Nimbus III is a Class L planet located along the Federation, Klingon, and Romulan borders. It was first discovered in the early 23rd century and was regarded as a desert world with few resources. Its only value was its strategic location between three major galactic powers.
The Decipher RPG module: Worlds lists the planet as being located in the Alpha Quadrant, although the bulk of the Klingon and Romulan empires are located in the Beta Quadrant. It could be that Nimbus III is closer in proximity to the Federation than it is the other two.
History
Initially mapped by the Federation in 2247, it became a rare example of cooperation, as all three powers (the Federation, Klingon and Romulan empires) established a colony on the planet in 2267. Christened as the "Planet of Galactic Peace", if Nimbus III proved a success, it was thought that it could very well change the politics in the Alpha Quadrant. (TOS movie: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
- Note: VAN novel: Precipice contradicts this by showing Ambassador Jetanien, the architect of the first trilateral talks on the planet, present on Nimbus III in late 2267 when talks were just getting underway.
Representatives from the three powers, ran the colony from its capital, Paradise City, and all the inhabitants of the colony were volunteers from the three powers and moved to the colony on agreement that weapons were banned, in the interest of peace and co-operation. (TOS movie: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier).
The Federation funded the colonization effort in the beginning as a sign of good faith. Nevertheless, while Federation staff had high hopes for the planet, the Klingon and Romulan governments treated Nimbus III as a dumping ground for malcontents. As the colony showed signs of failure, the Federation reduced its personnel to two members of Starfleet and a handful of staff. Lacking a spaceport, the planet failed to attract further colonists and, instead, became a sleazy backwater of a world. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
The planet's only contribution to history was as a base of operation for Sybok, a Vulcan seeking Heaven and contact with the divine. By the later 23rd and early 24th centuries, the Federation had almost forgotten about the colony which proved a mistake as it was later rumored that the Romulans had used Nimbus III as a secret base from which to launch their attack on the Klingon colony of Khitomer. The coming of the year 2295 saw the Federation, Klingons and Romulans all abandon the "'planet of galactic peace' project." (TOS novelization: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Decipher module: Worlds, Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook)
In 2365, the USS Harriman was damaged near Nimbus III while intervening in a confrontation between a Klingon cargo ship and a Romulan warbird. (NF - No Limits short story: "Performance Appraisal")
By the late 24th century the Federation's attention returned to Nimbus III and a decision was made to invest more resources into the colony; however, the outbreak of the Dominion War detracted the Federation's efforts. By the end of the war in 2375 what few colonists had called the planet home had abandoned it. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
During the Borg invasion of 2381, Nimbus III was presumed destroyed by the Borg. (Star Trek: Destiny)
Geography
Nimbus III was dominated by one large continent which possessed little surface water beyond stagnant pools. Moreover, as the planet lacked tidal forces, there was little rain to replenish the few traces of surface water. The planet's one continent did have several mountain ranges although most peaks had been eroded due to a lack of geological activity.
The average temperature on Nimbus III was quite high and rarely dropped below 25 degrees celsius in areas such as the badlands. Most humanoids found the climate unpleasant with the exception of Vulcans. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
Bodies of Water
- Mossy Ocean
Ranges
- Cheron Mountains
- Perdition Mountains
- Chongtar Mountains
- Sidespar Mountains
- Tarach Mountains
Points of Interest
- Central Badlands
- Starveling Run
- Desperation Valley
Settlements
- Paradise City
- Lonely Town
- Deadend
- Faraway
- Deadman's Drop
- Road's End
- Happy Meadows
Connections
| planets visited by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) (2286-2293) | |
|---|---|
| 2286 | Earth • wishing planet • Rontelm • Gamma Trianguli VI • Briar Patch • Christofi IX • Vulcan • Sector 9 Romulan colony • Miraud • Triaminus IV • Endicor • Omicron Ceti IV • Chapin I |
| 2287 | Nimbus III • Sha Ka Ree • New Ketira • Skylord planet • Casmus III • Chronian III • New Brinden • Tau Gamma II • Earth • Yko • Temaris IV • Cetacean Probe homeworld • Vega IX • Calligar homeworld |
| 2288 | Uninhabited chroniton-discovery world • Datugad • Venus • Oyolo • Pavak • Sumno • Claneia I • Karimea • Kristenian world • Rimbor • Needra • Tyrion Defense Zone • Starbase 29 • Dinar IV • Sandar IX • Lerik IV • Skellen III • Horan system • Javik VI • Kurat I • Earth • Sigma Iotia II |
| 2289 | Arbutus VIII • Earth • Pilkor III • Metaga V • Zuyna • Pallas 14 star system • Tree of Life planet • Sumellian-adjacent star system • Sumellian homeworld • Deneva • Quatrin Alpha • Quatrin Beta |
| 2290 | Earth • Tabuka III • Tabuka IV • Epsilon Kitaj • Starbase 99 planet • Arnebius IV • Alpha Darwin • Kondo Nebula • Mardelva • Nirobi III • Thevos • Casmus III • Largo star system • Theata Leonis • Gateway • Calufrax IV • Babel • Gribbin II • Bupahr mining colony • Gamma Kestra • Nara • 'Gi • Zantak Prime • Kreth |
| 2291 | Devidia IV • Musgrave IV • Varba II • Varnex • Mestiko • Tiranax • Earth • Kaskadia IV |
| 2292 | Earth • unnamed asteroid belt |
| 2293 | Rura Penthe • Khitomer • Faramond • Vulcan • Qo'noS • Patelva • Freelan • Pacifica • Rigel V • Duparre Asteroid Belt • Yquitra • Yko • Earth • Alpha Gederix IV • Prestor V • Sigma Draconis Sector • Chal |
External link
- Nimbus III article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.