A Classic Star Trek Alien Just Scored The Franchise's Most Brutal Kill — Gaming

Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek: Redshirts II: Ghosts of the 21st Century!

A classic Star Trek alien just scored one of the franchise’s most brutal kills. Across its 60-year history, Star Trek has given fans some of the most memorable aliens in science fiction. From the logical Vulcans to the warlike Klingons to the terrifying Borg, the Star Trek galaxy is a diverse one, full of many wonders and just as many dangers.

Most of the alien races Star Trek has shown have been intelligent and capable of being reasoned with, even if their intentions are initially hostile. At the same time, Star Trek has also featured aliens that are unthinking brutes, no different than wild animals on Earth. Some of these creatures, such as Lower Decks’ Moopsy, may have appeared harmless at first, but hid a savage nature. There were also dogs with horns, as seen in The Original Series. Another creature, the Mugato, introduced in The Original Series, has become iconic as well.

Making their first appearance in the second season Original Series episode “A Private Little War,” the Mugato resembled a large, white Earth gorilla with a large horn protruding from its head. One of the most feared creatures in the quadrant, the Mugato, according to legend, had the strength of 10 people and could kill someone with ease. Now, nearly 60 years after their debut, a Mugato has just rated one of Star Trek’s most gruesome kills.

Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment The Final Frontier
Trivia Challenge

🚀ShipsEnterprise!

⭐CrewMake it so

☠EnemiesResistance is…

⚡TechWarp speed!

📖LoreLive long…

The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?

✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.

✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.

Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?

✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.

Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?

✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.

✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.

“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?

✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”

✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”

Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?

✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.

Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?

✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.

At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?

✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.

In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?

✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.

✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.

Mission Complete Your Starfleet Record

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Are you an Admiral — or still a cadet on deck-scrubbing duty?

The Mugato Makes its Violent Return to the Star Trek Universe

The Mugato Kills A Bunch of Redshirts

The Mugato returns in Star Trek: Redshirts 2: Ghosts of the 21st Century #1, written by Gerry Duggan and drawn by Scott Buoncristiano. The book follows the adventures of Harry Deubert, a recruit to Section Null, a rogue faction of Starfleet engaging in piracy and drug trafficking. Harry is one of the titular “redshirts,” an expendable crewmember who will most certainly meet a dark end.

Ghosts of the 21st Century writer Gerry Duggan had a memorable run on Deadpool for Marvel.

And while Deubert is safe for the first issue, some of his fellow redshirts are not. Deubert accompanies a group of Null officers on a run to deliver drugs to a band of raiders. When the deal goes south, the raiders open fire on Section Null. A phaser fight breaks out, and multiple redshirts are killed.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a Mugato rushes Section Null’s shuttle. It tramples one officer, and grabs another, instantly crushing the redshirt's head to pulp. The Mugato, who caught the redshirts off guard, then quickly dismembers the hapless Starfleet officers. Star Trek fans are treated to a brutal scene of guts, bone and brain matter being flung everywhere as the Mugato makes short work of Section Null.

The Mugatos Have Earned Their Star Trek Reputation

The Mugatos have earned a reputation in the Star Trek franchise as ferocious killers. While the original Mugatos seen in The Original Series may have looked goofy, they were anything but. Later Star Trek shows have expanded the Mugato’s reputation further. The creatures appeared in Star Trek: Lower Decks, and they are begging for a live-action return as well. With today’s production values and technology, Star Trek could effectively give fans a terrifying Mugato.

Until then, the Mugato’s brutal kill in Ghosts of the 21st Century serves as a reminder that the Star Trek universe, while full of wonders and adventure, is also dangerous.

Until then, the Mugato’s brutal kill in Ghosts of the 21st Century serves as a reminder that the Star Trek universe, while full of wonders and adventure, is also dangerous. Every new planet brings with it fantastic new creatures, but not all of them are friendly, or even capable of rational thought. Starfleet officers must take great care when exploring these strange new worlds, or else a Mugato might get them.

Star Trek: Redshirts 2: Ghosts of the 21st Century is on sale now from IDW Publishing!