d-borg: Tribbles

Tribbles are fictional animals in the Star Trek universe who first appeared in the episode titled "The Trouble With Tribbles". They are depicted as small, soft, and gentle, and as producing a soothing purring sound. These traits are said to endear them to most sentient races which encounter them, with the notable exception of Klingons, who consider tribbles to be "mortal enemies" of the Klingon Empire, as stated in the Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode "Trials and Tribble-ations".

While appearing in only four episodes and briefly in a movie, they are one of the most popular and well-known species featured in the Star Trek universe, fairly well known even to casual followers of the series. In 2006, two tribble props from "Trials and Tribble-ations" were auctioned for US $800 – 1,200.

The expression "multiplying like tribbles" has also become commonplace in the context of science fiction or technology.

History

Tribbles have appeared in several instances of Star Trek series and movies, arranged here in their order of production:

Original series

Viewers first saw tribbles in the 1967 Star Trek: The Original Series television episode "The Trouble With Tribbles." The episode was written by David Gerrold, and the original tribble props were designed by Wah Chang. This episode was not, however, a depiction of first contact since it was a human named Cyrano Jones (Stanley Adams), a small-time merchant, who introduced the tribbles to Captain Kirk's crew.

In the same episode, Spock, a half-Vulcan himself, explains that Vulcans see no useful purpose for tribbles, so the species is not endearing to them, but it's not mutual for the ever-adoring species. However, he is caught petting one while claiming, "Fortunately, I am... immune to its effects".

Animated series

Tribbles returned in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles." This time, the tribbles Cyrano Jones brings have been genetically altered to not reproduce when they are fed, but instead just grow larger.

Deep Space Nine

In the episode "Trials and Tribble-ations" the crew of the USS Defiant encounter the tribbles once more when they accidentally travel back in time and participate in the events of "The Trouble with Tribbles." The Deep Space Nine characters are edited into scenes with the original series cast, although a few of the scenes are from different episodes. Each of the featured characters is seen in this episode, including Cyrano Jones and Arne Darvin.

In this episode, Worf reveals that the tribbles were hunted down and exterminated by the Klingon Empire; specially trained warriors were sent to kill every tribble in existence, and an armada of Klingon vessels obliterated the tribble's home world. Klingons are unique among Star Trek's races in their extreme hatred of the creatures as "an ecological menace". The feeling was apparently mutual, because tribbles emitted a loud shrieking noise instead of their normal soothing purr in the presence of Klingons. Deep Space Nine Security Officer Odo, amused by the irony of the fierce Klingons hunting the gentle tribbles, dryly remarks, "Another glorious chapter in Klingon history. Tell me, do they still sing songs of the Great Tribble Hunt?" A number of tribbles were brought back to Deep Space Nine from the past and the species was re-established.

Enterprise

The date of first contact with tribbles has never been established in canon. Chronologically speaking, the earliest known appearance of tribbles was in the 2003 Star Trek: Enterprise episode "The Breach" (which takes place in 2152) in which Doctor Phlox uses them as food for his medicinal pets in Sick Bay. Hoshi Sato, a human, sees a tribble being utilized by Phlox. Phlox remarks that their populations would be out of control if it was not for the planet's high reptilian populations.