Vaal

Vaal

Vaal was a self-aware machine created approximately 10,000 years ago on Gamma Trianguli VI by an unknown race.

By 2267 when that planet was visited by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and James T. Kirk there was a primitive culture of humanoids living on the planet who had formed a cult around Vaal and revered it as a god.

Vaal was ultimately destroyed by Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise when it killed several crew members and was deemed an unacceptable threat. This action by Kirk was in direct violation of the Prime Directive. Kirk justified the action with his belief that the humans on the planet needed to be freed from their false god in order to achieve their full potential. (TOS: "The Apple")