The Tarsus IV incident, explained

Science fiction has many similarities. Fans can find recurring tropes, character concepts, thematic clues, and narrative inventions in otherwise completely different franchises. Star Trek has countless variations on this idea. The premise of a cruel leader killing half a population in a misguided attempt to save the other half from a resource crisis may bring to mind a certain Purple Gentleman. Star Trek dealt with a similar idea, with a healthy dose Macbeth when discussing the Tarsus IV incident.

One of the strange things about star Trek is the way the series handles history. The series often tells stories without flashbacks and tells but never shows details about the distant past. It is not a series about the past, of course. Aside from time travel, many major events in the timeline appear in the script without more than a one-time description. This leaves many fans wondering what a glimpse into the past might look like.

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What was the Tarsus IV Incident?

Tarsus IV was an inhabited planet that was home to a Federation colony for people from Earth. The original timeline offers few details about normal operations, but the films add some details. The Tarsus IV colony existed to allow farming on the harsh planet. The films state that Tarsus IV became a safe place for veterans of the Earth-Romulan War. Those seeking peace after a period of fighting found a quiet new home. More than 8,000 citizens lived on the colony, many of whom had found solace after fleeing a failed previous refuge. Their previous home, Epsilon Sorona II, was struck by tragedy that destroyed their food supplies. Unfortunately, that nightmare followed them to Tarsus IV in 2246. A hostile fungus or mutagenic virus infected crops and food supplies across the planet. The population faced a famine that could end life on the planet. A man came up with a solution.

Kodos was the governor of the colony of Tarsus IV. When the fungi depleted their food supplies, Kodos reverted to an old philosophy. As a eugenicist, Governor Kodos had strong opinions about who should and should not be present in the human gene pool. He knew that Tarsus IV’s remaining food supplies could feed half of the existing population. Thinking like Thanos, he believed that he would have to sacrifice 4,000 for the other 4,000 to survive. He personally selected and executed 4,000 of his own people. The script mentions an antimatter chamber as his method, promising any victim an instant death. In a horrific twist, Federation supply ships arrived earlier than expected, delivering more than enough food to save every person on Tarsus IV. His horrific philosophy and hasty decisions led to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Earthforce found a burned body in the governor’s house and assumed Kodos died in the incident. Tarsus IV later became a target for various ships.

What happened after the Tarsus IV incident?

Episode title	“The Conscience of the King”
listing	Season 1, Episode 13
director	Gerd Oswald
writer	Barry Trivers
Airdate	December 8, 1966

Star Trek addressed the Tarsus IV Incident in the season one episode “The Conscience of a King.” The episode contains one of the best elevator pitches of the early franchise. James Kirk was one of the many survivors who left Tarsus IV. Only nine of the 4,000 were able to positively identify Kodos, four of whom died mysteriously. Through the advice of an old friend and fellow survivor, Kirk finds out that Kodos is leading a new life as an actor in a traveling Shakespeare troupe. This leads Kirk to an encounter with Kodos, now named Anton Karidian, and his daughter Lenore. After attending a party for the actors, Kirk and Lenore find Kirk’s friend dead.

Spock discovers that seven of the nine Tarsus IV survivors who were able to identify Kodos were found dead. Only Kirk and Lt. Kevin Riley were still able to find the governor. Through an investigation, he discovers connections between all seven deaths and the traveling Shakespeare troupe. Suddenly, someone poisons Riley and tampers with a phaser in Kirk’s quarters to explode. Kirk confronts Karidian, and although he does not admit to being Kodos, he defends the decision to kill 4,000 people. A voice scan proves a near-perfect match between Kodos and Karidian. Riley later overhears McCoy talking about Karidian and hunts him down to avenge his family. Kirk defuses the situation, but discovers that Lenore has killed witnesses to Karidian’s past misdeeds. As Kirk goes to arrest her, Lenore steals a phaser to attack. Karidian throws herself in the path of the explosion and sacrifices herself to save Kirk. The eugenic monster who needlessly killed thousands gave his life to atone for his daughter’s sins. Lenore suffered a nervous breakdown and was convinced that her father was still alive and continuing to perform.

The Tarsus IV Incident is a lesson against several forms of bad leadership. Kodos’ decision would have been unthinkable even if it had not been immediately overturned. In hindsight, it is hard to imagine him looking for an excuse to execute his citizens. Kodos attempted to redeem himself in bizarre ways, and while one person’s safety can hardly undo the Tarsus IV Incident, it is better than staying the course. Perhaps he learned a few things from his time on the stage. The king developed a conscience far too late.