mistakes of his past. The original pilot, "The Cage," depicted the aftermath of a disastrous mission to Rigel VII that resulted in the loss of three crew members and the severe injury of three others. The second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds offers an opportunity to further explore Rigel VII and expand upon its society, providing fans with new insights into Pike's mission and the Kalar species that reside there.

7 Starfleet Kept Their Distance After Pike's Disastrous Mission

Starfleet refrained from authorizing any further exploration of Rigel VII following Pike's tragic away mission. Instead, they conducted scheduled flybys of the planet every two years to capture long-range photographs, monitoring the progress on Rigel VII. It was during one of these flybys that the Starfleet insignia was discovered in the palace gardens, compelling the USS Enterprise to return to the planet and rectify the aftermath that they had left behind. Now that the Kalar have been exposed to Pike's crew, and more importantly, they will remember the encounter, it is conceivable that the Federation will initiate the dispatch of other starships to the planet in order to establish relations with the emerging Kalar society.

6 Rigel VII Can Only Be Reached By A Starfleet Shuttle

Star Trek's most skilled pilots are the ones who can successfully navigate the challenging atmosphere surrounding Rigel VII. With factors like wind shear, combustible elements, and exotic radiation, it is too risky to transport down to the planet's surface using the beam technology. That is why Captain Pike, a former test pilot, made the decision to manually fly his team down to Rigel VII when it became apparent that Lieutenant Erica Ortegas, the Enterprise's most exceptional pilot, was needed to keep the ship in orbit within the planet's turbulent atmosphere.

It is suggested through Pike's account of his previous retreat from Rigel VII that the fatalities of his away team, as well as the grave injuries suffered by the other officers, were a direct result of the hostile atmosphere. If the Enterprise had possessed the capability to beam them to safety, it is probable that the away team would have managed to leave Rigel VII alive, albeit with significant injuries. Furthermore, the utilization of the transporters would have enabled the Enterprise to eradicate all traces of their presence on Rigel VII, thereby averting a severe violation of the Prime Directive.

5 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Gives Names To TOS' Dead Crew Members

In "The Cage," Captain Pike (played by Jeffrey Hunter) mourns the loss of three unnamed crew members from the Enterprise who lost their lives on Rigel VII. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds finally reveals the identities of the fallen members of Pike's away team: Yeoman Zac Nguyen (portrayed by David Huynh), Ensign C. Plummer, and Science Specialist M. Aberth. The deaths of these officers deeply affected Pike, causing him to question his ability to make the necessary command decisions as a Starfleet officer. However, upon returning to Rigel VII, Pike is able to find solace in accepting the responsibility for what occurred, while also setting his sights on the future.

4 Star Trek: TOS' Rigel VII Mission Broke The Prime Directive

Strange New Worlds uncovered a predicament concerning the Prime Directive - the notion that in certain hostile circumstances, there might not be enough time or opportunity to ascertain if advanced technology has been inadvertently left behind. In their hasty escape from Rigel VII, Pike and the away team inadvertently abandoned a stockpile of phaser rifles and other equipment, thereby violating the principles of the Prime Directive. This advanced technology possessed the potential to drastically alter the trajectory of societal and technological progress on the pre-warp planet of Rigel VII. Reflecting on the situation, Pike acknowledges that his gravest error on Rigel VII was descending in uniform, which also contravenes the Prime Directive's mandate for officers to seamlessly assimilate into their surroundings within pre-warp civilizations.

3 Pike's Yeoman Didn't Die On Rigel VII

Not only did Pike leave behind weapons on Rigel VII, but he also abandoned his personal Yeoman, Zac Nguyen, on the planet's surface. Initially assumed to have died during the clash with the Kalar soldiers, Zac miraculously survived. Filled with bitterness over his abandonment, Zac armed the locals with phaser rifles and rose to become the esteemed High Lord Zacarius. To symbolize his newfound power, Zac adorned the castle gates, gardens, and grand halls with various interpretations of the recognizable Starfleet Delta insignia, which he adopted as his personal coat of arms. Eventually, Pike successfully overthrew Zac, restoring Rigel VII to its original state and paving the way for a brighter future.

2 Star Trek's Kalar Species Explained

Pike encountered a Kalar soldier in "The Cage" who appeared savage and irrational, reflecting Pike's memories. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the Kalar soldiers are different, possibly due to the influence of Zac Nguyen's advanced culture. The Kalar society is divided between those living in the palace and those in the field. The palace residents retain their memories and identities, explaining their more civilized behavior compared to the primitive Kalar in "The Cage". Pike decides to bring Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh and Dr. Joseph M'Benga, both skilled in unarmed combat, to counter the brutality. The Kalar of the Field, who work the land for Zac, are simple and mark their skin with information. The planet-wide "Forgetting" that affects them may cause fear, explaining their initial hostile response to Pike's team. However, as the away mission lasted only four hours before evacuation, they didn't fully comprehend what was happening on the planet.

1 Rigel VII Was Struck By An Asteroid Before Star Trek: TOS

The nightly occurrence of "Forgetting" on Rigel VII is attributed to a peculiar radiation emitted by an asteroid that had collided with the planet's surface thousands of years ago. This asteroid originated from the nearby Stecora debris field and had a profound impact on the cultural and societal aspects of the planet. In one hemisphere, all life was eradicated by the asteroid upon impact, and its subsequent emission of enigmatic radiation caused symptoms such as headaches, time loss, and the phenomenon of forgetting.

To counteract the effects of this radiation, the inhabitants of Rigel VII discovered a mysterious ore, although the exact timeline of its discovery remains uncertain. This mineral was utilized in the construction of Zac's palace and the armor worn by the Kalar soldiers. Upon regaining his memories, Pike, accompanied by Lt. Erica Ortegas, resolved to eliminate the asteroid from Rigel VII. It can be speculated that this act of removal, as depicted in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, contributed to improved relations between Starfleet and Rigel VII, indicating Kirk's desire to perform the song "Moon Over Rigel VII" in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

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