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{{sidebar individual
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{{sidebar species
| image = melkot.jpg
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| image = Melkot.jpg
| imagecap =
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| caption = A Melkot
| species = [[Melkotian]]
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| planet = [[Melkotian planet]]
| status = Alive
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| type = [[Non-humanoid]]
| datestatus = 2268
 
 
}}
 
}}
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{{disambiguation|similarly named Delta Quadrant species|Malkoth}}
The '''Melkot''' (or '''Melkotians''') were a [[telepathy|telepathic]] and [[xenophobia|xenophobic]] [[civilizations|civilization]] from the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. The Melkot used their telepathic powers to punish [[alien]]s who encroached upon their [[space]] without permission (which, prior to [[2268]], they never extended).
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The '''Melkots''' (or '''Melkotians''') were a [[telepathic]] and [[xenophobic]] [[civilization]]. The Melkot used their telepathic powers to punish [[alien]]s who encroached upon their [[space]] without permission (which, prior to [[2268]], they never extended). A typical Melkot appeared to physically float without a body. It had a bulbous head and a pair of very bright, circular eyes.
   
The [[Federation]] made [[First Contact]] with the Melkotians in 2268, when the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} encountered an [[Melkotian buoy|orbiting warning buoy]]. When ''Enterprise'' [[Captain]] [[James T. Kirk]] ignored the Melkot warning to leave their territory and instead, assumed orbit and beamed down a landing party, the Melkotians passed harsh judgment on the [[landing party]], describing them as "aliens" and "disease" and condemning them to death for their trespass. The form of execution was to be by telepathic projection of illusions that would be indistinguishable from reality and incorporate into them a believable lethality. This illusion took the form of the famous gunfight at the [[OK Corral]] in [[Tombstone]], [[Arizona]], on [[October|October 26]], [[1881]], between the [[Earp gang|Earps]] and the [[Clanton gang|Clantons]], a fight that the Clantons lost. Kirk and the members of the ''Enterprise'' crew were to fill the part of the Clantons, but managed to avoid death by having their psyches hijacked by Spock, who used the Vulcan mind meld to alter their perception of reality. Faced with the opportunity to kill the recreation of Wyatt Earp, Kirk instead discarded his weapon. At that point, the illusion dissolved and the Melkotian buoy exploded. The Melkot appeared on screen, intrigued by Kirk's display of mercy towards Earp, and suggested that the ''Enterprise'' visit Melkot, where a delegation would come out to meet them. ({{TOS|Spectre of the Gun}})
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The [[Federation]] made [[first contact]] with the Melkotians in 2268, when the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} encountered an [[Melkotian buoy|orbiting warning buoy]]. When ''Enterprise'' [[Captain]] [[James T. Kirk]] ignored the Melkot warning to leave their territory and instead assumed orbit of the [[Melkotian planet]] and [[beam]]ed down a [[landing party]], the Melkotians passed harsh judgment on the landing party, describing them as "[[alien]]s" and "[[disease]]" and condemning them to death for their trespass.
   
