THE CATS ARE SICK

 

Name: Uhura's Song

Author: Janet Kagan

Publication Date: 1/1985

Publisher: Pocket Books (Star Trek #21)

Page Number: 373

Historian’s Note: Sometime between Turnabout Intruder and More Tribbles More Troubles

Cast of Characters:  Captain James T. Kirk       Commander Spock              Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones”              Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”       Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu              Lieutenant Nyota Uhura            Dr. Evan Wilson          Dr. Joseph M'Benga          Lieutenant Kevin Riley                Lieutenant Vuong               Nurse Christine Chapel          Ensign Pavel Chekov                 Ensign Marie-Therese Orsay         Ensign Azuela             Yeoman First Class Jaramillo                 Crewman Ridly         Crewman Thomas        Colonel Mickiewicz     Dr. Dziedzic              HotSpring to-Allanien         All Loops               Brave Tongue       Jinx to-Ennien          Catchclaw to-Ennien              EagerTalker to-Ennien       Grabfoot to-Ennien          Sunfall to-Ennien              TooLongTail to-Ennien             WhiteWhisker to-Ennien                Knots      Left Ear Patterner of Vensre            SilverTail           Brightspot to-Srallansre            CopperEye to-Srallansre       Distant Smoke to-Srallansre               Fetchstorm to-Srallansre            Quickfoot of Srallansre         Stiff Tail to-Srallansre            Winding Path to-Srallansre               Sunfall of Ennien           ThreeTimes       Rushlight to-Vensre         Settlesand to-Vensre        

Starships and/or Starbases: USS Enterprise NCC-1701, USS Dr. Margaret Flinn (registration unknown), Dr. James Barry (registration unknown)

Planets: Eeiauo and Sivao

My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise is in orbit around the planet Eeiauo, whose main inhabitants are an intelligent humanoid cat-like species. The planet is under quarantine due to a disease known as ADF syndrome that has symptoms that begin with hair loss and conclude with total body paralysis, although the brain appears normal.  Among the afflicted is Lt. Uhura’s old friend Sunfall, whom she meets as a young officer and uses to exchange songs with.  Dr. McCoy is on the surface of the planet trying to lead research into the epidemic.  To help the Enterprise out, Starfleet has assigned Dr. Evan Wilson, to temporarily take McCoy’s place as Chief Medical Officer.  The new Acting CMO has a personality that clashes with the other senior officers, particularly Spock and Kirk.  

Uhura, going over some of the cultural songs she learned from Sunfall, comes to the conclusion that the people of Eeiauo might have been originally from someplace else.  She shares her evidence with Spock, and he agrees.  When they try to confront the Eeiauoans about this they are quick to deny and wish to change the subject.  However, McCoy gets his assistant, Quickfoot, to admit the truth to them.  Two thousand years ago, their ancestors were exiled from their home world, Sivao.  The reasons are not given but it is a clear mark of shame for them.

Trying to figure out, how they will help the Eeiauoans.

Things get from bad to worse when it is discovered that ADF Syndrome can jump species and Nurse Chapel and others are infected.  The disease works faster in humans with more deadly results. Two crew members are redshirted by it.     

Uhura and Spock come up with a theory that the original home world’s inhabitants may currently hold the cure to ADF.  Using astronomical references in some of the older Eeiauoan songs, Spock and Uhura locate the planet.  Kirk leads a landing party that includes Spock, Wilson, Uhura, and Chekov.  They find the local people friendly enough but when Kirk tries to explain why they are here one of the locals slaps him.  Back on Eeiauo, McCoy comes up with a treatment that can delay the effects of ADF but does not eliminate.  The extra time is needed because he too is also infected.

McCoy discovers that humans can get this thing. 

 The reason the Sivaoians have a hard time dealing with the Enterprise’s landing party is they are not sure whether their visitors were adults.  Kirk makes the point that he commands a starship, and Starfleet does not grant such commands to children, or for that point employee children at all.  Nevertheless, they are still confused.  They discover through their friends (Sivaoians who clearly seem like adults but are legally considered children) that in order to be called adults they have to undergo a rite of passage that has them journeying to another village.  The journey can be dangerous with predators lurking and geographical challenges. One of their new friends, Jinx, tried and failed three times. 

Kirk leading the landing party!

