Xerxes IV was the the fourth planet of the Xerxes system in the Beta Quadrant. It was a Class M world with a vibrant biosphere, though no indigenous sentient life. One native animal was the Xerxes panther.
Circa 2370, a Federation team of 13 scientists led by Dr. Heidi Schipp set up a research outpost on the planet to study the native flora and fauna for potential scientific or medical uses. Just over a year after the team arrived, they made a breakthrough in their research which they believed could lead to a treatment and possible cure of Irumodic Syndrome.
Shortly after the that discovery, the planet was struck by an intense ion storm which seemingly caused the scientists to begin a process of devolution. Dr. Shipp was the last to remain unaffected, and sent out a distress signal, while the ion storm raged on for over a week.
A Starfleet runabout en route to Starbase 364 responded to the distress call, but was incapacitated by the storm and crashed on the planet. The crew were assaulted by the transformed scientists, but made their way to the research station, where they discovered Dr. Shipp. An investigation revealed that the unusually-irradiated ion storm was interacting with the planet's own form of otherwise benign radiogenic particles, triggering the devolution. The Starfleet officers were able to devise a cure for the devolution, save the team's research, repair their runabout and escape the effects of the ion storm, proceeding to Narendra Station with the rescued scientists. (Star Trek Adventures: "The Rescue at Xerxes IV")
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External links[]
- Xerxes IV article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.