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Beagle, S.S.

A class IV stardrive survey vessel, carrying a crew of forty-seven under the command of Captain R.M. Merik in 2261. While exploring System 892, the Beagle was damaged by meteors and sent a landing party to the surface of planet 892-IV in search of repair materials. Encountering there a civilization remarkably similar to Earth�s ancient Roman Empire at 20th-century level technology, the crew was betrayed by their captain and forced to compete in televised gladiatorial games for survival. A number of Beagle crewmembers were eventually killed in these battles, including flight officer William B. Harrison. The Beagle herself was destroyed by Merik, who became First Citizen of the planet�s society.

In 2267, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 found remains of the Beagle�s wreckage and retraced the course of its six-year drift back to 892-IV. There, they discovered Merik (now known as Merikus) and learned of the survey vessel�s fate. Captain James T. Kirk and other Enterprise personnel narrowly escaped death in the same arena that had beheld the death of the Beagle�s crew, but survived to face execution by state agents, being saved only by the last-minute actions of Merik. This act of redemption was Merik�s last, as he was immediately killed by Proconsul Claudius Marcus for his treachery to the Empire.
(�Bread and Circuses� [TOS])

Perhaps named for the vessel on which Charles Darwin sailed on a voyage to the Galapagos Islands, where he developed the beginnings of his scientific Theory of Evolution.

Fandom sources have listed the Beagle as an Independence-class vessel with registry NCC-F1307, though the ship was implied in the episode to be a non-Starfleet craft.

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Yes, Merik (and that is in fact the correct spelling, Encyclopedia notwithstanding, from the script and the episode credits) was in the merchant service.

-MMoM

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The flaws we find most objectionable in others are often those we recognize in ourselves.