Decton was a 23rd century inhabitant of the planet Beta Epsilon VI who served in his pre-warp civilization's military forces.
Biography[]
In the 2280s decade, Decton served as a military general for his faction in a civil war against another faction represented by Commander Ballor.
In the year 2285, an escape pod crashed in the midst of battle, seen as portentious. When Starfleet Captain Philip Hodges emerged from the pod, he was hailed as a deity, ending the war. Decton and Ballor were made Hodges' adjutants.
Later that year, a landing party led by Rear Admiral James T. Kirk arrived to recover Hodges. He unexpectedly rebuffed them, however, fearing civil war would resume when he left. In fact, Decton invited Ballor to meet him secretly that evening, suggesting that they turn Hodges into a martyr to reignite war. Ballor's job was to kidnap Hodges and assassinate him at the right moment in front of witnesses, while Decton would form a rioting militia.
When Decton announced that Ballor had kidnapped Hodges, Kirk managed to calm the crowd at first — the landing party left to rescue Hodges. But when Hodges' wife Lylla seemed to go missing as well, Decton punched Elizabeth Sherwood, knocking her unconscious, then stole her Atalskes phaser IV. Insisting that Hodges was just a man, he railed at the populace, firing the phaser into the sky, telling them that he wielded godlike powers and would lead them to get revenge on Ballor.
The militia followed Decton, but were blocked at the cave entrance by Saavik and William Bearclaw. Decton pulled the phaser from behind his back and fired at Bearclaw, but he dove for cover. Saavik returned fire, disintegrating him with her phaser. The mollified militia surrendered to her. (TOS comic: "Mortal Gods")
Appendices[]
Appearance[]
- TOS comic: "Mortal Gods"