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The form of [[execution]] was to be by telepathic projection of illusions that would be indistinguishable from reality and incorporate into them a believable lethality. This illusion took the form of the famous gunfight at the [[OK Corral]] in [[Tombstone]], [[Arizona]], on [[October|October 26]], [[1881]], between the [[Earp gang|Earps]] and the [[Clanton gang|Clantons]], a fight that the Clantons lost. Kirk and the members of the ''Enterprise'' crew were to fill the part of the Clantons, but managed to avoid death by having their psyches hijacked by [[Spock]], who used the [[mind meld]] to alter their perception of reality. Faced with the opportunity to kill the recreation of Wyatt Earp, Kirk instead discarded his weapon. At that point, the illusion dissolved and the Melkotian buoy exploded. The Melkot appeared on screen, intrigued by Kirk's display of mercy towards Earp, and suggested that the ''Enterprise'' visit Melkot, where a delegation would come out to meet them. ({{TOS|Spectre of the Gun}})
{{bginfo|The Melkotian was designed and manufactured by [[Mike Minor]], who got the assignment after he managed to secure an active role in the production of ''Star Trek'' when he brought his portfolio under the attention of [[Gene Roddenberry]], "''Gene liked the artwork, and had me show it to the art director, Matt Jefferies. Jefferies bought about twenty pieces to use as art objects around the ship. Some of the critters were hanging in McCoy's office and cabin during the third season. A creature head I did in latex became the Melkot in "Spectre of the Gun". I later discovered that in my ignorance, I had stumbled upon the only route by which I could have sold to the show...by bringing art in on spec [rem: for free]. Union regulations prevented the production company from commissioning work from an outside contractor, but they could buy existing material.''", Minor remembered. (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', issue 44, Vol 12 #5/6, p.59) He additionally added, "''The next thing I did was the alien from "Spectre of the Gun", for [[Edward K. Milkis|Eddie Milkus]] ''[sic.]'', the post-production supervisor. I agreed to do it without ever having done castings or latex pulls from molds. I visited [[Verne Langdon]], who was then at [[Don Post Studios]]. He gave me a few instructions and sold me my first can of latex. That job turned out very well, so they called me for more things.''" (''[[Starlog (magazine)|Starlog]]'', issue 25, p. 36)}}
 
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== Individuals ==
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;Unnamed
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* [[Melkotian representative 001|Unnamed Melkots]]
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;See also
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* [[Tombstone unnamed 000|Tombstone inhabitants]]
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== Appendices ==
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=== Background information ===
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Even though the Melkotian was conceived as a form of floating and disembodied non-corporeal entity, it still had to be physically represented in a way more substantial than merely using some flickering lights. [[Edward K. Milkis]] therefore invited [[Mike Minor]] to design the alien being, after Minor managed to secure an active role in the production of {{s|TOS}}. "''He called me back during ''[[Star Trek]]'' (the TV show),''" recalled Minor, "''and said, 'We need a critter. Would you be interested in doing it?' I said that I'd love to and it turned out [...] they needed the Melkotian [....] I came up with a miniature head which was a brain case, two eyes set deep into skull sockets, no nose and no mouth because I reasoned that they'd have evolved away from mandibles or having to eat, since there was no body. It was simply done for the effect of the moment.''" (''Enterprise Incidents'', issue #14, p. 44)
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Although Mike Minor had accepted the task of representing the Melkotian without ever having done foam castings or latex pulls from molds, he firstly cast the alien in foam. (''{{dis|Starlog|magazine}}'', issue 25, p. 36; ''Enterprise Incidents'', issue #14, p. 44) After buying his first can of latex from [[Verne Langdon]] at Don Post Studios and receiving some instructions from him, Minor returned to working on the Melkotian. (''{{dis|Starlog|magazine}}'', issue 25, p. 36) He recollected, "''I sculpted it in clay, made a negative female plaster mold and developed the latex into a half-inch thick mass, which is flexible.''" (''Enterprise Incidents'', issue #14, p. 44)
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The Melkotian underwent some last-minute changes before being filmed. "''It was shot over at one of the optical houses which worked on the show (there were three or four),''" Mike Minor remembered. "''We shot it against black and put pingpong [sic] balls in the eyes, cut cat-like slit pupils and put high intensity tensor beams behind it, put a star filter over the lens. This was shot, and this image was literally double-exposed over a cloud effect on the stage. It made about three appearances in the show. So that was the first on-screen effect that I did anywhere.''" (''Enterprise Incidents'', issue #14, p. 44) Minor concluded, "''That job turned out very well.''" (''{{dis|Starlog|magazine}}'', issue 25, p. 36)
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In the episode's [[Star Trek 3|novelization]], the Melkotian is described as a tall, thin humanoid wearing a robe.
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=== External links ===
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* {{mbeta}}
   
 
[[de:Melkotianer]]
 
[[de:Melkotianer]]
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[[es:Melkotianos]]
 
[[es:Melkotianos]]
 
[[Category:Species]]
 
[[Category:Species]]
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[[Category:Telepathic species]]

Latest revision as of 02:32, 9 November 2023

For similarly named Delta Quadrant species, please see Malkoth.

The Melkots (or Melkotians) were a telepathic and xenophobic civilization. The Melkot used their telepathic powers to punish aliens who encroached upon their space without permission (which, prior to 2268, they never extended). A typical Melkot appeared to physically float without a body. It had a bulbous head and a pair of very bright, circular eyes.

The Federation made first contact with the Melkotians in 2268, when the USS Enterprise encountered an orbiting warning buoy. When Enterprise Captain James T. Kirk ignored the Melkot warning to leave their territory and instead assumed orbit of the Melkotian planet and beamed down a landing party, the Melkotians passed harsh judgment on the landing party, describing them as "aliens" and "disease" and condemning them to death for their trespass.

The form of execution was to be by telepathic projection of illusions that would be indistinguishable from reality and incorporate into them a believable lethality. This illusion took the form of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26, 1881, between the Earps and the Clantons, a fight that the Clantons lost. Kirk and the members of the Enterprise crew were to fill the part of the Clantons, but managed to avoid death by having their psyches hijacked by Spock, who used the mind meld to alter their perception of reality. Faced with the opportunity to kill the recreation of Wyatt Earp, Kirk instead discarded his weapon. At that point, the illusion dissolved and the Melkotian buoy exploded. The Melkot appeared on screen, intrigued by Kirk's display of mercy towards Earp, and suggested that the Enterprise visit Melkot, where a delegation would come out to meet them. (TOS: "Spectre of the Gun")

Individuals

Unnamed
See also

Appendices

Background information

Even though the Melkotian was conceived as a form of floating and disembodied non-corporeal entity, it still had to be physically represented in a way more substantial than merely using some flickering lights. Edward K. Milkis therefore invited Mike Minor to design the alien being, after Minor managed to secure an active role in the production of Star Trek: The Original Series. "He called me back during Star Trek (the TV show)," recalled Minor, "and said, 'We need a critter. Would you be interested in doing it?' I said that I'd love to and it turned out [...] they needed the Melkotian [....] I came up with a miniature head which was a brain case, two eyes set deep into skull sockets, no nose and no mouth because I reasoned that they'd have evolved away from mandibles or having to eat, since there was no body. It was simply done for the effect of the moment." (Enterprise Incidents, issue #14, p. 44)

Although Mike Minor had accepted the task of representing the Melkotian without ever having done foam castings or latex pulls from molds, he firstly cast the alien in foam. (Starlog, issue 25, p. 36; Enterprise Incidents, issue #14, p. 44) After buying his first can of latex from Verne Langdon at Don Post Studios and receiving some instructions from him, Minor returned to working on the Melkotian. (Starlog, issue 25, p. 36) He recollected, "I sculpted it in clay, made a negative female plaster mold and developed the latex into a half-inch thick mass, which is flexible." (Enterprise Incidents, issue #14, p. 44)

The Melkotian underwent some last-minute changes before being filmed. "It was shot over at one of the optical houses which worked on the show (there were three or four)," Mike Minor remembered. "We shot it against black and put pingpong [sic] balls in the eyes, cut cat-like slit pupils and put high intensity tensor beams behind it, put a star filter over the lens. This was shot, and this image was literally double-exposed over a cloud effect on the stage. It made about three appearances in the show. So that was the first on-screen effect that I did anywhere." (Enterprise Incidents, issue #14, p. 44) Minor concluded, "That job turned out very well." (Starlog, issue 25, p. 36)

In the episode's novelization, the Melkotian is described as a tall, thin humanoid wearing a robe.

External links