Post by magicmuggle01 on Dec 6, 2018 10:55:19 GMT
The crew of the Enterprise find themselves caught in the middle of an intractable conflict with a bizarre fugitive alien and his equally belligerent pursuer.
Summary
On an urgent decontamination mission to the planet Ariannus, the USS Enterprise encounters a Federation shuttlecraft reported as stolen from Starbase 4. The vessel's life support systems are failing and the pilot may be suffocating in the lack of atmosphere. Captain Kirk orders the shuttlecraft to be brought aboard.
When the pilot emerges and subsequently collapses in front of Kirk and Spock, he displays a unique appearance: black on the left side of his face and white on the other.
Act One
Lokai.
Brought to sickbay, Kirk, Spock and McCoy surmise the alien's skin coloration to be a mutation of some kind. The pilot is revived by Dr. McCoy and identifies himself as Lokai from the planet Cheron. Although grateful for the Enterprise's rescue, he is combative when Kirk questions him about the theft of the shuttlecraft. Kirk plans to return him to Starbase 4 to face serious theft charges once the important Arrianus mission is completed.
En route however, Chekov reports that sensors have detected a highly sophisticated (and invisible) vessel on an apparent collision course with the Enterprise. At the last moment before impact, the ship appears to disintegrate, but deposits its pilot on the bridge – similar in appearance to Lokai, but with his black and white skin colors reversed. "Explain, Spock," Kirk asks. "One of a kind?"
Act Two
Bele.
The alien identifies himself as Commissioner Bele, the "Chief Officer Of The Commission on Political Traitors," from Cheron, and informs Kirk that he has come to apprehend Lokai.
When Bele is brought to sickbay to see Lokai, the crew learns that Bele has been pursuing Lokai for a very long time: 50,000 Earth years as it turns out. Bele charges that Lokai led a revolt of people who are black on the left side against the ruling order, which is black on the right side. Lokai counters that the black/right (white/left) order enslaved the white/right (black/left) people of Cheron and continues to oppress them. Bele demands that Kirk surrender Lokai, while Lokai claims political asylum with the Federation. Kirk ends the bickering, giving Bele quarters and states his intention to fulfill his mission, then hand both of the aliens to Starbase 4 to have the matter settled. Bele is clearly not satisfied, but leaves sickbay. Kirk advises that Lokai get some rest, especially his vocal cords, as he will get a chance to practice his oratory when they arrive at Starbase 4.
Suddenly, the Enterprise is commandeered by an unknown source. Soon, Bele reveals on the bridge that he is controlling it, by using his mental powers to direct the ship to Cheron. Impervious to phasers, Kirk, along with Spock and Scotty, are forced to activate the three-part self-destruct sequence in order to force Bele to relinquish control of the ship.
Act Three
With only six seconds left before the Enterprise destroys itself, Bele releases control of the starship. With force not being an option, both Bele and Lokai attempt to enlist the sympathies of the crew while en route to Ariannus, Lokai with the crew and Bele with Kirk and Spock. Kirk submits a report to Starfleet Command for a resolution.
Starfleet's answer to Bele's request is received while he speaks with Kirk and Spock--and it is to deny that request. Since Cheron has no diplomatic treaties with the Federation, Starfleet cannot extradite Lokai without due process. Uhura also adds that the decision from Starfleet notes that they are confident that Bele will be allowed to return to Cheron with Lokai after the hearing is over. Bele is pessimistic, however, believing that Lokai will again gain supporters in his cause and will escape from him again.
The Enterprise arrives at Ariannus and begins the decontamination procedures. Once the decontamination mission to Ariannus is complete, Kirk orders to head to Starbase 4, however, Bele sabotages the self-destruct mechanism as well as directional control, regains control of the ship, and re-forces it to head for Cheron again.
Act Four
Lokai begs for the Enterprise crew to intervene, and Bele berates him, for he believes he has finally caught him. They fight, but Kirk tries to defuse the situation for fear of destroying the ship, saying the bridge will be their "last battlefield." Bele returns control, since their fighting will destroy themselves with the ship.
The crew realizes they are near Cheron, however, its sensors reveal massive destruction of all Cheron's major cities and huge piles of unburied corpses – the entire population of Cheron has apparently mutually annihilated itself in a civil war. Consumed with mutual insane hatred and blaming each other for the resulting holocaust, Bele and Lokai fight on the bridge, despite Kirk's offer for them to live with the Federation. Kirk implores them to give up their mutual hatred of one another, since that destroyed their planet and their people. Lokai derides Kirk, accusing him of being an "idealistic dreamer," and flees the bridge. The pair then chase each other through the ship's corridors, each eventually finding their way to the transporter room and returning to the planet's surface to continue their fight...the last two sapient life forms on a dead planet. Kirk sadly notes that, in the end, all they have left is their hatred of each other. Kirk decides to leave them there and orders that Sulu set course for Starbase 4.
Log entries
"Captain's log, stardate 5730.2. The planet Ariannus is vital as a transfer point on regular space commercial lanes. It has been attacked by a bacterial invasion which threatens to render it lifeless unless checked. Our mission, to decontaminate it."
"Captain's log, stardate 5730.6. Having completed our mission to Ariannus, the Enterprise is now on course to Starbase 4. The crew is on normal routine and we are proceeding without incident."
"Captain's log, stardate 5730.7. In a deliberate act of sabotage, Commissioner Bele has burned out our destruct mechanism and, through the power of his will, has again taken over directional control of the Enterprise."
Curiously, the .6 entry is logged after the .7 entry. Bele sabotaged the Enterprise after the mission to Ariannus was completed.
Memorable quotes
"We must therefore conclude that this alien is that often unaccountable rarity. A mutation, one of a kind."
- Spock, on Lokai's bi-colored appearance
"When in doubt, the book prevails, Mister Spock."
- McCoy, on Lokai's medical treatment
"I'm grateful for your rescue."
"Don't mention it. We're pleased to have caught you."
- Lokai and Kirk, in sickbay
"You monotone Humans are all alike. First you condemn and then attack!"
- Lokai, upset with Kirk's accusations
"I'm very tired."
"And very evasive. Or, at least, not... fully responsive."
- Lokai and Kirk
"Explain, Spock. One of a kind?"
- Kirk, seeing Bele on the bridge
"You can no more destroy this ship than I can change color."
- Bele, calling Kirk's bluff
"Begin thirty second countdown. Code zero-zero-zero-destruct-zero."
- Kirk, initiating the destruct sequence countdown
"Mr. Spock, is this ship headed for Ariannus?"
"Negative, captain. The Enterprise is now moving in a circular course."
"And at warp 10 we're going nowhere mighty fast."
- Kirk, Spock and Scotty
"Disgusting is what I call them."
- Scott, on Bele and Lokai
"There was persecution on Earth once. I remember reading about it in my history class."
"Yes, but it happened way back in the twentieth century. There's no such primitive thinking today."
- Chekov and Sulu, trying to understand Cheron's civil war
"You're black on one side and white on the other."
"I am black on the right side."
"I fail to see the significant difference."
"Lokai is white on the right side. All of his people are white on the right side."
- Kirk and Bele
"Change is the essential process of all existence."
- Spock, to Bele
"I once heard that on some of your planets, people believe they are descended from apes."
"The actual theory is that all lifeforms evolved from the lower levels to the more advanced stages."
- Bele and Spock, on evolution
"Yes, he will delay, evade, and escape again. And in the process put thousands of innocent beings at each others throats, getting them to kill and maim, for a cause which they have no stake in. But, which he will force them to violently espouse by twisting their minds with his lies, his loathsome accusations, and his foul threats."
- Bele speaking about Lokai
"What do you do? Carry justice on your tongues? You will beg for it, but you won't fight or die for it!"
"After so many years of leading the fight, you seem very much alive."
"I doubt that the same can be said for many of his followers."
- Lokai pleading with Kirk and Spock to kill Bele
"You're finished, Lokai! Oh, we've got your kind penned in on Cheron into little districts, and it's not going to change! You've combed the galaxy, and come up with nothing but monocolored trash, do-gooders, and bleeding hearts.You're dead! You half-white!"
"You useless pieces of bland flesh! I'll take you with me! You half-black!"
- Bele and Lokai, before lunging at each other
"My people... all dead?"
"Yes, Commissioner. All of them."
"No one alive?"
"None at all, sir."
- Bele, Spock, Lokai, Spock
"You band of Murderers did this..."
"You Pyromaniacs"
- Bele, Lokai,
"Your planet is dead! There's nobody alive on Cheron because of hate. Listen to me. You both must end up dead if you don't stop hating."
"You're an idealistic dreamer.
"Bele. The chase is finished."
"He must not escape me!"
"Where can he go?"
- Kirk, Lokai, Kirk, Bele and Spock, after Lokai flees the ridge
"Shall I alert security, sir?"
"No, lieutenant. Where can they run?"
- Uhura and Kirk, after Lokai and Bele leave the bridge
"It doesn't make any sense."
"To expect sense from two mentalities of such extreme viewpoints, is not logical."
"But their planet's dead. Does it matter now which one of them was right?"
"Not to Lokai and Bele. All that matters to them is their hate."
"Do you suppose that's all they ever had, sir?"
"No... but that's all they have left."
- Uhura, Spock, Sulu, Spock, Uhura, and Kirk after Bele and Lokai return to Cheron
Summary
On an urgent decontamination mission to the planet Ariannus, the USS Enterprise encounters a Federation shuttlecraft reported as stolen from Starbase 4. The vessel's life support systems are failing and the pilot may be suffocating in the lack of atmosphere. Captain Kirk orders the shuttlecraft to be brought aboard.
When the pilot emerges and subsequently collapses in front of Kirk and Spock, he displays a unique appearance: black on the left side of his face and white on the other.
Act One
Lokai.
Brought to sickbay, Kirk, Spock and McCoy surmise the alien's skin coloration to be a mutation of some kind. The pilot is revived by Dr. McCoy and identifies himself as Lokai from the planet Cheron. Although grateful for the Enterprise's rescue, he is combative when Kirk questions him about the theft of the shuttlecraft. Kirk plans to return him to Starbase 4 to face serious theft charges once the important Arrianus mission is completed.
En route however, Chekov reports that sensors have detected a highly sophisticated (and invisible) vessel on an apparent collision course with the Enterprise. At the last moment before impact, the ship appears to disintegrate, but deposits its pilot on the bridge – similar in appearance to Lokai, but with his black and white skin colors reversed. "Explain, Spock," Kirk asks. "One of a kind?"
Act Two
Bele.
The alien identifies himself as Commissioner Bele, the "Chief Officer Of The Commission on Political Traitors," from Cheron, and informs Kirk that he has come to apprehend Lokai.
When Bele is brought to sickbay to see Lokai, the crew learns that Bele has been pursuing Lokai for a very long time: 50,000 Earth years as it turns out. Bele charges that Lokai led a revolt of people who are black on the left side against the ruling order, which is black on the right side. Lokai counters that the black/right (white/left) order enslaved the white/right (black/left) people of Cheron and continues to oppress them. Bele demands that Kirk surrender Lokai, while Lokai claims political asylum with the Federation. Kirk ends the bickering, giving Bele quarters and states his intention to fulfill his mission, then hand both of the aliens to Starbase 4 to have the matter settled. Bele is clearly not satisfied, but leaves sickbay. Kirk advises that Lokai get some rest, especially his vocal cords, as he will get a chance to practice his oratory when they arrive at Starbase 4.
Suddenly, the Enterprise is commandeered by an unknown source. Soon, Bele reveals on the bridge that he is controlling it, by using his mental powers to direct the ship to Cheron. Impervious to phasers, Kirk, along with Spock and Scotty, are forced to activate the three-part self-destruct sequence in order to force Bele to relinquish control of the ship.
Act Three
With only six seconds left before the Enterprise destroys itself, Bele releases control of the starship. With force not being an option, both Bele and Lokai attempt to enlist the sympathies of the crew while en route to Ariannus, Lokai with the crew and Bele with Kirk and Spock. Kirk submits a report to Starfleet Command for a resolution.
Starfleet's answer to Bele's request is received while he speaks with Kirk and Spock--and it is to deny that request. Since Cheron has no diplomatic treaties with the Federation, Starfleet cannot extradite Lokai without due process. Uhura also adds that the decision from Starfleet notes that they are confident that Bele will be allowed to return to Cheron with Lokai after the hearing is over. Bele is pessimistic, however, believing that Lokai will again gain supporters in his cause and will escape from him again.
The Enterprise arrives at Ariannus and begins the decontamination procedures. Once the decontamination mission to Ariannus is complete, Kirk orders to head to Starbase 4, however, Bele sabotages the self-destruct mechanism as well as directional control, regains control of the ship, and re-forces it to head for Cheron again.
Act Four
Lokai begs for the Enterprise crew to intervene, and Bele berates him, for he believes he has finally caught him. They fight, but Kirk tries to defuse the situation for fear of destroying the ship, saying the bridge will be their "last battlefield." Bele returns control, since their fighting will destroy themselves with the ship.
The crew realizes they are near Cheron, however, its sensors reveal massive destruction of all Cheron's major cities and huge piles of unburied corpses – the entire population of Cheron has apparently mutually annihilated itself in a civil war. Consumed with mutual insane hatred and blaming each other for the resulting holocaust, Bele and Lokai fight on the bridge, despite Kirk's offer for them to live with the Federation. Kirk implores them to give up their mutual hatred of one another, since that destroyed their planet and their people. Lokai derides Kirk, accusing him of being an "idealistic dreamer," and flees the bridge. The pair then chase each other through the ship's corridors, each eventually finding their way to the transporter room and returning to the planet's surface to continue their fight...the last two sapient life forms on a dead planet. Kirk sadly notes that, in the end, all they have left is their hatred of each other. Kirk decides to leave them there and orders that Sulu set course for Starbase 4.
Log entries
"Captain's log, stardate 5730.2. The planet Ariannus is vital as a transfer point on regular space commercial lanes. It has been attacked by a bacterial invasion which threatens to render it lifeless unless checked. Our mission, to decontaminate it."
"Captain's log, stardate 5730.6. Having completed our mission to Ariannus, the Enterprise is now on course to Starbase 4. The crew is on normal routine and we are proceeding without incident."
"Captain's log, stardate 5730.7. In a deliberate act of sabotage, Commissioner Bele has burned out our destruct mechanism and, through the power of his will, has again taken over directional control of the Enterprise."
Curiously, the .6 entry is logged after the .7 entry. Bele sabotaged the Enterprise after the mission to Ariannus was completed.
Memorable quotes
"We must therefore conclude that this alien is that often unaccountable rarity. A mutation, one of a kind."
- Spock, on Lokai's bi-colored appearance
"When in doubt, the book prevails, Mister Spock."
- McCoy, on Lokai's medical treatment
"I'm grateful for your rescue."
"Don't mention it. We're pleased to have caught you."
- Lokai and Kirk, in sickbay
"You monotone Humans are all alike. First you condemn and then attack!"
- Lokai, upset with Kirk's accusations
"I'm very tired."
"And very evasive. Or, at least, not... fully responsive."
- Lokai and Kirk
"Explain, Spock. One of a kind?"
- Kirk, seeing Bele on the bridge
"You can no more destroy this ship than I can change color."
- Bele, calling Kirk's bluff
"Begin thirty second countdown. Code zero-zero-zero-destruct-zero."
- Kirk, initiating the destruct sequence countdown
"Mr. Spock, is this ship headed for Ariannus?"
"Negative, captain. The Enterprise is now moving in a circular course."
"And at warp 10 we're going nowhere mighty fast."
- Kirk, Spock and Scotty
"Disgusting is what I call them."
- Scott, on Bele and Lokai
"There was persecution on Earth once. I remember reading about it in my history class."
"Yes, but it happened way back in the twentieth century. There's no such primitive thinking today."
- Chekov and Sulu, trying to understand Cheron's civil war
"You're black on one side and white on the other."
"I am black on the right side."
"I fail to see the significant difference."
"Lokai is white on the right side. All of his people are white on the right side."
- Kirk and Bele
"Change is the essential process of all existence."
- Spock, to Bele
"I once heard that on some of your planets, people believe they are descended from apes."
"The actual theory is that all lifeforms evolved from the lower levels to the more advanced stages."
- Bele and Spock, on evolution
"Yes, he will delay, evade, and escape again. And in the process put thousands of innocent beings at each others throats, getting them to kill and maim, for a cause which they have no stake in. But, which he will force them to violently espouse by twisting their minds with his lies, his loathsome accusations, and his foul threats."
- Bele speaking about Lokai
"What do you do? Carry justice on your tongues? You will beg for it, but you won't fight or die for it!"
"After so many years of leading the fight, you seem very much alive."
"I doubt that the same can be said for many of his followers."
- Lokai pleading with Kirk and Spock to kill Bele
"You're finished, Lokai! Oh, we've got your kind penned in on Cheron into little districts, and it's not going to change! You've combed the galaxy, and come up with nothing but monocolored trash, do-gooders, and bleeding hearts.You're dead! You half-white!"
"You useless pieces of bland flesh! I'll take you with me! You half-black!"
- Bele and Lokai, before lunging at each other
"My people... all dead?"
"Yes, Commissioner. All of them."
"No one alive?"
"None at all, sir."
- Bele, Spock, Lokai, Spock
"You band of Murderers did this..."
"You Pyromaniacs"
- Bele, Lokai,
"Your planet is dead! There's nobody alive on Cheron because of hate. Listen to me. You both must end up dead if you don't stop hating."
"You're an idealistic dreamer.
"Bele. The chase is finished."
"He must not escape me!"
"Where can he go?"
- Kirk, Lokai, Kirk, Bele and Spock, after Lokai flees the ridge
"Shall I alert security, sir?"
"No, lieutenant. Where can they run?"
- Uhura and Kirk, after Lokai and Bele leave the bridge
"It doesn't make any sense."
"To expect sense from two mentalities of such extreme viewpoints, is not logical."
"But their planet's dead. Does it matter now which one of them was right?"
"Not to Lokai and Bele. All that matters to them is their hate."
"Do you suppose that's all they ever had, sir?"
"No... but that's all they have left."
- Uhura, Spock, Sulu, Spock, Uhura, and Kirk after Bele and Lokai return to Cheron
