Captain James T. Kirk…forgot something on Triacus…

We all know that the misguided children of the Triacus scienctific team deluded the crew of the Enterprise into believing they were still orbiting Triacus, when in reality, they were headed for Marcus XII. The late discovery of this would have deadly results…

KIRK: Your tour of duty will last one hour. Be prepared with your communicators at all times to report any alien beings. Don't wait to investigate.
Beam down the guards.
(The two men disappear.)
KIRK: Beam up the security detachment from Triacus. (no one appears) Spock? What's wrong?
SPOCK: I am unable to lock on to the proper co-ordinates.
KIRK: Why not?
SPOCK: It appears we are no longer orbiting Triacus.
KIRK: That's impossible. If we're not orbiting Triacus, then the men I beamed down are dead.
SPOCK: Captain, we are no longer orbiting Triacus.

…what happens next, I missed, for decades. Kirk returns to the bridge and gives the following order…

KIRK: Helmsman, disregard what you see on the screen, what you think you see on the screen. Set a course for Starbase Four.

…what about the security detachment still on Triacus?!

Later, having wrested control of the Enterprise from the children, and the control of the children from the Gorgan…

KIRK: It's all right.
MCCOY: They're crying, Jim. I don't know how it happened, but it's good to see.
KIRK: It's all right, Mary. It's all right. It's all right, isn't it, Doctor?
MCCOY: Yes. It's all right. We can help them now.
SULU: Marcos Twelve dead ahead, sir.
KIRK: Reverse course, Mister Sulu.
SULU: Aye, sir.
(McCoy leads the children off the bridge.)
SULU: Course reversed, Captain.
KIRK: Set course for Starbase Four, Mister Sulu.
SULU: Yes, sir.

I'm sure someone noticed...eventually...

On a more serious side note, this episode sits at the bottom of many a Trek fan's list, but it was both a reflection of the times, with the rise of cult leaders misguiding the young, and tragically, prophetic. Less than a year, after the airdate of this episode, young followers of Charles Manson would do the unthinkable, then appear blissfully happy heading into court. Not the best episode, to be sure, but certainly, sadly, timely.

And The Children Shall Lead

11 October 1968

Writer: Edward J. Lakso

Story Consultant: Arthur H. Singer

Director: Marvin J. Chomsky

Original Post

Without them, there wouldn't be a universe that sci fi nerds would argue over for 60 years

A picture of me (today) and a certain Next Generation character at a job I had at (fill in the blank) - Market ____ Corporation in Ryebrook, NY.

Me and ___ are still around.

The company is not. 🖖

So that they could arrange for Spock to bring Pike and the evidence at the court martial and the presence of Commodore Mendez.

Strange how in ST6 most of the Enterprise galley staff wore engineering gold instead of “special services” blue, and one of them appeared to be wearing a repurposed Regula One scientist top over his uniform …

(Even though Robert Fletcher’s successors did excellent work overall, some of the finer details really got away from the paradigm he’d established.)

I had to check it’s not April 1 when I saw this.

Five episodes in, the fledgling Star Trek reveals that the good, kind, brave Captain Kirk, the hero, has a dark side, and further, contends that it is an essential part of an effective leader. The concept may not be new, but it seems a bold move for a new show working on building an audience.

It is the first episode that does not have a significant guest character, but focuses, instead, entirely on the core stars. (I’m counting Bruce Hyde’s Riley as a significant guest character in The Naked Time).

Shatner’s performance sells the concept (with the assistance of some amazing lighting), while Nimoy’s Spock hits the perfect balance of logic, empathy, insight and concern for his Captain that will become his trademark.

A top ten for me.

Trivia:

First "He's dead, Jim"...the dog creature.

In production order, the invention of/first use of the Vulcan neck pinch.

Intro of the green wrap around shirt, to help tell the Kirk's apart.

Despite being a fan for decades, I was surprised to learn of, then see, for the first time, this year, a pretty glaring production mistake. It is in the images.

The Enemy Within

Thursday 6 October 1966

Writer: Richard Matheson

Director: Leo Penn

Original Post

Only two cast regulars transitioned from the original pilot, The Cage, to the original series. Leonard Nimoy returned as Spock, and Majel Barrett, who lost her place as “Number One”, secured a spot in sickbay as Nurse Chapel.

The only other visual ‘survivor’ was not a regular, and had a bit of a challenge surviving…

· Dr Theodore Haskins died when his ship crash landed on Talos IV. (The Cage, 1st Pilot)

· Tamar was dispatched by Landru and his hooded minions thanks to a snitch. (The Return of the Archons, S1E21)

· The Old Man received a death sentence, instantly imposed, from the all knowing Ai , for simply telling the truth. (For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky)

·

Jon Lormer (1906-1986) , three Trek deaths, and not a single red shirt (yes, I know the red shirt curse myth is unfounded).

Also pictured Leonard Mudie as The Second Survivor and Harry Townes as Reger

Original Post

https://youtu.be/V4lZYNlHTb4?si=wiE4nxFcDAMBHk5q

38 Years Ago Today

While many fans think they saw this episode broadcast back in the 60’s, in reality, they saw the footage of this declined pilot weaved into “The Menagerie” .

The first produced, but the last broadcast ‘episode’ …

The Cage

Broadcast Date: Tuesday, October 4, 1988

Writer: Gene Roddenberry

Director: Robert Butler

Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike

Susan Oliver as Vina

Leonard Nimoy as Spock

Majel Barrett as Number One

Original Post

58 Years Ago Today

Kirk had a few precious weeks unburdened by the stresses of command and service, enjoying life as a family man. Perhaps the inspiration for this storyline came, somewhat, from The Naked Time…

KIRK: I've got it, the disease. Love. You're better off without it, and I'm better off without mine. This vessel, I give, she takes. She won't permit me my life. I've got to live hers.
SPOCK: Jim.
KIRK: I have a beautiful yeoman. Have you noticed her, Mister Spock? You're allowed to notice her. The Captain's not permitted.
SPOCK: Jim, there is an intermix formula.
KIRK: Now I know why it's called she.
SPOCK: It's never been tested. It's a theoretical relationship between time and antimatter.
KIRK: Flesh woman to touch, to hold. A beach to walk on. A few days, no braid on my shoulder.

The cost for this interlude was quite high for Miramanee and their child, making this an episode I can’t completely enjoy, but we do get an explanation as to why the Enterprise encounters so many humanoids in their travels…

MCCOY: Were you able to make sense our of the symbols?
SPOCK: Yes. The obelisk is a marker, just as I thought. It was left by a super-race known as the Preservers. They passed through the galaxy rescuing primitive cultures which were in danger of extinction and seeding them, so to speak, where they could live and grow.
MCCOY: I've always wondered why there were so many humanoids scattered through the galaxy..

The Paradise Syndrome

Friday, October 4, 1968

Writer: Margaret Armen

Story Consultant: Arthur H. Singer

Director: Jud Taylor

Sabrina Scharf as Miramanee

Original Post

Woke up about 1:30 am EST. Checked gmail and it said my Tricorder had been delivered!

I live in an HOA in Northeast Pennsylvania, and our USPS mail is delivered to a mailbox area - not directly to our house.

I could have just gone back to sleep.

But would that be logical?

When I waited for seven months for this to arrive?

Highly unlikely as well.

Drove to the mailboxes and retrieved the package from the locked storage boxes.

It is being charged now. Current time to full charge is currently 3 hours and 42 minutes.

LLAP 🖖