Kirk decides the landing party will attempt the rite.  Unfortunately, they have to leave the phasers and communicators behind.  They face many challenges and must hold a night watch to guard against predators.  During the journey a bridge collapses on them sending Kirk, Wilson, and Jinx into the water.  Kirk is able to rescue Jinx, whose people have not mastered the art of swimming. When the landing party does not report Scotty goes to check up on them but doesn’t learn much.

After the landing party is reunited Chekov begins to exhibit symptoms of ADF syndrome, which he takes to it hard.  Wilson notices that Jinx, who is an apprentice healer, was unable to recognize the plague song that Uhura had learned, she suggests to Uhura that she sing the song in a different key. Uhura attempts this and that seems to end the difficulty in translation.  Jinx eventually identifies a variation of the song and explains that the disease is one that the call "Noisy Baby," easily cured it years ago.

Uhura spreading the news of the plague being beaten.

They complete their journey and are all now considered adults by local laws.  Jinx chooses AnotherStarFreedom as an adult name, in honor of Uhura.  They are able to reconnect the two groups who had separated for 2,000 years both are embarrassed by the cause of separation. The cure is passed along, saving the population in the nick of time.  The Enterprise gets three cheers from the other Starfleet vessels. 

In closing it turns out that Wilson wasn’t who she says she was. After the mission was over, she was immediately reassigned.  Kirk and McCoy decide to reach out, but when they do they meet a male Evan Wilson.  It turns out this “Evan Wilson” they were working with was a Sivaoan name Tail-Kinker to-Ennien.  She is a benevolent trickster, and this wasn’t the first time she did this.  She once impersonated an engineer named Martha Bodner who also critically helped Starfleet before. In her final message she challenges Spock to find her.

Additional thoughts: This okay Star Trek story.  One on hand there was a classic Star Trek problem of “these friendly people are dying and how do we save them?”  However, it was often slow moving and it didn’t really command my attention the way some other stories can.  I did like how Uhura has a much more prominent feature in the story.

There was, however, a big plot problem that I had with the story.  So, the local Eeiauoans are stricken with this horrible illness.  While treating them it is discovered that they originally came from a planet called Sivao.  Uhrua and Spock then to the conclusion that since the Eeiauoan people originated there, then the people living there now must possess the cure to the condition. I am sorry but that doesn’t make any sense.   That is like if a disease in the United States struck the Italian-American population hard, that since they are Italian-American and their ancestors came from Italy then logically Italy must have the cure.  Now this turns out to work because of plot armor, but I would have liked someone to make an objection.  

I also thought it was interesting that the Enterprise is told by Starfleet that the prime directive could be ignored when they arrive at Sivao. Although we saw in “Friday’s Child” that Starfleet and Federation may look the other way when their important interests are involved.  In that episode they were trying to secure dilithium mining rights.  This case is more noble, trying to save the lives of innocents from a deadly plague.

So, the character of Dr. Evan Wilson.  Throughout the book I was wondering what the point of this character was. I thought it was odd that Starfleet would send a doctor out to temporarily take over McCoy’s responsibilities when he was gone.  McCoy has other doctors on his medical staff either one of them could step into that role, M'Benga being an obvious example, why does Starfleet feel the need to send someone of equal rank to replace him?  It would be if Kirk was going away for a week and Starfleet assigning another captain instead of just having Spock runs things for him in the meantime.  Well, we get our answer in the end Dr. Wilson wasn’t Dr. Wilson, but a Sivaoian, who appears to have wanted to have a firsthand in helping to re-unite her species. It reminded me of the second part of “The Menagerie” when we learn that Commodore José Mendez was just an illusion created by the Talosians. 

Should it be canon: I don’t see anything in this story that would contradict established on film.  Therefore, I would have no problems with it being canon.

Cover Art: The cover has Spock, Uhura, and a Sivaoian (from the viewers right to left) standing in front of a planet that I assume is either Eeiauo or Sivao.  Above their heads and in front of the planet flies the Enterprise. The cover is a bit of a lie, because it shows a refitted Enterprise and Spock is wearing his “The Motion Picture” uniform.  Yet, this story takes place in the original five-year mission.

Final Grade: Final Grade 3 of 5

 

THE CREW IS BRAINWASHED AGAIN!

