Fortress

Rigel VII fortress

Fortress of Doom

A fortress was a military fortification.

On the Torothan homeworld in February 2152, Captain Jonathan Archer and Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker sought refuge in an abandoned fortress. It was eventually destroyed by a Torothan mortar, though Archer and Tucker had fortunately left by then. (ENT: "Desert Crossing")

This building is unnamed on screen; its designation as a fortress comes from the final draft script of "Desert Crossing", which regularly referred to it as "Abandoned Alien Fortress".

Captain Christopher Pike felt guilty for becoming trapped in a deserted fortress on Rigel VII due to his error in judgement, a mistake which lead to the death of three people including his yeoman and the wounding of seven more. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Menagerie, Part I") The same fortress later appeared in a simulation he and Vina were subjected to by the Talosians. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Menagerie, Part II")

In the first draft script of "The Cage", the Rigel fortress was described thus; "The fortress is built from the adobe-type terrain around it, not unlike the outposts of the Earth's American West, except for strange symbols, odd decor, and unusual weaponry (catapults, lances, cross bows, abandoned bits of armor, etc.) which indicate a feudal-level civilization." In the second revised final draft script of "The Cage", it was notated that the Rigel fortress "suggests a medieval civilization, but carrying strange symbols and odd décor which suggests things quite alien from Earth." The same draft of the script similarly described the fortress' courtyard; "The feeling here is as outside, a feudal-level civilization but with its weapons and architecture somewhat different from Earth."

In "The Cage" and "The Menagerie, Part II", the exterior of the Rigel fortress (as well as its immediate surroundings) was depicted with a matte painting that was created by Albert Whitlock. The building's exterior also involved live-action footage that was filmed on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer backlot, and the fortress' interior was a set. (TOS: "The Menagerie, Part II" text commentary, TOS Season 1 DVD) The latter was actually the interior of Desilu 40 Acres back-lot. [1]

When Spock's tricorder readings found the Shore Leave Planet to be composed of granite and metal alloy, James T. Kirk said the planet was built like a fortress. (TAS: "Once Upon a Planet")

Kirk declined Em/3/Green's suggestion that he use his phaser to fight Tchar, saying that the Skorr controlled the fortress phaser bank. (TAS: "The Jihad")

When Ensign Ro Laren told Kalita her plans to steal medkits from the USS Enterprise-D, Kalita wondered how she could do it, describing the Enterprise-D as a fortress. (TNG: "Preemptive Strike")

A fortress was part of the late 20th century computer game Matrix of Doom. (VOY: "11:59")

Known fortresses

• Fortress of Doom
• Fort Knox

External link

• Fortress at Wikipedia