I've seen this imaginative episode of the original "Star Trek" television many times, but it is still a pleasure to watch it almost 50 years after it aired on NBC-TV on December 29, 1967. This second season episode finds Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise summoned to Deep Space Station K-7 after they receive a Priority One emergency distress call from Mr. Lurry (Whit Bissell) to ostensibly guard a silo of grain bound for Sherman's Planet. Initially, Kirk (William Shatner) assumes that Klingons have attacked the station. Imagine his surprise when he learns that nothing of the sort has occurred. Kirk has little sympathy for the plight of Nilz Baris (William Schallert) who authorized Lurry to issue the emergency call. Baris has just arrived from Earth to supervise the development of Sherman's Planet. Baris' assistant Arne Darvin explains to Kirk that Baris is the Federation Undersecretary in charge of agricultural affairs in that quadrant of space. Baris fears for the safety of his grain and demands that Kirk post all available security guards around the storage compartments. Naturally, Kirk doesn't share Baris' paranoia about the safety of all storage compartments containing quadrotriticale. According to the informative Mr. Spock, quadrotriticale is a high-yield grain, a four-lobed hybrid of wheat and rye. Mr. Lurry chimes in to point out that quadrotriticale is the only Earth grain that will grow on Sherman's Planet. Baris wants to ensure that the grain is safely delivered to Sherman's Planet. Baris fears that Klingon agents may try to sabotage it. Baris is livid with indignation when he hears that Kirk has agreed to station "a mere two men for a project of this importance." Kirk tells Baris that he has never questioned the orders or the intelligence of any representative of the Federation, but he does at this juncture. Kirk is surprised when Starfleet Admiral Fitzpatrick orders him to take whatever precautions are necessary. While on shore leave, the Enterprise crew meet Cyrano Jones (Stanley Adams of "Breakfast at Tiffany's"), and he interests Uhura in a tribble, a warm, fuzzy critter that purrs like a cat. The only problem is that these tribbles reproduce like rabbits and soon they overrun the Enterprise. Worst, they get into the grain at the space station, but mysteriously enough die. Of course, Nilz Baris is incensed by Kirk's gross dereliction of duty as does his sinister looking assistant. Adding to these woes are the Klingons themselves who show up on shore leave. Captain Koloth (William Campbell) checks with Kirk to see if it is okay and Kirk agrees. Predictably, it doesn't take long for the Klingons and Kirk's crew to tangle in a free-for-all fight. As it turns out, Scotty started the brawl because a Klingon called the Enterprise a garbage scowl.
"Star Trek" writer David Gerrold scripted an episode that bears a great deal of resemblance to a 1952 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein entitled "The Rolling Stones." In the Heinlein novel, twin teenagers named Castor and Pollux, who live on the Moon, have rebuilt a space ship and gone to Mars to sell bicycles. They find what is called a "flat cat." These flat cats are born pregnant, and they repopulate their ship. Interestingly, Heinlein raised no objections to Gerrold's episode. According to Gerrold, all Heinlein wanted was an autographed copy of Gerrold's script.
Altogether, this is an entertaining episode and a departure from all things serious. Ironically, Baris was correct to fear the threat that the Klingons posed to his project. The big surprise is the revelation about identity of the Klingon agent aboard Deep Space Station K-7.
"Star Trek" writer David Gerrold scripted an episode that bears a great deal of resemblance to a 1952 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein entitled "The Rolling Stones." In the Heinlein novel, twin teenagers named Castor and Pollux, who live on the Moon, have rebuilt a space ship and gone to Mars to sell bicycles. They find what is called a "flat cat." These flat cats are born pregnant, and they repopulate their ship. Interestingly, Heinlein raised no objections to Gerrold's episode. According to Gerrold, all Heinlein wanted was an autographed copy of Gerrold's script.
Altogether, this is an entertaining episode and a departure from all things serious. Ironically, Baris was correct to fear the threat that the Klingons posed to his project. The big surprise is the revelation about identity of the Klingon agent aboard Deep Space Station K-7.