Iota Geminorum IV

Iota Geminorum IVAKA: Tribble Prime
Type:	Planet
Affiliation:	Klingon Empire
Status:	Destroyed (23rd century)
Location:	Iota Geminorum system Klingon space Beta Quadrant ~120.4 light years from Sol

Iota Geminorum IV, also known as Tribble Prime, was the uninhabited fourth planet in the Iota Geminorum system. This planet was located inside Klingon space in the Beta Quadrant and was approximately 120.4 light years from Sol. In the 23rd century, this planet was within the Klingon Empire's sphere of influence.

The planet was home to the tribble, as well as an abundance of reptiles, the latter keeping the former in check. (ENT: "The Breach"; TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")

History

Around stardate 1421.9, Starfleet scientist Edward Larkin genetically-engineered sample specimens of tribbles from the planet. Larkin, who was later described as an idiot, believed them to be a suitable food source save for their very slow breeding rate, which he increased with disastrous consequences. (ST: "The Trouble with Edward")

In order to fulfill their self-given task to hunt the tribble species to extinction, a Klingon armada obliterated the tribbles' homeworld, and by the late 23rd century, they believed that they had entirely eradicated the species. (DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")

Stellar Cartography

In 2257, this planet's location was labeled on the star chart showing the trajectory of Lieutenant Spock's shuttle. (DIS: "An Obol for Charon")

In 2259, the location of this planet was labeled on a stellar cartography chart that was seen on the USS Enterprise's ready room viewscreen. This planet's symbol was a red Klingon Empire logo, indicating its affiliation with the empire. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds", "Children of the Comet")

Later that year, the location of this planet was labeled on a star chart that was seen on the Enterprise when a subspace fissure was discovered. (SNW: "Subspace Rhapsody" display graphic)

Diagram of a tribble listing its home planet

In 2369, a chart illustrating various creatures, including tribbles, from around the known galaxy was displayed in a classroom aboard Deep Space 9. The tribble homeworld was mentioned on this chart. (DS9: "The Nagus" okudagram)

The back of the Hairy Berry Tribbles cereal box (not seen on screen) featured a puzzle maze labeled "Help Jimmy the Tribble find its way back to Iota Geminorium IV", including a depiction of the planet. [1]

The "comparative xenobiology" okudagram used the spelling "Geminorium", though it wasn't legible on screen.

According to Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library, a map of the Klingon Empire, which was prepared by the Scribe K'Tark for the Klingon High Council in the Year of Kahless 893 (2366), identified Tribble Prime as a Klingon planet.

External link

• Iota Geminorum IV at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works