"A weapon built primarily as a bluff. It's never meant to be used. So strong, it could destroy both sides in a war...a doomsday machine that somebody used in a war uncounted years ago. They don't exist anymore, but the machine is still destroying." - Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise, theorising on the origins of the Doomsday Machine The weapon that came to be known alternatively as the 'planet-killer' or 'the Doomsday Machine' was first encountered in 2267 by the USS Constellation under the command of Commodore Matt Decker. Entering a star system and finding the fourth planet in the process of breaking up, the Constellation made a terrifying discovery - a seemingly ancient machine, its surface pitted and scarred by the ages, tearing the planet apart with a particle beam of incredible destructive power. Approaching to scan the device, it suddenly and violently lashed out at the Constellation, dealing massive damage. Unable to flee, Decker ordered the crew of the Constellation to evacuate to the planet below, while he stayed behind to go down with his ship. To his horror, however, the planet-killer disregarded the Constellation and began devouring the very planet the Constellation's crew had sought refuge on. With no power to rescue his crew, Commodore Decker could only watch in anguish and listen to their last moments as the alien tore the planet to pieces. Finally rescued by the crew of the USS Enterprise, Decker later sacrificed himself in order to expose a weakness that allowed the Enterprise to finally destroy the monstrosity. There are only theories regarding the Doomsday Machine's origins. It is believed to have crossed the void between galaxies, a journey that took millions of years, and is theorised to be an ancient weapon left over from a long-forgotten war. Its solid neutronium hull and destructive nature lend credence to this theory. Whatever its origins, it is Starfleet's fervent hope that there are no more of these monsters lurking in the void...