 

Name: Mutiny on the Enterprise

Author: Robert E. Vardeman

Publication Date: 10/1983

Publisher: Pocket Books (Star Trek #12)

Page Number: 189

Historian’s Note:  This book takes place right after Pocket Books’ Star Trek #3 The Klingon Gambit

Cast of Characters:  Captain James T. Kirk       Commander Spock              Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones”              Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”       Lieutenant Commander Buchanan              Lieutenant  Hikaru Sulu              Lieutenant Nyota Uhura              Lieutenant Candra Avitts                Lieutenant Kyle           Lieutenant Patten                    Lieutenant Gordon            Lieutenant Candra Avitts          Lieutenant Deke Kesselmann            Dr. Joseph M'Benga        Nurse Christine Chapel          Ensign Pavel Chekov      Ensign Anita Ross          Chief Petty Officer  Heather McConel     Chief Petty Officer Andres        Crewman Bretton             Crewman Gabriel               Admiral McKenna          Ambassador Mek Jokkor       Ambassador Zarv        Ambassador Donald Lorritson    Speaker Lorelei        

Starships and/or Starbases: USS Enterprise NCC-1701, USS Scarborough (unknown registry number), USS Farallones, (unknown registry number), Galileo NCC-1701/7, Sklora

Planets: Unnamed single life-form planet, Ammdon, and Jurnamoria

My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise is in serious need of a maintenance overhaul and the crew is desperate for some shore leave.  When they arrive at Starbase One, however, they are greeted by an Admiral who throws a new assignment on their laps.  Despite Kirk’s pleading, Admiral McKenna insists that the mission is important, and the Enterprise is the least damaged ship they have.  She tells him that they must get a diplomatic team led by Ambassador Zarv, a Tellarite, to the Ammdon system because the planets Ammdon and Jurnamoria are about to go to war.  The two other ambassadors are a human named Lorritson and a sentient plant named Mek Jokkor.  It is important to make peace in the region as if it becomes unstable the Romulans could become involved.

On their way to Starbase One

Ambassador Zarv is annoying and impatient.  He is upset at the Enterprise’s slow speed.  He doesn’t want to or can’t acknowledge the reality of the situation.  The Enterprise is in such a condition that they can’t do any more than warp 3.  He even gets upset when they are diverted for a distress call. They find a small ship with a single passenger in distress.  The passenger is a woman of an unknown species, and her name is Lorelei.  Lorelei claims to come from the planet Hyla, that has been undiscovered by the Federation.  When Kirk tells her of their mission she tries to talk him out of it.  She says the Enterprise’s presence will lead to a war between the two parties.

Annoying ambassador

Lorelei is having a strange effect on the crew.  Even Kirk finds her arguments persuasive, but many of his crew are taking what she says to heart.  Many are acting openly insubordinate and put on report. To make matters worse Zarv is becoming even more annoying, at one point suggesting Kirk fire Scotty and give Spock his job.  Spock concludes that this woman has a special power and that this may lead the crew into a munity.  Kirk isn’t convinced of what Spock is saying.  Kirk sees this as a case of a smart person making a strong case against an overworked crew.  He decides, against Spock’s advice, to have a debate between Lorelei and Zarv. 

Crew not playing along

It turns out Spock was right, and Lorelei was able to get control of a good deal of the crew. Almost all become pacifistic and won’t fight even if needed.  The ship is sabotaged, and they lose warp drive and subspace communication.   They are close enough to a solar system to explore it.  The ship limps over and finds a planet that seems to have intelligent life upon it.  It seems to be very advanced, but it has no space travel.  They decide to make first contact anyway in hopes of securing resources to repair the Enterprise.  Given the security situation on the ship Kirk doesn’t dare leave it so he sends a landing party led by Spock and McCoy.  It appears that all the technology on this planet is plant-based, the buildings are grown not built.  When the landing party encounters the local life forms, they notice their universal translator is useless as the locals have no ears.  Spock then attempts a mind meld, but the locals react negatively and capture the landing party.  Hearing this Zarv volunteers his diplomatic team to go down and negotiate.  Kirk refuses but Zarv ignores this and proceeds anyway, commandeering the transporter for that use.  When the Ambassadors beam down, they too are all captured by the local population.    

Hacking into a tricorder dropped by the landing party, the bridge crew is able to see what is happening on the surface.  They see one of the security officers try to escape but is killed by the biological prison.  Kirk tries to help them with the ship’s phasers, but his entire bridge crew is now under the spell of Lorelei.  The crew munities, hence, the title, and Kirk is deposed and transported unconscious to the surface for the world.  Kirk finds the missing tricorder they were using to watch things from the bridge earlier, and he uses it to find the landing party and ambassadors.

