|Alternate name(s):||Alpha Aquilae IV, Atair IV, 53 Aquilae IV|
|Classification:||class M planet|
|Affiliation:||Altair Quadrant, United Federation of Planets|
|Location:||Altair, Alpha Quadrant|
|Dominant Species:||Human, Palkeo Est|
Inhabitants and historyEdit
Altair IV is homeworld to the Palkeo Est civilization. Although these humanoids can blend in well with Terrans, differences in their biology and physiology preclude the possibility of genetic hybrids from the two species. (TOS - Fortunes of War novel: Dreadnought!)
Archaeology on Altair VI has revealed the sister world to Altair IV was once home to an ancient civilization, the Krell, that also once colonized Altair IV. (FASA RPG module: The Federation; ST reference: Star Trek Maps)
- It was not revealed whether the ancient Altairian civilization had any relation to the Palkeo. The two sources that establish these two facts were published from two different creative perspectives, but from the POV of the Star Trek universe, two possibilities are that the ancient Altarians did die out completely and were followed by the unrelated Palkeo, or that the Palkeo are descendents of the survivors of that ancient death.
This world had became home to a Human colony by the 22nd century, having been settled by colonists from Altair VI. Altair VI continued to govern Altair IV, under the auspices of the Altair Quadrant state. On 20 June, 2156, the Earth Starfleet ship Endeavour successfully defended Altair IV from Romulan attack. (TOS - Fortunes of War novel: Dreadnought!; FASA RPG module: The Federation; ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing)
The political situation in the Altair system was tenuous at the time of the 23rd century, with Federation diplomacy trying very carefully to keep fighting to a minimum between the inhabited worlds of this system. There was a long sustained conflict between Altair VI and Altair III that renewed itself around the year 2244, and would continue until the 2260s. Altair IV eventually declared independence from Altair VI in 2267, which sparked an escalation of fighting in the system. Federation peacekeeping forces eventually interceded, and Altair IV was returned to the governance of Altair VI after Federation diplomats called for a cease-fire between all combatants, which was celebrated with much pomp and circumstance. When a new president of Altair IV was inaugurated at the end of the conflict, Starfleet placed the greatest emphasis on showing support by assigning three Constitution-class starships to observe the proceedings. (Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook; FASA RPG module: The Federation; TOS episode & Star Trek 3 novelization: Amok Time)
|Altair: Altair III • Altair IV • Altair VI|
Altair IV was the name of the titular world in the film Forbidden Planet, a work that shares many similarities with Star Trek. In particular, the suggestion that Altair IV was previously inhabited by an advanced culture and then decimated of all life matches the plot of this film.