Warning: contains spoilers forStar Trek Omega!
Star Trekjust revealed that a species stretching back to the Original Series is now officially extinct. InStar Trek’sthree-season run, it introduced a number of fantastic alien races,ranging from the Klingonsto the Talosians. Each race was indicative of how diverse and far-reaching theStar Trekuniverse is. However,one powerful, god-like race has seemingly met its end inStar Trek Omega.
T’Lir made their first appearance inStar Trek(Volume 2) #1.
Star Trek Omegawas written by Christopher Cantwell, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by a bevy of all-starStar Trekartists. T’Lir, who in a previous arc revealed themselves to be the last of the Organians, is penning a letter to Lily Sato.T’Lir tells Lily that their people are gone, and that they are the last of their kind. Starfleet science confirms T’Lir’s suspicions.
T’Lir uses the occasion to shed their god-like powers, and live life as a mortal.
The Organians Saved Countless Lives in theStar TrekUniverse, And Were Killed For It
T’Lir Was to Be the Salvation of the Organians
TheStar Trekuniverse has no shortage of god-like races, but the Organians may have had the most impact. Introduced in the first seasonStar Trekepisode “Errand of Mercy,” the Organians long ago evolved past the need for material bodies, and lived as beings of pure thought and energy. Appearing to both Starfleet and the Klingons as primitive and pre-industrial, the Organians used their vast powers to enforce peace upon the two parties, who were ready to go to war. In their own way, the Organians helped save the galaxy from a bloody, brutal conflict.
Yet the Klingons never forgot the Organians, and a century after the events of “Errand of Mercy,” one decided to do something about it.
Yet the Klingons never forgot the Organians, and a century after the events of “Errand of Mercy,” one decided to do something about it. Kahless II, the cloned Klingon emperor, desperate to make a name for himself, began a crusade against the gods of theStar Trekuniverse. InStar Trek#400, fans saw Kahless (whose identity was unknown at the time) lay waste to Gary Mitchell. After that came a parade of gods who fell to Kahless, including the Crystalline Entities, and somewhere along the way, the Organians were annihilated too.
T’Lir is the first non-binary Vulcan seen in theStar Trekfranchise.
The Organians’ potential salvation came in the form of T’Lir. Appearing as a Vulcan, T’Lir was the Science Officer aboard theUSS Theseus, the ship Starfleet gave Sisko to stop Kahless’ campaign of genocide. They repeatedly called themselves a “Vulcan of Starfleet,” but it was also clear they were hiding a big secret. T’Lir had scientific knowledge light years ahead of the Federation’s best minds. They helped fashion technology thattook Sisko andTheseusto the Pleroma. Furthermore, T’Lir seemed to be able to sense other god-like beings, such as Q.
T’Lir is Now the Last of the Organians
T’Lir’s Destiny Is Uncertain, But Holds Great Promise
T’Lir’s good intentions almost led to the destruction of the multiverse. The technology T’Lir created that helped breach the barriers between our reality and the Pleroma also allowed the evil android Lore to travel there as well. From inside the Pleroma, Lore rewrote reality in his own image, but not first before killing the remainder of the gods. Sisko, Data, Worf and the crews of theTheseusand theDefiantwere able to stop Lore, and restore reality to its normal state, yet the fates of the gods Lore and Kahless murdered are still unknown.
WhileStar Trek Omegaleaves the fates of Trelane, the Metronsand the Guardian of Forever up in the air,it is clear the Organians did not return. T’Lir searched extensively for their people, but found no trace of them. T’Lir also turned to Starfleet for help in finding them, but not even the organization’s best minds were able to find the Organians either. Yet rather than mope, T’Lir uses the occasion to become fully mortal. They note that the actions and sensations humans take for granted are new to them, and they wish to experience them all.
The Organians Extinction Shows IDW Was Serious About TheirStar TrekComics
It Is Doubtful the Organians Will Return to theStar TrekUniverse
Star Trek Omegawraps up IDW’s two-year saga that began with Gary Mitchell’s death, and wraps up the stories of the important players, including T’Lir.Star TrekandStar Trek Defiantwere some of the most excitingTrekcomics ever made. The action was grand and cosmic in scope, but some fans expressed doubt it would have any lasting ramifications for the franchise. Yet with the extinction of the Organians, it is clear the comics did alterStar Treklore in dark and subtle ways.
