SS Beagle

SS Beagle
Class	Class-4 stardrive
Affiliation	Federation/Merchant Services
Status	Destroyed (2262)

The SS Beagle was a Federation Class-4 stardrive survey vessel that was in service with the Merchant Service in the mid-23rd century. The Beagle had a crew of forty-seven and was commanded by RM Merik his flight officer was William B Harrison.

History

In 2262, the Beagle was badly damaged by a meteor in the "892 system." Captain Merik and a landing party beamed down to the star's fourth planet to obtain iridium ore for repairs.

While on the planet, they were met by the local inhabitants, led by Proconsul Claudius Marcus. The Proconsul believed it would be unfair, even ruinous, to his highly conservative society if word of its existence should be carried elsewhere. Merik, convinced that this fine world should not be contaminated, had the remainder of his crew beam down. Regarded as captured barbarians, they were forced to fight as gladiators.

Abandoned, the wreck of the Beagle drifted for six years before it was found, approximately 1/16th of a parsec away from 892-IV. Its debris field included portions of its antimatter nacelles and the personal effects - but not the bodies - of the crew.

The USS Enterprise, NCC-1701 came to 892-IV to discover their fate. Merik for one had done very well for himself, having secured a high place in imperial politics. As for his crew, Merik told the Star Fleet landing party that "those who were able to adapt are still alive".

Merik would have been removed from the planet to face charges of violating the Prime Directive had he not died saving the Enterprise landing party from Marcus and his machine-gun-toting police.