Tarsus IV Discussion

[Dilithium Matrix]

On a number of threads there's been some speculation about the starting premise of Discovery being related to the "Massacre on Tarsus IV" - I thought I'd try and draw some of it together and see where it goes.

The Tarsus IV incident fits neatly with some of the previously released information about Discovery - i.e. it is "an event in the history of Starfleet that has been talked about (in previous Star Trek shows), but never fully explored" and involved an exotic fungus (which would explain the inclusion of an astromycologist on the new crew). It occurred prior to the supposed beginning of Discovery's timeline; though for some people it happened a bit too far in the past.

Some people have suggested that Discovery focuses on dealing with the fallout of this event, such as other planets (possibly Klingon) experiencing problems with the same fungus.

But what if (and I admit to speculating here without evidence) the origin of the fungus lay with the Klingons - Tarsus IV might have been a test of a new biological weapon? Might this be the preferred weapon of choice of the new "ancient" or "precursor" Klingons?

 

[The Wormhole]

which would explain the inclusion of an astromycologist on the new crew

Because the immediate aftermath of Tarsus IV is the only time Starfleet will need someone on board a ship who can study fungi.

But what if (and I admit to speculating here without evidence) the origin of the fungus lay with the Klingons - Tarsus IV might have been a test of a new biological weapon? Might this be the preferred weapon of choice of the new "ancient" or "precursor" Klingons?

I don't get what you're asking here. We know Klingons aren't against the use of bio-weapons, Darvin carried out a plan to poison the food supply for Sherman's Planet. So even if the Klingons were involved with Tarsus IV, how would this be different or unique?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Tarsus massacre happened eight years before DSC takes place, so it's unlikely it will turn up on the show.

 

[Bones]

I think it's too dark of a premise for a Trek series.

 

[Timo]

Also, a rather obscure incident with minimal repercussions to anybody but Kirk, Riley and Leighton, none of whom hopefully is central to DIS... Or does a central DIS character perhaps lose relatives in the incident?

I hope Trek never returns to the Tarsus incident because there's just about 1% change that the writers could get it right anyway. I mean, the original episode made little sense of the backstory events, and the DIS writers would thus have to invent all that sense in a consistent manner...

That said,

Because the immediate aftermath of Tarsus IV is the only time Starfleet will need someone on board a ship who can study fungi.

Well, sort of. Kirk had these A&A officers aboard all the time, but only in two plotlines were they entitled to make an appearance; only once did a geologist make it to the dialogue payroll.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ You mean you didn't get the memo? Everything has to be dark now.

 

[Space Coast]

I think it's too dark of a premise for a Trek series.

Star Trek isn't all noblebright you know. Hasn't been since DS9, or arguably The Best Of Both Worlds.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Sure, it's not all light, but would be nice to have some of it at least.

 

[Mudd]

DS9 is not going to be the model.

 

[Tesophius]

That would be a pretty boring premise for a Star Trek show. It was one of the weakest TOS episodes. Surely by the 23rd century facial pattern recognition software would have immediately identified Kodos, not to mention DNA testing, or countless of other futuristic means of identification. The need for identification by witnesses is a pretty lame concept for a story set in the distant future.

 

[Greg Cox]

Star Trek isn't all noblebright you know. Hasn't been since DS9, or arguably The Best Of Both Worlds.

Heck, TOS is much darker than people sometimes like to remember. Many of the first-season episodes, in particular, end on tragic or downbeat notes. "Mantrap," "Charlie X," "Balance of Terror," "Conscience of the King," "What are Little Girls Made Of," "The Alternative Factor," and, ahem, "City on the Edge of Forever."

Indeed, the original STAR TREK pilot begins with Pike in a funk because he's just lost several crew members in a massacre and ends with him leaving poor, tragic Vina behind, while the second pilot is all about Kirk being forced to kill his best friend.

TOS was doing "dark" long before DS9 or the Borg.

 

[Bones]

<snip>The need for identification by witnesses is a pretty lame concept for a story set in the distant future.

This is where TOS is a product of its era, where things like facial recognition and dna tests didn't exist (and postulating such a thing wouldn't have helped the plot).

 

[Bones]

Regarding all the light/dark discussion: I'm ok with a dark episode or plot elements, but would like to see a fundamentally optimistic series.

 

[Tesophius]

This is where TOS is a product of its era, where things like facial recognition and dna tests didn't exist (and postulating such a thing wouldn't have helped the plot).

Still, they could've concluded that there's going to be a better way of identifying someone that far in the future other than by having a witness look at them.

 

[fireproof78]

Still, they could've concluded that there's going to be a better way of identifying someone that far in the future other than by having a witness look at them.

That's when the surveillance state of TNG started.

 

[Greg Cox]

This is where TOS is a product of its era, where things like facial recognition and dna tests didn't exist (and postulating such a thing wouldn't have helped the plot).

Exactly. It stands out like a sore thumb now, but I think the episode can be forgiven for not anticipating DNA testing and facial-recognition software back in 1966.

As a morality play and character study, I've always found "Conscience" compelling--which I probably why I've written both a prequel and a sequel to that ep.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I'm sure that whoever helped Kodos escape, also helped him alter his face and perhaps even his DNA.

 

[Bones]

I'm sure that whoever helped Kodos escape, also helped him alter his face and perhaps even his DNA.

This is where a more modern retelling could start. All of technology gives Karidian a pass, but Kirk trusts his gut because X... You still retain the core morality play and add man (Kirk) vs computer.

 

[Greg Cox]

This is where a more modern retelling could start. All of technology gives Karidian a pass, but Kirk trusts his gut because X... You still retain the core morality play and add man (Kirk) vs computer.

You know, that sounds very TOS . . ..

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'm sure that whoever helped Kodos escape, also helped him alter his face and perhaps even his DNA.

I'm sure that whoever helped Kodos escape, also helped him alter his face and perhaps even his DNA.

We actually see his face

KIRK: Photograph Kodos. Photograph Karidian. Now photograph both.