The Enterprise is sent to investigate the disappearance of he USS Defiant,
which has been missing for three weeks. The Defiant is found adrift in an
unexplored quardant of space, trapped between universes, and her crew
murdered each other because of the rip in space. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and
Chekov beam to the fading ship in space suits. The transporter is weak, so
all but Kirk beam back, trapping Kirk in hyperspace.
Meanwhile, the Tholians arrive (at velocity 0.15c) and ask the crew to
leave their territory. Spock, in command, says they are rescuing their
captain from a rip in space, and that they will leave in 132 minutes. The
Tholian ship disturbed the space, however, causing Kirk not to fade back in
at the appropriate time.
The Tholians, known for their punctuality (even though they are a race
unknown to the Federation), fire upon the Enterprise. Spock shoots back in
self-defense (since they closed off communications). Another Tholian ship
arrives and the two very slowly put up a web-like force field. Meanwhile,
the crew of the Enterprise is becoming murderous (due to the strange
physical properties of the area surrounding the rift), McCoy is flaming
about Spock wanting command of the Enterprise.
Spock declares Kirk dead. Kirk appears in Uhura's mirror, in engineering,
then on the bridge. Spock zooms out 2.72 parsecs (with Kirk (almost out of
oxygen) in the transporter beam apparently - I'll bet his stomach loved
that). Spock and McCoy both LIE to Kirk and say that they didn't listen to
his last orders. Spock says there are (not "there might be") several
universes in parallel.
FACTS
Won an Emmy for "Best Special Effects".
Nominated for "Special Classification of Outstanding Individual
Achievement" Emmy in 68-69 (Special Photographic Effects) (Van Der Veer
Photo Effects, Howard A. Anderson Company, The Westheimer Company, and
Cinema Research).
The name of the Tholian commander who first attacks the Enterprise
after Kirk is lost is Commander Loskene.
Spock has personality problems when in command (see also "Galileo
Seven").
OPINIONS
The plot dragged a bit (a la Twilight Zone), but was enjoyable.
