The enigmatic aliens featured in one of the most iconic episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series have made a remarkable return in the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31. Starring Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, the series centers on Emperor Philippa Georgiou and her team of secretive agents from Section 31, who undertake a critical mission to safeguard the United Federation of Planets.
Set to debut on January 24, 2024, on Paramount+, Star Trek: Section 31 is situated within the “lost era”of the early 24th century, chronologically preceding the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Interestingly, even though the series occurs long after Star Trek: The Original Series, it hints at ties to Captain James T. Kirk’s (played by William Shatner) legendary exploits. The latest trailer features an alien with striking black-and-white skin tones, reminiscent of the characters Bele and Lokai from TOS Season 3, Episode 15, titled “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield,”which aired 55 years ago.
The Controversial Alien Race from Star Trek: TOS Returns in Section 31
Cheron’s Legacy and Its Implications
In the teaser for Star Trek: Section 31, an alien appears bearing the same distinctive black-and-white coloration seen in Bele (portrayed by Frank Gorshin) and Lokai (played by Lou Antonio) from the TOS episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.”During Captain Kirk’s original encounter, Bele and Lokai had spent 50,000 years in a relentless pursuit of one another, stemming from a devastating conflict between their civilizations on Cheron. Bele exhibited black skin on his right side and white on his left, while Lokai had the opposite color scheme.
Throughout their encounter, the crew of the Starship Enterprise acknowledged the visual similarities between the two, yet Bele and Lokai insisted on their distinct differences—a poignant metaphor for prejudice. Both characters possessed personal force fields, and Bele wielded the capacity to manipulate the Enterprise with his thoughts and unleash electrical attacks. Given that much remains unknown about the inhabitants of Cheron, Section 31 stands poised to delve deeper into the lore of this captivating species.
The Unexpected Survival of Cheron in Section 31
The Dilemma of Cheron’s Fate in TOS
The reappearance of this alien in the context of the early 24th century presents intriguing questions. When the Enterprise first visited Cheron during “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield,”they encountered a desolate planet devoid of intelligent life, suggesting that the inhabitants of Cheron had annihilated each other in a catastrophic civil war. Despite this grim outcome, Bele and Lokai continued their pursuit of one another, seemingly heedless of their planet’s fate. However, the recent trailer for Section 31 suggests that some Cheron natives might have survived the conflict.
The alien in the Section 31 trailer shares Bele’s notable skin pigmentation: black on the right side and white on the left. Considering that Bele and Lokai had spent eons away from Cheron, numerous possibilities arise regarding the fate of their people during this time. While it seems probable that many were lost to civil strife, it now emerges that at least some may have escaped prior to Bele and Lokai’s return. Perhaps a faction fled their ravaged planet to establish a settlement elsewhere. As the story unfolds, fans are eager to see if Star Trek: Section 31 will clarify the reemergence of one of the franchise’s most memorable and controversial characters.
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