10.2 Stellar Explorations: Talos IV
A profile of Talos IV, the lone inhabited world of the binary Talos Star Group, home to the genetically weakened but powerfully psionic Talosians and placed off-limits under General Order #7, together with a note on the revolutionary impact of dilithium on warp velocity, range, and the growth of exploration, tourism and trade.
Talos IV
Talos IV is one of the eleven planets in the Talos Star Group. A binary star, Talos has but one planet which is inhabited and until recently declared off-limits by General Order #7, a proscription so unequivocal its breach called for the death penalty. The Talosians, a genetically weakened race with extremely strong psionic powers of suggestion, unscrupulously sought more vigorous species to use as breeding stock to maintain their world.
Talos contains eleven planets: one habitable; ten uninhabitable. Planet IV lies 1.29 x 108 km from its star, with a diameter of 10,974 km, a revolution of 295 days (solar days & years), and an average surface temperature of 35° C.
The Impact of Dilithium
Today, many still vividly remember the revolution that occured when dilithium crystals were integrated into warp engines. Within a few years velocity and range doubled! And just as fast, pre-dilithium ships were dated, creating a small mutiny among Star Fleet crews that were assigned to these much slower, less spaceworthy vessels.
In the following decade, though, ships of every description were built with the new engines, as exploration, tourism and trade took a tremendous leap forward toward the thriving, galactic community we live in today.