- For other uses, see Philip.
Philip Hodges was a 23rd century Human man who served in Starfleet, a promising commanding officer who was a protégé of Starfleet Academy instructor James T. Kirk.
Biography
By the 2280s, Hodges had been was assigned to the Federation starship USS Valor, assigned as captain. When Rear Admiral Kirk gave him command of the Valor, he commented to Hodges that he envied all that Hodges had ahead. In 2285, Hodges saw his vessel become a combatant when the Excalbians instigated the Federation-Klingon War of 2285, and was paired off in combat against a K't'inga-class battlecruiser of the Klingon Empire. Both vessels were consumed by damage, and Hodges was the only survivor of his crew.
He was then taken in by the people of Beta Epsilon VI. In return for their care, Hodges improved their medical and sanitary conditions, saving thousands of children's lives. Along with that, he used his phaser to repel the planet's predators. This made him look like a god to the people of Beta Epsilon VI. In one of the encounters with the predators, he saved Lorac's daughter, Lylla. Hodges then took Lylla as his wife.
Later that year, a landing party from the Federation starship USS Enterprise visited the planet to rescue Hodges. He was unwilling to leave, fearing that a native civil war would restart in his absence. Indeed, former opposing generals Ballor and Decton saw the new arrivals as an opportunity to kill Hodges and reignite their war. Hodges was soon kidnapped by Ballor and then rescued by Rear Admiral James T. Kirk, but not before Lylla was gravely wounded. Both were beamed aboard the Enterprise.
With the help of Montgomery Scott, a hologram of a costumed Ensign Konom told the populace that Hodges needed to leave their world and that Lorac should continue in his absence. With Lylla remaining by his side, he remained aboard the ship to face a court martial for violating the Prime Directive. (TOS comic: "Mortal Gods")
Appendices
Background
In the comic's initial release, Hodges had white hair. For the story's reprinting in The Best of Star Trek omnibus, however, he was shown having brown hair.
