The Betelgeusians were a civilization of avians originally from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of the giant star Betelgeuse. By the 23rd century, the Betelgeusians were members of the United Federation of Planets.

History and specifics[]

They evolved on a planet orbiting a main-sequence star near Betelgeuse. (TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown)

Betelgeusians consider Betelgeuse IV (Hav'a'halar) their homeworld, but they once lived on all three class M planets in the system. (Decipher RPG module: Aliens)

Biology[]

Having evolved from a race of eagles, Betelgeusians (sometimes nicknamed as 'Geusians) were a two-meter tall humanoid species. Their claw and bone structures were like that of an Earth condor, but Betelgeusians walk upright. Members of the species had two mouths, one for speaking, and the other for eating food. Members of the species had a strong hunting drive, which they needed to sublimate with both sports and other forms of competition. (TOS movie: The Motion Picture; TOS novel: Ex Machina)

The information on the Betelgeusian species was created by Fred Phillips and Robert Fletcher during production of The Motion Picture. (TOS reference: The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Costuming The Motion Picture article at the Futurism website)

While their ornithoid features might appear delicate, bilenium-reinforced bones gave them resiliency. They had bluish or brown skin^[2], deep-set eyes, and lacked body hair. Nostrils were located behind their ears. (Decipher RPG module: Aliens; DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1")

Culture[]

Betelgeusians wholly embrace cultural mythology. At six years of age, they choose to emulate one of seven heroic archetypes, then later join and train with a group centered on the hero's core beliefs. Their future careers were chosen based upon that archetype. (Decipher RPG module: Aliens)

They were natural pack hunters with a strong hunting drive. (TOS novel: Ex Machina)

They were aggressive, highly competitive and loath to concede a fight, especially the younger members of the species. (TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea, TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown)

History[]

Centuries prior to 2269, as the star Betelgeuse was entering a later stage of life, heading toward a supernova that would endanger worlds for parsecs around it, the Betelgeusians migrated out of the region. After that, most of the species lived on space stations and starships. (TOS novel: Ex Machina)

As they dispersed into nomadic argosies, their ships lacked a uniform design or central authority, requiring a need to negotiate with each group on its own terms. The Shining Talon Argosy supported a 900-meter long, cylindrically-shaped frigate which spun to create centrifugal artificial gravity, which they preferred because it maximized surface area and allowed them to terraform a hunting wildlife preserve along the interior. Some argosies sought land on planets to build preserves. (TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown)

Betelgeusians thoroughly surveyed the region of the Horsehead Nebula. (TTN novel: Orion's Hounds)

In the 22nd century, Betelgeusians first visited Earth while participating with Vulcans in a cultural exchange. (Decipher RPG module: Aliens)

In 2230, Betelgeusians were accepted as members of the United Federation of Planets. (Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook)

In 2259, Hikaru Sulu visited an argosy vessel during his first deep-space assignment after graduating from Starfleet Academy. He came to like and respect the Betelgeusians.

In 2269, the USS Enterprise was fired on by a frigate from the Shining Talon Argosy, but was able to defeat it in battle without harming the crew. While discussing cultural frustrations with their administrator Thuu'chi Hirr'uth, Hikaru Sulu proposed that some of their young enlist in Starfleet, as he could think of no better way to become challenged. (TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown)

By the 2270s, the USS Enterprise had a Betelgeusian serving in the sciences division during the V'Ger incident. Following that, Betelgeusians continued to serve on board the Enterprise, including Hrrii'ush Uuvu'it. (TOS movie: The Motion Picture; TOS novel: Ex Machina)

In 2273, the Betelgeusian chief ambassador was at Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco on Earth just prior to the V'Ger incident. He wore an ornate red and gold brocade. (TOS movie: The Motion Picture, Betelgeusian Chief Ambassador trading card article at the Star Trek Cards website)

By 2282, the ambassador resided in an apartment in San Francisco that had a great view of Alcatraz Park, the Golden Gate Bridge and Starfleet Headquarters. When he was recalled and moved out in 2282, Rear Admiral James T. Kirk called in a favor and was able to move in there. (TOS - Strange New Worlds IV short story: "A Little More Action")

In December 2381, one argosy started to set up a hunting preserve on an Acamarian planet, which precipitated an armed conflict. USS Enterprise-E security chief Jasminder Choudhury disabled weapons aboard the opposing vessels, but geophysicists Adrienne Markham and Metta Tharys were killed during the engagement. Science officer Dina Elfiki blamed herself for the deaths, as later she time traveled to the past, then was prevented from warning them and changing history by DTI. (DTI novel: Watching the Clock)

In an alternate reality in 2375, the Caretaker of the Delta Quadrant abducted Betelgeusian, Kobheerian and Carnelian vessels prior to taking USS Voyager. Voyager caught up with them, as all were heading back to the Alpha Quadrant. (VOY - Myriad Universes - Infinity's Prism novella: Places of Exile)

In the alternate reality, Lieutenant Commander Yor was a Starfleet operations division time soldier in 2379. He traveled from that reality to the prime reality while also traveling forward in time. (DSC: "Terra Firma, Part 1")

In 3188, a Betelgeusian Cosmo Traitt worked as a courier on Hima. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1")

See also:

• Betelgeusian cigar
• j'Tai, the Betelgeusian language
• Rampartian

Known individuals[]

This article or subsection has an associated category.	Betelgeusians

• Chavi'rru
• Chiir'hit Keer'iuv
• Hrrii'ush Uuvu'it
• Cosmo Traitt
• Kuu'iut
• Rocko Traitt
• Rokkash Khol
• Thuu'chi Hirr'uth
• Vendri Thamor
• Yor

Betelgeusian mythic archetypes[]

• Altaa, the Warrior
• Cordban, the Trickster
• Doban, the Ruler
• F'ter, the Clock-Maker
• Ost, the Vagabond
• Lahile, the Mother
• Slichez, the Thinker

Appendices[]

Appearances and references[]

Appearances[]

• TOS movie: The Motion Picture
• TOS novel: Ex Machina
• TOS novel: The Face of the Unknown
• DTI novel: Watching the Clock
• TTN novel: Synthesis
• TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea
• TTN novel: Orion's Hounds
• DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
• DSC episode: "Terra Firma, Part 1"
• PIC novel: Firewall

References[]

• DTI novel: Forgotten History
• ST - Myriad Universes short story: "Places of Exile"
• TOS - Strange New Worlds IV short story: "A Little More Action"
• TOS reference: The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook
• Decipher RPG module: Aliens
• Betelgeusian Chief Ambassador card, Star Trek: The Motion Picture Trading Card Set (Wheetabix)

External links[]

• Betelgeusian article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
• Forgotten Aliens of The Motion Picture article at the Forgotten Trek website.
• Betelgeusian article at Fandom's Microheroes Wiki.