These controversial aliens from one of Star Trek: The Original Series' Most recognizable episodes are still alive in Star Trek: Section 31. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Craig Sweeny, Section 31 is shaping itself to be different from anyone else Star Trek project that came before it. With a cast led by Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, the main plot of Section 31 follows Emperor Philippa Georgiou and a team of Section 31 black ops agents as they embark on a secret mission to protect the United Federation of Planets.
Premiering Friday, January 24th on Paramount+, Star Trek: Section 31 happens during Star Trek “lost era” of the early 24th century before the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Although it was defined many years later Star Trek: The Original Series, Section 31 appears to have some connections to the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). An alien with distinct black and white coloring appears in the newest Section 31 trailer, after their species first appeared 55 years ago in Terms of Service Season 3, Episode 15, 'Let That Be Your Last Battlefield'.
One from Star Trek: TOS' Controversial Half-Black, Half-White Aliens Are Still Alive in Section 31
The people of Cheron have not been seen since Captain Kirk first encountered them
At the beginning Star Trek: Section 31 trailer, an alien character appears, with the same black and white coloring as Bele (Frank Gorshin) and Lokai (Lou Antonio) of Star Trek: The Original Series' “May this be your last battlefield.” When Captain Kirk first encountered Bele and Lokai, they had been chasing each other for 50,000 years, the result of a devastating war between their people on their home planet of Cheron. Bele's skin pigmentation was black on the right side and white on the left, while Lokai's was the opposite.
Although the crew of the starship Enterprise noted the similarity between Bele and Lokai's appearance, the two pointed out how clearly different they were. This was the crux of his people's conflict (and a heavy metaphor for prejudice in general). Both Bele and Lokai could produce personal force fields, and Bele had the ability to take control of the Enterprise with his mind and electrocute people. Much about the people of Cheron remains unknown, and Section 31 Now you have the opportunity to reveal more about this fascinating species.
Why It's Surprising Star Trek: TOS's Cheron Is Still Alive in Section 31
In TOS, the Cheron people appeared to have been wiped out in a civil war
The presence of this Star Trek: The Original Series alien in the early 24th century Star Trek: Section 31 raises several interesting questions. When the Enterprise visited Cheron in “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, they discovered a barren planet void of intelligent life. It appeared that the people of Cheron were completely annihilated in a civil war. Despite this, Bele and Lokai continued attacking each other before returning to Cheron, presumably to continue their futile crusade. According to the Section 31 trailer, however, at least some Cheron natives survived the people's war.
Considering that Bele and Lokai were away from their planet for 50,000 years, there are many possibilities for what could have happened to their people during that time. While it is likely that many of the Cheron natives actually died in a civil war, it now appears that some left their planet before Bele and Lokai returned. Perhaps a group of them escaped their war-torn planet and established a settlement elsewhere. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see if Star Trek: Section 31 explains the return of one of the Star Trek: The Original Series' most iconic unique aliens.