Finding a way to get back

When he gets there Spock informs him that the entire planet is one living organism and the “people” they saw weren’t individuals at all but rather they were more like antibodies in a human. Kirk also learns that Ambassador Mek Jokkor was eaten alive by the antibody people.  McCoy, being the great doctor that he is, finds a way to put their section of the world to sleep so the main intelligence doesn’t know what is going on there. 

Lorelei has managed to communicate with the planet and has secured the necessary materials for the crew under her control to fix the ship.  McCoy designed a material to put in their ears to block Lorelei’s power.  Kirk is able to liberate Scotty from her control and together they use a shuttle craft that was transporting materials to sneak back on the ship. Before that occurs the Zarv and Lorritison are killed, and Kirk almost dies trying to save them.   

As soon as the shuttle’s door opens, they begin firing phasers to stun.  Kirk manages to fight all the way to the bridge, but Lorelei is able to escape with the aid of the bridge crew.  She locks herself in auxiliary control and tries to take control of the ship from there.  Kirk and Lorelei debate their philosophies with Kirk pointing out some of the obvious inconsistencies such as saying they shouldn’t use their phasers even in self-defense while trying to use them on him.  This is a ruse, however, as Kirk’s motive isn’t to win an argument it is to delay.  Scotty has rewired the ship’s intercom system so that when she tries to communicate with the crew, she receives annoying screeching gibberish back overwhelming her and causing her to pass out.   

sneaking back in the shuttle

With Lorelei looked away so she cannot speak with anyone, and ship repaired they make all possible speed to their original destination.  Ammdon and Jurnamoria are on the brink of war and with the diplomatic team all dead, it looks like nothing can stop it. Kirk’s attempts at negotiation fail, but he has one more trick he can pull.  He kidnaps the leaders from both sides and looks them up with Lorelei.  With her power she is able to convince the leaders of both planets that war is not in their best interest. After that they go back to their respective worlds and Lorelei convinces the leaders’ immediate underlings that war should not happen and after that peace is declared.

 With the war averted Kirk and Lorelei come to an understanding and they agree to let her go on her way.  She does leave them with some information on how to reach Hela in order to establish first contact.

Additional thoughts: This was a fun adventure.  It may be a little mistitled after I would only call the crew’s action a mutiny if they were acting within the right minds, not pawns under someone else’s control.  This is not the first time the crew has had their minds messed with.  We saw that during both “The Naked Time” and “This Side of Paradise.”  This is more like the second case.  When they went to Omicron Ceti III it led to the crew disobeying Captain Kirk and leaving the ship.  The only difference is someone is directing the cause, where the locals on Omicron Ceti III were also victims. In all three cases Captain Kirk is able to overcome the mind control by just being awesome.   

“We’re the only ship in the quadrant or sector” is one of the most overused phrases in Star Trek.  How many ships is Starfleet supposed to have?  Why are they the only ship to defend Earth from V’ger?  This book has a unique take on it.  As they entered Starbase One the commanding Admiral shows Captain Kirk the state of the fleet.  Every ship was damaged more than the Enterprise.  One ship was even missing its bridge. So, the Enterprise must undertake the mission. 

When Zarv keeps refusing to acknowledge the reality of the ship’s condition, Kirk should have stolen his chief engineer’s line and tell him that he can’t change the laws of physics.  I think such an action might have pleased Kirk more than he would realize. 

In the book “The Abode of Life” they have a debate on how the prime directive may apply to a planet that is separated from the rest of the universe visually, so they never develop space travel but have developed to be almost equal or better in other levels of technology.  In both cases the Enterprise is damaged and needs the planet’s help to effect repairs.  Now in this book there is no debate on how to proceed, however that is not a contradiction as the earlier book took place between season 2 and 3 of classic Star Trek and this book takes place after season 3 but before the start of the Animated Series. 

The crew discovers that the planet is one singular life form and the “people” on it function mostly as antibodies of that lifeform.  We have seen that before also in the book “World Without End.”  The difference between the two is the previous book the Chatalia all had names and personalities.  That made me question the whole “they aren’t alive” bit.  In this book there is no question about the singleness of life on this planet.  

The part where the crew all at once became pacifists reminded me of the book “Perry’s Planet” where the Enterprise crew were infected by a virus that made anyone who thought of violence faint.  This was a huge problem because it made the incapable of dealing with the Klingon threat.

It is a bit of a mystery of how Lorelei was able to negotiate with the planet.  The lifeform was completely deaf, so it had no concept of sound.  Lorelei’s power is clearly audible, so how did she get the planet to do what she wanted it to do?  I kept waiting for this to be explained but it never was.

When Scotty is saved from Lorelei’s control, he is deeply ashamed to have been under it.  Why? He has been mind-controlled before he knows there is no shame in it.  You didn’t see him moping about because of what happened in “Cat’s Paw” did you?  

Scotty and Sulu under control

So, what were the planets Ammdon and Jurnamoria fighting about anyway.  It was never explained in the book, someone mentioned some dispute over land ownership, but it was never explained on.  Personally, I thought the Federation should have been more in favor of its member world.   

I did think it was amusing that Spock thought it might be beneficial to arrange for the Romulans to kidnap Lorelei.  What a surprise they would be in for.  However, Spock was able to hold Lorelei’s power at bay for some time, maybe the Romulans might have the same ability?  Nevertheless, I think what the Enterprise should do once they get her repaired is to go back to that single life form planet and study it.   

Should it be canon: I don’t see a reason it shouldn’t be.  Nothing in this story contradicts anything else in the series as a whole.

Cover Art: The Cover is located on the bridge of the Enterprise.  With the science stations in the background there are three charters facing the viewer.  From the viewers left to right they are Captain Kirk, Lorelei, and Mr. Spock.  The cover is a bit of a lie because Kirk and Spock are in their Motion Picture uniforms while this takes place during the classic five-year mission. 

Final Grade: Final Grade 4 of 5

 

ENDANGERED ROMULANS

 

Name: Web of the Romulans

Author: M.S. Murdock

Publication Date: 6/1983

Publisher: Pocket Books (Star Trek #10)

Page Number: 220

Historian’s Note:  This book takes place shortly after the episode “Tomorrow is Yesterday”

Cast of Characters:  Captain James T. Kirk       Commander Spock              Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones”              Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”       Lieutenant Commander Rex Colfax    Lieutenant  Hikaru Sulu              Lieutenant Nyota Uhura              Lieutenant Kyle           Lieutenant  Kevin Thomas Riley         Lieutenant Arviela                Lieutenant Onorax              Lieutenant Bryan              Dr. Joseph M'Benga        Dr. Laurence Kalvecchio          Nurse Christine Chapel          Ensign Pavel Chekov       Ensign Garrovick                   Ensign Stewart         Yeoman First Class Janice Rand             Yeoman Second Class Briala       Yeoman Third Class Kyotamo             Admiral Jake Iota     Rear Admiral Arc Poppaelia       Rear Admiral Zoraxz             Rear Admiral Kaal            Commodore Yang Li           Captain Mikel Garson     Captain Charles        Captain Popov       Commander Yellowhorse                Lieutenant Murphy    Lieutenant Ben Greeen                 Ensign Heery          Yeoman Second Class Kouc          Specialist  Belisanna       Romm Joramm         Jaael            Praetor Jublius Mannius         Supreme Commander Tiercellus          Commander S'Talon                Commander S’Tor               Commander Pompe               Centurion S'Tarleya         Navigator Argelian          Weapons Master Hexce          Science Officer S'Tokkr       Lieutenant S'Teer           Lieutenant  Livius

Starships and/or Starbases: USS Enterprise NCC-1701, USS Exter NCC-1672, USS Excalibur NCC-1664, USS Hood NCC-1703, USS Potemkin NCC-1657, Starbase 8, ChR Eagle, ChR Raptor, and ChR Remus

Planets: Romulus and Canara

My Spoiler filled summary and review: This adventure starts in a different place than normal. Instead of beginning on the Enterprise, the audience is brought to the planet Romulus.  The Romulan Praetor has a special mission for the Romulan Commander S’Talon.  S’Talon is a well-respected commander, a fact the paranoid Praetor finds threatening, he is willing to overlook it as this mission is far too important to be left to just anyone.  Either way he assigns his nephew to the Commander’s ship the Raptor to spy on him. 

The Raptor

After receiving his assignment he goes to his loyal Centurion, a female Romulan named S’Tarleya, explains their mission to her and the two of them go to visit the Commander’s mentor.  This elderly Romulan is named Tiercellus, he is a retired Supreme Commander.  S’Talon makes it clear that he does not expect to return from this mission.  He doesn’t hesitate because the survival of the Empire is at stake.  However the reader is not given any information about the threat that they are facing.

The Commander has the Praetor's nephew  

The Enterprise’s main computer is still infected with the reprograming from the technicians on Cygnet XIV, this was the planet dominated by women who decided to give the ship a female personality.  It has evolved from a minor inconvenience into a huge problem as the ship seems to be falling in love with Captain Kirk complete with jealously and refusing of orders.   Kirk thinks the Enterprise needs to be taking out of commission until they can get this fixed, however heave Romulan activity makes that impossible.    

Kirk and Spock having trouble with the computer

The Raptor crosses the Neutral Zone and the Enterprise pursues.  What happens is a cat and mouse game with the Romulans relying heavily on its cloaking device while trying to avoid direct engagement.    While this is going on back on Romulus Supreme Commander Tiercellus has been reactivated and placed in command of a fleet with a very special mission.    

The Romulans on mission

The head of Starfleet intelligence, Admiral Iota, becomes concerned that the safety of the Federation is currently as stake and the Romulans are about to strike.  This feeling doubles when Spock found a spy device on the Enterprise’s bridge that Kirk orders deactivated.  Iota is now convinced the Enterprise was destroyed by the Romulans and tries to get Starfleet to respond.  

The computer growing jealous for Captain Kirk’s affections decides to “murder” the competition by deleting the files of every female member of the crew.  This has the effect of making it so the women onboard cannot access any computer system and the automatic doors won’t open for them.  This severally hampers the ship’s effectiveness while fighting the Romulans as half the crew has now been locked out.

Members of the Raptor crew grow impatient at the lack of engagement with the Enterprise and Commander S’Talon survives one direct challenge to his command.  Elsewhere at the meeting of the Starfleet defense committee, Admiral Iota finds he is the only hawk alive.  Others on the committee urge more caution, including Admiral Poppaelia, the committee’s chair.  It is decided to dispatch a fleet to the Romulan Neutral Zone with Admiral Iota in charge of the diplomatic and intelligence end, but with the Admiral not being a line officer, Captain Garson of the Potemkin is given command over the military side of the operation.     

Defense Council 

Things go from bad to worse as the computer decides to the delate the profiles of all the crew, save Captain Kirk.  She prevents them from accessing auxiliary control.  It is at this point that the Romulans begin to attack.  Kirk, as the Bane of all Artificial Intelligence, begins to work his magic Spock stops him, as he reminds the Captain that in the middle of the battle would be the wrong time to talk the computer into suicide.  Instead, Kirk goes easy and just convinces the computer to give him back control.  Once Kirk has control back he goes to work on the Romulans and being a master tactician he quickly defeats them.  S’Talon decides not to go the way of the Romulan Commander from “Balance of Terror”, and instead just surrenders his ship to Kirk.  Once on aboard after some tough “let’s get to know each other moments” that include a bluff of torture we finally arrive at the truth of what is going on with the Romulans.  A virus is spreading across the Empire threatening to wipe them out.  The only potential cure exists on the planet Canara, a Federation member.  The Raptor was going to provide a distraction so a fleet of Romulan ships can take the planet for themselves.  While discussing this, the Centurion collapse and dies of the very disease.   

Trying to save everyone!

The Romulan Fleet and the Starfleet task force nearly come to blows while the citizens of Canara threaten to destroy their crops then submit to Romulan domination.  Kirk is able to negotiate a peace deal allowing the Romulans to purchase for a fair price what they need.   However, Admiral Iota won’t accept and he hides in the auxiliary control room of the Potemkin and try to use it to attack the Romulans.  The other Starfleet ships move into stop him, but Kirk reactivates the intelligence device to show the Admiral the truth.  The Admiral back down and there is once again peace in this side of the galaxy. 

Additional thoughts: When “Balance of Terror” first introduced fans to the Romulans a good deal of the story was shown through their perspective.  In this book the story begins on Romulus and a great deal of the story is through the eyes of the Romulans.  You can almost say the Romulans are the protagonists in this story.  You see the diversity in Romulans thought where you have the honorable S’Talon and the devious Praetor. 

The “computer is in love with Kirk” storyline is one I could have done without.  It seemed like plot busywork to me.  Keep the crew of the Enterprise occupied until their story can be directly tied to the Romulans.  Once the Romulans and the Enterprise crew have engaged the computer story almost fades away.  The computer story also is the beginning of a messy time line.

 The computer plot comes from a minor part of the episode “Tomorrow is Yesterday.” In the book the crew is dealing with the aftermath of that episode and have gone to Starbase 8 to complain that the problem of the reprogrammed computer is becoming a larger problem by the day.  Yet, the book keeps referring to adventures in episodes that came after all the way to the third season.  For example the Romulans reference how Kirk has beaten them twice and a footnote in the text lets us know they are referring to “The Enterprise Incident.”  That was an episode from the third season of the show quite a while from the point in time they are supposed in.  And strangely enough that also means they are conveniently forgetting that encounter was actually the third time that Kirk defeated the Romulans.  The second occurred in “The Deadly Years.”  There is also a reference to the episode “The Gamesters of Triskelion” again an episode that took place long after where this book is supposed to be. 

Ensign Chekov is here

There are also characters that weren’t on the show at this point, primarily Ensigns Chekov and Garrovick.  Now Chekov has already been established in The Wrath of Khan to have been on the Enterprise, just probably in a different department, but this book has him in his season 2 job. Ensign Garrovick, however, he had clearly just joined the crew in “Obsession.”  There didn’t seem to be any reason for him to be in this story, it was as if the author just choose to drop his name in. 

In the end I conclude this story would work better if it were to be placed sometime between the end of the Animated Series and The Motion Picture, not only for the references but if the Federation had so saved the Romulans in season 1 as it would seem, the super hostile relationship in “The Enterprise Incident.”

Why is he here!

This book is a great statement on the values of the United Federation of Planets and those who fall short of them through paranoia.  The Romulans maybe the oldest enemy of the Federation but they aren’t going to sit on their hands and allow a disease to wipe them out when know they can save them.  The preservation of life, even Romulan life, is far too important.  Yet people like Admiral Iota can’t see it that way he cannot stop thinking about the Romulans in tactical terms.  People like him do have a place in our society, someone needs to be concerned with our safety, but the book shows that people like him shouldn’t be absolutely in charge. 

To be fair, Iota wasn’t absolutely in charge in one of the best examples of “don’t confuse your rank with my authority” the defense committee gives Captain Garson joint command and in charge of the military aspect of it.  Given his place as an officer of the line it is felt that Garson is a far better choice than Iota despite his much higher rank.  One of the unresolved issues of this story is Admiral Iota’s fate.  You would think that someone who tried to commit munity on a starship and almost started a war would face high penalties for his actions.

Should it be canon: Yes, but you would have to remove the computer story and replace the adventure as happening sometime after the third season of classic Star Trek.

Cover Art: The faces of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy sit at the bottom of the cover.  Kirk’s delta is the wrong side for some reason.  Above their heads flies the Romulan Bird of Prey Raptor.

Final Grade: Final Grade 4 of 5

 

THE CREW OF THE ENTERPRISE IS FEELING BLUE!

 

Episode Title:  Albatross

Air Date: 9/28/1974

Written by Dario Finelli

Directed by Bill Reed

Cast: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk    Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock        DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones”              James Doohan  as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”, Dramian Supreme Prefect, Kol-Tai                          George Takei as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu                     Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura          Majel Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel        Lou Scheimer as Commander Demos

Ships: USS Enterprise NCC-1701, and unnamed Dramian ship

Planets: Dramia and Dramia 2

My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise has just completed a delivery of much needed medical supplies to the planet Dramia.  A landing party of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy meet with the Dramian Supreme Prefect.  The Prefect thanks the officers kindly for the delivery.  Then he promptly informs the gentlemen that Dr. McCoy is under arrest.  It turns out that eighteen years ago McCoy was on Dramia 2, their well named colony world, doing medical work.  His work involved a mass inoculation program for a Saurian virus that had earlier threatened the colony.  Shortly after his departure they planet was struck with plague.  This forced the Dramians to quarantine that world.  They blame McCoy for starting epidemic. 

Kirk is concerned because the Dramians aren’t known for having the best justice system in the Federation.  Kirk decides to conduct his own investigation.  He returns his party, except McCoy, back to the ship and heads directly to Dramia 2.  Commander Demos of Dramian security follows the Enterprise hoping to stop its investigation.  They clearly notice the little ship chasing them so Kirk decides to trap the Commander.  He orders the shuttle bay doors open.  It is Kirk’s hope that the Commander is fool who will think so lowly of Starfleet officers that flying through space while forgetting to close the shuttle bay doors is something that happens often.  It turns out the Commander is that stupid and he flies right in and parks his little ship.  He then hops out hoping to get with his sabotage but is promptly arrested by Kirk and Spock as a stowaway.  While this is going on they pass through what appears to be a space aurora.  It is radiation but appears harmless. 

"Pleased to meet you, its an honor, and you're under arrest!"

Before they beam down to Dramia 2 Spock explains what the records show of the plague.  The cause of it is unknown.  However, the effects are clear: pigmentation changes in skin of victim, debilitation, and death. The pigmentation changes came in a distinct pattern of the victim first turning blue, then green, and finally red.  Blue meant the sickness weakened the patient.  Green meant going terminal and red was the mark of death.  Some species, such as Vulcans are naturally immune.

Not a good time to be a McCoy

After being down to Dramia 2, they are quickly attacked by a local who just as quickly retreats. Demos warns them that the locals don’t like outsiders. Spock objects pointing out that Demos himself is not an outsider.  To which Demos replies that after the plague outbreak and the quarantine of the planet, everyone infected with the plague died.  Dramians who are still here, like the one who just attacked them, are the families of the lost who came here after it was over.  They have been cut off ever since.  Despite Demos’s claim they do find a survivor named Kol-Tai.  This Dramian tells the landing party that he was treated by Dr. McCoy who he credits with his survival.  He makes it clear that McCoy had nothing to do with the plague that stuck the rest of the planet.  Realizing they can now save the Doctor, the landing party returns to the ship with Kol-Tai and the Enterprise warps out with the intention of returning to Dramia.

Dramia 2 has had better days

As the Enterprise speeds back to Dramia they pass through the aurora again.  This time however harm does come. Kol-Tai is suddenly blue with plague.  If potentially losing McCoy’s only witness was bad enough, it looks like they may lose the whole crew as everyone starts feeling blue and looking it too.  The only healthy person is Spock.  When they get back to Dramia they contact the Supreme Prefect, however seeing the crew infected with the same plague that wiped out their colony he shuts down and discussion.  This is understandable but not good for the crew of the Enterprise.  

They have found Kol-Tai

They need McCoy.  So as always when the chips are down and the rules say they must die, they break the rules.  Spock beams down to the planet and breaks McCoy out of prison.  At first McCoy refuses but when he realizes all his friends are going to die, he understands it is the greater moral duty to break out of prison than remain in.  McCoy, being GOAT of all medical doctors, quickly cures everyone just as they had started to turn green.

This is bad!

At the end of the episode the Dramians who were going to condemn the Doctor were now singing his praises.  Given the circumstances they decided to overlook exactly how it was that the good Doctor got out of prison to save the day to begin with.  McCoy went from being public enemy number one to the greatest hero of the planet in a single half hour episode.  That is just a typical day for the crew of the Enterprise.

Poor Captain Kirk 

Additional thoughts: So, I always thought I had a strong idea of McCoy’s biography in my mind, but exactly what was he doing eighteen years ago?  I thought he had only been in Starfleet for the past ten years or so right after his marriage broke up.  Was he a part of some Federation civilian relief agency?  That would make sense but always thought he spent most his pre-Starfleet days on Earth.

Poor Lt. Uhura

My only serious complaint about this episode is how reckless the crew is at times.  Shouldn’t the landing party have taken some precaution when beaming down to a planet whose population was wiped out with plague?  Like environmental suits or at least one of those force field belts.  Now granted it worked out, I don’t think they could have justified busting McCoy out of jail if only Kol-Tai was sick.  Nevertheless, Spock took a hell of a risk beaming down to the Dramia to get the Doctor.  Despite being immune, how does he know that he won’t accidently spread the illness to the population of Dramia?  Again, a force field belt would have helped.  Maybe he was just so confident in McCoy’s abilities to cure the disease that he didn’t find any logic for taking precautions in having the disease spread?  It almost reminds me of Dr. McCoy’s actions with Captain Kirk in “The Corbomite Maneuver.”  I also wonder how they knew how this disease functioned since there no survivors in all.  Who recorded the sick stages and how did they know Vulcans were immune? 

McCoy saving everyone just in time.

Over all I thought this was a great episode.  It contains a lot of elements that we like in a Star Trek adventure.  We meet a new and interesting alien species. We have a threat that needs to be dealt with right away in this case a medical one. We have some rule breaking and a space chase.  Kirk breaks the rules, Spock knocks someone out with a nerve pinch, and McCoy cures a great disease.   Then the aliens and authorities have to apologize for being wrong.  

FINAL GRADE 5 of 5