Added by 8of5

Beta III was a Class M planet located in the C-111 system, and was home to a humanoid species known as Betans.

Circa 3800 BCE, a Betan philosopher named Landru became concerned that the wars amongst the Betan people would ultimately destroy themselves and the planet. In order to bring peace to the planet, Landru built a sophisticated computer -- also named Landru -- which "absorbed" members of Betan society, allowing their actions and emotions to be controlled by the computer. Once Landru's influence had spread over the planet, war, disease, crime, fear, and conflict had been eliminated. The computer also assumed automated control of much of the society's technological systems and infrastructure.

In 2167, Beta III was visited by the Daedalus-class Federation starship, USS Archon, conducting a survey mission. The Archon was brought down by Landru and its crew all either absorbed or killed by Landru.

A century later, the USS Enterprise was dispatched to Beta III to ascertain the fate of the Archon. The Enterprise crew were likewise confronted by Landru and threatened with absorption. But Captain James T. Kirk was able to deactivate the Landru computer by convincing it that it had destroyed the very society it was supposed to protect, thereby creating a paradox in its programming. (TOS episode: "The Return of the Archons")

With Landru's influence negated, Captain Kirk left Ensign Christopher Lindstrom and a team of sociologists behind to help guide the Betans in their new freedom. Additionally, the Corps of Engineers sent the USS Lovell to help bring Beta III's necessary automated systems back on line; Enterprise chief engineer Montgomery Scott also remained on Beta III to assist them.

During this period, Landru was briefly reactivated, and attempted to reassert its influence over the Betan populace. The computer was disabled once again by an electromagnetic pulse generated by a blast from an old spatial torpedo which had been salvaged from the Archon a century earlier.

Starfleet considered using Beta III as a starship maintenence facility in the 2260s. (SCE eBook: Foundations, Book Two)

In the mid-2370s, the Aerie-class starship USS Rook was assigned to an extended sociological re-education program on this planet under the direction of Doctor Timothy Wess. (Decipher RPG module: Starships)

Mirror UniverseEdit

In the "Mirror Universe", the Andorian Imperial Guard conquered Beta III in 2155 on behalf of the Terran Empire. General Thy'lek Shran, when presenting spoils of the invasion to Empress Sato, described the inhabitants as "little more than sheep." (ENT - Mirror Universe novel: Age of the Empress)

It is unclear what role, if any, Landru played in the history of this mirror Beta III.

ConnectionsEdit

planets visited by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) during Captain Kirk's initial five-year mission (2265-2270)
various	Capory
2265	Earth • Draxis II • Tally • Alpha Ortelina VII • Arronus VII • Aldebaran III • M-155 • Mestiko • Tally • Dimorus • Tendar • Archernar IV • Delta Vega I • Miri's homeworld • Starbase 12 • 7348-II • robot planet • Timshel • K-G • Zarta • Metamorpha • Numero Uno • FP-1 • FP-2 • Voodoo planet • Gamma Alpha V • Starbase 8 planet • Pollux II • Dukar • Neesan • Algenib II
2266	Beta IV • Rigel XII • Psi 2000 • Tlaoli IV • Alpha Proxima II • Angira • Exo III • 1324-IV • Canara • Nador • M-113 • Alfa 177 • Planet Q • Benecia • Starbase 11 planet • Talos IV • Numero Uno • Gateway
2267	Makus III • Beta VI • Janus VI • Omicron Ceti III • Deneva • Ceti Alpha V • Eminiar VII • Babel • Gamma Canaris 527 • Taurus II • Hydra Epsilon III • Ximega II • Perseus Arm planetoid • Starbase 11 planet • Salvum • Grotus • Rifas-L • Amusement Park planet • Heitius VII • Centaurus V • Tyrtaeus II • Gothos • Cestus III • Iron-silica planet • Zutotanium planetoid • Mudd • Earth • Canara • Beta III • Pyris VII • Vulcan • Pollux IV • Argelius II • Halka • Bavarya • Neolithia • Mythra • Capella IV • Magna Roma • Gamma Trianguli VI • Sigma Iotia II • Masaba • Lekythos • Shroud IV • Tycho IV • Donico II • Rimillia • Organia
2268	Narnel's World • Neural • Fornax II • Gamma II • Triskelion • Argus X • Tycho IV • Signi Beta • Earth • Direidi • Eeiauo • Patria I • Leora IV • Academy • Delta Canaris IV • Alnath II • Ammdon • Marcos XII • Amerind • Beta XII-A • Elas • Troyius • Sigma Draconis VI • Ekos • Scalos
2269	Anomaly • Excalbia • Andros • Pollux V • Avalon • Camus II • Tanis • Aleph Prime • Kyros • Viden • Theta Tau V • Aleph III • Trefolg • Mantilles • Merak II • Ardana • Babel • Organia • Gateway
2270	Isitra Zero • Gateway • Mercan • Denebia • Phylos II • Amusement Park planet • Motherlode • Megas-Tu • Terratin • Sherman's Planet • Argo • Vedala asteroid • Dramia II • Arret • Lactra VII • Delta Theta III • Archernar IV • Cenotaph • Taygeta V • Okeanos • Yoondri • Aleriad • Mercan • Aritani • Yalbo • Sycorax • Talos IV • Earth • Starbase 12 • Tomarii

External linksEdit

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