Aldea was a legendary inhabited planet in the Epsilon Mynos system. It was the homeworld for the Aldeans, an advanced humanoid species. In 2364, the planet was discovered by the USS Enterprise-D.
Aldea was hidden from view for millennia by its powerful planetary defense system, devised by the Progenitors and run by the Custodian. The system included an enormous planet-wide cloaking device that hid it from marauders and other threats. In addition to the cloaking device, Aldea was defended by an immensely powerful shield that could only be penetrated by Aldean technology and a repulsor beam powerful enough to push starships several hundred light years distant. The safeguards allowed the people to pursue culture and become artisans in complete safety, but as a society, they became too reliant on the Custodian, forgetting the necessary technological backgrounds of how their own technology worked.
For thousands of years, the existence of Aldea was considered to be only a rumor, similar to the cultural myths of Atlantis or Neinman. However, by the mid-24th century, the planet-wide cloaking device was responsible for cumulative damage to the planet's ozone layer, resulting in widespread radiation poisoning from the Aldean sun's ultraviolet rays, causing the species to become sterile. To try to rectify their dire situation, they attempted to kidnap various Enterprise-D children, including Wesley Crusher, to repopulate their planet. After the failed attempt, the Aldeans agreed to accept help from the Enterprise-D to relearn how to properly use their technology, never again to use their shield and cloaking device, and medical treatment reversed the radiation poisoning in the population, which would restore fertility in time. (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks")
Appendices[]
Background information[]
"all-DAY-uh" was the pronunciation for this planet's name from StarTrek.com. [1](X)
The planet model first used here for Aldea was later used for Vagra II in "Skin Of Evil".
"Aldea" is a Spanish word which translates as "small village" or "hamlet."
Apocrypha[]
According to the RPG sourcebook Planets of the UFP, Aldea is the third planet in the Epsilon Mynos system.
External links[]
- Aldea at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Re-used planets in TNG at Ex Astris Scientia