Special Sub-Topic: History According to Chekov Click Here To Play: History According to Chekov

In "The Trouble With Tribbles", Chekov claimed that quadrotriticale was a Russian invention. But from what country could that grain actually be traced?

Canada. Quadrotriticale was a four-lobed hybrid grain, derived from wheat and rye. It was also the only grain that could be grown on Sherman's Planet, which both the Federation and the Klingons were trying to claim. The origins of the grain came from triticale, which was discovered in Canada in the 20th Century. FAST FACT: Triticale does exist. The first successful fertile crossing of wheat and rye occured in the 1930s. In 1953, the University of Manitoba began an active triticale breeding program, which continues to this day.

According to Chekov, where was the Garden of Eden?

just outside Moscow. In "The Apple", the landing party marveled at the beauty of the planet Gamma Trianguli VI, comparing it to the legendary Garden of Eden. This led Chekov to claim its location was near Moscow. FAST FACT: During news coverage of Second Gulf War in 2003, I learned that the Garden of Eden was reputed to be near the city of Basrah, Iraq.

In "Who Mourns for Adonias?" Kirk asked Chekov where Apollo went after he had vanished. Chekov replied that he disappeared, "like the cat in that Russian story." To what "Russian story" was he referring?

Alice In Wonderland. Of course, the aforementioned cat was the Cheshire Cat, which Chekov thought was from Minsk.

There was one case in which Chekov was correct in his memory of history. In "The Deadly Years", a Starfleet Commodore, en route to his new posting, takes command of the Enterprise after Kirk, Spock and Scotty suffer from a rapid-aging illness. But his inexperience leads to an attack from Romulan ships. When the Commodore considers surrendering to the Romulans, Chekov says "Sir, the Romulans do not take captives." What is the last name of the Commodore in this episode?

Stocker. Commodore Stocker believes that by taking a direct course to Starbase 10 (which was where he was to be posted) from Gamma Hydra IV, he could get there in enough time to save Kirk & Co. But his action results in violating the Romulan Neutral Zone. Fortunately, the cure to the disease is found and Kirk saves the ship. The reason Chekov's history is accurate in this case is based on the Season 1 episode "Balance of Terror". In this episode, Spock's briefing to the Enterprise crew included the fact that Starfleet's war with the Romulans a century before did not have POWs on either side, because of the smaller size of the ships used in that era.

In "Spectre of the Gun", Chekov becomes part of the notorious Clanton Gang (of O.K. Corral fame) when the Melkotians take Kirk & Co. to Tombstone, Arizona. Which member of the Clanton Gang is he in this "re-enactment?"

Billy Claiborne. Chekov is Billy Claiborne, Spock is Frank McLaury, McCoy is Tom McLaury, Scotty is Billy Clanton, and Kirk is Ike Clanton. At first, Kirk & Co. believe they're in, as Spock called it, a "replay of history." But they later discover that isn't the case, when Chekov is gunned down before the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (The real Billy Claiborne survived, as he ran off as soon as the shooting began at the corral).

Returning to "The Trouble With Tribbles", whom does Chekov believe had mapped the space near Sherman's Planet?

Ivan Burkoff. Actually, his name was John Burke ("Ivan" is the Russian equivalent to "John"). Burke was an astronomer of Earth's Royal Academy in the mid-to-late 21st Century.

Once, Chekov was wrong about his own family history. In "Day of the Dove", Chekov claims he has the right to avenge the death of his brother, Piotr, who was killed in a Klingon raid. Why is this inaccurate?

He was an only child. The fabrication of Piotr is brought about by the Beta XII-A Entity, which had staged a battle between equal numbers of Klingons and Enterprise crew members. The entity had implanted prejudices and false memories into everyone on the Enterprise, including the Klingons, in order to "feed" on the violence that ensued.

Once again to "The Trouble With Tribbles". During the conference in the opening scene, Kirk, Spock and Chekov discuss the conditions of settling Sherman's Planet. Both the Federation and the Klingon Empire had staked a claim for the planet. While going over the logistical hurdles of the project for both sides, Kirk says that, if nothing else, the Klingons are highly efficient. At that point, Chekov replies "I remember, once ____________ had a problem like that." Who is he talking about?

Peter the Great. Unfortunately, we never hear the rest of the story, because Uhura had called Kirk, Spock and Chekov to the Bridge (Thank goodness!).

Time for some of Chekov's personal history. In "The Way to Eden", we meet an ex-girlfriend of his. What is her name?

Irina Galliulin. The two had met when they were at Starfleet Academy. She was to enter Starfleet's Science Department, but she dropped out of the Academy and joined Dr. Sevrin's group of "One" (You know, the space-hippies), and their quest for the mythical planet Eden. FAST FACT -- The incorrect last name Gagarin is from Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

Whom does Chekov (jokingly) say invented scotch?

a little old lady from Leningrad. In his fourth violation of distorted history in "The Trouble With Tribbles", Chekov and Scotty have a drink in the lounge at Deep Space Station K-7. Chekov passes this sarcastic statement after Scotty referred to his vodka as a "milk diet." NOTE - Two of the incorrect answers are rooted in fact. The "young, cocky distiller from Kentucky" was Jack Daniels, who began manufacturing his namesake product at the age of 14(!). Meanwhile, in case you don't know this, Mormon leader Brigham Young never drank.