William Campbell as Trelane in The Squire of Gothos

Trelane is a fictional character who appears in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Squire of Gothos". He was played by William Campbell. Image from Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Squire of Gothos © 1966 Paramount Picture, produced by Gene Roddenberry. ... William Campbell in Blood Bath (1966) William Campbell (born October 30, 1926 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American actor. ... The Squire of Gothos is an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... The Squire of Gothos is an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... William Campbell in Blood Bath (1966) William Campbell (born October 30, 1926 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American actor. ...

Trelane is a childish and overbearing being who appears to be human; however, sensor scans reveal nothing about his physiology. He abducts people to his private castle on Gothos for his amusement. Captain James T. Kirk and members of the Enterprise crew are taken to Gothos and detained by Trelane who simply wants to play games with them. His idea of fun however, turns deadly. Trelane alludes to instrumentation that grants him his powers. Kirk eventually deduces the likely location of the instrument from Trelane's behavior and destroys it. The Enterprise flees, but it is recaptured when Trelane proves able to move his planet to intercept them, despite attempts at evasion. Kirk is returned to Gothos where Trelane announces that the machine Kirk destroyed wasn't his the only instrumentation at his command, and that his replacement equipment was unbreakable. In a mock trial, Trelane sentences Kirk to death; Kirk staves off death and attempts to buy the lives of his crew by engaging the puckish alien's curiosity. At about the time when Trelane tires of the games and prepares to destroy Kirk, two colorful blobs of light materialize. These are Trelane's parents, confirming Kirk's growing suspicion that Trelane's conduct stems mostly from immaturity. They chastise their errant youngster and permit Kirk and the Enterprise to depart unharmed. Gothos is a fictional planet that appears in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Squire of Gothos. ... James Tiberius Kirk (2233 - 2293/2371), played by William Shatner, was the leading character in the original Star Trek series and the films based on it. ... USS Enterprise (XCV 330) Enterprise (NX-01) (from United Earth’s Starfleet) USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) (the Federations first so named) USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) (the Federations second so named) USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B) (the Federations third so named) USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-C) (the...

Q-like behavior

It is suggested by some Star Trek fans (and at least one Star Trek Expanded Universe novel, Q-Squared by Peter David) that Trelane is a young member of the Q Continuum, a race of near-omnipotent beings who harass, in various ways, beings much weaker than they are. Star Trek is an American science-fiction franchise spanning six television series, ten feature films, hundreds of novels, computer and video games, and other fan stories. ... The Star Trek Expanded Universe is an unofficial, fan-created term to describe an extrapolation of events which occur in the Star Trek Universe outside the scope of the television series and feature films. ... A Star Trek novel by acclaimed author Peter David. ... Peter David Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) (born September 23, 1956) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. ... The most notable member of the Q Continuum is played by John de Lancie, a mischievous Q who, having taken an interest in humans, periodically harasses the crews of starships and space stations. ... Omnipotence (literally, all power) is power with no limits or inexhaustible, in other words, unlimited power. ...

Like Q, Trelane viewed humans as playthings, appeared in many guises, could instantly rearrange matter and energy, and even subjected Kirk to a mock trial. He initially relied on a machine to assist his self-described "instrumentality," but after it was destroyed he displayed even greater feats. When Kirk asked about this, Trelane responded, "Did you really think that was the only medium of instrumentality at my command?" At the end of the episode Trelane is revealed to merely be a child of his race—this may explain his partial reliance on the machine.

Peter David's novel attempts to resolve the apparent discrepancy by suggesting that Trelane is (in essence) developmentally disabled relative to other Q; the machine analogous to crutches or a wheelchair. It is somewhat difficult to imagine that the Q would be unable to correct almost any such problem, and given their demonstrably ruthless nature, it seems likely that such a child would have been killed. (The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "True Q" revealed that the Q had murdered Amanda Rogers' parents for employing their powers outside of the Continuum's control and were prepared to murder Amanda if she did not return to the Continuum.) The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... True Q is a season 6 episode of Star Trek:The Next Generation Spoiler warning: The Enterprise has received an intern from Starfleet Academy, Amanda Rogers, to study biological sciences under Dr. Crusher, but soon strange things start to happen. ...

The Star Trek: Voyager episode "The Q and the Grey" stated that Q's son q was the first child born in the Continuum. But Amanda Rogers, the child of two expatriate Q, was born outside the Continuum and it is possible that Trelane was as well. The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... Captain Kathryn Janeway is surprised (to say the least) when Q appears in her quarters one night. ...

External links

• Trelane article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki.