Template:Realworld
| Cover image | |
| Authors: | Mack Reynolds |
| Publisher: | Whitman Publishing |
| Series: | Whitman TOS |
| Published: | 1968 |
| Reprints: | 1996 and 1999 |
| Pages: | 210 |
| Year: | 2267 |
| Stardate: | 3475.3 |
| Reference #: | ISBN 067102812X |
The first original Star Trek story published as a novel.
Summary
- From the book jacket
- While exploring a new star system, NGC 434, Captain Kirk and the crew of the Starship Enterprise find themselves in an adventure, from one planet to another.
- They enlist the help of Grang, a local from NGC 434 to guide them through the system, all while attempting to find the runaway mouse "Mickey" on the Enterprise.
At the time of the story, the Enterprise is long overdue for shore leave and as such, the ship needs services and food restocking. The crew is also beginning to get upset and restless. Captain Kirk is ordered to take the ship to the distant Horatius system to check on a distress call from anti-Federation colonists. Upon arrival, the crew encounters all varieties of people including some from the stone-ages and some clones. Kirk must attempt to help them without breaking the General Order Number One.
The three planets in the Horatius system are Neolithia (a world free of modern technology and home of Grang), Mythra (a world populated by religious zealots and having normal radio level technology), and Bavarya (a technologically advanced world).
In the meantime, the Enterprise is facing a possible outbreak of "cafard", a disease that is contagious and often deadly. According to Dr. McCoy, it is also known as "space strain and confinement syndrome." Around this time, Sulu's pet rat, "Mickey", escapes, and is seen as a possible sign of plague.
Background
- This novel was the first original story written in the Star Trek universe, but it was not the first book published, as it was predated by the first episode novelization collection by James Blish.
- This book was written as a young adult tie-in to the series.
- Although Spock clearly identifies "Mickey" as a brown rat (Rattus norvegicus, of the family Muridae), the book later refers to it as both a mouse and a rat at various points.
Main characters
Enterprise crew
- Captain James T. Kirk
- Commander Spock
- first officer and science officer
- Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
- senior ship's surgeon
- (Lieutenant) Commander Montgomery Scott
- senior engineer officer. At various points in the book, he is referred to as both Lieutenant Commander and Commander.
- Lieutenant Uhura
- communications officer
- Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
- helmsman
- Ensign Pavel A. Chekov
- navigator
Guest characters
- Grang
- member of Neolithia's "Wolf clan". A young member, but not yet a full warrior. Assisted the Enterprise in exploration of Bavarya. Was given the temporary rank of ensign.
- Nummer Ein
- His All Highest, Bavaryan Chief of State. A doppelganger (clone) of the real man, who had died some years before this story.
- Anna Shickle
- daughter of Nummer Ein. Assisted starship Enterprise landing party escape from Bavarya. She was part of an underground movement to stop the dictatorship of Bavarya.
- Warren
- Supreme Exarch, Extreme Holy of the United Temple, representative on Mythra of the Ultimate
Minor characters
Enterprise crew
- Lieutenant Akrumba, junior officer
- Doris Atkins, yeoman, member of the away team to Neolithia
- Lieutenant Chang, off-duty officer in the wardroom
- Christine Chapel: head nurse
- Lieutenant De Paul, off-duty officer in the wardroom
- Dick, off-duty member of the personnel in the wardroom
- Ensign Freeman
- Lieutenant Kellum, security officer
- Lieutenant Masaryk, security officer
- Lieutenant Peterson, recreation officer
- Janice Rand, yeoman
- Thomkins, yeoman
- Unnamed transporter officer
Guest characters
- Pater Delvin, Brother of Communications on Mythra; greeted the Enterprise when it entered the Mythrian space
- Feldherr Jodl, of Nummer Ein's personal staff
- Muel: member of Neolithia's "Shaman clan"; a wizard-doctor
- Oberst Muller, Bavarya Planetary Defense Command, greeted the Enterprise when it entered the Bavaryan space
- Pater Stuart, met the Enterprise away team on Mythra
- Unnamed Bavaryan officer, tended the Enterprise's away team cell
Mentions
People
- Christopher Pike, previous captain of the Enterprise
Ships
- USS Enterprise: starship, crew of 430, gravitational support system, ample recreational facilities, sick bay, wardroom. Maximum safe speed: warp factor 6; capable of warp factor 8
- Westmoreland: space scout, crew of four, no artificial gravity
Star bases and space stations
- Space station K-Eight, where Enterprise obtains emergency supplies before heading for NGC 400
- Star base Twelve, destination of the Enterprise before being averted to the Horatius system
Galactic powers
NGCs
- NGC 400, destination of Enterprise where the secret orders were to be revealed
- NGC 434, location of the Horatius system
Planets
- Vishnu, home of Mickey the rat
Diseases
- Space cafard: compounded of claustrophobia, ennui, and the instinctive dread of a species, born on a planet surface, of living outside its native environment. The instinctive fear of deep space. Does not apply to Vulcans.
- Bubonic plague, which Mickey the rat is suspected of carrying
Gods and religions
- Baal, an Earth religion requiring sacrifice of a person's first-born
- Jesus of Nazareth
- Maripol, an ancient Vulcan god
References
NGC 434
An area of space that was unexplored until the colonization almost a century previous. The NGC 434 System, otherwise known as the Horatius system, contains three planets, all Class M. The planets have been named by human colonists as "Neolithia", "Mythra" and "Bavarya". In the early days of space travel, a freighter on a trade mission fell out of warp in the system. The crew explored and named the system, then left. A few years later, colonists, who wished to be separate from the Federation, made a home in NGC 434.
- Neolithia
- The home planet of Grang. Quite low on the development scale. Ruled by the Council of Patriarchs.
- Mythra
- More developed than Neolithia. Stone age building design, but middle age inhabitants who are religious dissidents. They worship "the Ultimate". The planet is ruled by Supreme Exarch Warren. He and the high priests have been tricking the rest of the population into drinking a hallucinogen called anodyne which made them loyal to their "god". The Enterprise assisted the population by cleansing the water that contained anodyne.
- Bavarya
- Most advanced Human culture in NGC 434. Ruled by Nummer Ein, His All Highest, Bavaryan Chief of State. The planet has limited phaser technology, that was used unsuccessfully against the Enterprise. Bavarya was the source of attacks and kidnappings against Neolithia and Mythra. Before the military's defeat, an entire invasion of the other two planets was planned. Planet was hostile towards a landing party from the Enterprise, and imprisoned them, while holding arena matches with Captain Kirk, Commander Spock, and Grang. Planet is listed as hostile under the Federation charter.
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