In the fictional Star Trek universe the Crystalline Entity is an enormous spacefaring life-form. The entity first appeared in the Star Trek:TNG episode "Datalore". Image File history File links Image from Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, Silicon Avatar © 1991 Paramount Pictures, produced by Gene Roddenberry. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... ”Datalore” is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, first broadcast January 18, 1988. ...

Appearance

The Crystalline Entity appeared to be a massive crystal lattice, looking somewhat like a frost-covered Christmas tree. It was several times the size of the Galaxy Class USS Enterprise-D. The Crystalline Entity is capable of emitting an energy beam from its structure that can wipe a planet clean of all organic life in under half an hour. The Entity appears to also have a natural Warp drive capable of reaching speeds matching the Enterprise-D. The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), a Galaxy class starship. ... The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) (or Enterprise-D, to distinguish it from prior starships with the same name) is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

The early history of the Crystalline Entity is unknown, but it would seem that the life-form is unique in the galaxy. The entity is first encountered by the Federation when Data's brother Lore discovers a way to communicate with it and summons it to destroy the Omicron Theta colony. Later, while Lore is aboard the Enterprise, he summons the entity once again, this time with the intent to destroy the ship. The attempt is unsuccessful and the entity moves on. It is known that after that encounter it consumes eleven more worlds before arriving at Melona IV, where the Enterprise again happens to encounter it in the episode "Silicon Avatar". This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Data[1] is a character, portrayed by Brent Spiner, in the Star Trek fictional universe. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, Lore is the name of a prototype for the android Data, often referred to as his evil brother and was played by the same actor, Brent Spiner. ... Omicron Theta is a fictional star from the Star Trek universe located in the Alpha quadrant. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, Melona IV is a Class M planet first encountered in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Silicon Avatar. ... Silicon Avatar is a fifth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

While the Enterprise is assisting Federation colonists on the surface of Melona IV the Crystalline Entity appears and begins to scour the cultivated surface of the planet, wiping clear any organic matter. Commander Riker and Lieutenant Commander Data lead the colonists to safety inside a natural cave formation, seeming to indicate that the beam is not capable of penetrating certain ores. After the Enterprise crew effects a rescue, the colonists emerge and find the planet's surface stripped and desiccated. In the fictional Star Trek universe, Melona IV is a Class M planet first encountered in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Silicon Avatar. ... Captain William Thomas Will Riker is a Star Trek character, played by Jonathan Frakes. ...

After studying it, the Enterprise crew debates whether the entity was eating to survive, and whether to regard it as malevolent:

--Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Late in "Silicon Avatar," the Enterprise catches up with the Entity, using graviton pulses to open a brief channel of rudimentary contact. On the brink of establishing the Entity as intelligent life and perhaps even communicating, the crew is surprised to see it vibrate, shake, and explode. A scientist visiting the Enterprise, Kila Marr, had hijacked the communications channel, using it to create a massive resonance vibration which destroyed the Entity. This was in revenge for the death of her son, who perished on Omicron Theta. Binomial name Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758 Sperm Whale range (in blue) The Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of all toothed whales and is the largest toothed animal alive, measuring up to 18 metres (60 ft) long. ... Orders and Families †Vasseuriina †Vasseuriidae †Belosepiellidae Sepiina †Belosaepiidae Sepiadariidae Sepiidae Cuttlefish are marine animals of the order Sepiida belonging to the Cephalopoda class (which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses). ... Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, is a character in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Silicon Avatar is a fifth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, Dr. Kila Marr is a xenologist dedicated to the study of the Crystalline entity. ...

External link

• Crystalline Entity article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki