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Published Nov 23, 2022

6 Things to Know About Star Trek: Enterprise's Villains, The Xindi

Revisiting Captain Archer's nemeses and the third season 'The Xindi' episode.

StarTrek.com / Rob DeHart

In the latest episode of Star Trek: Prodigy , " Crossroads ," the young U.S.S. Protostar crew leave behind their starship, hidden beneath a frozen ice planet, as they seek another way to make contact with Starfleet. However, at the Denaxi Depot, as they're trying to secure transport, they unwittingly cross paths with Barnus Frex as well as Vice Admiral Janeway who is hunting them.

As they attempt to flee, the transport station security personnel — The Xindi — begins their hot pursuit in order to apprehend them. As the militant of the group, the Reptilian subspecies of the Xindi are the only ones seen at the depot.

Star Trek: Prodigy - Escape from Denaxi Depot

With their returning presence, it's only fitting that we revisit their first appearance in the third season episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , " The Xindi ," which first aired on September 10, 2003. Here are six facts about "The Xindi."

One of Three

" The Xindi " was the premiere episode of Enterprise 's third season, which kicked off the Xindi arc. Allan Kroeker, a veteran Trek helmer, directed the installment, which was written by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga.

In the special features for the third season's home entertainment release, Braga stated, "I always wonder, 'What would Earth have been like if dinosaurs had evolved to become intelligent? And not only that but insects, birds...," pondering an environment that hosted "simultaneous evolution" of several intelligent lifeforms that cohabitated among each other.

Scott Bakula, who played Enterprise Captain Archer, reflected on the nature of the Xindi presence of the series to Star Trek Magazine , stating, "There's something wonderfully complex about the whole Xindi situation and the various species and their own in-fighting racial issues, that ... is relevant and makes for great storytelling."

The Xindi Council

StarTrek.com

The Xindi Council is an alliance of five species from the Delphic Expanse — the Primates (who look like your average humanoid), the Arboreals (sloth-like humans), the Aquatics (underwater mammals that resemble mosasaurus), the Reptilians (lizard-like humans), and the Insectoids (an amalgam of ant- and fly-like beings). The panel consists of two representatives from each of the five surviving, dispersed races, meeting at a secret chamber to plan the destruction of Earth before that would could destroy their own in 400 years, according to the Guardians' self-serving lies.

Although they all originate from the same planet and have the same goals, they differ in not-so-subtle ways when they have to decide on a plan of action. The Primates and Aboreals lean toward peace and diplomacy, the Reptilians and Insectoids believe in fighting for what they want, and the highly intelligent Aquatics tend to ponder issues for a long time.

The Avians were the sixth Xindi species, but their subspecies was eradicated when Xindus imploded following the Xindi Civil War.

Smart Recycling

Do those Reptilian Xindi uniforms seem familiar to you?

If so, that's because the Enterprise costume department tweaked some old Reman costumes from Star Trek Nemesis by introducing some metal coils to the shoulders.

Building the Xindi on the Fly

In most instances, the talent joining the Trek universe have working knowledge and backstories for the species or aliens they play. However, the Xindi came into play as they were developing the series. While they were first mentioned in " The Expanse ," who they were would not take shape until the break between the second and third season of the series.

The talent playing the Xindi Council, including Scott MacDonald (Xindi-Reptilian, Dolim), Rick Worthy (the Xindi-Arboreal, Jannar), Randy Oglesby (the Xindi-Primate, Degra ), and Tucker Smallwood (Xindi-Primate councilor), spent a lot of time with each other as their scenes were removed from the series cast. It was there where they collaborated amongst each other to find the Xindi's motivations as well as each subspecies' differences.

In an interview with StarTrek.com back in 2015, Smallwood shared, "Generally in the Star Trek franchise, there is a bible for every species. However, there was no bible for the Xindi. So, we wiled away our time on set creating our culture. We had some spirited discussions, in that we had six species in the Xindi, one of which is extinct, two of which are CGI, and it took a lot of imagination. But, as I said, we had a great group of guys, so it was an exciting, challenging experience. They original called us, Randy and I, the humanoid Xindi. I said, 'No, that’s a racial term. I’d never refer to myself by using another species to identify myself.' So I said, 'We are the Primate-Xindi.' So, as I say, our culture was evolving as we were filming."

Meet the MACOs

Enterprise fans made the acquaintance of several Military Assault Command Operations — MACO s — soldiers, and the recurring actors who portrayed them. Several of those actors had played or went on to play assorted characters in other Trek projects.

Daniel Dae Kim, who portrayed Corporal D. Chang, was Gotana-Retz in the Voyager hour, " Blink of an Eye ," while Marco Sanchez was Corporal M. Romero in "The Xindi" and a torpedo security officer in Star Trek Into Darkness . Then there's Nathan Anderson, who made the leap from guest starring as Namon in the Voyager entry " Nemesis " to recurring as MACO Sergeant N. Kemper. And, lastly, Steven Culp had his scenes from Star Trek Nemesis cut, but he made the grade as Major Hayes in "The Xindi" and four other Enterprise episodes.

Historical Context

In the previous episode, the second season finale, " The Expanse ," a deadly probe from an unknown species unleashed an assault upon Earth, carving a swath from Florida to Venezuela, and killing 7 million. Determined to learn anything about the mysterious perpetrators, Captain Archer received a tip to explore the Delphic Expanse to find those responsible for sending the probe to Earth. Not only that, the Xindi are believed to be building a far more powerful weapon that will destroy Earth in its entirety; such a device had the potential to contaminate the timeline.

The Xindi conflict was directly inspired by the attacks on 9/11; in the special features of the third season home entertainment release, David Livingston revealed, "The Xindi were destroying parts of Earth. So, it was reflective of what was going on at the time."

Last year, Scott Bakula joined Bob Saget's Here For You podcast to talk about his time on the series and how 9/11 impacted the story being told, as the series first premiered in September 2001. "From the beginning from until today, the Star Trek stories have relevance. We haven’t achieved the vision by any shape or form. Of course, our series was colored by 9/11 happening. We were shooting then and that eventually took over the direction of our show in terms of mirroring that event and casting it into the studio and painting it with the Star Trek brush. All of a sudden, we had the last two and a half seasons were all basically finding the people that had attacked Earth and chasing them down and where that led us in the universe."

And what do YOU remember most about "The Xindi"? Let us know on Social!

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Christine Dinh (she/her) is the managing editor for StarTrek.com. She’s traded the Multiverse for helming this Federation Starship.

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1 is available to stream on Netflix outside of markets including Canada where it is available on CTV.ca and the CTV App, France on France Televisions channels and Okoo, in Iceland on Sjonvarp Simans Premium, as well as on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Central and Eastern Europe. Star Trek: Prodigy is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

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Unification iii.

The Xindi is an episode of the science-fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise. It is the third episode of the show’s third season, and first aired on October 8, 2003. In this episode, the crew of the starship Enterprise embarks on a mission to the mysterious planet Xindi, where they must unravel the mystery of a powerful alien weapon that has been seen elsewhere in the galaxy.

The episode begins with the Enterprise in pursuit of a powerful alien weapon, which threatens to destroy Earth. After a brief battle with a Xindi vessel, the Enterprise is forced to retreat as the Xindi weapon is too powerful for them to destroy.

In order to save Earth, the crew must venture into the unknown and make contact with the Xindi, an alien species living on a distant planet. Unfortunately, the Xindi are notorious for their aggression and have been known to attack ships that pass through their territory.

With the help of a Xindi-Reptilian named Dolim, the crew of the Enterprise manages to make contact with the Xindi and secure passage to their homeworld. Upon arriving, the crew begins to search for the weapon, but quickly realizes that the Xindi are not responsible for its creation.

Instead, they discover that a group of aliens, called the Sphere Builders, are responsible. The Sphere Builders have been manipulating the Xindi for centuries, using the powerful weapon to prevent their own extinction.

Captain Archer and his crew must now face the daunting task of stopping the Sphere Builders before they can launch the weapon and destroy Earth. To do so, they must locate the weapon and destroy it before the Xindi can launch it. With the help of a Xindi scientist, the crew is able to locate the weapon and, with a daring plan, destroy it before it can be used against Earth.

In the end, the crew of the Enterprise is able to thwart the Sphere Builders’ plan and save Earth from destruction. However, the Xindi are left with a powerful weapon that could still be used against them in the future. As a result of their actions, the crew of the Enterprise must now work to build a lasting bridge between the Xindi and the other species of the galaxy.

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Enterprise  penetrates the Delphic Expanse hunting the Xindi who attacked Earth, threatening to exterminate humanity. Captain Archer and Trip attempt to learn about the mysterious and antagonistic race. But their zeal to capture a Xindi leads them into a trap.

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Star Trek: Who Are The Xindi?

In the complex universe of Star Trek's villains, the Xindi are where diversity meets cosmic drama.

• The Xindi, a complex and diverse alien species in the Star Trek universe, have a history marked by civil war and manipulation by the mysterious Sphere Builders.
• The Xindi initially believed Earth was developing a superweapon to destroy their world, leading to tensions with the Enterprise crew who sought to prevent an attack.
• The Xindi Council consists of five species: Primates, Arboreals, Aquatics, Reptilians, and Insectoids. Each species has unique characteristics and played a role in the alliance to prevent the attack on Earth.

The vast universe of Star Trek features a myriad of alien species , each with its unique characteristics and quirks. Among these, the Xindi are one of the show's many villains, and are among the most intriguing and enigmatic races of the franchise. To delve into the depths of their existence, it is vital to know their history and the challenges they have posed to Starfleet. "The Xindi," the premiere episode of Season 3 of Star Trek: Enterprise, kicked off this species' arc. A veteran Trek helmer, Allan Kroeker, directed the installment, written by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga.

It all started in the 2150s, when six unique subspecies lived in the strange world of Xindus. A subspecies of the Xindi, the Xindi Avians, went extinct due to an internal war. The five other subspecies that survived found a common ground and created the Xindi Council. They invaded Earth in the 2150s, changing the course of interplanetary affairs. The history of the Xindi is complex, marked by civil war and the influence of mysterious Sphere Builders. It’s a tale of diversity, strife, and the potential for unity within the vastness of the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek: 8 Best Shuttlecraft and Auxiliary Vessels

Relationship between the xindi and the federation.

Upon making first contact, there was tension between the Xindi and the Enterprise crew due to Reptilians relaying misinformation to other Xindi subspecies. They falsely told the other Xindi that the Earth developing a superweapon to destroy their world for their secret agenda. The other Xindi believed that humanity would eventually become a threat, and thus planned an attack on the Earth. As the crew of the USS Enterprise, under the leadership of Captain Jonathan Archer, learned more about the situation and interacted with various Xindi species, they uncovered the deception and sought to prevent the attack.

When the crew realized that the other four species believed this false information, Captain Archer tried to build trust between them. The Primates were the most cooperative among the Xindi, realizing that humans were not their enemy. The Primates, Arboreals, Aquatics, and Insectoids of the Xindi, along with the Enterprise team uncovered the manipulation and deception by the Reptilians. Together, they allied to prevent the attack. This alliance developed friendly relations between the Xindi species and the United Federation of Planets.

The Xindi's Complex History

The history of the Xindi has been marked by a complex combination of internal divisions and external forces. It has become integral to Star Trek's exploration of diversity, conflict, and potential unity in a rapidly expanding universe.

It all began with the Xindi Civil War, a mysterious event that marked a historical turning point. This conflict resulted from a web of tension among the Xindi subspecies. Disagreements over the fate of the Xindi homeworld and the perceived threat of an unknown enemy caused these tensions to erupt into violence. The conflict demonstrated the complexity of Xindi culture and the difficulties of reconciling so many different species. It also showed the effects of external influences on Xindi's internal dynamics.

The mysterious Sphere Builders emerged as a powerful force behind the scenes, further complicating Xindi affairs. Their use of temporal technology and control over Xindi leaders led to an existential crisis for the Xindi.

Xindi Diversity, Explained

Five Delphic Expanse species made the Xindi Council: Primates (humanoid-like beings), Arboreals (sloth-like humans), Aquatics (underwater mammals that resemble mosasaurs), Reptilians (lizard-like humans), and Insectoids (an amalgam of ant- and fly-like beings). There are two representatives from each species on the panel of the council. They used to hold secret meetings in a hidden chamber to plan the destruction of the Earth.

As mentioned above, the Xindi Council has five species, beginning with the Arboreals. These sloth-like humans seek refuge in the canopies of their lush, wooded worlds. Their distinct ability to navigate trees with elegance and agility differentiates them. On the other hand, the Aquatics survive at the depths of the oceans, their bodies adapting to an underwater existence. In contrast to surface-dwelling animals, their communication mechanism elaborate bioluminescent patterns.

Insectoids, as their name suggests, are insect-like creatures with a hive mentality, offering unique challenges in diplomatic relations. Their complex social structures and ability to act as a unified entity distinguish them from other Xindi. The Primates, the most humanoid of the Xindi subspecies, find themselves at the crossroads of the Xindi's diverse ecosystem. Lastly, as the name suggests, the Reptilians have similar features to the reptilians on Earth. In addition to being aggressive and ruthless, these species are also heavily involved in developing and deploying the superweapon, which would have been used to attack the Earth.

The Xindi are a fascinating exploration of the variety, strife, and potential for harmony in the universe of Star Trek and its advanced species . Their convoluted history with the Sphere Builders and Starfleet paints a picture of a race struggling with its identity while navigating the obstacles of an ever-expanding cosmos.

MORE: Star Trek: Unexplained Anomalies In The Delta Quadrant

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Star trek's lost uss enterprise model returned to roddenberry.

Lost since the 1970s, the original model of the Starship Enterprise used in Star Trek: The Original Series has been returned to Rod Roddenberry.

• The original USS Enterprise model from Star Trek has been returned to Gene Roddenberry's son after being missing since the 1970s.
• The 3-foot version of the Enterprise featured in the 1960s Star Trek is now authenticated and set to be restored for public exhibition.
• Rod Roddenberry plans to find a museum to showcase the iconic Enterprise model.

The first model of the USS Enterprise used in Star Trek: The Original Series has been returned to Gene Roddenberry's son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry. Missing since the 1970s when Gene Roddenberry loaned it to the filmmakers of 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture , the 3-foot model of the Starship Enterprise was used in Star Trek' s original pilot episode, "The Cage," as well as the opening credits of Star Trek: The Original Series . The model popped up on eBay last fall , and the sellers took it down and then contacted Dallas-based Heritage Auctions to authenticate it.

Yahoo! News reports that last weekend, the lost original model of Star Trek' s USS Enterprise was returned to Rod Roddenberry. The now-found and authenticated Enterprise model was the prototype for the 11-foot version featured in the episodes of the 1960s Star Trek . The larger model is on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Rod Roddenberry commented on the Enterprise model's return:

“This is not going home to adorn my shelves. This is going to get restored and we’re working on ways to get it out so the public can see it and my hope is that it will land in a museum somewhere.”

Rod Roddenberry also officially commented on the return of the lost USS Enterprise model on his Instagram (@eugeneroddenberryofficial):

Star Trek: Every Version Of The Starship Enterprise

How star trek's lost uss enterprise model was returned to roddenberry, a vital piece of star trek history is finally home.

It was a long road for the original USS Enterprise model to return home to Rod Roddenberry. The 3-foot Enterprise model graced the desk of Gene Roddenberry, but after it was loaned out to Star Trek: The Original Series , it vanished, and, “No one knew what happened to it," according to Rod Roddenberry. Heritage's Auction's executive vice president, Joe Maddalena, said the auction house was contacted by people who said they'd discovered the lost Enterprise model in a storage unit. It was brought to Heritage's Beverly Hills office where they instantly knew "it was the real thing."

Amusingly, Rod Roddenberry is also "vindicated" because of a long-running rumor that he destroyed the original Enterprise model as a boy by throwing it in a swimming pool.

Joe Maddalena said the original USS Enterprise model could easily sell for $1-million at auction, but as a "cultural icon," it is essentially "priceless." Rod Roddenberry admits he has vague memories of the 3-foot Enterprise model, and he didn't think much about it until he was contacted when the model briefly appeared on eBay. Roddenberry said he appreciates that everyone involved agreed it was the right thing to do to return the model. Without going into details about the agreement reached, Roddenberry added, “I felt it important to reward that and show appreciation for that.” Roughly 50 years after it disappeared, a crucial piece of Star Trek history has finally come home.

Source: Yahoo! News

Star Trek: The Original Series is streaming on Paramount+

Lost for a generation, original ‘Star Trek’ Enterprise model finally completes its voyage home

DALLAS (AP) — The first model of the USS Enterprise — used in the opening credits of the original “Star Trek” television series — has boldly gone back home, returning to creator Gene Roddenberry’s son decades after it went missing.

The model's disappearance sometime in the 1970s had become the subject of lore, so it caused a stir when it popped up on eBay last fall. The sellers quickly took it down, and then contacted Dallas-based Heritage Auctions to authenticate it. Last weekend, the auction house facilitated the model's return.

Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment, said he's thrilled to have the model that had graced the desk of his father, who died in 1991 at age 70.

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“This is not going home to adorn my shelves," Roddenberry said. “This is going to get restored and we’re working on ways to get it out so the public can see it and my hope is that it will land in a museum somewhere.”

Heritage's executive vice president, Joe Maddalena, said the auction house was contacted by people who said they'd discovered it a storage unit, and when it was brought into their Beverly Hills office, he and a colleague “instantly knew that it was the real thing.”

They reached out to Roddenberry, who said he appreciates that everyone involved agreed returning the model was the right thing to do. He wouldn't go into details on the agreement reached but said “I felt it important to reward that and show appreciation for that.”

Maddalena said the model vanished in the 1970s after Gene Roddenberry loaned it to makers of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," which was released in 1979.

“No one knew what happened to it," Rod Roddenberry said.

The 3-foot (0.91-meter) model of the USS Enterprise was used in the show's original pilot episode as well as the opening credits of the resulting TV series, and was the prototype for the 11-foot (3-meter) version featured in the series' episodes. The larger model is on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

The original “Star Trek” television series, which aired in the late 1960s, kicked off an ever-expanding multiverse of cultural phenomena, with TV and movie spinoffs and conventions where a fanbase of zealous and devoted Trekkies can’t get enough of memorabilia.

This USS Enterprise model would easily sell for more than $1 million at auction, but really “it’s priceless," Maddalena said.

“It could sell for any amount and I wouldn’t be surprised because of what it is," he said. “It is truly a cultural icon.”

Roddenberry, who was just a young boy when the model went missing, said he has spotty memories of it, “almost a deja vu.” He said it wasn't something he'd thought much about until people began contacting him after it appeared on eBay.

“I don't think I really, fully comprehended at first that this was the first Enterprise ever created,” he said.

He said he has no idea if there was something nefarious behind the disappearance all those decades ago or if it was just mistakenly lost, but it would be interesting to find out more about what happened.

“This piece is incredibly important and it has its own story and this would be a great piece of the story,” Roddenberry said.

Thankfully, he said, the discovery has cleared up one rumor: That it was destroyed because as a young boy, he'd thrown it into a pool.

“Finally I’m vindicated after all these years,” he said with a laugh.

Long-lost model of 'Star Trek' Enterprise makes voyage home

April 18 (UPI) -- The original model of the starship Enterprise has returned to the family of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

Heritage Auctions last week returned the long-lost model, featured in the original Star Trek series' opening credits, to Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Jr., CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment and son of the late Gene Roddenberry, the company announced on Thursday.

The three-foot-long USS Enterprise was believed to have disappeared in the 1970s when Gene Roddenberry loaned it to the makers of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

It resurfaced last fall when an unnamed person discovered it and brought it to Heritage for authentication. The auction house then contacted Rod Roddenberry to coordinate its return.

"Once our team of experts concluded it was the real thing, we contacted Rod because we wanted to get the model back to where it belonged," Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena said in a statement. "We're thrilled the Enterprise is finally in dry dock."

Walter "Matt" Jefferies designed the original USS Enterprise and was the namesake of the Jefferies tubes referenced in numerous Stark Trek episodes.

Jefferies, in the 1968 book The Making of Star Trek , said the ship's design was based partly on designs from NASA, Douglas Aircraft and other aerospace engineering outfits, and that Gene Roddenberry wanted the ship to be "believable."

"My feeling was that if you didn't believe in the spaceship, if you didn't believe you were in a vehicle traveling through space, a vehicle that made sense, whose layout and design made sense, then you wouldn't believe in the series," Gene Roddenberry wrote in book.

Once Roddenberry and Jefferies agreed on a design, model-maker Richard Datin Jr., built the three-foot, wooden, hand-painted model, which would appear in the show's opening credits and in the pilot episode "The Cage."

The model now in Rod Roddenberry's hands also was the prototype for the 11-foot-long Enterprise famously on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

"After five decades, I'm thrilled that someone happened upon this historic model of the USS Enterprise. I remember how it used to adorn my dad's desk," Rod Roddenberry said.

"I am tremendously grateful to Heritage Auctions for facilitating the return of this iconic piece of Star Trek history to my family. I can't wait to figure out how we are going to share it with my extended family, Star Trek fans around the world."

‘Star Trek’: Long-Lost Original USS Enterprise Model Finally Makes the Voyage Home

The model was used for the pilot and credits of the original 'Star Trek' series.

The Big Picture

• The original USS Enterprise model has been found in a storage locker after going missing for decades.
• The model was used for the original unaired pilot and opening credits of Star Trek: The Original Series .
• Rod Roddenberry plans to restore and display the iconic starship model in a museum for public viewing.

The original model of the USS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Original Series has been located, after spending several decades missing — not in some distant region of space, but in a storage locker. The model has been returned to Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry , the son of original Trek creator Gene Roddenberry . ABC News reports that the three-foot-long model was given to Gene Roddenberry after the original Trek series ended in 1969, and graced his desk for several years before he loaned it to the makers of 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture . The model disappeared shortly afterward and remained missing until it turned up on eBay last year. It had been discovered in a storage locker by parties unknown, who contacted action site Heritage Auctions. Although the model would fetch an enormous price at auction as a one-of-a-kind pop-cultural artifact, an arrangement was made between the finders and Roddenberry, whose father died at 70 in 1991.

The model in question was the first finished model of the iconic starship; it was used for the series' original unaired pilot episode, "The Cage," which was later incorporated into a two-part episode , "The Menagerie," before it was released in full in the 1980s. It was also used for the shots of the Enterprise seen in the show's opening credits. A larger model was later created for the rest of the series; that model is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum . Roddenberry intends for the original model to find a permanent home, as well:

"This is not going home to adorn my shelves. This is going to get restored and we’re working on ways to get it out so the public can see it and my hope is that it will land in a museum somewhere."

What Is the USS Enterprise?

The flagship of the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet, the USS Enterprise is a Constitution-class starship from the 23rd century. It was originally captained by Robert April, who appeared on Star Trek: The Animated Series before appearing in live-action for the first time in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . April later passed on command to Christopher Pike , whose adventures are currently being chronicled in the prequel series Strange New Worlds . After Pike was promoted to fleet command, James Kirk was given command of the ship, taking it on a five-year mission that kicked off one of science fiction's most enduring franchises.

In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , then-Admiral Kirk stole the Enterprise to journey to the unstable Genesis Planet and reunite his friend Spock's mind with his body; during that adventure, Kirk had the ship self-destruct to prevent it from being seized by the Klingons. It was later replaced by a near-identical ship, the Enterprise-A ; many subsequent Federation ships have borne the name, up to the rechristened Enterprise-J in the series finale of Star Trek: Picard .

The son of Roddenberry and actor Majel Barrett , Rod Roddenberry is the chief executive officer of Roddenberry Entertainment. He currently executive produces the latest generation of Star Trek series, including Discovery , Strange New Worlds , Picard , Lower Decks , and Prodigy .

The original model of the Enterprise is now back in the Roddenberry family. Viewers can see it in action in Star Trek: The Original Series , which can be streamed on Paramount+.

Star Trek: The Original Series

In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

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Commander Dolim was a Xindi-Reptilian military officer, and a high-ranking member of the Xindi Council . In that capacity, he provided a voice pushing for the swift and total destruction of the Human species, in response to intelligence indicating that Humans would be responsible for the destruction of the Xindi homeworld in the 26th century .

• 1 Personality
• 2 The Human threat
• 3.1 Appearances
• 3.2 Background information
• 3.3 External link

Personality [ ]

Dolim was cold and bloodthirsty, and ruthless in his efforts. While conferring with fellow Council members regarding the deployment of the weapon designed to annihilate Earth , he voiced his intention of hunting down every Human settlement and refugee caravan, in an effort to ensure that no Humans survived the attack.

A rumor existed about Dolim, indicating that his daughter gave birth to a son , who was born with a deformity in his right arm . Although non-life-threatening, the deformity was enough to preclude future military service , something which Dolim was unwilling to abide. In response, Dolim had his own grandson poisoned . ( ENT : " Azati Prime ", " The Council ")

Dolim's attitude towards the other Xindi species could often be one of arrogance and superiority. He often commented on " humanoid arrogance," and personally selected the Reptilian soldier from his own regiment who piloted the initial probe to attack Earth, claiming the soldier's name would go down in history as "a testament to the superiority of the cold-blooded." ( ENT : " Proving Ground ", " Azati Prime ")

Dolim was also an extremely religious man. In 2154 , when one of his lieutenants seemingly questioned the motives of one of the Guardians , transdimensional beings whom the Xindi regarded as gods , Dolim threatened to kill his lieutenant , stating, " if you ever question the Guardians again, your skin will adorn the bow of this ship. " ( ENT : " The Council ")

The Human threat [ ]

When the Xindi Council learned from the Guardians of the threat from Earth, Dolim became an advocate of swift and brutal action against the Humans, as a preemptive strike. He also pushed for the development of a bioweapon , in addition to the large-scale weapon being developed by Xindi-Primate Degra , although the Council disapproved this plan. Despite this, Dolim authorized one of his officers, Damron , to secretly begin working on the bioweapon, using physiological data provided by Rajiin , an alien female whom Dolim had placed on Enterprise NX-01 in 2153 . ( ENT : " Rajiin ", " Carpenter Street ", " The Forgotten ")

Dolim interrogates Archer

In 2154, Dolim oversaw the violent interrogation of Jonathan Archer , Enterprise 's captain , who had been captured at Azati Prime while attempting to destroy the Xindi weapon prior to its deployment. Dolim became frustrated, however, when Degra ordered the interrogation halted in order to confer with Archer as to Archer's assertion that the Xindi had been misled into attacking Earth. Dolim later ordered Enterprise attacked without authorization from the Council, an act which was halted by Degra's intervention. Later, when Archer came before the Council to present his case that the Guardians were, in fact, preparing for an invasion , Dolim feigned interest, in an attempt to buy time with which to appropriate the weapon and deploy it without approval. In the meantime, Dolim had learned that, in order to protect the secrecy of an alliance which Degra had formed with the Enterprise crew, Degra had ordered the destruction of a Reptilian warship . Confronting Degra as the Council was in recess, Dolim stabbed him to death, promising to do the same to Degra's wife and children, stating, " your traitorous bloodline will end at the tip of my blade . " ( ENT : " Azati Prime ", " The Council ")

Along with the Insectoids , Dolim took control of the weapon, using a subspace vortex to transport it to Earth. However, since the weapon had been designed with a failsafe which prevented its launch unless three launch codes were used, Dolim ordered Enterprise 's communications officer , Hoshi Sato , abducted, for the purpose of forcing her to bypass the Aquatic encryption protocols . En route to Earth, Dolim had Sato injected with a series of parasites which invaded her neocortex , which reconfigured her synaptic pathways to make her compliant. Although the procedure initially appeared to be working, Dolim was surprised to find that Sato was much more resistant than he initially believed, and had actually added a layer of encryption , making it impossible for the Reptilians to access the weapon's arming matrix . Despite this, they were eventually able to force Sato to decrypt the third code, and proceeded to initiate the pre-arming protocols . ( ENT : " The Council ", " Countdown ")

Dolim and Archer fight aboard the Xindi weapon

While in the vortex, Dolim received a communication from the Insectoid vessel escorting the weapon, indicating that the Insectoids were beginning to doubt the Guardians' true intentions. Dolim responded to this by ordering the Insectoid ship destroyed, unwilling to risk any more interference in his mission to annihilate Earth. Upon emerging from the vortex, Dolim ordered the immediate destruction of the research post Yosemite 3 . Immediately thereafter, Dolim's ship came under attack by an Andorian vessel commanded by Shran , who was attempting to assist the Humans in their efforts to stop the weapon. When Dolim realized, however, that the Andorians were attempting to provide cover for Captain Archer and a team from Enterprise to board the weapon, Dolim transported aboard and engaged in physical combat with Archer, attempting to prevent him from initiating a self-destruct . Dolim initially had the upper hand in the fight, possessing superior strength and stamina, but he was ultimately killed when Archer placed an explosive charge on his back and subsequently detonated it. ( ENT : " Countdown ", " Zero Hour ")

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• " The Xindi "
• " Proving Ground "
• " Azati Prime "
• " The Council "
• " Countdown "
• " Zero Hour "

Background information [ ]

When this Xindi-Reptilian character debuted in the third season opener "The Xindi", he was not yet named. The character (ultimately called Dolim) was portrayed by actor Scott MacDonald . He at first did not have much background to base his performance on. Having played various other Star Trek parts, MacDonald found that Dolim's aggressive temperament was one of the factors that set the character apart from those earlier roles. " This guy's just a villain, and there's a straight-forwardness about Dolim that I love, " MacDonald explained. " I drive this guy forward vocally, physically and mentally like a battering ram and see what happens. " ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 151 , pp. 48 & 47)

However, Scott MacDonald was also of the opinion that Dolim was ideologically restrained by being a considerably honor-bound, protective character. " I am not playing the bad guy to the hilt here, " he admitted. " I think that Dolim, like all of the best villains, isn't really self-aware. Dolim truly believes that the humans will be the end of the Xindi, and he proceeds in a militaristic fashion in that way. I don't think it's like a venomous thing where he wants to kill everything in the galaxy. From the Xindi point of view, Dolim is the go-to guy who makes the tough decisions to preserve the life of the Xindi. That's how I see him. I think that's how you have to see him. He believes he's absolutely correct in what he's doing. The main thrust of it all is that I think Dolim thinks that the Reptilians are the superior species. That basic prejudice of, 'Yes, we all are Xindi, but the best Xindi is my Xindi.' That can be a fatal flaw, but it is so human. " ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 151 , p. 48)

Due to the prosthetic make-up he wore to play Dolim, Scott MacDonald was rendered virtually unrecognizable in the role. " One time, I was [...] walking on the Paramount lot [....] I saw Rick Berman and began chatting with him, " remembered MacDonald. " After a couple of minutes, Rick finally broke down and asked, 'Who are you?' After I told him, he said, 'Oh! Scott!' " [1] (X)

During the third season, some of the actors who played other Xindi Council members decided that Dolim was hermaphroditic . ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 151 , p. 52)

The recurring nature of the Dolim character allowed Scott MacDonald, who describes himself as a Trekkie , to thoroughly delve into the Reptilian's motivations and persona. This opportunity, as well as the role itself, appealed to MacDonald. The character's demise was therefore a disappointment to the performer, though he was ultimately accepting of the loss. " Based on the things I do in the [season's final] episodes, which are some really dastardly things, I was feeling that there was only one way this can end, " he reflected. " As an actor, I was disappointed to see what happens to Dolim, sure, but as a Star Trek fan, you expect it. I don't want to go out, but if I do, I want it to be in a blaze of glory. " ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 151 , p. 48)

The novel Last Full Measure gives his full name as Guruk Dolim.

External link [ ]

• Guruk Dolim at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

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Original ‘Star Trek’ Enterprise Model Is Found After Being Missing for Decades

The 33-inch model surfaced on eBay after disappearing around 1979. An auction house is giving it to the son of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of “Star Trek.”

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By Emily Schmall

The first model of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the starship that appeared in the opening credits of the original “Star Trek” television series , has been returned to Eugene Roddenberry Jr., the son of the creator of the series, decades after it went missing.

“After a long journey, she’s home,” Mr. Roddenberry wrote on social media on Thursday.

For die-hard Trekkies, the model’s disappearance had become the subject of folklore, so an eBay listing last fall, with a starting bid of $1,000, didn’t go unnoticed.

“Red alert,” someone in an online costume and prop-making forum wrote, linking to the listing.

Mr. Roddenberry’s father, Gene Roddenberry, created the television series, which first aired in 1966 and ran for three seasons. It spawned numerous spinoffs, several films and a franchise that has included conventions and legions of devoted fans with an avid interest in memorabilia.

The seller of the model was bombarded with inquiries and quickly took the listing down.

The seller contacted Heritage Auctions to authenticate it, the auction house’s executive vice president, Joe Maddalena, said on Saturday. As soon as the seller, who said he had found it in a storage unit, brought it to the auction house’s office in Beverly Hills, Calif., Mr. Maddalena said he knew it was real.

“That’s when I reached out to Rod to say, ‘We’ve got this. This is it,’” he said, adding that the model was being transferred to Mr. Roddenberry.

Mr. Roddenberry, who is known as Rod, said on Saturday that he would restore the model and seek to have it displayed in a museum or other institution. He said reclaiming the item had only piqued his interest in the circumstances about its disappearance.

“Whoever borrowed it or misplaced it or lost it, something happened somewhere,” he said. “Where’s it been?”

It was unclear how the model ended up in the storage unit and who had it before its discovery.

The original U.S.S. Enterprise, a 33-inch model, was mostly made of solid wood by Richard C. Datin, a model maker for the Howard Anderson Company, a special-effects company that created the opening credits for some of the 20th century’s biggest TV shows .

An enlarged 11-foot model was used in subsequent “Star Trek” television episodes, and is now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum , where it was donated by Paramount Studios in 1974.

Mr. Roddenberry, who said he gave the seller a “reward” for its recovery but did not disclose the terms, assembled a group of “Star Trek” production veterans, model makers and restoration specialists in Beverly Hills to authenticate the find.

The group included a “Star Trek” art supervisor, Michael Okuda, and his wife, Denise, an artist on “Star Trek” television series and films, and Gary Kerr, a “Trek x-pert” who served as technical consultant for the Smithsonian during a 2016 restoration of the 11-foot model.

“We spent at least an hour photographing it, inspecting the paint, inspecting the dirt, looking under the base, the patina on the stem, the grain in the wood,” Mr. Roddenberry said.

“It was a unanimous ‘This is 100 percent the one,’” he said.

Gene Roddenberry, who died in 1991 , kept the original model, which appeared in the show’s opening credits and pilot episode, on his desk.

Mr. Kerr compared the model to 1960s photos he had of the model on Mr. Roddenberry’s desk.

“The wood grain matched exactly, so that was it,” he said on Saturday.

The model went missing after Mr. Roddenberry lent it to the makers of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” which was released in 1979, Mr. Maddalena said.

“This is a major discovery,” he said, likening the model to the ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” a prop that was stolen in 2005 and recovered by the F.B.I. in 2018, and that Heritage Auctions is selling.

While the slippers represent hope, he said, the starship Enterprise model “represents dreams.”

“It’s a portal to what could be,” he said.

Emily Schmall covers breaking news and feature stories and is based in Chicago. More about Emily Schmall

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Proving Ground

• Episode aired Jan 21, 2004

Enterprise has found the location of the testing site of the Xindi weapon and gets some rather unexpected help. Enterprise has found the location of the testing site of the Xindi weapon and gets some rather unexpected help. Enterprise has found the location of the testing site of the Xindi weapon and gets some rather unexpected help.

• David Livingston
• Gene Roddenberry
• Rick Berman
• Brannon Braga
• Scott Bakula
• John Billingsley
• Jolene Blalock
• 19 User reviews
• 4 Critic reviews

• Capt. Jonathan Archer

• (credit only)

• Sub-Cmdr. T'Pol

• Lt. Malcolm Reed

• Ensign Travis Mayweather

• Ensign Hoshi Sato

• Cmdr. Charles 'Trip' Tucker III

• Cmdr. Dolim

• Xindi-Primate Councilor

• Andorian General

• Degra's Assistant

• Engineer Alex
• (uncredited)

• Ensign Tanner

• Andorian Bridge Officer
• Brannon Braga (showrunner)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia This episode featured not only the first good look at the interior of an Andorian ship but also provided the first glimpse of Andoria, albeit briefly on a monitor.
• Goofs The discovery of a proving ground for the Xindi weapon belies the notion that they would have sent a test weapon to Earth. The idea that the Xindi would deposit evidence of their intentions on Earth before their attack plans were ready is unlikely, if they could have merely tested it at the Proving Ground.

Lieutenant Talas : You don't trust me.

Lieutenant Malcolm Reed : No offense, but when it comes to our weapons frequencies, I wouldn't trust my own mother.

Lieutenant Talas : Is your mother considered a security risk?

Lieutenant Malcolm Reed : It's... just an expression.

Lieutenant Talas : An odd one. My mother's security clearance is higher than mine.

• Soundtracks Where My Heart Will Take Me Written by Diane Warren Performed by Russell Watson Episode: {all episodes}

User reviews 19

• brueggemanntami
• Mar 12, 2020
• January 21, 2004 (United States)
• United States
• Official Site
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
• Paramount Network Television
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 43 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Long-lost first model of the USS Enterprise from ‘Star Trek’ boldly goes home after twisting voyage

The first model of the USS Enterprise is displayed at Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024. The model — used in the original “Star Trek” television series — has been returned to Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, the son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, decades after it went missing in the 1970s. (Josh David Jordan/Heritage Auctions via AP)

Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, left, and Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, the son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, shake hands over the recently recovered first model of the USS Enterprise at the Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024. The model — used in the original “Star Trek” television series — has been returned to Eugene, decades after it went missing in the 1970s. (Josh David Jordan/Heritage Auctions via AP)

Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, left, and Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, the son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, view the recently recovered first model of the USS Enterprise at Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024. The model — used in the original “Star Trek” television series — has been returned to Eugene, decades after it went missing in the 1970s. (Josh David Jordan/Heritage Auctions via AP)

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DALLAS (AP) — The first model of the USS Enterprise — used in the opening credits of the original “Star Trek” television series — has boldly gone back home, returning to creator Gene Roddenberry’s son decades after it went missing.

The model’s disappearance sometime in the 1970s had become the subject of lore, so it caused a stir when it popped up on eBay last fall. The sellers quickly took it down, and then contacted Dallas-based Heritage Auctions to authenticate it. Last weekend, the auction house facilitated the model’s return.

Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment, said he’s thrilled to have the model that had graced the desk of his father, who died in 1991 at age 70.

“This is not going home to adorn my shelves,” Roddenberry said. “This is going to get restored and we’re working on ways to get it out so the public can see it and my hope is that it will land in a museum somewhere.”

AP AUDIO: Long-lost first model of the USS Enterprise from ‘Star Trek’ boldly goes home after twisting voyage.

AP correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports on the return of the original model of the USS Enterprise from the TV show “Star Trek.”

Heritage’s executive vice president, Joe Maddalena, said the auction house was contacted by people who said they’d discovered it a storage unit, and when it was brought into their Beverly Hills office, he and a colleague “instantly knew that it was the real thing.”

They reached out to Roddenberry, who said he appreciates that everyone involved agreed returning the model was the right thing to do. He wouldn’t go into details on the agreement reached but said “I felt it important to reward that and show appreciation for that.”

Maddalena said the model vanished in the 1970s after Gene Roddenberry loaned it to makers of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” which was released in 1979.

“No one knew what happened to it,” Rod Roddenberry said.

The 3-foot (0.91-meter) model of the USS Enterprise was used in the show’s original pilot episode as well as the opening credits of the resulting TV series, and was the prototype for the 11-foot (3-meter) version featured in the series’ episodes. The larger model is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

The original “Star Trek” television series, which aired in the late 1960s, kicked off an ever-expanding multiverse of cultural phenomena, with TV and movie spinoffs and conventions where a fanbase of zealous and devoted Trekkies can’t get enough of memorabilia.

This USS Enterprise model would easily sell for more than $1 million at auction, but really “it’s priceless,” Maddalena said.

“It could sell for any amount and I wouldn’t be surprised because of what it is,” he said. “It is truly a cultural icon.”

Roddenberry, who was just a young boy when the model went missing, said he has spotty memories of it, “almost a deja vu.” He said it wasn’t something he’d thought much about until people began contacting him after it appeared on eBay.

“I don’t think I really, fully comprehended at first that this was the first Enterprise ever created,” he said.

He said he has no idea if there was something nefarious behind the disappearance all those decades ago or if it was just mistakenly lost, but it would be interesting to find out more about what happened.

“This piece is incredibly important and it has its own story and this would be a great piece of the story,” Roddenberry said.

Thankfully, he said, the discovery has cleared up one rumor: That it was destroyed because as a young boy, he’d thrown it into a pool.

“Finally I’m vindicated after all these years,” he said with a laugh.